UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #744

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Molly Hermiller
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: she/her
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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): mhermiller@fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Psychology
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/14346/Molly-Hermiller-4.jpg

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Marissa
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: Munroe
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): mam20jz@fsu.edu
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Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Modulating Human Memory
Project Keywords: memory, neuromodulation, imagination, attention, eye-tracking, fMRI, behavior, brain stimulation
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 6
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Psychology
Neuroscience

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):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 9
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:
The Hermiller Lab studies long-term episodic/autobiographical memory processes - the cognitive process that allows us to mentally travel back in time to recall our prior experiences. We use neuroimaging (fMRI) to measure the brain while it's performing memory, noninvasive brain stimulation (TMS) to modulate the memory networks, and measure behavior (memory tasks, eye-tracking). We have several projects with specific aspects that UROP students may lead, including:
- What is the relationship between imagination vividness and memory performance?
- What is the relationship between attention and hyper-vigilance (PTSD vs. healthy control population), and their interactions with memory performance?
- Can we use brain stimulation to differently target social-based memories vs. spatial memories?
- What is the nature of false memories?
- How do patterns of eye movements relate to memory formation and retrieval?
- How does physical movement (e.g., walking versus standing) affect our ability to form memories?

Research Tasks:
- literature review
- participant recruitment, screening, and scheduling
- data collection (fMRI, brain stimulation, behavioral assessments)
- data management
- data analyses
- lab meeting presentations
- coding tasks and analyses

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
We will teach you the specific methods pertaining to data collection in our lab.

We do require the following skills:
- professional
- open to learn
- teamwork
- ability to identify where you need extra training/help

Mentoring Philosophy:
As the PI of the Hermiller Lab, I meet with my students regularly to identify their individual skills, their future goals, and their current struggles, in order to create a plan of action for them to develop and succeed. I believe that science requires active learning, taking on challenges, learning from mistakes, and persistent inquiry. Science is a rewarding and humbling process that leads to better understanding of ourselves and our world. To be successful, it requires researchers at all stages (from PI to undergraduate research assistants) to actively engage with the learning process with humility and attention to detail. These are values that I aim to instill and demonstrate for my mentees. I strive to create a positive, productive, and supportive lab environment, and in return, expect that members of the lab will contribute in a positive, productive, and supportive manner. 

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://www.hermillerlab.org/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Thursday, Sept. 5th from 1:00pm-1:30pm (https://youtu.be/_0b2s7x-ncw -- Recorded Video)

Roundtable Info:
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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
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