Project #1: Bullying, Discrimination, and Youth Mental Health

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The selected student will work with the Bullying Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Lab, which studies bullying, discrimination, and youth mental health. Funded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, and National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the lab collects data from parent, youth, and young adults on their experience with bullying, discrimination, school adjustment, mental health, and civic engagement. The lab also provides mental health prevention/early interventions, (including Youth Mental Health First Aid training and behavioral parent training, to diverse parents/youth workers to teach them mental health first aid skills to support youth facing mental health challenges.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The UM Scholar will participate in the literature review, data analysis and report writing of the projects. The UM Scholar will also help us code interview data to explore experience of racism, ethnic racial socialization (the parental messages concerning children’s race and ethnicity), civic engagement, youth adjustment, and barriers to seek mental health services.

The UM Scholar will receive training on how to support youth mental health, such as Youth Mental Health First Aid (depending on availability). The UM Scholar may have opportunities to support interventions with immigrant parents and youth.

Learning objectives: The UM scholar will learn mental health knowledge and skills to support immigrant youth and families, specifically related to bullying and mental health. They will be able to identify risk and protective factors impacting youth mental health and identify important factors to consider when culturally adapting intervention for immigrant families.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

This project is ideal for graduate students pursuing a Master’s or doctoral (PhD) degree, particularly those with training in social sciences (e.g., psychology, social work, family sciences, human development) or education, and are interested in bullying prevention, youth mental health, parenting and/or Asian American youth mental health. 

ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

Students may come from UMB’s School of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Social Work, Francis King Carey School of Law, or School of Pharmacy.

PROJECT LOCATION

This project will be conducted in a hybrid format – remote and in-person at UMCP.

PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Cixin Wang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Psychology
Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education
3112E Benjamin Building
On UMCP’s Campus

BIO: Cixin Wang, PhD

EMAIL: cxwang@umd.edu

More than one student will be considered for this project.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:

• 10 weeks/400-hour student research project conducted with schedule mutually defined and agreed upon by the student and mentor.
• The project is funded by the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State (MPower) and is a part of the UM Scholars program.
• The selected student will receive a stipend for their work, to be paid in multiple installments over the 10 weeks.
  • $5,500 for undergraduate students
  • $6,500 for graduate students
• Work is expected to occur during typical business hours; Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
• To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in the Fall 2026 semester.
• Traveling to and from UMCP, as well as parking, is the responsibility of the student and costs are included in the stipend.