Our “Project CHROMA Personnel” series in Archways highlights the key researchers behind the Rice ARCHES Initiative.

Vincent Lai

This month Vincent Lai, who previously worked with Project CHROMA as the Project Coordinator, reflects on his experiences as part of the team.

Before joining Project CHROMA, I had been part of the BMED Lab for about two years. I first stepped into Dr. Fagundes’s lab as an undergraduate student, unsure about what “doing research” entailed. I was excited and nervous to explore that side of my academic journey, and those same feelings resurfaced when I started with CHROMA.

I joined CHROMA in the summer of 2021, and it was a pivotal time for the study. During this time, we resumed regular study activities, including in-person visits with our participants. Despite being nervous at first, I found that I was able to quickly got into the flow of things. I met and worked with an amazing team of undergraduate and graduate researchers. We got to work closely with members of the Houston community who were passionate about our work and helping others. Most rewarding was seeing how much our participants learned and grew during the music class.

I will be returning to the BMED lab as Dr. Fagundes’s graduate student, and while there will be many more projects and research directions to explore, Project CHROMA will always have a special place in my heart. My time with CHROMA taught me so much about the ins and outs of doing research and allowed me to work with and support so many wonderful people.

Whether you’re interested in taking part in the study or someone looking for research experience, give us a chance! If you’re looking for a supportive and collaborative environment to explore your interest in psychological research, then the BMED lab might just be the place for you.