Research Rookies Student Profiles

Name: Noemi Rodriguez

Cohort: Freshman Research Rookie

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sally Conklin

Noemi Rodriguez has chosen to pursue an emotionally and academically difficult career. She would like to become a nurse for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Noemi herself had to spend a few months in the NICU after she was born, so when she interned at Children’s Memorial Hospital and did a NICU rotation, she immediately related to the babies there. Despite the difficulty of this field, Noemi is determined and wants to help the babies there to the best of her ability.

The Research Rookies project Noemi is studying incorporates not only pediatrics, but an aspect of psychology as well. Noemi will be working with her mentor on better understanding child abuse, especially the male victims and offenders. Noemi will be conducting some interviews, but will mainly be focusing on other articles to learn more about why males abuse children, what the long term effects of abuse are, and how abuse and the cycle of abuse can be prevented.

This project is providing Noemi with a unique perspective into her chosen career path. By learning more about abuse, she is hoping to provide insight into child-abuse prevention and helping the victims. The Research Rookies study is giving Noemi the opportunity to learn about her field, and about those to whom she has dedicated her life to helping – the children.

Noemi on what being a Research Rookie means: “Being a Research Rookie means that I have an advantage other students don't have.  I have the opportunity to do research on a topic I picked.  research is awesome!”