Research

My researched has centered on areas of disconnect between refugees and the organizations designed to support them.

I have conducted ethnographic research (semi-structured interviews and participant observation) in the US, Germany, and Spain to address this issue.

This research culminated in a Bachelor of Philosophy thesis, which I defended before a committee that included an external examiner.

 

Other research projects have included modern and traditional medicine in Tanzania, bacteriophages, and childcare centers in South America.

Research Projects

  • Pittsburgh, USA

    Refugee Reception and Inclusion

    • Conducted interviews and participant observation at an ethnic community association and a resettlement agency
    • Funded through Honors College THINK Research Fellowship (formerly Brackenridge Research Fellowship)

     

  • Berlin, Germany

    Refugee Reception and Inclusion

    • Conducted interviews and participant observation at a Welcome Office for refugees
    • Funded through Pitt Advantage Grant and International Studies Fund Grant

  • Seville, Spain

    Refugee Reception and Inclusion

    • Conducted interviews and participant observation at a non-profit organization for refugee reception and assistance
    • Funded through Stamps Scholarship Enrichment Funds

  • University of Pittsburgh, USA

    Creation & Evaluation of Refugee-led Steering Committee

    • Created refugee-led Steering Committee for FORGE (Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee Growth & Empowerment)
    • Researched goals and experiences of a FORGE tutoring session from the perspective of student tutors through interviews, surveys and participant observation
    • Guided Steering Committee’s research of goals & experiences of FORGE tutoring session from perspective of tutored refugees
    • Funded through Honors College ACT Research Fellowship (formerly Community-Based Research Fellowship)

  • University of Pittsburgh, USA

    Anthropology Research Assistant

    • Research assistant to Dr. Tomas Matza
    • Assisted in research of training intervention in childcare centers in South America
    • Translated Spanish fieldnotes into English
    • Coded English fieldnotes with qualitative data analysis software
    • Participated in weekly meetings
    • Created and presented a poster at annual First Experiences in Research symposium

  • University of Pittsburgh, USA

    SEA-PHAGES Bacteriophage Research Lab

    • Discovered, isolated, characterized and named a new bacteriophage to be added to the Actinobacteriophage Database
    • Created and presented two posters on the findings
    • Contributing author to genome announcement in American Society for Microbiology of newly characterized Gordonia terrae

  • Iringa, Tanzania

    Traditional and Modern Medicine

    • Researched the coexistence of modern and traditional medicine in Tanzania
    • Interviewed the President of the Federation of Traditional Practitioners in Tanzania and a local traditional healer