Invited Symposium III: Invigorating the Social Work Research Pipeline: The Importance of Engaging Undergraduate Scholars

This symposium is a first step in SSWR’s commitment to invigorating the pipeline by highlighting the engagement of undergraduate and MSW students in research. Engaging young scholars in the science of social work is critical to the future of social work research. Research finds that undergraduates who engage in research are more likely to graduate and to be prepared for and gain acceptance to graduate school. Dean Edwina Uehara, SSWR President-elect, will review the context of higher education and federal research priorities that promote early engagement of students in research. Assistant Professor Dr. Karen Tabb will draw on her experience doing research as an undergraduate as well as models she saw as a doctoral student at the University of Washington and describe how she is integrating BSW and MSW students in her own lab. Heather Sears, BSW student, will present her research and how she became involved in social work research. Maria Pineros, MSW, and PhD student, will describe her path from undergraduate McNair scholar to doctoral student and highlight her current research. Implications for continued enhancement of the social work research pipeline will be examined.