The Doing Diversity Science (DDS) program is an eight-week summer research experience for undergraduates directed by Associate Prof. Avital Livny (Political Science) and administered by CSBS through the University of Illinois Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Alliance in the Chancellor’s Office of Public Engagement. DDS is designed to equip its undergraduate participants with the research skills necessary to contribute to and expand the field of diversity and equity science across disciplines. The program guides students through a mentored research experience, which is then paired with coursework that introduces and deepens their understanding of the core principles of social and behavioral science (SBS).
Students are matched with faculty in CSBS’s Illinois Diversity and Equity Science (IDES) interdisciplinary research network who guide them through ongoing research projects on issues related to the etiology and reduction of inequality. To complement their research with their mentors, students’ coursework guides them to a deeper understanding of the “what,” “why,” and “how” of SBS, and encourages them to apply these concepts directly to their ongoing projects. The DDS program leverages UIUC’s Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) to provide additional professional development opportunities. In August, students in the 2024 summer cohort of the program presented their work at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium.
The DDS experiences and partnerships help solidify students’ connections to the broader research community to ensure they are prepared for future research efforts. The relationships built with participants’ mentors and peers can extend after the program, leading to ongoing collaboration and growing a network of scholars dedicated to diversity and equity in social science research.
For the broader research community at Illinois, DDS represents a strategic effort to build a pipeline of young scholars who are not only technically proficient but also deeply engaged with the social issues that underpin their research. The program’s interdisciplinary approach ensures students gain a well-rounded perspective, helping them to see the interconnectedness of various fields and the value of diverse conceptual and methodological approaches in addressing complex problems.
DDS Director Avital Livny (associate professor of political science) shared her thoughts on the program’s impact.
“To me, research is about empowering the voices and the questions that come up for each individual. That’s what’s so great about diversifying science – there are questions and perspectives that haven’t been brought up before because the people who had those ideas were not at the table. As I’ve shared with the program participants, your personal experiences and questions that come up for you might be the spark of a great research idea. What might be obvious to everybody but doesn’t make sense to you could be an assumption that you’re challenging. Each one of them, in their own way, has developed a research idea that speaks to an intuition that they had – something that they wanted to bring to the table. I think that’s an empowering experience for these students, especially at this stage of their educational journey.”
Hear from DDS participant Jaelyn Blair. Jaelyn is a junior in psychology at North Carolina A&T State University. Her research mentor at Illinois was psychology professor Dr. Eleanor Seaton.
What was the goal of your research project?
This research examines how internalized racism harms the mental health of Black adolescents, contributing to assimilation attitudes, depressive symptoms, and self-hatred. By exploring these impacts and underlying mechanisms, it underscores the need for targeted mental health interventions and societal changes to combat systemic racism and promote the well-being of Black youth.
How has this research experience influenced your understanding of social and behavioral science?
My understanding of the social and behavioral sciences has been significantly impacted by this study experience, which has brought to light the widespread effects of internalized racism on Black adolescents’ mental health. I am now aware how cultural myths and societal institutions influence people’s psychology and behavior on a deeper level. The significance of taking systemic inequality and social identities into account while researching mental health was highlighted by this study. I find it crucial for social and behavioral sciences to identify and address the often-hidden but potent factors that lead to gaps in mental health.
What skills or knowledge do you feel you’ve gained from participating in the DDS program this summer?
The DDS program has significantly improved my research skills, teaching me how to conduct research more effectively as a student. I learned essential aspects of data collection and research design, which have been invaluable for my study on internalized racism and its impacts.