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2008 SURI Intern Year: Senior Research Project: During this summer internship, I am working with Dr. Hawley Montgomery-Downs in the Sleep Research Laboratory in the Life Sciences Building. I have the opportunity to work on many different field studies and gain much valuable research experience. One research study is entitled "Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing," which investigates the effects of tobacco exposure on pediatric sleeping. For this study, I have learned how to properly collect hair samples for objective analysis of tobacco exposure; and interpret and score Denver surveys (0-9 months, 9-24 months, 2-4 years, and 4-6 years). I will also gain experience in recruiting research subjects. A second study I am involved with is entitled "Postpartum Sleep Deprivation and Fragmentation: Effects on Maternal Functioning," which monitors sleep among postpartum mothers. For the study, I have learned how to interpret and score numerous surveys: Beck Anxiety Inventory; Profile of Mood States; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale; Beck Depression Inventory-II; Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Perceived Stress Scale; Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale; and Morning-Eveningness Scale. In addition, I have learned how to use actigraphy technology and personal digital assistants for the experience sampling method; apply behavioral corroboration with the logged information from the actigraphs and personal digital assistants; and data interpretation. The third research study I have work in is entitled "Neonatal Follow-Up Sleep Schedule and Symptoms Survey" and this study looks at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) among children born prematurely. For this study, I will gain experience in working in a clinical setting, recruiting test subjects. I will also learn how to properly administer informed consent and HIPAA forms to the participants. During my internship in the Montgomery-Downs lab, I had the opportunity to attend the SLEEP 2008 conference in Baltimore, Maryland, a five-day meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LCC. Here, I gained knowledge on the newest developments in sleep research and sleep medicine by attending clinical workshops, discussion groups, poster viewings, brief oral presentations, symposiums, and presentations given by invited lecturers. Click here to review the summary report of this project. |
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