Ohio State Marion senior psychology majors Savannah Parsons of Worthington, Ohio and Kira Young of Lucasville, Ohio are experiencing the benefits of a meaningful paid summer learning opportunity, while building their resume as part of real-world research being conducted in the area of language comprehension at the Center of Science & Industry’s (COSI) Language Pod, in Columbus, Ohio.
Both students were granted a $6000 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowship from the National Science Foundation to be part of the research project May through August of 2026. The grant was awarded to principal research investigators, Ohio State Professors of Psychology, Dr. Nikole Patson and Dr. Laura Wagner.
The long-term goal of the study is to better understand how people interpret and remember meaning in everyday communication and to apply that knowledge in ways that improve learning, communication, and decision-making.
According to Patson, people often understand more than what is said. If someone says, “some cookies were eaten,” we usually assume “not all of them were.” Our brains quickly generate these unspoken possibilities to make sense of language. Research shows we notice these extra meanings in the moment but do not store them in the long term. People remember them right away but not after a day. This suggests we keep the gist, not every alternative. The new project will assess when these inferences stick, exploring how attention and context shape memory. It will help explain how we interpret language beyond the words themselves.
Dr. Patson shared that the two students were chosen for this opportunity because of their strong work ethic and inquisitive nature.
“Kira and Savannah really stood out to me early on for their curiosity and work ethic as they’ve worked in the lab here at Ohio State Marion,” said Patson, “They’ve consistently asked thoughtful questions, taken initiative, and shown a strong commitment to the research process. They’ve each grown a great deal, and it’s been exciting to see their confidence develop as they have taken on more responsibility.
Kira and Savannah are not only developing technical skills in research design and data analysis through this experience but also learning how to think like scientists—how to ask questions, interpret evidence, and communicate their ideas. Just as importantly, they are gaining confidence in their abilities, which will serve them well as they move into graduate study or other career paths.
“Our work is connected to Ohio State’s Labs in Life partnership with COSI,” Patson explained, “which embeds fully functioning research labs directly inside the museum. These are working laboratories where Ohio State faculty and students conduct research in areas like language, cognition, and health, while thousands of visitors can observe, ask questions, and even participate as research subjects.”
“This collaboration allows us to bring science out of the traditional lab and into a public, community-facing space. It not only expands our ability to collect data but also creates opportunities to engage the public in the research process and spark interest in science among students and families,” said Patson.
Patson shared that, “one of the unique aspects of this project is the opportunity it creates for undergraduate students to engage in research that connects directly to a broader public audience. Through Ohio State’s partnership with COSI, students like Kira and Savannah can see how their work fits into a larger effort to make science visible, accessible, and meaningful beyond the university setting.”
“It’s also been especially valuable to involve students from Ohio State Marion in this kind of work, Patson added. “Opportunities like this allow them to gain direct research experience while contributing to questions that have both theoretical importance and real-world relevance.”
Parsons felt the opportunity to do research with a fellow Ohio State Marion psychology student has afforded her benefits from both a personal and professional standpoint.
“I hope to achieve a career as a forensic psychologist,” explained Parsons. “As a personal benefit, I feel like I’ve gained friends with this opportunity. Friends that strive for the best not just for themselves, but for others. We work off each other’s energy and help one another succeed in our goals.”
“As a professional benefit,” she explained, “I have gotten the chance to do things other students would not have. I have been doing research with Professor Patson for one academic year already, which was during my second year outside of high school. People are not selected for opportunities like this often, especially without directly asking for it. So, to have this on my resume at this time in my life hopefully allows me to be seen as a valuable candidate in graduate schools, as well as my future work.”
The project reflects Ohio State Marion’s commitment to combining high-quality teaching, undergraduate mentorship, and community-engaged research—giving students the chance to participate in work that extends well beyond the classroom.
Young started the COSI internship to support research for her undergraduate thesis.
“I truly love psychology and research and have found an interest in language psychology,” said Young. “Personally, this internship is the perfect opportunity to bring the things I enjoy into one place.”
“Professionally, I think it will be an excellent opportunity to prepare myself to complete and present research in the future and become comfortable in a lab environment. Overall, “I am excited to spend the summer learning more about the academic world,” said Young.