COR Scholars

San Diego State UniversityDepartment of Psychology

COR Scholars Thrive at SDSU

2005-2006 SDSU Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Program . Back row from left: COR Director Dr. Terry Cronan, Andrea Fowler, Mabel Ribas, Leah Heng, Christina Buelna, and Program Coordinator Nancy Cronan. Front row from left: Rafael Hernandez, Daniel Choe, Adam Renteria, and Ian Villalta.

The Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Program at San Diego State University has been funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIH) since 2002. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented and/or disadvantaged students who go on to graduate degree programs in the field of mental health. COR Scholars take rigorous coursework, are matched with faculty mentors, and develop as professional researchers through hands-on training and interaction with other scientists. Scholars present their research findings at national meetings and network with faculty and students from across the country. For more information, go to www.sdsucorprogram.sdsu.edu

Christina Buelna is junior COR Scholar majoring in psychology. She works with Dr. Emilio Ulloa in his Dating Violence Prevention Lab. Her work has focused on the effect of social support on disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, and she has also studied the influence of perceived negative sanctions on dating violence. She is developing a study that explores the relationship between dating violence, STDs, and power.

Daniel Choe is junior COR scholar and is working in the Center for Behavioral Teratology. Research in the lab focuses on neuropsychological functioning of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Mattson, Daniel has been studying the post-natal effects of pre-natal exposure to alcohol and drugs.

Andrea Fowler is a senior COR Scholar. She works with Dr. Claire Murphy in the Lifespan Human Senses Lab, conducting fMRI research on taste and olfaction. She also conducts testing at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in La Jolla , CA .

Leakhena (Leah) Heng is a Cambodian-Chinese student and a junior COR Scholar. She is a Psychology major with a minor in Child and Family Development. Leah works in Dr. Thierry Devos' lab, using the Implicit Association Test to study issues related to social identity, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination.

Rafael Hernandez is a Junior COR Scholar and fifth year Psychology undergraduate student. He is working in Dr. Paul Gilbert's lab studying memory. His research is on olfactory source memory and aging.

Adam Renteria is a senior COR scholar. He is conducting research at the Center for Behavioral Teratology under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Thomas. His interest in neuropsychology motivates him to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Mabel Ribas is a senior COR scholar majoring in Psychology and Political Science with a minor in Child Development. She is conducting research on ethnic disparities in mammogram screening rates among low-income populations under the guidance of Dr. Terry Cronan at the Health Outcome Studies Lab.

Ian K. Villalta is a senior COR Scholar. He works with Dr. Terry Cronan in the Health Outcome Studies Laboratory. He has presented his work at several professional and scholarly conferences. Ian's next step is to obtain his graduate training in Clinical Psychology. His ultimate goal is to conduct drug prevention research as a university faculty member.

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	Christina Buelna is junior COR Scholar majoring in psychology. She works with Dr. Emilio Ulloa in his Dating Violence Prevention Lab. Her work has focused on the effect of social support on disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, and she has also studied the influence of perceived negative sanctions on dating violence. She is developing a study that explores the relationship between dating violence, STDs, and power.
	Daniel Choe is junior COR scholar and is working in the Center for Behavioral Teratology. Research in the lab focuses on neuropsychological functioning of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Mattson, Daniel has been studying the post-natal effects of pre-natal exposure to alcohol and drugs.
	Andrea Fowler is a senior COR Scholar. She works with Dr. Claire Murphy in the Lifespan Human Senses Lab, conducting fMRI research on taste and olfaction. She also conducts testing at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in La Jolla , CA .
	Leakhena (Leah) Heng is a Cambodian-Chinese student and a junior COR Scholar. She is a Psychology major with a minor in Child and Family Development. Leah works in Dr. Thierry Devos' lab, using the Implicit Association Test to study issues related to social identity, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination.
	Rafael Hernandez is a Junior COR Scholar and fifth year Psychology undergraduate student. He is working in Dr. Paul Gilbert's lab studying memory. His research is on olfactory source memory and aging.
	Adam Renteria is a senior COR scholar. He is conducting research at the Center for Behavioral Teratology under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Thomas. His interest in neuropsychology motivates him to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology.
	Mabel Ribas is a senior COR scholar majoring in Psychology and Political Science with a minor in Child Development. She is conducting research on ethnic disparities in mammogram screening rates among low-income populations under the guidance of Dr. Terry Cronan at the Health Outcome Studies Lab.
	Ian K. Villalta is a senior COR Scholar. He works with Dr. Terry Cronan in the Health Outcome Studies Laboratory. He has presented his work at several professional and scholarly conferences. Ian's next step is to obtain his graduate training in Clinical Psychology. His ultimate goal is to conduct drug prevention research as a university faculty member.