Sound Off Research Collective

An innovative research hub developed by four social work faculty members, Dr. Sasha Kondrashov, Dr. Kathie McKinnon, Dr. Jennifer Murphy and Dr. Juliana West in collaboration with Jamie Drozda (Coordinator, Education Technologies, Open Learning).

About Us

The purpose of this new initiative is to collaborate with and mentor social work students to publish research papers, podcasts, videos etc., in a peer-reviewed e-journal specifically created to support student research and publication.

The Sound Off Research Collective is built on the idea that great things happen when people work together. This site brings together social work faculty, students, and educational technology expertise in a five-way partnership, because that collaboration is what makes it more than just a place to store work. At the heart of that partnership is a commitment to learning, sharing, caring, connecting, and networking across disciplines and institutions. It’s what transforms student research into something multimodal, accessible, and genuinely shareable. Rather than printing off amazing student work and handing out brochures, we believe research deserves to be heard, seen, and engaged with across multiple formats including papers, podcasts, videos, and more. We’re also committed to equity in how that work is represented, making sure diverse voices, mediums, and perspectives all have a place here. This is a living, evolving collective, and the process of building it together is just as important as the work it holds.

Support for Undergraduate Research

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) became a stand-alone, primarily undergraduate university in 2005, and over the next 20 years, the institution has gradually added graduate programs and increased its commitment to both graduate and undergraduate research. Although undergraduate research opportunities are increasing worldwide and across Canada, only 13% of social science undergrads in Canada had the opportunity to undertake research in 2017-18 (Weutherick, 20201). Undergraduate research has several benefits, including an increase in student engagement, confidence, academic performance and retention. Institutional support for undergraduate student research is key to working with students to offer mentoring, training, and irreplaceable hands-on research which serve to re-conceptualize research and knowledge production as relevant sites for undergraduate inquiry. In addition, this provides research faculty with revitalizing opportunities for reflexivity and inspiration. TRU is a leader in recognizing the importance of undergraduate research opportunities.

Thompson Rivers University provides a number of opportunities for undergraduate research:

Research assistant grants $5,000

UREAP student PI grants $7,000

Annual Undergraduate Research Conference

Open access publishing

Canadian Undergraduate Research Network

Latest Projects

PDF Post

AOAP Social Work Practice, Communication Skills
This is some student work from Winter 2026.
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Image Post

AOAP Social Work Practice, Communication Skills
This is some post content for the second...
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Video Post

Communication Skills
Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient...
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FAQ

The Sound Off Research Collective offers multiple pathways for student engagement and research dissemination:

  • Directed Studies Courses: Work one-on-one with faculty to develop independent research projects tailored to your interests and career goals.
  • Research Practicum: Gain hands-on research experience under faculty supervision, developing practical skills while contributing to meaningful social work research.
  • Conference Participation: Present your research at academic conferences with faculty support and mentorship.
  • Class Project Enhancement: Transform exemplary contributions to class projects into publishable research with faculty guidance.
  • Supervised Research Projects: Engage in student social work research completed under the supervision of our experienced faculty members.
  • Research Assistant Opportunities: Collaborate with faculty on ongoing research projects while developing your research skills.
  • UREAP Project Support: Receive mentorship and publication support for your UREAP (Undergraduate Research Experience Award Program) projects.

Students passionate about social work research are encouraged to:

  1. Contact faculty directly using the email addresses provided above to discuss your research interests and explore collaboration opportunities
  2. Participate in directed studies courses to develop independent research projects
  3. Engage in research practicum for hands-on experience
  4. Present at conferences with faculty support and mentorship
  5. Transform class projects into publishable research with faculty guidance

Our faculty members, with their decades of combined experience working with social work students, are committed to providing the mentorship, training, and support necessary to help you succeed in your research endeavors and prepare for graduate-level work.

Submissions will be accepted in the following categories:

  • Communication skills
  • Theory and ideology
  • Canadian Social Welfare
  • Social policy and Advocacy
  • AOAP Social Work Practice
  • Clinical Social Work
  • Community development
  • International social work
  • Critical criminology for social work

Connect With Our Faculty

Bring your passion and inspiration

Our faculty members bring decades of combined experience working with social work students, mentoring undergraduate research, and fostering academic excellence. Each faculty member offers unique expertise and is committed to supporting student success through various opportunities including directed studies courses, research practicum, conference participation, and collaborative research projects.

Dr. Sasha Kondrashov

Dr. Kathie McKinnon

Dr. Jennifer Murphy

Dr. Juliana West

  1. 2017–2018 National Survey of Student Engagement adapted from Wuetherick, 2020, p. 269 Wuetherick, B. (2020). Transforming undergraduate research at Canadian universities. In International perspectives on undergraduate research: Policy and practice (pp. 265-280). Cham: Springer International Publishing ↩︎