Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Yijiong Yang
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): yy22f@fsu.edu
Position Title: Post Doc
FSU College (if applicable): Nursing
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: College of Nursing
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): Dr. Jing Wang, Dr. Kofi Sorkpor
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Exploring COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Alzheimer's Patients
Project Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (ADRD); COVID-19 Vaccination; Vaccine Hesitancy
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: {Empty}
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 5-10 hours
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) presents unique challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with AD often face cognitive impairments that can affect their decision-making processes and ability to comprehend health information, potentially influencing their attitudes towards vaccination. Additionally, social determinants of health such as access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors may further exacerbate vaccine hesitancy among this group. This project aims to investigate the factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), with the overarching goal of informing targeted interventions to improve vaccination acceptance in this vulnerable population.

Research Tasks:
Literature review: Identify and review existing literature on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Explore studies related to vaccine acceptance among individuals with Alzheimer's Disease.
Data analysis: Perform descriptive and/or statistical analysis on survey data. Discuss implications of findings for healthcare practice, policy development, and public health interventions. Prepare research presentations and academic publications to disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders and the scientific community.
Research assistants will have the opportunity to develop and refine their skills in literature review, data cleaning/management, and data analysis through hands-on experience. Additionally, they will earn co-authorship on published manuscripts based on their involvement and contributions to the research project.



Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Literature review: the ability to critically assess research findings, pinpointing areas where literature may be lacking, and skill in synthesizing information from published manuscripts are required. 
Data analysis: familiar with at least one statistical or programming software, such as SPSS, SAS, STATA, JMP, Python, or R, are highly recommended.



Mentoring Philosophy:
As the mentor, we are committed to fostering an environment where mentees can actively contribute their ideas, make informed decisions, and assume responsibilities that resonate with their interests and abilities. We will provide structured guidance and unwavering support to research assistants throughout their journey in navigating the research process. Our role involves offering comprehensive explanations of research methodologies, encouraging mentees to actively engage in research activities to enrich their comprehension and skill set. Additionally, we are always available to address inquiries and extend assistance whenever needed.
 

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://nursing.fsu.edu/faculty-staff/yijiong-yang
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2024
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=Tnr04dyhLQKzgb7yAWzUzFn3u5J26qkwihDbfs7pbr4