Mentor Areas
I am an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, a faculty member of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, a pediatric psychologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as well as the psychologist for the Cancer Survivorship Program, and a behavioral scientist at the CHOP Center for Childhood Cancer Research. I am also the co-Director and co-Founder of CHOP’s mHealth Research Affinity Group funded through CHOP’s Research Institute and an advisor to CHOP’s office of Digital Health. I have focused my career on adolescents and young adults (AYA) impacted by chronic illness, especially cancer (e.g., those with cancer, who survived cancer, or are at increased risk of cancer). My NIH, CDC, and foundation-funded research includes intervention research, development of patient reported outcomes and descriptive studies. Variables targeted in my program of research include self-management, adherence, adjustment, health promotion, quality of life, pain, decision making, and transition to adult care of AYA.
Description:
The lab of Dr. Lisa Schwartz in the Section of Behavioral Oncology at the CHOP Center for Childhood Cancer Research has volunteer student research opportunities. The lab at CHOP focuses on self-management of adolescents and young adults impacted by cancer (those with cancer predisposition, on active treatment, or survivors). Areas of study include: 1) a multisite study tracking self-management of AYA survivors, 2) mobile health (text, app, biosensor) interventions and assessment, 3) implementation of survivorship care plans, 4) a study tracking daily pain, and 5) longitudinal tracking and outcomes of families with youth tested for cancer predisposition. Many studies include digital/mHealth components, mixed methods, validation of measures, and interventions. The student will specifically support and shadow recruitment activity at CHOP, which includes consent and assisting participants in completion of self-report measures. The student may also help with medical chart reviews, coding data, literature reviews, etc.
Preferred Qualifications
We are looking for exceptional students who are committed to gaining more experience conducting research in a pediatric setting and with interest in the areas of psychology, medicine, nursing, public health or other health-related disciplines. Interested students must also have a strong desire to gain experience with clinical research and excellent organizational, communication and writing skills. While this position is focused on supporting behavioral science research, a strong background in medical, health and other science knowledge is a plus given involvement of review of chronic disease medical records and multidisciplinary collaborations within the hospital.
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Project Academic Year
2023–2024
Volunteer
Yes
Paid
No
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.