UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1176

Submission information
Submission Number: 1176
Submission ID: 20476
Submission UUID: 6b101061-ba91-4903-98d8-dc47bf951a2a

Created: Fri, 08/15/2025 - 03:09 PM
Completed: Sun, 08/17/2025 - 07:55 AM
Changed: Mon, 08/25/2025 - 01:09 PM

Remote IP address: 128.186.156.80
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Benjamin Dodds
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns he/his/him
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) bdodds@fsu.edu
Position Title Faculty
FSU College (if applicable) Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Florida State University
Headshot (optional)
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 In the Footsteps of Bandits - An Alternative History of Spain
Project Keywords Spain, bandits, history
Are you currently looking for research assistants? Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) This is open to all majors. Those majoring in Spanish, History and related fields might be particularly interested.
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? 6
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 This research project involves the use of stories about bandits to explore aspects of the history of Spain. For example, some of the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula who rebelled against Roman rule were described and celebrated as bandits. Likewise, some of those involved in the armed resistance against the authoritarian rule of General Franco were also labeled bandits. What do these and other bandits tell us about Spain and her history? What do they reveal about people's attitudes to government, their economic, social and cultural lives and so on?
Research Tasks Research assistants will investigate the history and myth of one or more bandits. This will involve the identification of relevant sources and the comparison of historical reality and myths associated with particular bandits. Research assistants will produce a short study of their individual bandit(s) which will eventually be incorporated in a project website (currently under development).
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: The ability to read Spanish is useful for this project but is not required.
Mentoring Philosophy As a mentor, I believe in empowering the mentee to conduct their own research. This means working with them on developing the skills and knowledge needed to research but also letting them identify relevant material and research questions. My aim is less to direct mentees' research and more to facilitate their own development as researchers in their own right. I aim to be available to help when challenges arise and always to provide a sounding board for discussion, but also to let mentees get on with their research, taking charge of it themselves. The great advantage of collaborative research is that different members of the team bring different things to the project, so I aim to help mentees identify and develop their own strengths.
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): Here is an article published at an earlier stage of this project: https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01FALSC_FSU/1pc67ru/cdi_informaworld_taylorfrancis_310_1080_14753820_2017_1335502
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 Wednesday September 3, 1pm-1.30pm.
Thursday September 4, 1pm-1.30pm.
Zoom link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5738006031
Roundtable Info
  • Day: Thursday, September 4
    Start Time: 1:00
    End Time: 1:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5738006031
  • Day: Wednesday, September 3
    Start Time: 1:00
    End Time: 1:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5738006031
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Year 2025
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