ResearchYOU! LAB

Empowering Undergraduate Students in Research

Our Mission

The ResearchYOU! Lab aims to provide underrepresented and underserved undergraduate students with hands-on research experiences that foster the development of critical research skills. Through faculty mentorship, collaborative projects, and interactive workshops, we strive to enhance students' analytical, technical, and professional skills while preparing them for academic and career success.

Program Goals

Goal 1: Increase underrepresented students’ access to research experiences, preparing them for future academic and career opportunities.
Goal 2: Provide immersive, hands-on experiences in research, critical thinking, and problem-solving through workshops and real-world projects, encouraging the pursuit of advanced studies and research-based careers.

Program Features

Students in the ResearchYOU! Lab Experience will engage in activities that encourage teamwork, research skills development, and professional growth, including:

Hands-on research tasks guided by experienced faculty mentors.
Interactive workshops on topics like survey development, content analysis, and qualitative/quantitative research methods.
Small group research teams that foster collaboration and peer learning.
Research presentation opportunities, including submission to the University Undergraduate Research Day.

Unique Approach

What sets ResearchYOU! apart is our focus on fostering long-term faculty-student relationships in a virtual research lab environment. Our low faculty-to-student ratio ensures personalized mentorship and enhanced learning experiences. By incorporating innovative research methods and focusing on issues relevant to underserved students, ResearchYOU! builds a strong foundation for future academic and professional success.

Research Projects

Students participate in a variety of real-world research projects, exploring topics such as:

Underrepresented Students' College Success and Persistence
Recommerce Business Models
Consumer Responses to Startup Sellouts
Work-Life Balance of Teleworkers and Hybrid Workers
Post-Retirement Career Transitions
Brand Activism and Prosocial Communication
Gender and Age Discrimination in the Workplace

Select Student Feedback

“I loved how hands on it was. We got to talk to other participants and even get feedback from one of the Faculty members to help us improve our research question!”
“I liked how everyone was encouraged to share thoughts and opinions. It’s what really makes a workshop valuable, so I loved the emphasis of that today.”
“It really highlighted how different people perceive different pieces of information and how we can come to conclusions by synthesizing all of those points of views.”
“The ResearchYOU! lab is very universal. It does not matter how old you are…it’s across the board.”

Funding and Collaboration

Funding Agency:
United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)

Grant Title:
From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals Program

Project Title:
USDA NextGEN Consortium

Key Partners:

Tennessee State University
Alcorn State University
Fort Valley State University
Chief Dull Knife College
Virginia Tech
Vanderbilt University
Middle Tennessee State University
University of Tennessee-Martin
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

Funding Total:
$19,000,077 (total proposal)
$1,356,250 (University of Houston portion, funded)

NextGEN Consortium: Additional Project Support

The NextGEN Consortium extends its support beyond ResearchYOU!, also funding NextGEN Scholarships and providing partial funding for key initiatives like the NRFSA (National Retail Federation Student Association) and study abroad programs. These additional projects aim to enrich students' global perspectives and professional development.