UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1023

Submission information
Submission Number: 1023
Submission ID: 19711
Submission UUID: 0f060869-1b37-41f4-8d8c-8303e97ae483

Created: Thu, 06/12/2025 - 05:04 PM
Completed: Thu, 06/12/2025 - 05:04 PM
Changed: Sat, 09/27/2025 - 11:44 PM

Remote IP address: 144.174.212.30
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Yinan Li
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) yl24a@fsu.edu
Position Title Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name Lenore McWey
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email lmcwey@fsu.edu
FSU College (if applicable) Education, Health, and Human Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Human Development & Family Science - Marriage & Family Therapy
Headshot (optional) Yinan Li.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 Exploring Family-of-Origin Experiences and Their Impact in Adulthood
Project Keywords Family of Origin, Attachment, Intergenerational Influence, Narrative Analysis, Qualitative Research
Are you currently looking for research assistants? No
Number of Research Assistants Needed 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Communication, Psychology, Human Development & Family Studies, Social Work, Sociology, or related fields, 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?
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? 5-10
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 Are you curious about how our childhood experiences shape who we are today? Have you ever heard of terms like intergenerational influence, attachment, or family of origin (FOO)? Family-of-origin experiences have been studied in clinical settings for decades, but those spaces can be emotionally and financially challenging to access. Our study aims to explore more accessible and meaningful ways for people to reflect on and grow from their early life experiences.

This is a qualitative project that analyzes several in-depth narratives shared by adults from China. These interviews were conducted by trained professionals and are filled with personal reflections, emotional insights, and the journey of their growth.
Topics explored in this project include:
- How relationships with primary caregivers shaped one’s adulthood
- Core childhood memories and their long-term impact
- How childhood thoughts and emotions transformed into adulthood
- The role of early attachment in adult romantic and parent-child relationships
- How reflecting on the past can lead to healing and moving forward

In the later phase of this project, we also aim to promote the awareness of exploring FOO experiences among young adults. So you could help with designing interviews and focus groups to support yourself and your peers in processing your FOO stories. Or you can help with preparing quantitative projects on the relationship between early experiences and young adults' well-being.
Research Tasks - Help analyze data using qualitative data analysis software (like NVivo, we will learn this together!)
- Assist in identifying key themes and patterns in interviews
- Contribute to the design of interviews and focus groups
- Explore ways to help young adults reflect on their own FOO experiences
- Support the development of future quantitative studies on FOO and well-being
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: - Self-motivation: Find the part of the project that sparks your curiosity
- Patience & attention to detail: Especially when working with qualitative data
- Willingness to learn: We’ll explore new tools and ideas together
- Fluent in Mandarin (preferred, but not required): since all interviews are in Mandarin
Mentoring Philosophy As a second-year PhD student, I’m still early in my research journey and not far from where you are now. Because of that, I remember what it feels like to step into research with curiosity, uncertainty, and excitement to make a contribution. My goal is to offer mentorship that is collaborative, transparent, and person-centered.

I’m also a marriage and family therapist in training, and those values naturally shape how I mentor. I believe in meeting you where you are, supporting your growth, and encouraging you to discover what genuinely moves you in this work. I hope you'll approach this experience with a growth mindset, open to learning both about research and about yourself. That being said, this project may also invite personal reflection, so I encourage you to be open and courageous in those moments, and I’ll be here to support you in the best way I can.

As someone who grew up in China and is now navigating academia as an international student, I value humility, open-mindedness, and cultural awareness. I’m excited to learn with and from you, and I hope to help you connect your interests with meaningful research, and I wish to inspire you to come up with your own research project.
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):
Please add any additional information here (if applicable):
Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links Recording of the Roundtable session: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/2LJD9nqElV45-3kyDuJJp-lkNtQI_C39xmgYQwz5ZR8y_zCKpmQc4QAjvybH5Ilp.PYp6JAefDimi344q?startTime=1756846848000

September 2nd, 4:30-5:30 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94353753928

Meeting ID: 943 5375 3928
Roundtable Info
  • Day: Tuesday, September 2
    Start Time: 4:30
    End Time: 5:30
    Zoom Link: Recordings: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/2LJD9nqElV45-3kyDuJJp-lkNtQI_C39xmgYQwz5ZR8y_zCKpmQc4QAjvybH5Ilp.PYp6JAefDimi344q?startTime=1756846848000
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Faculty Advisor Confirmation Yes
Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?
Year 2025
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