Joanna Agrinsoni, an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Child and Family Studies and student of language, speech, and hearing sciences in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, was awarded $2,750 in competitive summer funding to continue work on a bilingual intervention project supported by the Florida High Tech Corridor initiative.
Agrinsoni received $2,000 from the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) to participate in its Summer Internship Program under the mentorship of Associate Professor Matthew Foster, PhD. She also earned a $750 Undergraduate Research Assistantship from the USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.
"I am honored and grateful to be receiving this summer funding and to participate in research focused on supporting the academic achievement of bilingual children," said Agrinsoni. "I am excited to continue developing the skills and experience necessary to become a competent researcher-practitioner."
This summer, Agrinsoni will undergo advanced training in research methods, data analysis, and open science practices — including data literacy, propensity score matching, and standards, from the What Works Clearinghouse and SEER. She will also analyze pre/post- intervention data collected at RCMA Wimauma Community Academy and prepare to lead the 2025–26 implementation of Story Champs, a bilingual education program.
In addition, Agrinsoni will support the development of M. Adelaida Restrepo’s bilingual storybook iPad app for parents and teachers and contribute to a new AI-powered STEM reading and assessment project.
"Joanna has been a consistent and dedicated member of our research team and plans on staying with us through graduation," said Foster. "Her summer work represents both her growing leadership and our department’s investment in experiential research training that centers equity and impact."
Agrinsoni plans to present her findings at the 2025 USF Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium and to submit abstracts to national conferences such as the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness Annual Conference, the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, or the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting in 2026.