(left to right) Amanda Grohosky and Dr. Wendy Heath

Amanda Grohosky of Saugerties, NY, a Rider University junior, was selected as one of 15 undergraduate students nationwide to work as a Summer Research Scholar at the University of South Florida’s Louis De La Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI).

Grohosky is the first Rider student to apply and to have been chosen for the nine-week program, which runs from June 1 to July 31. More than 85 students from across the country, submitted applications. The group of 15 selected Scholars had grade point averages of 3.71. The scholarship will cover tuition, a housing and food allowance, a $2,700 stipend and research support funding. Participants will work intensively with faculty mentors on research projects and concurrently enroll in two courses of study: a research seminar and research internship.

Intrigued with the fields of psychology and law, Grohosky will work with Dr. Kathleen Moore, a research assistant professor in the Institute’s Department of Mental Health, Law and Policy, who conducts research primarily in public policy and law. The two will investigate the effects of a Driving Under the Influence Treatment program.

“Amanda is a wonderful student, both intelligent and reliable,” said Dr. Wendy Heath, professor of psychology at Rider and Grohosky’s research adviser. “Her work as my research assistant has been exemplary. We’re working on a couple of on-going studies investigating factors that potentially affect jurors’ decisions. She has tested over 150 subjects in my lab and she has done well in all of my classes, never earning anything less than an ‘A.’”

Grohosky looks forward to conducting research at the Institute. “I am very excited to have been given such a wonderful opportunity,” said Grohosky, who plans to attain a career in forensic psychology. “Not only will it prove to be a great learning experience, but I believe it will highlight and enhance the skills I have acquired here at Rider. This experience will open many doors for me. I am fascinated with psychology and the legal system. My working under the supervision of Dr. Heath has proven to be a very rewarding job. It has given me a strong foundation for the research I will be doing in Florida.

“Without question, I owe a great deal of my success here at Rider to Dr. Heath,” added Grohosky. “She has been such an extraordinary mentor for me, and I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and hands-on experience in doing research with her. I admire her and the work she has done.”

One of Rider University’s Baccalaureate Scholars, Grohosky has maintained an overall 3.9 grade point average. She has also received academic achievement awards in her two academic minors: Spanish and law and justice.