Project Mentor
Dr. Sarah Rendón García
Department: Human Development and Family Sciences
Research Project Overview:
While 7 percent of U.S. children live with an unauthorized immigrant parent, researchers and practitioners alike have little insight into how these children and their families process the phenomenon of immigration status. In my lab, we use research to explore the ways children and adults in mixed-status immigrant families who originate from Latin America awaken to what it means for them and/or their family members to be undocumented in the United States. We consider the perspectives of caregivers and children — independently, within their caregiver-child dyads, and as a family.
This summer, you can be part of two projects:
- Parents Preparing for the Immigration Talk: An intervention study for parents of mixed-status Latine families. The program focuses on immigration socialization within the family and uses reflection, mini-lessons, and didactic activities to equip parents for these conversations. We evaluate how the program affects parents’ motivation, confidence, and immigration threat.
- Attachment and Immigration Stress: Exploring the patterns of attachment among mixed-status immigrant families. We consider the theoretical implications of chronic immigration stress across generations on the reflective capacity of parents as they strive to build strong positive relationships with their children.
Role of a SHARE Summer Apprentice:
We will be analyzing qualitative and quantitative data collected during the intervention program, as well as conducting literature reviews for the publications that will share the findings of the program with the public.
For literature reviews, the apprentice will learn how to catalogue effectively conduct literature database searches, read, and analyze scientific literature across the field of human development.
For data analysis, the apprentice will learn about the various stages involved in this phase of research, including cleaning data, organizing data, and developing the data analysis plan (e.g. a codebook).
Through this experience, the apprentice will also gain insight into other aspects of the research process, such as the process of research design, considerations for conducting community-based research, and conducting research with immigrant populations. The apprentice will be expected to complete the human subjects training (CITI training) and assist weekly research team meetings with Dr. Rendón García or other members of the lab.
Upon interest, the research apprentice will have the option to stay involved with the project after completion of the apprenticeship to see the project to completion. This may include data collection, analyses, and writing up the study findings to present it at a conference and/or submit it for publication.
Summer Schedule/Time Commitment:
Work hours have some flexibility but expected to be spread across the period of the apprenticeship. Meetings will be held at a specific time each week and scheduled in consideration of the availability of all team members including the apprentice.
Preferred Qualifications:
This project would be well suited for students who have completed some, at least introductory level, social science coursework either in Human Development & Family Sciences (HDFS), Psychological Sciences, Education, or Sociology. Completed coursework in Statistics and/or Research Methods, although not required, is a plus. Proficiency in reading and writing in Spanish would be beneficial.
To Apply:
The application deadline has passed.
Please note:
All students hired for a SHARE Summer apprenticeship must complete a federal I-9 form and present original documents in person to OUR staff as part of the hiring process. Visit this U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services page for more information about acceptable documents. You cannot begin working until this is complete. Students are encouraged to plan ahead for this. For example, if you are going home for spring break, consider bringing documents back to campus with you.