UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #978

Submission information
Submission Number: 978
Submission ID: 15676
Submission UUID: f75476d6-e947-457a-992a-a60efdd1ca40

Created: Tue, 09/03/2024 - 10:18 AM
Completed: Tue, 09/03/2024 - 12:36 PM
Changed: Mon, 10/07/2024 - 04:10 PM

Remote IP address: 71.209.92.160
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Sarah Louise Brown
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns she/her
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) sbrown@psy.fsu.edu
Position Title Faculty
FSU College (if applicable) Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Psychology
Headshot (optional) 20240819_Psychology_Sarah-Brown_Headshot-3x2.jpg
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above)
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable)
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Title of the Project Understanding Suicidal Processes and Developing Novel Interventions
Project Keywords suicide risk, virtual reality, ecological momentary assessment, psychophysiology, intervention development, theory refinement
Are you currently looking for research assistants? No
Number of Research Assistants Needed 3
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Psychology and related fields
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?
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? 8-10
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 How does someone go from thinking about suicide to engaging in suicidal behaviors? This project aims to investigate processes involved in the development of suicidal ideation and the transition to suicidal behaviors. We use an experimental therapeutics approach to improve our understanding and theoretical models of suicide while directly informing the development of novel interventions that target mechanisms involved in suicide ideation and suicidal behaviors. We use a multi-method approach to examine short-term fluctuations in suicidal processes both in controlled laboratory settings and ecologically valid real-world situations. Our studies use a combination of
1) virtual reality tasks, affective and suicide-related imagery tasks, social interaction tasks, decision-making tasks etc.
2) neurophysiology (electrocardiography, electrodermal activity, electroencephalography)
3) ecological momentary assessment
4) clinical interviews and self-reports
Research Tasks - Conduct literature reviews on relevant topics (e.g., suicidal imagery, virtual reality interventions, ecological momentary assessment and suicide risk)
- Assist with study implementation and data collection, including in-person experiments involving virtual reality and neurophysiology
- Help develop surveys, measures, and experimental tasks to capture suicidal processes and related risk factors
- Assist with study management and participant recruitment
- Assist in quality checking and coding of interview, self-report, behavioral, and neurophysiology data
- Assist in analyzing data and preparing study findings for publication, presentation, and dissemination
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required:
- Eagerness to learn and curiosity
- Positive professional demeanor
- Interest in learning how we study suicide and other psychological phenomena
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Recommended:
- Basic statistical knowledge, including use of statistics programs ( e.g., SPSS, R)
- Familiarity with survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics, RedCap)
- Programming experience (e.g., Python, Matlab)
Mentoring Philosophy The mentor-mentee relationship is the cornerstone of scientific progress. This relationship should be mutually beneficial, fostering growth for both individuals and positively contributing to the field of psychological science. My goal is to create a supportive environment where students can explore the scientific process, gain insights into clinical psychology, develop their own scientific passions, and reflect on their personal and professional growth.

I aim to guide my students in understanding the rigors and rewards of scientific inquiry, encouraging them to ask meaningful questions, think critically, and engage with complex problems. At the same time, I strive to cultivate independence and self-reliance.
My mentorship is built on open communication, trust, and mutual respect. I encourage my students to articulate their goals and provide them with opportunities to achieve these objectives through research projects, professional development, or experiential learning. I firmly believe in setting clear expectations and matching the effort my students put forth. I see this balance as not just important, but critical to their growth and confidence as junior scientists and to the productivity of our lab.

As a mentor, my goal is to inspire a passion for learning and discovery. I aim to help students develop the skills and confidence they need to make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields and communities. Each mentorship is a partnership that evolves with time and effort, and I hope that it will have a lasting, positive impact on both of us and on the science we seek to advance.
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://drsarahbrown.squarespace.com/announcements
Please add any additional information here (if applicable):
Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? No
Roundtable times and Zoom links
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Year 2024
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