SUU Student Alexis Whaley Earns Prestigious National Research Internship
Published: July 11, 2025 | Author: Jacob Carr | Read Time: 3 minutes
CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University (SUU) undergrad psychology student Alexis Whaley was selected for a competitive paid research internship at the University of Missouri at Columbia. Chosen from a nationwide applicant pool to participate in a psychology research program, this opportunity marks a significant advancement in Whaley’s academic and career goals.
The internship, which began May 27 and concludes July 25, places Whaley with Dr. Andrea Wycoff's research team at the University of Missouri at Columbia. There, she is focusing on studies concerning alcohol use, cannabis use, and the simultaneous use of both substances.
"I will help with a qualitative study by conducting interviews with those who use both substances," Whaley said. "Furthermore, I will be using some of her previous data to answer my own research question within the field and alcohol and cannabis co-use."
This summer research program, known as MU-ARTSS (Missouri University Addiction Research Training and Scientific Study), also includes vital training in ethics. Whaley plans to pursue a doctorate degree after graduating from SUU in Spring 2026, a goal this internship will significantly support.
The opportunity came to Whaley's attention through a fellow SUU student, Mason Lyman, who completed the same internship last summer. The rigorous application process included a comprehensive online submission with questions about her future educational and career goals, her interest in addiction research, and why the program was a good fit. She also submitted her curriculum vitae and academic transcript, along with two confidential rating and recommendation forms from SUU professors. Following a successful interview with the program director, she was selected for the internship and assigned to Dr. Wycoff's lab.
Whaley credits SUU with providing a strong foundation for this achievement.
"SUU has been foundational in my growth as a researcher and a person," Whaley said. "I discovered my love for research at SUU, and my classes and professors have continued to foster that passion. My time here has helped me learn important skills about how to write and portray myself effectively, manage my time, and build my confidence. All of these skills have been significant in preparing me for this opportunity and helping me obtain it in the first place."
Several professors and courses at SUU were particularly impactful for Whaley. Dr. Sierra Warner's PSY 2010 class ignited her interest in psychology research, leading her to join Dr. Lynn White's research lab. She later found a passion for statistics in psychology and served as a teacher's assistant for Dr. White's statistics class, an experience that boosted her confidence and sparked an interest in potentially becoming a psychology professor.
"All of the psychology department faculty I have worked with have helped me to develop into the person I am today, and I deeply appreciate every one of them for the influence they have had on my life,” said Whaley. “The skills I have learned here and the influence these professors have had on my life have well-prepared me for this internship. Where I see some students struggling with certain steps of the research process, I feel comfortable and confident."
The mission of the psychology department at Southern Utah University is to support the University and the larger community by providing a diverse, dynamic, and personalized learning environment and experiences that inspire student achievement, foster academic excellence, instill ethics and values, promote service, and facilitate lifelong learning for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students.
Tags: Student College of Humanities and Social Sciences Career and Professional Development Psychology T-Bird Stories Academic
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu