UROP Leader Information Submission: Submission #321

First Name: Ava
Last Name: Griner
Full name as you would like it to appear on the website: Ava Griner
Preferred Pronouns: she/her
Hometown, State, and Country (ex: Tallahassee, FL, USA): Sarasota, FL, USA
FSU email : agg23f@fsu.edu
Please check this box if you are willing to be contacted by students interested in UROP: Yes
LinkedIn URL (optional): {Empty}
Major(s): Music/Behavioral Neuroscience
Minor(s): {Empty}
Graduation Semester and Year (ex: Fall, 2022): Spring, 2028
What is your current research focus?:
My current focus is at the intersection between music and neuroscience. The project I am working on now involves investigating the relationship between improvisation in student musicians and cognitive flexibility. Working with faculty in the College of Music, I am designing a study to quantify both the cognitive flexibility and improvisational experience in pianists. Then, I plan to complete a statistical analysis to uncover a possible relationship between the two.

Are there any other research related activities you participate(d) in?:
Through UROP, I was able to participate in a research project through the Communications Department. In this study, we measured the gender and racial representation present in cleaning product advertisements. I have also worked with the Dewan Lab as a research assistant. This involved husbandry and general lab support tasks.

Answer one of the following two questions about being a UROP Leader or your UROP background. : How do you hope to impact your students as a UROP Leader?
Please answer the question you selected above in the area provided.:
I hope to inspire students to pursue research that they might not immediately be drawn to. UROP provides students with access to a multitude of different research projects and topics, and every one of them inspire incredible growth. While many students come into UROP with an idea of what they want to study, the sheer number of projects allows for hidden interests to be uncovered.

Please list any other hobbies or interests you would like to share:
Being a student in the College of Music, I am very active in the vocal performance scene at FSU. I have performed in FSU choirs and one of the operas . On top of school work and extracurriculars, I spend approximately 2 hours a day practicing my instrument, and am hoping to have a brief career in performance. I am also a runner and participate in the Tallahassee Half Marathon every year.

Headshot: https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_leaders_information/22322/IMG_2970%20%281%29.jpg
{Empty}
2026Year2026: 2026
Approved: No
Update URL UROP Leaders: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-leader-information-submission?element_parents=elements/headshot&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=wvFaZXMse2e8m9SzGDoGFpL_w2Z2Amd-djRjNCSfqYU
Years as a UROP Leader: 2024-2025 and 2025-2026