Courtney Kasturiarachi, ‘20, studied public health in human genetics and biological anthropology. She became involved in pediatric psychology research the summer before her senior year at Kent State and stumbled upon a research assistant position in the Wildman Lab.
“The research we were conducting involved teens and parents with type I diabetes at Akron Children's Hospital,” said Courtney. “I already held another assistant position at Akron Children's, so I was quite excited to spend more time there.” Now a recent graduate of KSU, she will be attending the University of Pittsburgh this fall, studying for a master’s in public health in human genetics.
Courtney, a North Canton, Ohio native, participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURE), an eight-week intensive research program that provides a stipend for living expenses.
“I spent most of my summer recruiting patients for the study and understanding important research questions like the who, the why and the what. It fueled my curiosity and love for research,” she said.
Each year in the fall, SURE participants are required to participate in a “three-minute thesis competition” to showcase their summer research experiences. During the competition, approximately 60 students explain their complex research questions to an audience in a simple way, allowing the audience to connect and understand. Presentations are divided into groups with winners chosen from each group. About her presentation, "Examining the Relationship Among Executive Functioning, Treatment Responsibility, and Glycemic Control In Adolescents with Type I Diabetes," Courtney said, “ was able to engage the audience effectively in my research, and I was the chosen winner in my presentation group.”
“The SURE program was a way for me to get my foot in the door with research. It has since then propelled my work ethic, and I successfully graduated from Kent State in May 2020 with the completion of an honors thesis,” said Courtney.
Courtney was involved in FLASHanthropy, an official Kent State University student organization dedicated to educating students about the importance of philanthropy and the role it plays in the day-to-day operations of the university. As an executive committee member and vice president of this group, she was involved in a variety of on-campus activities and attended a national conference.
She appreciates the support donors have provided to make the SURE Program possible.
“Philanthropic donations toward research are incredibly important for most students. The beauty of research and the SURE program is that through the support of donors, many majors are able to participate in paid research,” she said.
“The SURE program and research specifically propels interests toward graduate studies and prepares students for the tough job market. Without donors, I would not have been able to participate in crucial research that I needed for my future,” she said.