Raut Recieves New Global Scholars Research Scholarship

Abhilasa Raut, a rising senior majoring in behavioral neuroscience and human biology, received the first Global Scholars Research Scholarship this spring. The new scholarships, funded through Study Abroad & Global Engagement (SAGE) provide $1,000 to conduct research abroad or $250 for domestic research related to a Global Scholars project. 

Raut used her scholarship to help her attend the 98th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association this April in Chicago. The abstract for her Global Scholars research project was accepted for a poster presentation at the conference.

Raut’s poster, “Inclusive Hiring in Healthcare,” shares her research on labor and disability employment practices across multiple countries. The project draws on interviews from professionals in Kansas City, Ontario, and Helsinki about accommodations for individuals with invisible disabilities. These three locations were chosen for their similarities as urban areas with varying legislative policies regarding disability rights. In addition to interviews, Raut did a comparative synthesis of national legislation within each country. 

As a program coordinator for the Center of Community Outreach’s Ability Advocates, a service organization on campus with the mission of integrating people with disabilities with the Lawrence community, Raut has a personal interest in disability rights. She wanted to learn how differences in disability legislation on a global scale affect policies and lived experiences.

This project is occurring under the mentorship of Jeff Chasen, the assistant vice chancellor for HR & director of the ADA Resource Center, and Professor Ray Mizumura-Pence, a teaching professor in American Studies with expertise in disabilities research. 

“As an aspiring physician, the healthcare scope of this research has allowed me to better understand the lived experience of healthcare workers on a global scale, having a large impact on the achievement of my academic and career objectives,” Raut said. “I believe that by comparing these policies I will be able to draw correlations that may impact advocacy towards improving disabilities legislation and thus, the accommodations for those with invisible disabilities working in the healthcare field.”

Additionally, Raut presented her research at the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium at KU and the Symposium for Undergraduate Psychology Engagement and Research. Her manuscript, developed under the guidance of Professor Mizumura-Pence, is currently under review for publication. 

The Global Scholars Research Scholarship is an open application. Scholars may apply for a non-renewable award of $1,000 to conduct research abroad. The primary focus of this international fieldwork should be to develop their Global Scholars research project. Scholars who are working on their Global Scholars project domestically may apply for a non-renewable award of $250.