School Psychology Ph.D.candidate, Allison Dovi received the People's Choice Award in the talks category at the second annual Graduate Research and Scholarship Projects (GRaSP) Day held at the Student Center at the University of Houston (UH).  The event showcased the research-related activities of graduate students to the wider campus community. Her eight-minute, TED-style talk stemmed from her dissertation research which explores how framing second-generation antipsychotic medication as a “mood stabilizer” may influence parents' acceptability of this off-label prescription in treating pediatric ADHD.  Eleven awardees and two honorable mentions were recognized at the awards reception.

“Receiving the People’s Choice award was so meaningful to me because of two reasons: I am very passionate about my research and I am a bit of a nervous public speaker,” said Dovi.  “So the fact that those who attended the GraSP talk found my topic and presentation style to be interesting and engaging really validated the work I’ve been doing over the last few years, as well as the support and encouragement I have received from my program faculty, friends, and family as I reach the different milestones in my program.”

Jorge Gonzalez, associate professor in School Psychology, and one of Dovi’s dissertation committee members, recommended she be nominated for a GraSP talk.  Samuel McQuillin, assistant professor in School Psychology, also encouraged Dovi despite her being a bit of a nervous public speaker.

McQuillin noted that Allison's program of research is remarkable in the sense that it is a passion project, not a convenience project. “Her advisor doesn't study framing effects or pediatric pharmacology.  Dovi is collecting data herself and she is in constant contact with experts all over the country--vetting her ideas, screening her assessments, refining her theory.  She developed a small research team and found out ways to fund this team, etc. I hope that other Ph.D. students are inspired by Allison's entrepreneurial mindset, and this award encourages them to pursue projects that they are passionate about," he said.

“I am so happy that the faculty in my program thoughtfully recommended that I participate in this program because GRaSP was an excellent training opportunity and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in doing a TED Talk or pursuing a research career,” said Dovi. “One of most important aspects of research is being able to clearly articulate your ideas to a general audience, especially if you are conducting research to better inform issues that affect the general population.”

Dovi was grateful that the GRaSP trainers provided their expertise in public speaking, stage presence, TED-style presentation slides, and transforming complex concepts into engaging, simple ideas. “It was a fantastic training experience and is certainly one of the highlights of my graduate career,” she said.

Dovi chose to pursue a Ph.D. in School Psychology at UH because the College of Education truly takes advantage of the clinical training opportunities the city of Houston has to offer. “This program has provided me with a range of practicum experiences, including two school districts, an inpatient psychiatric facility, and a juvenile justice center, which would have been difficult to experience at other universities,” she said. “Additionally, the fact that Houston is the most diverse metropolitan area in the U.S. ensured that I would have the opportunity to learn how various diversity issues influence assessment, conceptualization, and intervention within different clinical settings. I believe working within a variety of clinical settings, as well as with diverse populations, is an integral component of my development as a psychologist.”

Dovi feels that first, and foremost, forming relationships with students and faculty within the College is key in preparing for life after graduation. “Within our department, we are encouraged at orientation to make an effort to get to know the other students, especially your cohort since you will be spending the majority of your time in class with them,” she said. “These relationships have been key sources of support for me since I’ve been in the program, and I very much anticipate them continuing to serve as sources of support and consultation long after graduation.”

Read more about the research Dovi presented in her TED Style Talk