Undergraduates Explore Nursing Science Through Summer Research

The NURSE program is offered through UB’s Office of Nursing Research under the leadership of Yu-Ping Chang, associate dean for research and Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman endowed professor, and Courtney Hanny, assistant director for research advancement. Students receive support from both the School of Nursing and the SUNY Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund. This year’s NURSE cohort was part of a larger SUNY initiative that funded 200 undergraduate summer internships, advancing SUNY’s goal of having every undergraduate complete a high-quality internship or experiential-learning opportunity before earning their degree.

The students delivered podium presentations of their research findings in Wende Hall on Aug. 8.

Vanessa Akuffo, a junior in the traditional bachelor’s degree program, presented, “How Nursing Student Dyads Demonstrate Shared Understanding and Coordination During VR-Based Simulations.” Under the mentorship of Kelly-Foltz-Ramos, director of simulation and innovation and assistant professor, Akuffo examined the learning process of virtual reality simulations designed to teach clinical skills.

An expert in occupational and community health among underserved populations, Daniel Jackson Smith mentored two students: Bryan Lara, a junior nursing student, who investigated “How Workload Influences Health Care Seeking Behavior,” and Joseph Pohrte, an intended nursing major, who studied “English Proficiency and Migratory Status Among U.S. Crop Workers.”

Owen Li, an intended nursing major, collaborated with Chang on “Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Stress in First Responders and Health Care Workers.” Chang is the recipient of a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to integrate evidence-based behavioral health models into primary care clinics in Western New York.

Nicole Zhu, a senior, also presented research with a focus on behavioral health: “Adolescent User Experiences of an AI-Powered E-Cigarette Cessation App” under the guidance of Eunhee Park, associate professor. Park’s research program aims to develop and implement interventions that reduce risky behaviors among young people with low socioeconomic status.

Reflecting on the program’s benefits, Zhu said, “I learned that nursing isn’t limited to bedside care; it also includes research, where we can explore relevant health issues and develop interventions to improve evidence-based practice in clinical settings.”

By connecting undergraduates with faculty mentors, the NURSE program highlights the breadth of nursing science while preparing students to become the next generation of nurse researchers and leaders.