Become fluent in Spanish. Build a ship in a bottle. Attend Columbia University to
study non-combat related post-traumatic stress disorder ... While many students are
still trying to determine their summer plans, first-year Judy Genshaft Honors College
student Jo Barringer already has her long-term goals clearly mapped out.
Currently enrolled in a three-year, fully-funded program that allows her to enter
a Ph.D. program after graduation, Barringer plans to leverage her major in psychology
and minor in Spanish into a future in drug research through which she can better advocate
for people suffering with addiction.
From her first moments at the 51在线 (USF), Barringer has engaged
in activities to help her reach her goals. While writing her Honors freshman thesis
on addiction, Barringer studied Dr. Bren茅 Brown鈥檚 research on shame, which inspired
her to pivot her career plans from health care provider to researcher and advocate.
Conducting a literature review allowed her to gain increased background knowledge
on many of the social and emotional issues surrounding addiction.
Following the advice of her Honors Foundations peer mentor, she reached out to the
local Veterans Hospital and various labs on campus to gain hands-on experience with
these issues. She then followed-up on an email from the Honors College offering research
opportunities to students, which ultimately connected her to research opportunities
on drug abuse with Dr. Micah Johnson and Dr. Kimberly Johnson.
Under their guidance, Barringer helps investigate the effects of abuse on drug use in adolescents as part of the Substance Misuse and Addictions Research Traineeship (SMART) lab housed in USF鈥檚 College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.
鈥淎lways check your email, reach out, be outgoing. Talking gets you very far,鈥� said Barringer. "Make the most of the resources available to you, by connecting with your peer mentor, Honors advisor, faculty, and staff."
Jo's Research Advice
1. Don鈥檛 be afraid to initiate conversations with professionals, regardless of your
experience. Expressing genuine interest forges strong connections and makes a great
first impression. Simply sending an email can open the door to new prospects.
2. Always be on the lookout for new opportunities and take advantage of USF鈥檚 many
resources such as the undergraduate research portal, Honors advisors, the Office of National Scholars (ONS), and the Office of High Impact Practice and Undergraduate Research.
3. Engage with your Honors community by attending events, connecting with your peers,
and contributing to an enriched class environment. This will help you feel more at
home in the Honors College and will also help you learn about potential research and
internship opportunities.