Get College Ready with the Basics of Research

DOING DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH (GUILFORD PRESS).

We will cover:

CHAPTER 1: SELECTING A LABORATORY

CHAPTER 2: YOUR FIRST DAYS AND WEEKS IN THE LABORATORY

CHAPTER 3: MANAGING YOUR TIME

CHAPTER 4: DEVELOPING YOUR IDEAS AND IMMERSING IN A CULTURE OF RESEARCH

CHAPTER 5: DEVELOPING YOUR RESEARCH PROPOSAL

CHAPTER 6: RECRUITMENT AND ACCESS

CHAPTER 7: ORGANIZING AND PLANNING RESEARCH

CHAPTER 8: STRATEGIES FOR STATISTICS

CHAPTER 9: WRITING UP YOUR RESEARCH

CHAPTER 10: SELECTING JOURNALS AND AUTHORSHIP

CHAPTER 11: COMMUNICATING YOUR RESEARCH

What are our clients saying?

It’s no secret!

ZWIFLY® helped me to narrow down the fields that interest me most. This even helped me select my future college classes. I even received a letter of reference based on my internship performance.”

Sabrina Ramos College of the Holy Cross

ZWIFLY® allowed me to gain a real world experience in areas that I am passionate about. “I’ve gained an advantage not only on a research level, but on a college admissions level as well.” 

ABBY S. Thayer Academy 

“Working with Motor Fairy Tales, the ZWIFLY® affiliate company in Milan, Italy opened my eyes to how a startup company operates. As an economics major, I became aware of the marketing and business strategies the company uses to grow and expand.”

Sophie V.  College of the Holy Cross

GET COLLEGE READY

Get College Ready: At ZWIFLY®, we believe in the power of global connections and collaboration. Students will have the opportunity to connect with award winning scientists and professors from all over the world, learning about their research and collaboration opportunities. They will learn how to get involved in global research laboratories, understand research ethics, learn how to write a proposal for a study, learn the basics of coding behavior, and how to recruit participants for their project. Additionally, students will discover how to use social media to publicize and promote their research. They will also gain insight into the peer review process.

Throughout the program, students will be encouraged to think outside of the box and explore innovative ways of conducting research in the cognitive developmental sciences. They will develop an understanding of different approaches for tackling complex problems, learn about entrepreneurship for research, and uncover the potential of their research to make a global impact. This program culminates in a curated micro-internship, where students apply the skills and knowledge they have gained to solve a real-world problem. The micro-internship will allow students to apply their newfound knowledge in a practical scenario, learning from experienced professionals and gaining crucial experience in the field. Receive a certificate of participation and a letter outlining your performance. Start making connections and take the first step toward a successful career today.

At the end of the program, students will have developed a global network of professionals in the field, with an arsenal of knowledge and skills needed to be successful in their future endeavors. The experience is sure to open many new doors. Sign up now for a truly one-of-a-kind experience! The world of cognitive, developmental, and neuroscience research awaits. Let's get started. Sign up now at ZWIFLY®. Your summer starts here.

Learning more about the speakers

Why developmental research?

Father-infant interaction. Image@Lawrence Crayton

“I've always been passionate about helping others. Autism is a complex disorder that affects millions of people around the world and can be difficult to detect in its early stages. By studying autism, I knew I could better understand the condition and help those with autism get the resources they need. Researching autism also offered me unique opportunities to look into the causes, symptoms, and treatments. My research has focused on diagnosis and intervention in order to help people with autism reach their full potential as soon as possible. I am passionate about helping those living with autism so they can lead fulfilling lives filled with meaningful relationships and experiences. I believe that autism research is the key to unlocking better outcomes for individuals diagnosed with autism, which is why it’s so important to continue researching this condition. With more knowledge and a deeper understanding of autism comes the ability to support individuals better and provide long-term solutions.”

