Mimi Pastore ('27), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, conducted research with Behavior Change For Good (BCFG), a research team that develops behavior change programs to improve daily decisions about health, education, and savings. Mimi was mentored by Dr. Katherine Milkman (Wharton School), and this research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM).
During my first semester on campus I fell in love with behavioral economics through a class that presented principles and research focused on real world change. When I saw BCFG as an option for PURM, I was excited by the opportunity to work on a project that explored how minor behavior changes can have significant impacts. I was also drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of behavior science, and how BCFG itself contributes to this with scientists from a multitude of subfields.
Through BCFG, I have come to learn what constitutes the growing field of behavioral science, as applications continue to expand into more areas of our world. I had the opportunity to understand the connections psychology and economics can have with education, health, and data science -- fields I otherwise would not have interacted with. Most importantly, I realized the value of an interdisciplinary team when seeking interdisciplinary answers. Working with a great team of research assistants and mentors has made every project I’ve touched a collaborative effort and proved that research doesn’t only take place in a lonely lab.
The BCFG community has become one I can rely on for advice and a helping hand. With many different perspectives and pathways of experience, they have been endlessly helpful as I try to decide what I want to pursue next. From Ph.D. and pre-doctoral students, I gained insight into what life looks like after college, something that is often daunting as an underclassman. Through round tables with people in many levels and relationships within the initiative I have learned so much about what careers in behavioral science can look like. I truly believe that this experience provided me with contacts and mentors for later in life if I ever need any guidance.
Overall, conducting research has taught me that I really enjoy the innovation and problem solving that comes with designing, implementing, and analyzing a field experiment. This experience has inspired me to take classes outside of my original path of study. Innovation, especially in behavioral science, comes at the intersection of ideas and requires knowledge in many fields. Through this research, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge in new fields, like psychology and computer science, and I hope to continue that learning throughout my time at Penn and into whatever I choose to pursue after graduation.
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