Meet Olivia Joyce ’27, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Political Science and Statistics and minoring in Public Policy and Analytics. 
What is the focus of your research/creative activity?
Currently I am focused on a student led project for Summer 2025 that I hope to continue working on for my honors thesis! I am focusing on torture laws in the United States. I have been examining torture laws on a state-by-state basis and what exists in the legal statues across states. I am trying to make an argument that all forms of torture should be covered under state law and that torture as an act should be criminalized. For this project I was lucky enough to receive the Caxide Scholars Grant and have been able to work with my wonderful mentor Dr. Richards in the Political Science Department.
Why did you get involved in research/creative activity?
Upon entering UConn in my first semester, I found the Political Science department offers research assistant positions through the Bennett Honors Research Assistantship program for Honors students. I found a lot of the research topics and projects being done within the department super interesting and wanted to get a little bit of insight into what is research in the social sciences and whether it was something I would enjoy. I ended up loving the process and working so closely with faculty. After that I continued to pursue research experiences in political science and other disciplines.
What advice would you give to aspiring student researchers?
Getting involved in research seems intimidating and can take a bit of effort and persistence. As a student in the social sciences your research journey may look a little bit different than your friends or students in other majors. Social science research is important, and everyone should pursue research if they feel it is a good fit for them. It is important to follow your interests and passions. Identify what topics and disciplines you are interested in and start exploring.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in research/creative activity?
Participating in research has been such a rewarding experience for me. It has shaped my undergraduate experience. I think my favorite part is being able to get hands on experience working with data and information that I am learning about. I also think that being able to collaborate with the amazing UConn professors has been rewarding. Being able to build a relationship with a mentor and someone who wants to see you do well and help you get there has been an important part of my journey.
What are your plans after graduation? How has involvement in research/creative activity influenced your plans and/or prepared you for the future?
I plan to attend graduate school and hopefully end up in a research focused career. I would like to attend law school or a PhD program. Getting started in research so early on in my time here at UConn pushed me and inspired me to reexamine what I was looking for in a career. I think that research has pushed me to be more curious and analytical and I want to nurture those skills in my career. Research has allowed me to apply knowledge from my classes along with learning so many new things and it has taught me to always dig deeper with my learning and skills.
To make an appointment with Olivia, submit a meeting request here!