Cameron ManardMajor(s): Psychology Bachelor of Science with a Specialization in Social Psychology
College: Thurgood Marshall College
UC San Diego graduation year: 2025
Which research programs/experiences have you been a part of?
What are you researching (or did you do in the past)?
I have previously worked on a study looking at how our natural association of light coming from above and darkness below affects how fast people search for things in visual displays in light and dark backgrounds. Currently, I am researching the foundation of social communication deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by measuring brain activity in expectation of social and nonsocial rewarding stimuli in children with and without autism.
Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?
I have always had a passion for learning about why people behave the way they do. This passion has led me to pursue Psychology at UCSD to learn about it in a professional setting.
What has been the most exciting/interesting thing you've discovered through the research?
In the first study, we didn’t find what we expected, and what we found wasn’t consistent with previous research so it wasn’t something we could draw many conclusions about. In the literature review I conducted for the second study, I gained insight on how anticipation works in the brain for different kinds of stimuli and an ERP component that can be used to measure that anticipation.
What did you gain from the Undergraduate Research Hub?
I have gained the maturity and resilience needed for research from my experience in the DN Lab. My PI and the Undergraduate Research Center have given me more support than I could have believed before I joined UCSD. Because of this support, I have been able to attend and present at multiple conferences which has helped me better my presentation skills. From working in the lab, I have also been able to gain a multitude of skills that I have been able to share with other RAs in the lab.
What advice would you give to students starting research?
Find a professor who is doing research that you are passionate about and hit the ground running. The more you show your graduate students and PI that you care about the research and are willing to put in the effort needed to grow, the more chances you might get to do so. You will only go as far as you can carry yourself.
What are your future goals?
I plan to attend a graduate school whose program matches my interests and further my journey in academia as a professor and researcher after graduation.
Anything else you want to share?
If there is something that you are struggling with in the lab, chances are that you aren’t alone. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help because they will most likely be ecstatic to help you as long as you are still respectful of them when you ask.
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