Chelsea Olson, PhD is a research scientist on SMAHRT and the program manager for the Technology and Adolescent Mental Wellness (TAM) program. We asked Chelsea to share more about her research interests and to shed light on what it’s like to be a researcher on SMAHRT.
What research question or project are you passionate about right now?
I’m currently really excited about two projects. The first is our Brain, Behavior, and WellBeing (B3) project. I’m really enjoying social media coding and I’m looking forward to exploring that further and comparing adolescents’ social media posting habits to reports of their offline behavior. Second, I’m in the process of developing a manuscript idea that stems from our Technology and Young Adult Health (TYAH) study data and my work on cyberstalking victimization experiences in young adults.
When did you know you wanted to do research?
I explored many career paths during my undergraduate studies in psychology, but none stuck with me quite like research. I joined an educational psychology research lab my junior year and quickly found a passion for being at the forefront of acquiring new knowledge about interesting topics related to adolescent development.
What is the most exciting part of your job?
I love that a career in research means that every day is different. Working on research projects with the intent to benefit youth is a highlight of my job. I also love working with youth to both incorporate them into research that is about them, and also to train the next generation of researchers.
What is your favorite part about attending academic conferences?
It is really fun to see and learn what new research is being done in my areas of interest. I find that it is incredibly motivating and inspiring. I always leave conferences with a pep in my step. I also really enjoy connecting with other researchers who have similar passions and creating potential partnerships.