Student Research Opportunity: Independent Study/Work Study/Honors Thesis
Our lab is interested in understanding developmental trajectories of individuals with developmental disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, etc. across the lifespan. At present, the lab has 4 ongoing research projects – (1) assessing the effects of a play-based intervention based on music, dance, and yoga compared to a physical activity intervention in children with Autism and Cerebral Palsy, (2) exploring the utility and efficacy of a parent-delivered powered mobility intervention using the Wild Thing TM device on mobility and socialization skills of children with mobility limitations, (3) assessing the effects of a novel, icon-driven Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device on social communication and behavioural skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder using a longitudinal study design, and (4) assessing physical activity and physical fitness levels in adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and development of novel, engaging group-based intervention programs to improve health-related outcomes in this population.
We are looking for passionate, energetic, and empathetic undergraduate students interested in working on projects involving infants, children, and adults with disabilities. Students can pursue research at the lab for independent study credit, for work study, and with the potential of converting a subset of the research into a thesis. Students from diverse backgrounds including but not limited to psychology, communication sciences, allied health, physiology and neurobiology, education, and engineering are encouraged to contact Dr. Sudha Srinivasan at sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu
For more information, contact: Dr. Sudha Srinivasan at sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu