Nosa Obaseki (MA ‘ 21, PsyD 3)
Position: Research Graduate Assistant
Tell us a little bit about your role.
My primary role is to help make research more accessible to students at MSP by creating pathways for them to engage with scholarship in ways that feel approachable, empowering, and meaningful. This includes offering guidance on research design, helping students connect their interests to viable projects, and breaking down the research process into clear, manageable steps. I aim to demystify research and show students that they don’t need to have everything figured out to begin—they just need curiosity, support, and a community to grow within.
What are you most excited for in the role this year?
I am most excited about the expansion of my role and being able to shine a spotlight on all the research that is being done at MSP.
How did you first get interested in conducting research?
I first became interested in research when I took the research methods class in the master’s program. For my final project, I wrote a proposal on how racial battle fatigue might influence anxiety symptoms in African American males. The process of turning a personal curiosity into a structured research question was eye-opening for me. My professor saw potential in the project and encouraged me to submit it as a poster presentation at a conference. That moment, realizing that my ideas could contribute to larger conversations in the field, was a turning point and sparked my ongoing passion for research.
Do you have a favorite research experience you’ve been a part of ?
One of my favorite experiences has been developing my dissertation, which explores how the lived experience of racial battle fatigue shapes the racial identity development of African Adult Third Culture Kids. I am excited to conduct qualitative interviews, engaging deeply with participants’ narratives, and witnessing the complexity of their meaning-making.
What advice would you give to another student who wants to get involved in research?
Start with curiosity. Identify the questions that genuinely matter to you and seek out faculty or peers whose interests overlap. Do not be afraid to begin small. Your skills and confidence will grow with each project. Most importantly, remember that research is relational. Join communities, talk with mentors, collaborate with others, and treat the process as a conversation rather than a solo endeavor. The more connected you feel to the work, the more meaningful and sustainable your research journey will be.