PEARL Lab

The Public Engagement, Accessibility, and Research Literacy (PEARL) Lab trains social work students in research dissemination and community engagement, emphasizing science communication that builds trusted messengers. We connect students with faculty and community partners to support and strengthen research and evaluation initiatives that positively impact communities in New Orleans—and wherever our students are.

Empower communities through research.

 

Research isn't abstract—it makes real differences in community members' lives. At PEARL, you'll learn how to analyze, synthesize, and put research into practice.

You'll make research accessible to the public, build relationships with faculty members, and gain critical program evaluation and science communication skills.

Any social work student eager to collaborate with faculty, engage community partners, and enhance skills in research, program evaluation, and science communication is welcome to join PEARL.

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Improve Research Literacy

Through our Social Work IRL lunch-and-learn series, faculty guide students in developing practical research skills that are directly applicable to social work practice.

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Disseminate Research

Our student-led Social Work Shorts and Social Work Zines translate complex research into digestible insights, shared with the community via social media.

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Build Trusted Messengers

Students engage directly with faculty through Social Work Strolls and Pearl Pod, exploring faculty research and their motivations for community-centered work.

Tulane School of Social Work professor, Leia Saltzman, smiles.

Meet PEARL's Leadership

Dr. Leia Saltzman is an Associate Professor and the Director of Research Strategy, Innovation, and Mentoring at Tulane School of Social Work. She created the PEARL Lab in 2025 in an effort to further engage students and community members in social work research.

Her research uses mixed methodology to explore the process of adaptation in the context of trauma, community violence, and mass disaster. She is interested in community-based research that influences mental health policies and clinical practices with trauma-affected populations with the goal of building stronger families and more cohesive communities that can withstand the impact of mass disaster, trauma, and violence. 

PEARL Lab FAQ

 

No experience is required! PEARL is designed to help students learn about research, evaluation, and science communication through hands-on engagement with faculty and community partners.

Students participate in activities like:

  • Translating research into accessible formats through Social Work Shorts and Zines
  • Interviewing faculty for Social Work Strolls or Pearl Pod
  • Attending Social Work IRL lunch-and-learns to build research literacy skills

PEARL is flexible! You can engage at your own pace by attending events, contributing to content, or supporting faculty and community initiatives.

Students strengthen skills in: 

  • Research literacy and program evaluation
  • Science communication and translating complex ideas for diverse audiences
  • Community engagement and professional networking

Reach out via our contact form, send us an email, or follow us on Instagram.

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Take the Next Step!

For more details about graduate programs through Tulane School of Social Work, complete our information request form. If you're ready to take the next step, apply today!

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