Dr. Roberta Fadda

“I was enthralled by infant neuroscience and the opportunity to work with some of the most innovative scientists in the field. I spent my days immersed in infant behavior, exploring the incredible capacities of their developing minds. I went on to become a professor in infant development and a leading researcher in infant cognition and behavior. I am passionate about understanding the way infants learn and their early experiences shape their development. My focus is on infant-caregiver interactions, infant motor and perceptual development, infant learning processes. I strive to build bridges between theory and practice so that infant development research can inform best practices for infant-caregiver interactions. I'm deeply committed to providing parents and caregivers with the tools they need to promote infant development, as well as to help infant-caregivers create a secure and supportive relationship. I believe that infant neuroscience can revolutionize infant development and I am passionate about sharing this knowledge with others.”

Tricia (Striano) Skoler

The Power of Connections for Student Success

Making strategic connections is essential for college students to successfully transition into successful adults. Whether it's a foreign exchange program, gap year, or an internship - these experiences can provide powerful insights and connections that can unlock career potential. Students are in a unique position when making decisions about their education and future careers, but often lack the experience to make informed choices. In the typical college classroom students meet one teacher, but they need to network with multiple mentors to succeed.

Here we'll explore the different types of connections that can help empower students and propel them towards success. We will discuss how connecting with peers, faculty, alumni, employers and other professionals can give students a leg up in their educational pursuits. We will also share tips on building successful relationships and more meaningful connections to succeed. Let's explore how students can leverage powerful connections to gain insights, build relationships and propel themselves forward in their careers.

Gap Year Opportunities Abroad

One way that college students can get out of their comfort zone and gain valuable life experiences is by taking a gap year abroad. This gives them the opportunity to experience different cultures and environments, which can help them to develop new perspectives and skillsets that will prove invaluable in their academic and professional pursuits. It also provides an opportunity for students to network with people from different backgrounds who may have the same interests and passions as they do - allowing them to create valuable connections that could be beneficial down the road.

Internships as Career Boosters

Internships are another great way for students to make important connections while gaining real-world experience in a particular field of study. Internships provide an excellent opportunity for learning, networking and developing skillsets that will be useful for future jobs or graduate school pursuits. Interns not only work with supervisors who can offer mentorship but also with colleagues who may become lifelong friends or even business partners later on down the road. Furthermore, internships give students access to resources like alumni networks or job boards which can lead them towards long-term career success.

Industry Conferences & Networking Events

Another way for college students to make strategic connections is through attending industry conferences or networking events related to their chosen field of study. These events offer an opportunity for hands-on learning through workshops or panel discussions with industry professionals who may have valuable advice on how best to navigate coursework or even career paths after graduation. Attending such events also allows students to connect directly with employers who are looking for qualified candidates - giving them a chance at securing internships or jobs during their time as undergraduates as well as post-graduation opportunities once they've completed their degree program.

Strategic Connections

Making strategic connections is essential if college students want to succeed in both academics and beyond upon graduation. Taking a gap year abroad, participating in internships, attending industry conferences/networking events - all of these activities give students opportunities not only to learn from experienced professionals but also build relationships with peers from diverse backgrounds who could end up being valuable contacts throughout their lives and careers. By leveraging powerful connections, college students will be able set themselves up for success now and long after they've left academia behind!

University Calabria, Department of Culture, Education & Society DiCES

We are pleased to announce the University of Calabria, Department of Culture, Education and Society (DiCES) is now a ZWFILY® affiliate. The mission of DiCES is to carry out research and training in the fields of Culture, Education and Society from an interdisciplinary perspective. The Department makes use of converging and complementary skills in the scientific and cultural psycho-pedagogical, philosophical, linguistic, sociological, juridical, economic-business, archaeological, historical-documentary areas. The cultural scientific project of the Department is aimed at building new and fruitful collaborative experiences regarding teaching, the strengthening of research and the third mission, and internationalization.

Doing your Honors Project? Why be Bored?

