David Nguyen

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David Nguyen is a transfer student pursuing a design your own major titled “Social Science Research Methodology.” His broad research interests include education and public health. Specifically, he is interested in community colleges, social determinants of nutrition and obesity, and social isolation. He plans on pursuing a PhD in sociology and hopes to become a professor at a research institution. For his URSP project, Nguyen is conducting a program evaluation of the Community College to PhD Scholars Program. CC2PhD Scholars Program, which he founded and directs, is a 7-month undergraduate research and PhD preparation program for social science community college students. He will use surveys and interviews to measure changes in participants’ (1) research capabilities, (2) PhD preparation knowledge, and (3) preparedness to apply for upper-division undergrad research opportunities. The program guides students through the process of 1) completing a qualitative interview research project, 2) applying for Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance summer undergraduate research programs, 3) developing an upper-division research proposal that will be used to apply for undergraduate research programs and research grants at their future four-year college, 4) presenting their interview research project and their upper-division research proposal, and 5) developing a PhD preparation plan for their upcoming junior and senior year. Scholars receive support through a small research grant (approximately $200), twice-a-month videoconference meetings with a CC2PhD Graduate Student Mentor, monthly meetings with a CC2PhD Community College Faculty Advisor, monthly discussion sessions with a CC2PhD Peer Advisor, and monthly CC2PhD Saturday Academies at UCLA.  

David Nguyen is a transfer student pursuing a design your own major titled “Social Science Research Methodology.” His broad research interests include education and public health. Specifically, he is interested in community colleges, social determinants of nutrition and obesity, and social isolation. He plans on pursuing a PhD in sociology and hopes to become a professor at a research institution.

For his URSP project, Nguyen is conducting a program evaluation of the Community College to PhD Scholars Program. CC2PhD Scholars Program, which he founded and directs, is a 7-month undergraduate research and PhD preparation program for social science community college students. He will use surveys and interviews to measure changes in participants’ (1) research capabilities, (2) PhD preparation knowledge, and (3) preparedness to apply for upper-division undergrad research opportunities.

The program guides students through the process of 1) completing a qualitative interview research project, 2) applying for Leadership Alliance and Big Ten Academic Alliance summer undergraduate research programs, 3) developing an upper-division research proposal that will be used to apply for undergraduate research programs and research grants at their future four-year college, 4) presenting their interview research project and their upper-division research proposal, and 5) developing a PhD preparation plan for their upcoming junior and senior year.

Scholars receive support through a small research grant (approximately $200), twice-a-month videoconference meetings with a CC2PhD Graduate Student Mentor, monthly meetings with a CC2PhD Community College Faculty Advisor, monthly discussion sessions with a CC2PhD Peer Advisor, and monthly CC2PhD Saturday Academies at UCLA.