If you reached out to a peer research consultant (PRC) at University Libraries within the last year, chances are you were helped by Wil Eveleth, a 2025 graduating senior majoring in psychology and minoring in exercise physiology.
“A peer research consultant is a student who has experience working with literature searches, refining research questions, and broadening research questions,” explained Eveleth. “I worked mainly to help students find access to articles that they may not realize UM Libraries have access to, or, if we don't have access, helping them navigate the Interlibrary Loan service, or borrowing requests for new materials.”
Trained by librarians, PRCs work as research specialists who help students with finding direction for their research papers and offering support that includes literature searches resulting in relevant background articles, books, and other materials. They also assist with recommending additional resources or referring to other services provided by University Libraries.
“My subject specialty is, of course, psychology, but I have helped people researching architecture, education, and even costume collections,” said Eveleth.
Working for University Libraries as a PRC allowed Eveleth to explore niche subjects through the research questions he received from students, including a query about how currently standing Roman aqueducts affect modern society.
“There are not many standing Roman aqueducts,” he said with a laugh. “They were full of lead. But I found some really interesting stuff about some standing Roman aqueducts in a very small town in Italy and how it impacted the people’s lives.”
Through his role, Eveleth scoured multiple databases, journals, and collections, developing skills applicable to his future career in the field of psychological research along the way.
“I am now very experienced in doing literature searches. I've gotten a lot better at finding articles quickly, putting in the right search terms, and all of that,” said Eveleth.
Working as a PRC gave Eveleth insight into the many benefits the Libraries offer students. He joined the Student Library Advisory Board, a space where students meet with the Libraries’ leadership team and share their perspectives on offerings, services, and future renovations planned for the Otto G. Richter Library and other University subject specialty libraries.
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“As a peer research consultant, I want to see the use of library research services increase because a lot of students don't know about my job, what I do, and what I can offer them,” he said.
Students interested in reaching out to a PRC can visit library.miami.edu to request a peer consultation or use the live chat function. They can also visit the Learning Commons in Richter Library to meet with a PRC in person.
Originally from Albany, New York, Eveleth chose the University of Miami for its strong psychology department, which he learned about while researching undergraduate programs during the application process.
“When I went through the reviews, [I learned] a lot of people liked the professors, and I have really loved the professors here,” said Eveleth.
Before attending the University, he had the general idea of pursuing pediatric clinical psychology with a focus on affective or anxiety-based disorders. Once he was on campus, he was able to narrow down his focus to research and affective disorders.
He credits the research methods classes he took as a part of the psychology major as having the greatest impact on his academic career.
“Those classes helped me with my writing a lot, especially the professors, Rick Stuetzle and Spencer Evans. They were both really great professors who were really good at teaching me how to research correctly,” said Eveleth.
During his time on campus, Eveleth fondly recalled spending time studying on the lakeside hammocks and taking breaks in the John C. Gifford Arboretum. For incoming students, he shares one of his favorite on-campus places to study—the Marta and Austin Weeks Music Library.
After graduating, Eveleth plans to move to the Northeast and take a few gap years to work as a research assistant at a lab before starting a graduate school program.
As for his proudest accomplishment while at the University?
“I got an A in organic chemistry, so that was big. I also got an A in neurobiology, a class I took last semester, which was really cool,” beamed Eveleth. “Definitely, some really cool classes that I really enjoyed doing well in and learning in,” he added.
