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Student Spotlight – Chanaporn (New) Tohsuwanwanich

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Chanaporn (New) Tohsuwanwanich!

New majors in Geography, minors in GIS&T and Urban & Regional Studies, and is in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. The title of her project is “Leaving no one behind?: Shifting Vulnerabilities of Participants in Baan Mankong Program in Bangkok, Thailand.” New’s work aims to gain a comprehensive, holistic perspective of a slum-upgrading program in Thailand called Baan Mankong. She is conducting ethnographic fieldwork to learn more about the successes of Baan Mankong as well as the challenges embedded in the system. Her best piece of advice is to follow your passion!

How did you first get interested in your research project?

In the International Housing Policy class, I learned various case studies worldwide on different facets of housing management. A slum upgrading program proposed by the Thai government called Baan Mankong immediately caught my attention. Despite being a Thai citizen, I have never heard about the program. The system of communal saving groups with government subsidies, focusing on infrastructure and housing loans, is a perfect solution. The program has so much potential to strengthen community bonding through saving and caters to the community’s needs. Consequently, Baan Mankong has been praised by many scholars, with many successful stories of participating communities. However, the struggles of many other communities are still unrevealed. Thus, ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with many stakeholders would help me deepen my knowledge about the community’s efforts.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

I visited the field site, walked around the neighborhood, and talked with the community members and policymakers. I have learned a lot from my conversations and hope to expand and understand the community more to address their challenges in the Baan Mankong program.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

The interview process was very nerve-wracking for me at the very beginning. It went a lot easier and better than what I expected. I appreciate everyone I talked to, and it fulfilled some missing pieces I have been finding to learn more about the project. They were happy to welcome me to sit in their meeting, talk to professors who came in for community tourism development, or give me a ride to the nearby location. Going into the field was not only a part of the work process but also one of my enjoyments over the past summer.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

If you know what your passion is, follow your passion! Talk to people: your professors, TAs, seniors, and advisors. Many people are willing to help you out, and there are many resources to support your research journey. Start with asking and taking action!

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

Learning about the community’s struggles gives a holistic perspective of the Baan Mankong program. Looking at the bright, flourishing communities and recognizing the challenges embedded in the system would help the program benefit a broader range of people. A comprehensive understanding of Baan Mankong would help create a better version. As the Baan Mankong model has also been adopted by other countries, such as the Phillippines, the changes will positively impact Thai communities and benefit other countries in their low-income settlement improvement.

Student Spotlight – Mario Peng Lee

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Mario Peng Lee!

Mario majors in Linguistics & Computer Science and Psychology, minors in Data Science Engineering, and is in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. The title of his project is “Meta-Learning in Language Learning Technology.” Mario’s work studies a flaw in current language learning: the maximization of screen time and exposure, which may not be the optimal way to learn a new language. His best piece of advice is to look at the world critically, find a problem with a tangible solution, and develop a small idea into a bigger project.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

As an active language learner, I noticed a flaw in current language learning technology. Most apps and websites maximize screen time and exposure using tools such as gamification and rewards. However, while this can increase user exposure to the target language, it may not be the most optimal process. Additionally, the detrimental effects of screen time are widely known, and it would be ideal to reduce it.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

Brainstorming alternative teaching methods has been incredibly exciting. I had to dive deep into many different disciplines such as the psychology of motivation, linguistics, game design, and even machine learning!

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I was surprised by the amount of existing work on the topic I selected. I was also incredibly surprised by the lack of scientific support all the current language learning technologies have.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

The best way to start doing research is by looking at the world critically and finding a problem with a tangible solution. I would advise students to start with small ideas that evolve into bigger projects rather than the other way around. Ask for help from professors. If they are busy, it is always a good idea to collaborate with grad students.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope my research can contribute to the ongoing discussion on (language) learning technology. I hope to contribute a meaningful study, algorithm, design, or method to increase the validity of certain claims that these technologies make.

Student Spotlight – Sophia Han-Yun Chang

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Sophia Han-Yun Chang!

Sophia Han-Yun Chang majors in Sociology and is in our Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. The title of her project is “Performative Political Engagement on Twitter in the Generation of Cancel Culture.” Her work explores how people interact on Twitter under polarization and cancel culture, and how Twitter leads people to behave in such a way. Her best piece of advice is to make a doable time management plan and stick to it.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

My interest in this project stemmed from my daily conversation and experience with social media, particularly Twitter. As the largest microblogging platform, Twitter became a primary medium for political communication and a motivator for political engagement. The cancel culture I observed on Twitter made me wonder how Twitter, as an online social platform shapes political discourse. Also, applying Goffman’s theory, just as in-person social interaction, mediated interaction may involve impression management in which people perform particular political views to construct a digital identity. It is interesting to investigate how people interact on Twitter under the polarization and cancel culture, and how Twitter leads people to behave in such a way.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting part was learning through interviewing people. As a novice in the field of interviews, I made many mistakes that I should have avoided, such as switching topics too frequently. Although I learned the rules and tips for interviews through the class, the real-life experience was not the same as what the books wrote. Therefore, I was stressed about interviewing people at the beginning. However, as time passed, the interview memos of the previous interviews helped me improve my interview skills effectively. Gradually, I found myself enjoying doing interviews. It became the most exciting part of the research process as I was excited to become a better interviewer and explore the research topic by collecting data.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I was surprised by people’s polarized experiences with Twitter despite using the same platform. I started the research assuming people might have similar experiences. Still, it turned out that the experiences varied depending on the user’s habits, and there was certainly a pattern behind them. I am excited to analyze the fascinating and surprising data to learn about social media’s influence on mediated interactions.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

