UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1320

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Laura Widman
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: She/her
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): lwidman@fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): Nursing
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Nursing
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/21196/Laura_0.png

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Developing and Evaluating an App for Teen Sex Education
Project Keywords: adolescent sexual health; family communication; digital interventions
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
nursing, psychology, communication, social work, open to all majors

Project Location:: mostly remote; we'll meet on campus occassionally
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: No, the project is remote
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Fully Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 5-7
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
Most parents struggle to talk with adolescents about puberty, sex, and relationships, and most adolescents find these conversations awkward and embarrassing. To solve this problem, our team created an interactive digital program called Let’s Talk. This program helps parents and early adolescents (ages 10–13) have important sex education conversations in a way that is easy, fact-based, and cringe-free. You can learn more about the program here: www.lets-talk-families.com.

In the coming year, our team will refine some of the content in Let’s Talk, build a social media presence for the program, and evaluate how well the program helps increase family communication. We are seeking research assistants to assist with program development and evaluation activities this year. The student(s) will work directly with Dr. Laura Widman (a clinical psychologist and professor in the College of Nursing), as well as a postdoc, project coordinator, and possibly other students on Dr. Widman’s team.

Research Tasks:
Offer feedback on current program content; create new program content as needed (e.g., infographics, short video clips, family communication activities); create social media posts related to adolescent sexual health and parent-child communication; assist with recruitment and data collection; conduct literature reviews when needed; present findings of this project.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Required skills: highly reliable; detail oriented; motivated; great interpersonal skills, including clear and fast communication with the study team. 

Recommended skills: creativity; enjoys creating social media posts; already familiar with Canva and/or Vyond animation software (instruction will be provided if you're not familiar); interest in pursing a graduate degree in nursing, psychology, or other health sciences. 

Mentoring Philosophy:
I aspire to offer my students the same high-quality mentoring that I received throughout my own academic training. My goal as a mentor and a teacher is to engage and inspire students, encourage critical thinking, maintain a supportive learning environment, and motivate students to apply course material to life beyond the lab and classroom. I strive to instill a sense of curiosity, a love for learning, and a passion for conducting rigorous social and behavioral health research in my trainees, as I believe this sense of curiosity and desire for further knowledge is at the heart of a great education.  

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: www.lets-talk-families.com
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
I was a professor of psychology for 10 years at North Carolina State University before joining to faculty at FSU in August 2025. I'm so excited to be here! I really enjoy working with motivated undergraduates who are interested in learning new research skills and improving adolescent sexual health outcomes. You can visit my personal website to learn more about my background, publications, and other projects from my team here: www.drlaurawidman.com


Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Thursday, Sept 4th, 2:00-2:30pm (zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94713026235)

Roundtable Info:
- Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 2:00
  End Time: 2:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94713026235

UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2025
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