Do we learn best in dark windowless classrooms? Probably not! Biophilia, the love of nature, is linked to health, productivity and wellness. ZWIFLY® is working with companies in Sardinia, Italy testing how biophilic design in classrooms affects cognitive development. Why did we pick this region of the world? Sardinia is a BLUE ZONE, a region of the world where people live longer. According to the research paper, More to Blue Zones than long Life: Positive Psychological Characteristics, “People aged 65+ living in the Sardinian Blue Zone have substantially lower levels of depressive symptomatology, higher levels of self-perceived well-being and better subjective and objective cognitive health relative to matched control samples.” Want to learn more? So do we. That’s why we are collaborating with companies and colleagues in Sardinia, Italy.

Working? Taking other classes? We thought of that! That’s why it is possible to get involved in biophilic design research even from preparatory schools and colleges in the USA. Contact us at ZWIFLY® to learn more. Interested in topics such as biophilic design, architecture, health, interior design, real estate, cognitive development, psychology and education? Biophilia research may be for you! Contact us at info@ZWFILY.com to discuss your goals. 😁 We make the connections!

Join the Discussion Today 🌎

“Providing students, regardless of their major, with the skills that employers are seeking should be part of every academic department’s curriculum. For example, psychology, a perennially popular major with more than 100,000 graduates a year, is a field with limited prospects for those who don’t pursue advanced studies. But a psychology major who acquires data analysis skills through research or internships can unlock more than 100,000 additional entry-level jobs paying on average $60,000, versus $39,000 for psychology majors overall” WSJ, 2021,The Crisis of Unemployed College Graduates

The Best Freshman Year is a Gap Year (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2018)

ZWIFLY® + MOTOR FAIRY TALES by S.Verra

Three Tips to Encourage Children to Start a New Activity

The times we are living in are unusual. With all the unanticipated free time caused by the pandemic, parents and children may find themselves bored. They may wonder how they can spend their time. It is important for children to move and engage with others even in the absence of direct social interaction. 

As a result of this new lifestyle, parents must often teach, monitor, and entertain children from home for long periods of time. For parents with younger children it has been challenging. During a time when we have limited access to the world outside of our homes, many of us are not getting the exercise necessary for our health and well-being. To take advantage of our time, it is a great time to get involved in a new sport or activity.

Children at play

It is also important for children to continue to improve their motor development and cognitive development. They can do this through new activities. Here are three of my tips to help encourage your child to get involved in a new activity:

1. Watch Others Play: Take your child to watch a professional team play or practice in a real arena or stadium. Watch a new sport on television. Make it a point to watch together every night after dinner. Bring your child to their cousins/older siblings game. Let your child see other people having fun as they play the sport. This will get your child interested! 

2.  Let them select:  Do not tell your child which sport to play or get involved with. Rather, let them choose which one interests them. Just because you were captain of the football team when you were in high school does not mean that your child wants to be. Children do not always want to follow in their parents footsteps. In fact, it is exciting to to get involved with an activity or sport that is unfamiliar to both of you. Together you can bond over a newfound interest in the new activity.

3. Be Open: If your child is not the sporty type, that is okay! Do not push sports on your child if they are not into them. Instead, there are plenty of healthy and active activities that will stimulate early development. For example, you may see if your child is interested in hiking, yoga, origami making, learning a new instrument, or learning to bake.

By S. Verra (College of the Holy Cross Undergraduate; ZWIFLY®)

Play to Learn

Play is a natural and important part of human development. What do children learn from play?  First they learn to explore and experiment. Experimentation is an important skill that is at the core of development. Children are often in the process of experimenting.  When infants are born, they experiment by scanning the world with their eyes. They test out different types of cries and looking patterns as they experiment with caregivers.  Infants cry differently depending on their basic needs, whether they want to be held or fed.  Babies’ cries have complex musical properties (1). It is no wonder that infants have a natural sense of rhythm. Sometimes infants cry as a way to communicate because they simply want to play with others.  Play begins early whether we are signing to infants with a playful voice or teasing them with a toy.

