Crystal Costa

• Manage project logistics, including scheduling meetings and coordinating data collection
• Administer individual interviews and focus groups to solicit participant input for intervention design
• Lead development of specific provider training intervention components based on research findings
• Ensure adherence to project timelines, administrative duties, and reporting
• Lead and/or collaborate with routine review and modification of research papers to be submitted to peer review journals and abstracts submitted to conferences

• Conduct in-person recruitment and engagement of study participants
• Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data for health-based evaluations
• Administer standardized questionnaires and synthesize findings into reports
• Maintain secure transmission of confidential data and project materials
• Provide peer training and support to research team members

• Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team led by UTHealth-Houston on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project to implement an evidence-based lay health worker (LHW)-delivered intervention among underserved Latinas in Texas to increase breast and cervical cancer screen and HPV vaccine uptake with the supervision of Drs. Lara S. Savas and Maria E. Fernandez
• Spearheaded qualitative data collection and analysis to identify factors influencing implementation of a lay health-worker evidence-based intervention in community health centers.
• Incorporated qualitative insights into implementation mapping to enhance strategies.

• Collaborated with an interdisciplinary research team led by UTHealth-Houston on a CDC funded project to implement and disseminate evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to overcome multi-level barriers for increasing colorectal cancer screening among medically underserved populations served by 10 Texas Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) with the supervision of Dr. Maria E. Fernandez
• Collaborated with research team to design, pilot and administer survey instruments, and assisted in data collection from clinic staff (e.g., leadership, champions) to assess clinic workflows, colorectal cancer screening practices, and organizational readiness for the implementation of EBIs
• Provided technical assistance, performed error checking and modification of electronic forms, assisted with writing special reports due to the CDC
• Compiled data and conducted rapid qualitative analysis to identify barriers and facilitators for implementation of EBIs into FQHCs
• Developed project protocols, e.g., rapid qualitative analysis
• Provided senior level support to multiple co-investigators by organizing and maintaining project related materials, coordinated and facilitated meetings
• Assisted project coordinator in planning, conducting, and presenting project related materials and other administrative tasks
• Documented and distributed weekly meeting minutes and maintained note records and other relevant materials
• Conducted literature searches; created and updated evidence tables
• Mentored two master’s level students during their practicum experience
• Led and/or collaborated with routine review and modification of research papers to be submitted to peer review journals and abstracts submitted to conferences
• Led implementation mapping work and worked with team for successful EBI delivery

• Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to address low-level lead exposures and child health outcomes in the City of El Paso, TX, supervision under Dr. Christina Sobin
• Conducted comprehensive literature reviews to support ongoing research project.
• Drafted manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
• Created bilingual educational resources tailored for Spanish and English-speaking local community members.
• Organized community outreach events for study recruitment.
• Interpreted results from experiments and surveys to generate meaningful conclusions.
• Participated in team meetings to discuss progress on ongoing projects or brainstorm ideas for future endeavors.

English Educator

• Designed daily lessons focused on enhancing oral production, critical thinking, and writing skills for students ages 14 to university.

Teacher Trainer Coordinator

• Guided implementation of eight new pedagogical techniques for 100 English teachers and administrators across 55 institutions.
• Facilitated individualized coaching sessions with local educators to boost student engagement and enhance teaching methodologies.

Liaison for Educational/Career Programs

• Enhanced education initiatives via university programs, scholarships, and international study opportunities.
• Initiated successful fundraising initiatives that enabled funding of 6 student enrollments in the LIME mentoring initiative for two consecutive years.