Durham, NC, April 13, 2015—innovation Research & Training (iRT), a behavioral sciences research company, today announced an alliance with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a prestigious psychology internship program.

iRT has been selected to participate in the university’s Karen M. Gil Internship in Psychology Program. The psychology internship honors Karen Gil, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Lee G. Pedersen Distinguished Professor of Psychology and professor of psychiatry. Gil’s scholarly work is in health psychology, and she has published extensively on the topics of pain, stress and childhood illness.

Established with an anonymous $500,000 gift, the highly competitive internship program accepts 10 to 12 applicants each semester, based on their qualifications and achievement. Students selected for the competitive program are placed at one of more than 20 selected worksites for a semester. 

Stephanie Tepper, a UNC-CH junior, has been awarded one of the esteemed internships and has joined iRT as an intern for the spring 2015 semester. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with an expected graduation date of May 2016.  Throughout the internship, Tepper must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.4 or higher, while balancing a minimum of 10 hours each week at iRT. 

“We are so honored to have been chosen as a worksite for the Gil internship program,” said Dr. Janis Kupersmidt, iRT founder and president.  “It is very rewarding to share our expertise with Stephanie and have the benefit of her experience as well.  We are looking forward to this mutually beneficial relationship.”

As an intern, Tepper will work with a team of iRT researchers on a project to help develop a mindfulness education program for high school students. During the internship, Tepper will be mentored by Dr. Alison Parker, principal investigator on the mindfulness project. The project is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

“I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some of the best researchers in the field,” said Tepper.  “I’m also extremely grateful to do so while pursuing an area that is of particular interest to me.”

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About innovation Research & Training

innovation Research & Training (iRT) is a behavioral sciences research company committed to identifying and solving significant real-world problems facing children, families, communities, and organizations. By using evidence-based and culturally sensitive methods, iRT researchers investigate, develop, and evaluate behavioral, educational, psychological, social, and community assessment, prevention and treatment programs and services. iRT’s staff includes experts in basic and applied research in a variety of areas, including substance abuse prevention and treatment, youth mentoring, social and emotional development, mindfulness education, media literacy education, pregnancy prevention and sexual health, child and adolescent mental health, adult and juvenile justice programs, drug courts, drugged driving, tobacco use and underage drinking. For more information about iRT, visit www.irtinc.us.

 

Media Contact:

Yvette Ruffin, APR

Director, Marketing and Communications

Innovation Research & Training

919-493-7700

yruffin@irtinc.us