Ballard Labs
Ballard Labs are student-led, faculty-mentored experiences that engage students by addressing a social problem. Over the course of a year, multidisciplinary teams of students use the social impact cycle and other Ballard Center practices to thoroughly research and design a solution to the issue.
Thriving Statement
"We envision a world where the stress of college life does not lead to burnout. But each student with ADHD at BYU has a change to thrive."
Lab Members
Benjamin Todd
Psychology Major
Sofia Nickles
Sociology Major
Thriving Statement
"We envision a world where college students are able to attend school safely, without fear, and with the understanding to help prevent and recover quickly from sexual assault. As a result of this understanding, students who experience violated consent will be able to recognize it and have the confidence to report."
Lab Members
Aspen Wooley
Public Health Major
Thriving Statement
"We envision a world where child sexual abuse survivors are believed and feel empowered to safely disclose their experiences, families are equipped with the knowledge and tools to prevent and recognize abuse, and every survivor has timely access to therapy and healthcare resources needed to heal."
Lab Members
Emma Benson
Public Health Major
Thriving Statement
"We envision a world where International students at BYU feel genuinely part of the community they study in — where cultural identity is a source of strength, where meaningful relationships with domestic students form naturally, where campus resources are known and accessible, and where every student can fully engage, contribute, and thrive without fear or isolation holding them back."
"International students bring rich perspectives that benefit the BYU community — and what they learn here shapes them and their own communities when they return home. When integration doesn't happen, both sides lose that exchange. This lab started because I wanted to help the student who feels alone, who's motivated but held back by lack of integration, and who hasn't yet found how to thrive here." - Frank Cabanillas
Lab Members
Frank Cabanillas
Pre-business Major
Join a Ballard Center Lab Team
Ballard Labs is the capstone experience of the Ballard Center for Social Impact. A position in Ballard Labs can be likened to a year-long capstone project: while mentorship and guidance are provided, the work is highly self-directed and requires initiative, ownership, and consistent commitment.
Because Ballard Labs represents the highest level of student engagement within the Ballard Center, we seek applicants who are among our most driven, capable, and committed students. Labs are designed to create meaningful social impact through deep, sustained work on real problems affecting real people.
As part of the application process, each applicant must propose a co-creator—an individual they know personally and can work closely with who is experiencing a social problem. This individual will serve as the foundation for your research and intervention design throughout the lab experience.
Students will conduct secondary research, analyze the broader system surrounding the issue, and design, implement, evaluate, and scale interventions with the goal of relieving suffering and increasing flourishing.
Ballard Labs requires a substantial commitment of approximately 20 hours per week for a full academic year. We are looking for students who are self-motivated, resilient, collaborative, and ready to take ownership of a demanding but deeply meaningful experience.
Applications are accepted each year in March/April. All Labs are paid 20-hour/week positions starting in Spring Term and continuing through the following Winter Semester.
Questions? Contact the Ballard Lab Leads at ballardlabs@byu.edu
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