BVU student Grace Sullivan selected for summer research fellowship at George Mason University

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STORM LAKE, IA (05/22/2012)(readMedia)-- Grace Sullivan will be spending a good portion of her summer in the nation's capital. The junior biology and psychology double major at Buena Vista University (BVU) from Yankton, S.D., was selected for the American Psychology Association's six-week Summer Fellowship Program at George Mason University in Washington, D.C. Only 12 students were selected from a nationwide pool of 450 applicants.

While at George Mason, Grace will be working in a behavioral neuroscience lab.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed doing research at BVU and I am constantly looking for opportunities to implement my interests in behavioral neurosciences and other overlaps between biology and psychology. An internship allowing me to participate in a behavioral neuroscience lab provides me with this opportunity as well as experience for graduate school and paid employment for a good part of the summer," says Grace. "Employment by the American Psychological Association will look pretty good on a résumé, and this particular lab looks like a fun experience."

Grace's past research experience includes projects in biology and psychology as well as an Honor's Program project and a psychology thesis. She also has a wealth of lab experience. She credits Dr. Wind Goodfriend, associate professor of experimental psychology; Dr. James Hampton, professor of biology, and Dr. Kristy McClellan, assistant professor of biology, as being instrumental in helping her apply and prepare for this fellowship.

"Working on research projects with both Dr. Hampton and Dr. Goodfriend has prepared me well for conducting research, and all three professors were helpful in motivating me to apply. Knowledge in neurosciences and psychology are obviously necessary for this type of research, so I am very grateful to have such helpful mentors in both fields," says Grace. "BV's focus on research is also useful to me. With so much practice creating experimental designs, writing research proposals, and conducting experiments, I am well prepared for a research fellowship."