Can you introduce yourself? How long you have been working at CSSI?

"My name is Avery Forde, and I’m a rising senior majoring in Finance and Business Analytics & Information Systems. I’ve been working at CSSI for almost three years now, I started during my first semester of college."

What’s a typical day like for you at CSSI?

"A typical day at CSSI really depends on which projects are in field [currently ongoing] and which ones I’m assigned to. Usually, I’ll come in and start by checking voicemails, emails, etc. to see if there’s anything new I need to pay attention to first. Most days involve calling participants, conducting interviews, sometimes documenting responses, and making sure everything is updated in our tracking spreadsheets. I also help manage payroll, assist with training new interviewers, and communicate with study leads when we have meetings or questions that come up."

What is your favorite part of your role at CSSI?

"My favorite part of my role is the variety of work we get to do. Since there are always new studies going on and new people to talk to, it keeps things interesting. I also enjoy getting to know the people I work with and having the chance to contribute to research projects that can have a real impact."

How do you see the skills you’ve developed at CSSI translating into your future academic or career goals?

"Working at CSSI has definitely helped me build on a lot of transferable skills like attention to detail, communication, empathy, and professionalism, which are all important skills to have in any position. I’ve also gotten more comfortable with certain Excel and data tracking tools, which directly relates to my interest in finance and analytics."

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at CSSI?

"I always enjoy the staff gatherings that CSSI puts together, where we all get together to eat, play games, and talk. My favorite was probably when we painted pumpkins for Halloween one year."

Tell me about yourself outside of work. What are three hobbies of yours?

"Outside of work, I like to stay active either going to the gym, running, or playing some sort of sport (mainly golf lately). I also enjoy music, so I try to make it to concerts when I can and I play piano or guitar occasionally too. Other than that, I like hanging out with friends and roommates, going to Hawkeye football games, and I’m a big foodie so I like trying out new recipes or restaurants wherever I go!"

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