Spotlight on SURE: Stepping Ahead with Research

As a member of the SURE 2007 cohort, Valerie Owolo did her research project on autism spectrum disorders with Emory University Autism Center expert, Michael J. Morrier. Our intern at the time, Pearl Young, sat down with Valerie that summer to gain a timeless perspective on undergraduate research.

by Pearl J. Young

“I am the biggest fan in the world. I would definitely recommend research. Not only is it good to be involved in research and to hear and see all the latest research, but it also provides you with a lot of networking opportunities, mentors who can be a source of encouragement and information, and great experiences like the SURE program.”

Laughing, Valerie Owolo reveals why she is drawn to research after three years of studying Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of autism. A senior psychology major at Texas Women’s University, Owolo discovered the SURE program at Emory to be the perfect opportunity to expand her research experience while working with Michael Morrier at the Emory Autism Center.

“There’s been some evidence to support that a family history of depressive illness like bipolar disorder is associated with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD,)” Owolo says. “What my summer research is looking at is just the behavioral characteristics. Specifically, we’re considering the differences in the behavioral characteristics of people with an ASD that have a family history of depressive illness compared to those of persons with an ASD without such a family history. I’ve also got to experience working at the Center and actually interacting with the population one on one and on a group level.”

Owolo first was introduced to research when she was recruited by a multi-ethnic research support program at her home university. “As I began to get deeper into my research, it was really interesting to me,” she recalls, “to see these kids and help interview them and administer tests to them. Exposure to the field sparked my curiosity. It was really cool to be able to sit there and do my research and then see people come in and behave in a way that I had read about. I really like to be able to connect what I learn in class with the research I do with people.”

Research can be frustrating Owolo admits. “At first I thought it’s psychology. I can get it to work. I won’t get frustrated. I won’t hit dead-ends. Now, I’m realizing that research can be very frustrating and that it’s not always a cut and dry study. You have to work hard at it for a long time. Even then, you don’t always get the results that you want.”

“The best part for me is getting to hear and see all the cutting-edge research before everyone else does,” Owolo confides enthusiastically. “I get to hear about all the latest things that are happening. It’s really exciting for me to be able to sit in class, and when people are talking about a study, it’s familiar to me. I can contribute to the conversation with my classmates or my professor. That’s just a good feeling to me: to be able to know what’s going on. I feel like I’m a step ahead.”

Besides, research work is complemented by great mentors. Michael “has a lot of insight into stuff that I wouldn’t even think of yet,” Owolo says. “It’s really nice to have someone that knows more about the field or about the topic in general or for my case, about the population. He can comment, ‘Well, that’s not really what’s happening.’ For example, if I’m thinking, ‘They’re displaying this behavior because they got hit by another kid,’ he can say, ‘No, it’s because of this other factor’ and then explain the reasoning or research behind that. I like having a mentor that is knowledgeable in the field.”

Owolo plans to continue studying psychology in graduate school, either doing research or becoming an industrial organizational psychologist. In the latter field, Owolo would work with a business to increase job satisfaction and reduce friction in the workplace.

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Pearl Young is currently a senior at Emory University, placing the finishing touches on degrees in both physics and history.

Read more about our Spotlight on SURE series.