UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #927

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Lara Perez-Felkner
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: she/her/ella
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: lperezfelkner@fsu.edu
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): lperezfelkner@fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): Education, Health, and Human Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/15261/ICPS_Brussels_3%20LPFjpg.jpg

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
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Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Pathways Forward: Broadening Opportunities for College and Career
Project Keywords: college access and affordability; STEM education; inclusive environments; research mentoring; closing opportunity gaps
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?: 8
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:
My research uses developmental and sociological perspectives to investigate the mechanisms that shape racial-ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic disparities in post-secondary educational attainment and entry to scientific career fields, especially in engineering, computing, and other STEM areas. Increasingly, that involves work moving from the study of individuals to the study of systems and the engagement of partnerships. I feel fortunate to do the work I do and with the support and collaborators I have. Current initiatives include research dissemination and stakeholder engagement around sustainable approaches to enhancing opportunity and inclusive excellence in higher education.

My research centers on two focal strands: access to higher education and underrepresentation in specific STEM majors and careers. These strands share an aim: to identify mechanisms that could be addressed through policy and institutional interventions to broaden the participation of women and underrepresented groups in higher education and scientific careers, irrespective of their social background. A third strand builds on and centers equity through narrative writing. From the start, my research has and continues to pursue the following question: How can we equitably enhance educational success for students who have been historically underserved and underrepresented in higher education?

My expertise leverages my interdisciplinary and multiple methodological skills to intervene in seemingly persistent disparities and underrepresentation in college and STEM careers. Specifically, I examine (1) young people’s academic ability beliefs and (2) the social and schooling contexts that influence their college and career outcomes. These key factors – examined alternately with quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed methodology – are leveraged to investigate mechanisms which might intervene in current disparities in access to higher education, high-status and high-earning fields (STEM), and degree attainment. In these studies, I alternately employ secondary analysis of large-scale state and national longitudinal datasets and/or original research using longitudinal surveys, secondary analyses of large-scale institutional and/or government data, participant observation, and interview methodology. I remain committed to investigating and addressing seemingly entrenched educational disparities, leveraging interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives, research evidence, and collaborative partnerships.



Research Tasks:
literature review, data analysis, editing presentations and written research reports for practitioner and research audiences, engaging in team meetings

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Required: Willingness to learn, engage, be curious, offer ideas and ask for clarification, guidance, and support
Recommended/Preferred: Interest and/or comfort with or background experiences in social and/or behavioral sciences, education, and/or STEM sciences. Comfort with writing and use of citations.

Mentoring Philosophy:
Making my research spaces inclusive in terms of disciplines and views has been a strength for the research and has enhanced my own mentoring and leadership. Why? First, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve as a faculty member at a preeminent institution with a diverse pool of highly capable students. Second, as one of so few Latina tenured faculty members, my mentoring role is particularly important. Third, I value the outstanding mentoring and training I received as a doctoral and postdoctoral fellow working on major federally-funded projects at the University of Chicago and various research institutes, and continuing it here.  

I self-assess my own performance in part by the following metric: How have I trained and furthered the development of the next generation? My mother taught in high-poverty public elementary schools. Neither my father nor my stepfather finished college, nor did either of my grandfathers finish high school before serving in the U.S. military. Neither grandmother finished elementary school. When I make meaning of the work I do, I feel a sense of responsibility to help others realize their ambitions, dream higher, work better, and achieve greater. 

To date, I have written countless nomination and recommendation letters, and helped students win major awards and dissertation fellowships. I model the attainability of faculty life through mentoring, public communication, and how to develop and sustain opportunities. I continue to build a network of excellent, bold, trailblazing scholars who hone their scholarly craft and expand their potential.  

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: perezfelkner.com/publications
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
This project investigates the structures and supports which can foster postsecondary success for students, faculty, and institutions. This research draws on sociological and life course frameworks to understand constraints and opportunities which can contribute to longer-term outcomes. Recent work includes a randomized control study of a rent-free housing intervention at Florida universities, partnerships with STEM departments at FSU and beyond, and analyses of major state and national databases.

I publish with current and recent undergraduate and graduate students ,and have a 100% track record for undergrad mentees I've written recommendation letters for getting into graduate programs. One recent UROP student went on to a PhD program and just started her first year as a tenure-track professor at a major research university. I'm happy to offer opportunities, support, and connections to help whatever students' disciplinary field/major and career aspirations are moving forward, and to continue to colloborate beyond this program year. 


Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Friday, September 6 12-1pm.
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/9380510178?omn=96638312993

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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