Originally from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Oliveira came to Boston University as a psychology major after taking a great class in high school and developing a love for true crime shows. Her Portuguese minor came from her experience speaking Portuguese at home with her family. Oliveira uses her psychology knowledge in a lab setting when she works with the Child and Family Health Lab on campus. She also pursued an individual project through the BU Center for Innovation on racism in healthcare settings.
After graduation, Oliveira is going to be working as a research lab manager at UMass Memorial Hospital. She is excited to start work in a new space and continue her passion for research. In the future, she would like to attend graduate school and complete a PhD in either counseling or clinical psychology.
Arts & Sciences caught up with Oliveira, who is majoring in psychology and Portuguese and Brazilian studies.
Interview responses have been edited for clarity.
Arts & Sciences: How did you choose your major and minors?
Oliveira: When I was younger I was really into crime shows, so I thought I would go into criminology or something along those lines. In my senior year of high school, I had a psychology class and I loved it. I figured it was close to what I wanted to do and I should try it since it’s hard to find criminology courses. So I took psychology and after my freshman year I decided that is what was for me and I stuck with it.
My minor I chose because of the second language requirement here at BU. I had spoken Portuguese at home a little bit, but it was not good. It was mostly just conversational. I figured I would brush up on it and I ended up adding it to my minor. I realized how good it was both personally to be able to communicate with my family back home, but also for job opportunities it was really good to have a second language, especially Portuguese which is becoming more and more desired in the workforce.
What is your role with the Child and Family Health Lab?
My role there is a research assistant. I work under Dr. Kristin Long. The lab itself focuses on family and child health, as is in the name. But really, it focuses on the social-ecological impacts that can have an effect on health, not only of the child but also of the family. We are really looking at the environment that a child grows up in as well as cultural factors. I’ve been working there for two years, so I spent my junior and senior years there.
Would you recommend working in a lab to other students?
Definitely. I think it’s a really good career-building opportunity and a good place to build connections. The people you work under really are there to support you and help you find opportunities to increase your work and display it. If you’re a psychology major, I definitely recommend trying to do some research because grad schools look for research experience.
Can you describe your project with the Center for Innovation in Social Science?
My project is focusing on characterizing experiences of racism and discrimination in family medicine clinics. Research previously has really explored provider perspectives and experiences in sub-groups. There haven’t been a lot of overall patient views, so that’s what my project is focusing on. What do these experiences look like? What are the barriers that they perceive?
What is your favorite class you have taken at BU?
I would say CAS NE 333: “Drugs and Behavior.” I really love that class. I liked it because before that class I had learned about drugs and behavior separately. It was interesting to see a class that talks about the mechanisms that occur between the ingestion of a drug and the behavior afterward. It talked about what is happening in the brain and what is making you behave and feel certain ways.
What is your favorite memory from college?
I don’t know if I have a favorite memory, but I would say the experience in general of being at college and having that independence and being able to seek out classes that you want to do and knowing that anything that interests you there is a chance to explore through classes and clubs. I think it’s just the experience of being at a place that is so open and welcoming in every regard. If you want to do something, there is somebody at BU who is going to help you do it or find a way or a contact. Being at BU was a huge growing experience for me so I can’t say there was a particular moment that was more special than the rest.
To hear more from Dara Oliveira, check out her Senior Spotlight video.