Department of Occupational Therapy

Pediatrics

Pediatric research activities focus on understanding how context influences participation and development in infants, toddlers, children, and families. Researchers in this area use occupational therapy intervention to promote participation, well-being, and health in all children. This lab also investigates the subjective well-being of children with and without disabilities and a variety of life experiences.

Mental Health

Mental health is a concern not only for those with diagnoses of mental illness but for all people. In fact, mental health can be seen as a continuum, and we are at various points in this continuum according to our life circumstances. Therefore, all of us can do something to improve our mental wellbeing. In this lab, researchers explore ways of using occupation-based interventions to help all occupational therapy service recipients, irrespective of whether or not they have a diagnosis of mental illness, improve their emotional and overall psychosocial well-being.

Additionally, researchers recognize the multi-systemic impact of trauma and use evidence-based practice to support those with trauma experiences. Trauma-informed occupational therapy interventions are used to support recovery and promote resiliency across practice settings and populations by using a multi-tiered public health framework for addressing mental health.

Neuroscience & Rehabilitation

The sensory systems help individuals engage with and learn about the environment. The brain must organize and understand information from the sensory systems in order for the body to respond appropriately. Research projects in this area seek to expand scientific research in neurological and motor functioning ranging from working with children with poorly regulated sensory systems to adults experiencing difficulties with sensory functions impacting occupational performance in meaningful daily activities.

Cognitive performance skills are foundational to engagement in all aspects of human occupation.  Important aspects of cognition that affect daily performance include executive functioning, working memory, and attentional and emotional control.  This research explores how cognitive and emotional skills impact occupational performance in a wide range of healthy and neurologically diverse populations.  Neuroscience-based methodologies, including behavioral experimentation and psychophysiological imaging techniques, are utilized alongside more traditional assessments.

Rural & Underserved Populations

There is a shortage of health professionals choosing to work in rural and underserved areas. With a diverse population and settings, the rural and underserved areas of practice require specific research that targets the unique needs of these populations. Researchers in this area focus on social determinants of health and interprofessional best practices. 

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Innovation in occupational therapy education is a critical aspect of advancing the profession, equipping future leaders and ensuring a strong evidence foundation for therapeutic interventions. The core of occupational therapy is the use of occupation as a means to promote meaning and performance. As such, didactic and clinical instruction should also emphasize occupation as a central premise to teaching and learning. This lab explores contemporary teaching and learning methods and contexts while exploring learner characteristics and well-being, teaching technology and interprofessional education.

Additional Scholarship

Theory Development, Validation, and Use

Theory helps us understand what we are doing as professionals by providing a cognitive framework to inform our understanding of the professional issues we are dealing with. In other words, theoretical frameworks are tools that we use in practice. In this line of research, researchers focus on Type I applied inquiry to develop new or expand existing theoretical models and to develop and validate theory-based assessments. They also investigate the best ways of using theory to guide practice and instruct students to use theory effectively. 

Innovations in Practice

Innovative approaches keep occupational therapy practice relevant in a changing healthcare environment. Researchers explore methods to provide visionary practice approaches to maintain occupational therapy as a leader in healthcare.

Health Promotion and Occupational Participation

Health promotion enables recipients of services to take control of their health, maximizing outcomes that reflect an improved ability to engage in meaningful occupations. Health-promoting interventions are designed and carried out with individuals, groups, and communities, which ensures that programming fits within the context of daily living. Researchers explore health promotion with a variety of service recipients, those with varied cultural backgrounds, ages, socioeconomic status, and access to resources.