Research & Publication Mentorship
Through intensive research and publication mentorship, SMART Lab guides over 100 students each year from idea to impact, supporting them in developing publishable studies, presenting at major academic forums, and building the confidence to lead as ethical, evidence-driven communicators. Our approach combines individualized mentorship with hands-on collaboration, ensuring that every student researcher gains experience in social media analytics, research design, and scholarly communication.
SMART Lab students regularly present at the USU Student Research Symposium, the SMART Awards: 3 Minutes of Genius, and national conferences such as the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, AEJMC, and ICA, with several manuscripts advancing toward publication in peer-reviewed journals. Faculty and advanced graduate mentors provide detailed feedback on research questions, data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation using professional tools for social media analytics.
Featured Publications
Otieno, A. W. (2024). Scroll, Click, Mitigate: Unmasking and Taming the Social Media Mental Health Concerns Haunting Utah’s Kids. Utah State University SMART Lab Working Paper Series.
Otieno, A. W., & SMART Fellows (2024). Digital Resilience and Youth Mental Health: Applying the DESPAIR Model in Utah’s High Schools. Journal of Adolescent Research.
SMART Lab Research Team (2023). Algorithmic Trust and Institutional Communication: Testing the BEACON Framework. Public Relations Inquiry.
Join the SMART Lab Research and Publication Mentorship
Are you a USU undergraduate or graduate student conducting social media–related research for your capstone, thesis, or dissertation? Do you want to refine your paper, present your findings at a symposium or conference, and publish in a scholarly journal? The SMART Lab provides personalized mentorship that connects your academic work to real-world impact.
Students selected for mentorship receive guided support from proposal development to publication, including help with literature reviews, methodological design, data visualization, and submission strategies.
To be considered for mentorship, please complete the following form.
Industry & Faculty Collaboration Opportunities
Industry professionals and faculty at or outside Utah State University who wish to collaborate with the SMART Lab on joint research, publications, digital analytics or grant writing projects are warmly invited to reach out directly to:
Dr. Aggrey Willis Otieno
Founder & Director, SMART Lab
Email: aggrey.otieno@usu.edu
The SMART Lab welcomes partnerships that turn data into dialogue & dialogue into social change, bridging scholarship, innovation, and community impact across the globe.