Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Chelsi Arellano
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: she/her
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Ms.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): carellano@fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
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Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: {Empty}
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: History
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Uncovering Voices of the Dead: Wills and Deeds in Colonial Jamaica
Project Keywords: Caribbean, British Imperialism, Early Modern History, Society and Culture
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
History, Anthropology, Gender Studies, Humanities, African American Studies, Caribbean Studies, English

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: No, the project is remote
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?: 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:
From the beginning of the British conquest of Jamaica in 1655, the island served as a central point of contention to the British Empire. Jamaica has been a battleground against the Spanish, a settlement for white colonists, a hub for pirates, and a plantation colony reliant on slave labor. When, in 1692, an earthquake struck Port Royal, some saw it as an act of God against the island. Those living in Jamaica each had a different experience of these events and a different perspective of the identity of the island. This project seeks to explore the lived experience of people in Jamaica during the late seventeenth century by examining wills and deeds uncovered by an archeological investigation in the sunken city of Port Royal. These materials can provide insight into what people considered their prized possessions, their relationships with others, and how colonial life in Jamaica differed from life in England. By analyzing these records, we can gain a better understanding of the daily lives and social dynamics of people in Jamaica during this time.

Research Tasks:
Research assistants will read through archival materials and transcribe them. This may involve working with handwritten documents and developing paleographic skills to read early modern handwriting. Research assistants will also use online databases and other resources to locate historical individuals and other relevant information, work with large amounts of data and use quantitative analysis techniques to help identify patterns and trends, and write short summaries of their findings, highlighting key insights and observations. By performing these tasks, assistants will contribute to the ongoing efforts to better understand the history and context of the materials being studied. They will also develop valuable research skills and gain experience working with archival materials and databases.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
There are no required skills for this position, but it is recommended that assistants have a rudimentary understanding of Microsoft Office applications. Other training will be provided through the mentorship as needed.

Mentoring Philosophy:
This project is to be a collaborative effort between the mentor and the research assistants. I will be available to provide information as needed in the historical context, training on how to use databases, and how to read handwritten early modern materials. There will be open and frequent communication, with goals and deadlines made in collaboration with assistants and their objectives for the UROP program. 

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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
Faculty Advisor Confirmation: {Empty}

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: Yes
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Year: 2023
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=EXVn4UqI3YHgjcDKYvmgLhGxTHBtWeAO5GL4JkC5H9I