From curiosity to confidence: Sherry Maykrantz on student research and learning to navigate complex systems

Sherry Maykrantz, Associate Professor of Public Health at Salisbury University and currently a Fulbright Scholar at our Institute of Sociological Studies, focuses in her research on how people navigate healthcare systems, trust information, and access services. Alongside this, she has long worked on making research accessible to undergraduate students. In this interview, she explains why student research conferences can transform the way students see themselves, and why creating space for curiosity, mentorship, and presentation is key to building the next generation of researchers. She is also co-organizing the Student Research Conference at FSV UK.

"Involving students in research early helps plant a seed. It allows them to see themselves differently and to develop curiosity. Exposure to research early on helps students realize that they can turn ideas into questions. It builds confidence and critical thinking skills. It also challenges preconceived notions and encourages deeper inquiry—asking not just how something happens, but why," she says. "Research should not be seen as something reserved for a select group of students. Some students believe they are “not research-oriented” or that they are not suited for it based on past experiences, but this is a misconception. Research is dynamic—it is always evolving, growing, and changing. Helping students understand this is essential."

Read the entire interview here.

The FSV UK Student Research Conference will take place on June 12, 2026, in the Jinonice Campus. The conference is primarily intended for students enrolled in all English-language Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at FSV UK. Students from Czech-language programs are also warmly invited to participate, provided they deliver their presentations or posters in English. The keynote speaker will be Professor Kennan Ferguson from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, currently a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar at FSV UK, whose research you can read about here.