Elisa Shernoff
Email Address: eshernof@uic.eduCollege: Medicine Department: Psychiatry
Title: Research Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry
Office: 318 IJR Phone: 6-1646
Webpage: http://www.psych.uic.edu/faculty/shernoff.htm
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: No
Research Interest:
My research focuses on expanding mental health practice in urban schools to include supporting teacher effectiveness as a mechanism for promoting positive academic and behavioral outcomes for children living in urban poverty. I direct a study funded by the Department of Education focused on developing, refining, and testing the feasibility of a service model for early career teachers working in urban low-income communities. The study is underway in partnership with three Chicago Public Schools and focuses on helping enhance new teachers� classroom management skills and ability to motivate struggling learners. The grant also links new teachers with mentors and coaches who facilitate school-based professional development activities and in-class support. This study is designed to test the feasibility of the model, including the extent to which it is acceptable to teachers and promotes positive outcomes related to teacher effectiveness and connectedness to colleagues. I am also the Co-investigator of a 5-year, NIMH-funded study examining a model for school-based mental health services for urban low income students in which community mental health providers work collaboratively with lead teachers and parent advocates in their use of evidence-based practices around classroom management, effective instruction, and family outreach. Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 3 Qualifications of a Student:
I am interested in working with smart, flexible, committed students interested in gaining applied, theoretical, and research experience in community-based, mental health services research in urban low income communities. Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
Students will work collaboratively with a team of undergraduate students, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. Students will gain experience with a combination of field and office-based tasks. This includes gaining hands-on experience conducting research in urban schools, including conducting teacher interviews, attending teacher professional development activities, and conducting classroom observations. Students will also gain experience entering and cleaning data collected for the various studies. Students will also participate in a bi-weekly research seminar (PSCH 396) designed to expose students to a program of clinical research focused on school, after school, and community-based models of mental health promotion and services for children and families living in urban poverty.
NOTE: This researcher is currently not accepting applications for the Undergraduate Research Experience program.
