Doing Translational Research

Shopping experiences in beauty retail stores are often imagined as frivolous, temporary pursuits of pleasure. Yet, from the perspective of millennial Black women, and in the context of predominantly Black neighborhoods, the consumer experience is impacted by issues related to representation, location, and ownership. Reed’s work revolves around the historical and cultural relevance of the Black beauty supply store and how to improve beauty retail store design and community and business partnerships. Reed is an assistant research professor in the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design. Her primary research interest is in millennial Black women’s beauty culture and beauty retail spaces. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on connecting human geography, feminist studies, and merchandising in the fashion, apparel, and textile industries.

Misha Inniss-Thompson says we should listen to young people — in particular, young Black girls — for their lived experiences which can help shape school policies and create real safe spaces in schools. Inniss-Thompson’s work revolves around the impact of families, communities, and schools in shaping Black girls’ mental health and wellness using a cultural-assets perspective. She has also done research on trends in nationwide school discipline disparities that impact Black girls. Inniss-Thompson is an assistant research professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University.

When a policy is implemented, the intended purpose of it is important but what about the unintended actions or consequences of that policy? Jamein Cunningham looks at the impact that historical programs from the 1960s and 1970s have had on the socioeconomic conditions of Black Americans. Cunningham is an assistant professor in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. His research agenda consists of four broad overarching themes focusing on the intersectionality of institutional discrimination, access to social justice, crime and criminal justice, and race and economic inequality. He is a faculty affiliate at the Cornell Population Center and holds professional memberships in the American Economic Association, the Southern Economic Association, the American Law and Economics Association, the Racial Democracy, Crime, and Justice Network and the National Economic Association.

Dr. Melody Goodman, Associate Dean for Research and biostatistics expert at NYU, advocates for incorporating non-academic stakeholders in research to combat health disparities. She discusses the significant 17-year gap from research to practice and how community engagement can bridge this divide. Melody emphasizes the crucial role of lived experience in public health science and offers practical strategies for researchers to tailor their findings for diverse audiences. Her vision is to make community engagement a standard, not a niche, in public health.

Janis Whitlock is research scientist emerita at the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell, and founder/director of the Cornell Research Program on Self-injury and Recovery. While Whitlock is retiring from Cornell, it's more of a transition, where she will continue the work she has been doing.

Dr. Renata M. Leitão is a Brazilian/Canadian design researcher with eleven years of experience in collaborative projects with Indigenous and marginalized communities. Dr. Leitão holds a PhD in Environmental Design and a MASc in Design & Complexity (Université de Montréal). In this episode, Dr. Leitão discusses the importance of intercultural translation, including how academics and researchers can connect with the communities they are working with.

Dr. Adam Hoffman is an assistant professor of psychology in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. His research focuses on how ethnic, racial, and gender identities develop during adolescence and how they affect academic motivation and achievement, well-being and mental health. Hoffman also investigates how social identities can be leveraged to promote positive youth development. Hoffman shares with host Tony Burrow about his research with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and how he was able to engage with them for his research.