By Maggie Bushman/ Communications Intern
When SMAHRT made the move back to Madison in August 2017 they welcomed a new member to their team. Kole Binger was hired in November 2017 and has been working here at SMAHRT for four months now. Although, she was not part of the original team from Seattle, Kole has become a valuable member of the team.
Kole graduated in May 2017 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a biology degree. She had research experience during her undergraduate years here in Madison, but her experiences were all over the board. At the end of her senior year, only six months before working for SMAHRT, Kole was working in a transplant lab where they looked at antibody mediated rejection models in regards to the immune system.
For SMAHRT, Kole is an associate research specialist. She is involved in two of the current studies that SMAHRT is working on. R34, the first study, is looking at potential alcohol intervention methods on Facebook. Kole is now identifying participants through Facebook and evaluating if their use of the platform would benefit from an alcohol intervention. Kole is also working on the Marijuana Public Health Study. This study is looking at marijuana advertisements in states where it is legal. More specifically, they are looking at those advertisements in regards to adolescents and how they might interact with these ads on social media.
In Kole’s time here at SMAHRT she has learned several valuable lessons. When it comes to research, Kole has discovered that it is not a linear process, but an iterative one. “A lot of times when you take a break and come back to your work you see it in an entirely different light”, Kole said. She has also learned how important communication skills are in regards to research. At times, research can involve complicated jargon or ideas and it is easy to misunderstand one another.
When it comes to Kole’s research interests, she has similar interests to SMAHRT’s. She is interested in adolescents and their use of social media because it has become such a central aspect of society. Kole has more of an interest in younger kids and how social media effects their development and social identity. At SMAHRT, staff and interns are given the opportunity for an independent project. Kole’s research looks at how college students post about alcohol during college football game days.
In the upcoming months, Kole is excited to continue her work on SMAHRT’s current studies. She will also be presenting her independent project research at the Pediatric Academic Society Conference in May 2018.
SMAHRT also has their Summer Research Scholars in July 2018 and Kole is looking forward to connecting with adolescents in the Madison area.
Kole’s goal is to have her work not only influence and benefit my patients, but also benefit the scientific community. “I want to be like Megan when I grow up”, Kole explained.