The Office of Student Research is proud to feature Katie Hedrick in this week’s “Scholar Story”.

Kathryn “Katie” Hedrick is a senior Biology major at Longwood University. Katie designed an open-source program that would run a computerized Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) test and analysis program that could help determine if an individual has ADHD. She has been working on this research project with Dr. Brandon Jackson for one and a half years. Katie started this project in her Anatomy and Physiology course as a group project and then she continued the project to develop a more accurate computerized test. Her favorite part of doing this research was “being able to continue a class project and develop it into a more advanced program. Also, seeing how much my programing skills have evolved over time continues to push me to develop this skill.”

Participating in research has allowed Katie to “grow in understanding time management and responsibility. I learned that research is not just laboratory work, there are a lot of research opportunities that involve computer programs.” Katie also learned that “working independently was a huge adjustment I had to make when beginning my research, especially during the pandemic. This skill was one of the hardest to overcome but it has taught me self-respect and individual accountability. Trouble shooting and working independently coincide when programming.”

After graduation Katie plans on pursuing a career in biology research. She also hopes to apply computer programming in her future career and help others learn programming skills.

Congratulations to Katie on her success!

If you would like to have your research featured in a “Scholar Story”, or if you would like to learn more about getting involved in research at Longwood University, please visit Longwood’s Office of Student Research website http://www.longwood.edu/office-of-student-research/

or contact Amorette Barber, Director of the Office of Student Research (osr@longwood.edu or barberar@longwood.edu).