Get Involved in Research

The MSU Model of Health Extension demonstrates effectiveness in utilizing and leveraging the Cooperative Extension system at a R1 Land Grant University like MSU where there is high research activity.  Extension professionals help scientists reach community residents to get involved in research opportunities.  

MSU Extension staff work with researchers in the MSU Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Human Medicine, and Nursing as well as those in the Departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Family Medicine, Human Development and Family Studies, and Kinesiology.

Are You Research and Partnership Ready?

MSU Extension professionals associated with the development of the MSU Model of Health Extension designed, implemented and evaluated a five-hour workshop called “Are You Research Ready”. This professional development opportunity prepares Extension staff to participate in community-based human health research with university faculty.

The training covers steps of the research process, responsible conduct of research and how to communicate with researchers for grant inclusion. The workshop includes activities and facilitates discussions related to conducting community-based research with scholarship. After participating in the workshop, Extension educators indicated they had a better understanding of the research process from beginning to end, and because of this workshop they will explore future human health research opportunities. Attendees reported gaining a self-assessment of research readiness as an educator, and now feel confident to position themselves for inclusion in research grants. Due to the popularity of this program, the team then created, implemented, and evaluated a companion workshop titled "Are You Partnership Ready?". 

Eschbach, C. L., Tiret, H., Carter, E., & Newkirk, C. (2019). Preparing Extension educators for community-based research and grant partnerships. Journal of Extension. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol57/iss6/12

The future of Health Extension depends on professionals working in communities to seek additional training in the following areas:

  • Health behavior change theories and frameworks.
  • Principles of community organizing and community building for health.
  • Fundamentals in program development and evaluation, including adapting evidence-based programs.
  • Human subjects protocol.
  • Grant writing and partnership building (e.g., coalitions).
  • Engaging in peer-review process and claiming intellectual leadership with scholarship efforts, ideas, and approaches.

MSU Extension has adopted health equity as a core systemwide value in its programming and outreach efforts in Michigan, as proposed in the 2021 Cooperative Extension National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being.

If you are interested in partnering with MSU Extension on any of these research  and training topics, please contact MSU Extension's Health and Nutrition Institute Director, Dr. Cheryl Eschbach (cheryl@msu.edu).