Sharon Qi

Sharon is a senior majoring in Health Policy and Administration at University Park.

Research project and interests

My research mainly centers on the "Effects of Stress on Cognitive Aging, Physiology, and Emotion (ESCAPE) study," with the goal of better understanding healthy aging and challenges in maintaining cognitive health throughout mid-life to senior years.

How did you get involved in undergraduate research at Penn State?

I first got involved in the Center for Healthy Aging Lab in the fall of 2013, which was my first semester here at Penn State after transferring from another University. I was introduced to the lab through the Gerontology Club at Penn State.

How much time do you spend on research?

I spend about 2 to 3 hours each day, which equates to about 21 hours each week, doing research.

What would you tell a friend who wants to get involved in undergraduate research?

I would encourage them to inquire about any research opportunities in their major. Research, while it is time consuming and does require dedication, has greatly helped my professional development. It has also allowed me to attend national conferences such as The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting that then gave me great networking opportunities.