South Middlesex Times

Rutgers University-New Brunswick is offering a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in research through Professor Yanhong Jin's elective class, "Food, Nutrition, and Health." The course allows students to develop their own research topics, create surveys, gather data, and analyze results. This initiative aims to enhance critical thinking and data analysis skills among students.

Professor Jin has set two criteria for the research projects: they must be relevant to the class and connected to the students' daily lives. She emphasizes that many undergraduates lack analytical skills and research experience. "I understand how research can empower students through critical thinking," said Jin.

For the current semester, students are working on two main projects: analyzing healthy eating behaviors among college students and addressing food waste in dining halls. Teams of students design survey questions presented via a smartphone app, with participants responding on their phones.

Among those participating are Jacqueline Skunakis and Jess Dugo. Skunakis is focused on learning about research processes and appreciates the connections made during this experience. "It's a great way to end my undergrad career here at Rutgers," she noted.

Dugo values Professor Jin's encouragement for student involvement in research. "I'm able to form more research connections," said Dugo.

Undergraduates in Jin’s class may have opportunities to present findings at professional meetings or publish their work in academic journals. In 2018, a team presented at an international conference, while another project from 2022 was published in a peer-reviewed journal with student coauthors.

Jin also collaborates with the Aresty Research Center program to accept students for additional research opportunities. Moustafa Basiony, a recent graduate involved with this program, presented his work at a national conference earlier this year.

The professor requires her students to obtain certification for conducting human subjects' research. She believes these experiences not only enrich resumes but also make graduates more competitive in the job market.