Wermke, K., & Mende, W. (2009). Musical elements in human infants’ cries: In the beginning is the melody. Musicae Scientiae, 13, 151–175.

The Secret to Successful Global Internships

What is the formula for a meaningful college internship? How can we support students and small to mid sized companies in making more meaningful global connections? Could hybrid internships be a solution? Join us for a conversation with Dr. Markus Lemmens and Tricia Skoler.

This event is by invitation only. Please write to us at info@zwifly.com for details.

The secret to successful global internships. A conversation with Markus Lemmens and Tricia Skoler

Dr. Tricia (Striano) Skoler Keynote Speaker SAPIENS Conference

The SAPIENS Early Social Development (SESD) conference was held in Ghent, Belgium. The conference was arranged by SAPIENS, a European Training network funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions of the Horizon 2020 program. This interdisciplinary scientific training network consists of early stage researchers supervised by leading experts in the field across Europe. The aim of the network is to examine early social interactions and how they tune critical brain functions in early childhood.

Riding the Waves through the” Oh Rats” of Research, Keynote address. Ghent, Belgium. Tricia (Striano) Skoler

The early stage researchers of SAPIENS will present their research in a range of talks, focused on the four topics above. In addition, two keynote speakers, Prof. Dr. Tony Charman and Prof. Dr. Tricia (Striano) Skoler, will talk about mechanisms of ASD development and career pathways in developmental psychology, respectively.   

WHY E-PORTFOLIO?

• Reflect on your work

• Create a plan

• Provide a full picture of your achievements

• Take ownership of your work

• Make new connections

  There are several advantages of an e-portfolio. Want to learn more about the e-portfolio? Consider our upcoming ZWIFLY® workshop. The e-portfolio is also a great idea for high school students considering college or even a gap year. Have questions about our upcoming workshop on e-portfolios? Write to us at info@zwifly.com

Are Instagram's Aesthetic Mom's Hindering Children's Development?

Taupe and cream nurseries are in vogue right now. They’re beautifully beige, but some worry they might be bad for babies. Dr. Skoler’s research on infant joint attention is featured in Wired Magazine. Whether you are interested in architecture, developmental neuroscience or interior design, ZWIFLY® will help you to make the connections. We understand the value of interdisciplinary approaches to learning and research. Interested in learning more about art, business, and design? Consider a remote curated internship with our affiliate gallery in Sardinia.

Motor Fairy Tales Milan

Motor Fairy Tales (Fiabe Motorie®) gets kids moving across Italy. Physical activity fosters the development of executive function, cognitive flexibility, and problem solving. Motor Fairy Tales is designed to improve children’s physical activity. The Motor Fairy Tales method applies exercises aimed at the development of physical patterns. As the program progresses, children develop physically, emotionally and cognitively for a healthy well-being.The Motor Fairy Tales method applies exercises aimed at the development of physical patterns. ZWIFLY® is proud to have Motor Fairy Tales as an affiliate company. Students apply their knowledge of motor development, cognitive development, sport and business. Preparing for experiential learning opportunity, students read peer reviewed research papers, including:

Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science, 333 (6045), 959–964.

Verburgh, L., Scherder, E. J., van Lange, P. A., & Oosterlaan, J. (2014). Executive functioning in highly talented soccer players. PloS one 9 (3), e91254.

““I recommend ZWIFLY® to students so that they are exposed to various fields. Reading the research literature and seeing it applied is a huge advantage. I
wish I had this experience as an undergraduate.”
”

— R. Abdus-Salaam, GAP YEAR (Howard University, BA)

Francesca Bellagamba, PhD publishes paper on infant feeding

ZWIFLY® global mentor, Dr. Francesca Bellagamba, of the University of Rome has recently published a paper in the journal, Appetite (2021). The issue of baby feeding is relevant to a variety of fields from medicine to nutrition and cognitive development to entrepreneurship. The abstract of the research can be found below. Get to know more about Dr. Bellagamba’s research with ZWIFLY®.