I would like to say making a doable time management plan and following the plan is very helpful to researchers. After a quarter of research, I realized that time management was essential to researchers. Time passes surprisingly fast when it comes to research, and each step might take longer than you expected. For instance, I thought recruiting interviewees might take just a few weeks, but I ended up needing more interviewees in the first quarter. Unexpected outcomes like this may lead to difficulties in time management. Also, it is a challenging task to manage time when we have many other responsibilities at school and personal life.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

Given the lack of qualitative research and small data analysis on social interactions on Twitter, I hope my research could contribute to existing scholarship on the influence of social media on social justice by discovering the nuance of mediated social interaction in political engagement. Also, by exploring the hidden side of social media, I hope my research can bring new insight into our daily use of social media.

Student Spotlight – Desiree Rassa Eshraghi

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Desiree Rassa Eshraghi!

Desiree Rassa Eshraghi majors in Psychobiology, minors in Disability Studies, and is in our Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. The title of her project is “Examining Advocacy Strategies for Neurodivergent Patients.” Her best piece of advice for those considering research is to always great to explore what excites you.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

All my life I have been interested in the medical field. This interest was sparked by my older brother’s many experiences with medicine as an autistic and epileptic person with ADHD. As a child, I was inspired by the many medical professionals who interacted and treated my brother, from his neurologist to our shared pediatrician. While I remain committed to medicine as an aspiring physician, I’ve come to realize that the field is not perfect. This is especially true when it comes to its treatment of disabled, specifically neurodivergent individuals. As we grew up, I came to personally appreciate the medical autonomy and self-advocacy that my brother lacked. Rather than as a result of his own inability to speak for himself, but for the convenience of medical staff, my brother’s health concerns were not taken as seriously as my own would have been. As a result, he has often relied on either myself or my parents to advocate for him. The unfortunate reality that my brother’s limited self-advocacy has been created by others’ ableist assumptions led me to analyze the standardized preparedness of medical professionals to treat neurodivergent patients. I also want to examine what methods are best to meet the advocacy needs of such a vulnerable community.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

It has been very exciting to understand the topic of neurodivergent patient advocacy from the ground up. There has been a noted and researched lack of preparedness among medical and nursing students to treat neurodivergent populations. I believe that analyzing contributing obstacles to neurodivergent patient care is just as important as examining the efficacies of different advocacy strategies.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

The American medical system, despite being designed to treat and care for people’s health, remains a system inaccessible to disabled people. It’s a paradox; many disabled people are solely seen through their medical conditions (as many people are only familiar with the medical model of disability), yet there is a lack of standardized accessible care with built-in adaptive tools in place to accommodate all patients. It’s an unfortunate surprise to learn.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

Analyze your own interests and see how these interests play into the “bigger picture”. It’s always great to explore what excites you, and understanding the role your niche topic of interest plays on a larger scale will bring focus to your research goals!

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope my research inspires other pre-med and medical students to recognize just how diverse their future patients may be in terms of life experience, communication needs, and health goals. I hope my research also inspires medical professionals to broaden their skillset to better treat and accommodate the diverse needs of their patients. There is no standard patient, just as there is no standard healthcare worker!

Student Spotlight – Umiemah Farrukh

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Umiemah Farrukh!

Umiemah Farrukh majors in Psychology and is in our Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. The title of her project is “Positive vs. Negative Affect Treatment: Matching Treatment Type to Personality Traits.” She hopes that her research inspires more minority women to pursue their dreams. Her best piece of advice is to never stop believing in the importance and value of your ideas.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I first got interested in my research project when I joined the Anxiety and Depression Research (ADRC) Lab at UCLA and sat in on lab meetings led by the PI, Dr. Michelle Craske. I found myself in awe of the revolutionary work being done to help those with mental disorders and wondered if there was a way I could be a part of it in any capacity. The URSP program afforded me the opportunity to do just that.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting part of my research so far has been the opportunity to interact and learn from so many amazing mentors. I am incredibly grateful to all the graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and peers, that have made this an unforgettable experience!!! A special thank you to Nora, my graduate student mentor at the ADRC whose unconditional support and belief in me has allowed me to do things I never thought possible!

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

My mentors always expressed to me the lengthiness of the research process, but I don’t think it’s possible to understand and appreciate exactly how long research takes until you do an independent project yourself. Research takes time and patience, and it has been so fulfilling to learn that lesson throughout my senior thesis journey, a lesson that has definitely made me a better researcher.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

DO IT! Do it despite your fears and apprehensions, despite your worries and imposter syndrome. You can be scared and brave at the same time, and I think that is important to remember when going into research. Additionally, never stop believing in the importance and value of your ideas, because your ideas matter and can move the field forward if you are persistent and committed in the pursuit of finding a home for them.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope my research story inspires more minority women to pursue their dreams, whether that is in the research field or elsewhere because I want to uplift and empower all those who have ever felt that they didn’t have a voice. I also hope that with the right training and expertise, my research makes a positive impact on increasing treatment efficacy for individuals with depression and anxiety and contributes to the future of translational clinical psychology research globally.