Get Involved

As an interdisciplinary research laboratory in the Program in Occupational Therapy, collaboration and team science are central components of research in the HOPE Lab. Please contact us if you are interested in collaborating or have any questions.

For Students

As a health and social scientist and St. Louis native, Dr. Harris believes it is critical that we bring our full selves into our work. To this end, she seeks to bring her full lived and learned experience into her research and mentorship. Dr. Harris is passionate about mentorship and supporting students at all levels in her work (high school, undergraduate, and graduate), and believes it is critical to build the diversity, inclusion, and representativeness of the research workforce to adequately support our communities and advance health and educational equity.

Students should consider the HOPE Lab if they are interested in understanding the interdependence of health, development, education, occupation, participation, and opportunity and the role of place in these relationships. HOPE lab students and trainees will have the opportunity to build their research skills through participation in a variety of lab activities including literature reviews, data collection, data management and analysis, quantitative and geospatial analysis, scientific writing, and presentation of results in collaboration with others in the lab. We encourage student and trainee engagement in all phases of the research process from intervention development through implementation and dissemination of findings. Participation in weekly lab meetings will help students build their understanding of social determinants of health and well-being, as well as their clinical and behavioral research skills. Students may work on existing lab projects or collaborate with Dr. Harris to identify or develop a related project that fits within the scope of the lab and timeline of the research experience.

For those seeking research experience or opportunities outside of formal programs, please submit the following items to Julia Dowdy at jdowdy@wustl.edu.

• 1 Page Personal Statement (including why you are interested in research, why you are interested in working with the HOPE lab, and any prior research experience if applicable)
• Resume/CV
• Letter of Recommendation (please have a professor/mentor/etc. who speaks to your interest and initiative email their letter directly to us at jdowdy@wustl.edu)