Research Training Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health
Research Training Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health
The ASCENT Research Training Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health is a 10-week summer intensive program for aspiring researchers and clinician scientists interested in sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice through community-engaged research. Open to scholars at all levels nationwide—from upper undergraduates to early-career professionals—this program offers unique multi-level mentorship combining scientific and community-based approaches. Now in its 11th year at the University of Utah ASCENT Center for Reproductive Health, participants engage closely with faculty from Obstetrics and Gynecology, Law, Social Transformation, Sociology, Political Science, and Nursing, plus community partners to explore pressing SRHRJ issues.
This program provides an opportunity to network, develop research skills, engage in mentored research projects, explore new topics, engage with advocacy, and garner clinical experience. Participants each have an Individualized Education Plan and will attend twice weekly meetings with self-guided work throughout the week. One session per week is held in person (with a hybrid option for those who are participating out of state), and the second session will be virtual. Potential benefits for interested scholars also include: membership to the Society of Family Planning, membership to the Scholars Strategy Network, letters of recommendation, and access to conference travel scholarships.
All scholars have a primary scientific mentor and a primary community-based mentor. Scholars participate in a mentored research practicum, and work with their community-based mentor to support any projects or resources the organization is working on. All participants have the opportunity to present aspects of their mentored research and community-based projects at an end-of-series conference of their peers, mentors, and community members hosted by the ASCENT Center. In addition to the end-of-summer presentation, scholars also have the opportunity to produce a research brief, newspaper editorial, or contribution to a publishable manuscript.
Commitment varies between 10 and 20 hours per week, depending on the IEP, individual interest, program requirements, and both research and community-based mentor agreement.
Important 2026 Deadlines
Application Opens:
January 12, 2026
Application Deadline:
March 13, 2026
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- Reproductive Justice
- Values clarification on Abortion
- Social science perspectives on reproductive health
- Reproductive Justice Framework
- Current Issues in Abortion and Contraception
- Full Spectrum Doula Care and Abortion Funds
- Reproductive Health
- Emergency Contraception (partnership with ASEC)
- Reproductive Health for Sexual & Gender Expansive Individuals
- Sexuality, Pleasure, and Reproductive Health
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Provision
- Contraception and Chronic Disease
- Reproductive Rights
- State and National Abortion Laws
- Criminalization of Pregnancy
- TRAP Laws
- Foundational Research Curricula
- Grant Writing 101
- Statistical Methods
- Dissemination, Implementation and Evaluation
- Scholarly Engagement & Advocacy
- Advanced training in Community Engaged Research Methods
- Participatory Design
- Clinical Shadowing
- Hands-on simulation
- Mini-Immersion Experiences
- Scholar Strategy Network Training
- Society of Family Planning Trainings and Conference
- Reproductive Justice
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SUMMER 2025 SCHOLARS
|
Cohort Year |
Scholar |
Research Project(s) |
Research Mentor(s) |
Community-Based Project(s) |
Community-Based Mentor(s) |
|
2025 |
Jaylee Aston, BS |
Assessing Patient & Clinical Outcomes in the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (EPAC) |
Jennifer Kaiser, MD University of Utah |
Postpartum Storytelling Circles & Birthwork Mentorship |
Ashley Finley, Sacred Sister Doula |
|
2025 |
Helen Azabache, Utah Valley University Undergraduate |
Maternal Outcomes in Previable Preeclampsia |
Jennifer Kaiser, MD & Isabel Taylor, MD University of Utah |
Community-Based Mentorship Project with Holy Cross Ministries |
Ingrid Pérez, CHW, Holy Cross Ministries |
|
2025 |
Vee B., MS-1 |
Access to Emergency Contraception on Utah State Campus |
Lu Lawrence, PhD Utah State University |
Cultural Competency in Sexual Health |
Marifer Rivera, MA, Comunidades Unidas |
|
2025 |
Susan Christiansen, PhD, MPP |
The Impact of a Midwife Laborist Model on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in a Quaternary Hospital Setting: A Pre-Post Cohort Study |
Alexandra Gero, MPH & Susanna Cohen, DNP University of Utah |
Community-Based Mentorship Project with Comunidad Materna en Utah |
Mayra Sanchez, Executive Director, Comunidad Materna en Utah |
|
2025 |
Taryn Graves, MPP |
Community sexual health educators’ strategies for cultural disruption in rural and conservative Utah communities
|
Lu Lawrence, PhD Utah State University |
Postpartum Storytelling Circles & Birthwork Mentorship |
Ashley Finley, Sacred Sister Doula |
|
2025 |
Dani Lehto, MSc |
How Do Fertility-Tracking Devices or Wearables Define (AN)Ovulation? A Landscape Analysis |
Bryce Wallis, MSCI, PhD Candidate University of Utah |
Creating an Emotional Well-Being Program for a Community-Based Healthcare Organization |
Stephanie Stokes, MPH, Primary Children’s Hospital |
|
2025 |
Frania Mendoza Lua, PhD, MSW |
Getting in Formation: Laying the Groundwork for Research & Community Work |
Alexandra Gero, MPH University of Utah |
Birth Elevated: Utah's Black and Indigenous Birth Justice Coalition |
Jessica Sanders, PhD, Birth Justice Fund |
|
2025 |
Arielle N/Diaye, MSPH |
Exploring Factors Surrounding Permanent Contraception Uptake Among Sexual Minority Women in the United States |
Bethany Everett, PhD University of Utah |
Reclaiming Joy and Resilience: A Storytelling and Resource Project for Reproductive Justice |
Daniel Romero-Guerrero, CHW, Revolutionary Love Media |
|
2025 |
Naya Pearce, MPH |
Supporting Community Health Workers in Expanding High-Quality, Culturally Appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Health Care in Utah |
Jami Baayd, MSPH University of Utah |
Reclaiming Joy and Resilience: A Storytelling and Resource Project for Reproductive Justice |
Daniel Romero-Guerrero, CHW, Revolutionary Love Media |
|
2025 |
Eve Shulman, Williams College Undergraduate |
Intrauterine Device Placement Failures for Emergency Contraception: A Secondary Analysis of the RAPID-EC Trial |
Alexandra Gero, MPH & David Turok, MD University of Utah |
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities through Peer Support and Community Engagement |
Oreta Mapu-Tupola, MSW/CCHW, PIK2AR |
|
2025 |
Alice Snelling, MS-1 |
Rectifying the Sex Disparity Caused by the Current Fetal Growth Restriction Curve |
Nathan Blue, MD University of Utah |
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities through Peer Support and Community Engagement |
Oreta Mapu-Tupola, MSW/CCHW, PIK2AR |
SUMMER 2025 AFFILIATE SCHOLARS
|
Cohort Year |
Scholar |
Research Project(s) |
Research Mentor(s) |
Community-Based Project(s) |
Community-Based Mentor(s) |
|
2025 |
Marley Robinson, University of Utah Undergraduate |
Hormonal Contraception & Mood Disorders |
Bryce Wallis, MSCI, PhD Candidate University of Utah |
|
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|
2025 |
Julia Siebert |
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|
2025 |
Jane Snow, Brigham Young University Undergraduate |
Utah Emergency Contraception/Over the Counter Pharmacy Access Survey |
Caitlin Quade, MPH University of Utah |
Community Approach to Reproductive Education (CARE) |
Jami Baayd, MSPH University of Utah |