Baby-led weaning in Italy and potential implications for infant development.

Abstract

Baby-led weaning is an approach to complementary feeding that emphasizes an infant's ability to self-feed rather than being spoon fed, and to eat minimally-processed foods rather than puréed foods. This study aimed to investigate the variability in infant feeding practices and the possible association with developmental milestones in an Italian population. A sample of 1245 mothers of 6–12 month-old infants completed an online survey about complementary feeding and their infant's attainment of developmental milestones. Infants' eating of family food was positively related to self-feeding and to a lower consumption of puréed foods. As in previous studies in the UK and New Zealand, a baby-led weaning style was positively associated with breastfeeding, exposure to complementary foods around six months of age, earlier exposure to both finger and family foods, and higher interest in family food and shared family meals. Infants who were introduced to solid foods using a baby-led weaning approach were more likely to have met important developmental milestones; when controlling for covariates, percentage of family feeding was positively associated with sitting unsupported at an earlier age and a low spoon-feeding style was associated with crawling at an earlier age. These data suggest that baby-led weaning should be defined more comprehensively. Moreover, its potential influence on developmental domains beyond diet and eating behavior warrants future targeted exploration.

CEO DIALOGS

A fast moving world and global challenges put economies and societies under continuous pressure to come up with innovative solutions and new technologies. Hence, a vibrant and disruptive start-up ecosystem is of central importance to keep up with the fast paced development of future technologies.

Dr. Tricia (Striano) Skoler, ZWIFLY® global mentor, recently joined Dietmar Rieg, CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce, New York, Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Sustainability Expert at KEARNY, Sasha Feldhorst, CEO of Motion Miners GmbH and Dirk Kanngiesser, Cofounder of the German Accelerator at the Transatlantic CEO https://cet.tu-dortmund.de

Dr. LUCA TICINI

ZWIFLY® global mentor, Dr. Luca Ticini, was recently featured at TEDX Pordenone where he spoke about art, neuroscience and neuroaesthetics.

Almeno una volta nella vita ci siamo emozionati guardando un'opera d'arte; quali sono i processi cerebrali che ci permettono di vivere davanti all'arte queste emozioni imprevedibili? Luca Ticini, docente di Neuroscienze Cognitive, ci ha portato nel mondo della percezione della bellezza dicendoci che essa può essere imparata ed allenata. Educare al bello genera benessere nell'individuo, un bel messaggio da portare assieme a noi. Professore Universitario This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Create your own opportunity

Gaining experience is one of the best approaches to finding the right career fit. It is normal not to be sure what you want to do in the future. Maybe you selected a college major and are preparing to graduate, but are not sure how to apply your degree to potential employment. As a college professor, I meet hundreds of students each year who are not sure what they want to do with their life. Often college education does not provide students relevant real world experience to test out their ideas and skills and to make meaningful connections.

Fortunately, you have the power to make your own connections and to create your own opportunity. This begins with finding relevant experience. There are several ways to do it, but persistence is key. Do not wait for opportunities to arise but create your own. Do you have computer science skills? How do you want to apply these skills? Can you find ten companies that could use your skill set? You will need to do research to be successful. Remember to think outside of the box. As wonderful as it may be to obtain an internship at Google or Microsoft, your skills may be more valuable to a small or start-up company.

Don’t write: “I’m a computer science major in my 5th year looking for an internship.”

Do write: “I am a computer science major and noticed that (Company Name here) may need an app designed to assist your customers with scheduling appointments. I would be eager to speak with you about the possibility of an internship or other opportunities.

Can you see the difference? Show the company that you have done your homework, that you have outstanding research skills, and that you are an independent and creative thinker.