Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Malathy Elumalai
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: She, Her, hers
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Ms.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): me09e@fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): N/A
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: NHMFL (National High Magnetic Field Laboratory)
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/8446/Camp%20Fair%20Team%202023.jpg

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): Ilya Litvak
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: (first name)
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): litvak@magnet.fsu.edu

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Neighborhood STEM Fair Project at NHMFL - connecting underrepresented community with free STEM enrichment programs
Project Keywords: Education, Community Outreach, STEM education, Stem Education for All, Summer Camps, Journalism, Racial Equity, Social Justice
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors. The following majors are especially encouraged to apply:
FSU Teach, FSU-Teach, Secondary Science or Mathematics Teaching, 
Biochemistry, Biological Science, Biomathematics, Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, Chemical Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Meteorology, Physical Science, Physics,
Medical Sciences, Nursing, Public Health, Social Work,
Communication, Elementary Education,  Entrepreneurship, Human Development and Family Sciences, 
Human Rights and Social Justice,
Information Communication & Technology, Public Relations

Project Location:: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 E Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida - 32310.
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: Seminole Express (Innovation), StarMetro (Dogwood, Live Oak)
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:
The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, FL attracts scientists from across the globe who come to use our unique world-record magnets, including world strongest 45-tesla magnet, and world strongest 21-tesla MRI scanner. We as an organization is committed to education at all levels and we closely collaborate with research scientist and educators to develop programs that would benefit our community. 

As part of that effort, we would like to reach our nearest neighbors in Tallahassee South Side – majority-minority, low-income communities. This project aims at helping parents of school-age children to find a free summer STEM activity through the Neighborhood STEM fairs held in March of each year.

We are looking for a researcher who will study ways to better engage with the community and analyze impact of the project while contributing effort towards the STEM fairs. 



Research Tasks:
1.	Propose, implement, and evaluate strategies to engage with target community
2.	Publicise the project and its benefits to local residents through social media, flyers, direct engagement, and other means
3.	Publicise the project and its benefits to STEM program providers
4.	Study the impact of the camp fairs on STEM awareness among K-12 students


Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Required: 
1.	Organizational skills
2.	Presentation skills
3.	Communication skills including writing articles , emails etc.,
Recommended: 
1.    Webpage creation 
2.    Data analysis 
3.    Interest in community outreach


Mentoring Philosophy:
“If you can explain colors to a blind person, then you can explain anything” a famous saying translated from Tamil literature explains the key to a good mentor- mentee relationship. I strongly believe that if you truly understand a concept, you can clearly teach the concept. My intention behind mentoring is to make science understandable for anyone who wishes to learn and explore research. At the end of a semester, if the student left the lab after gaining a skill that will help in their career then I consider it as a success. 

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://nationalmaglab.org/news-events/events/for-the-community/neighborhood-camp-fair/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Roundtable times and Zoom links:
(1) Wednesday, September 6th, 2023- 1 pm to 2 pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94312473172 
Meeting ID: 943 1247 3172 ; One tap mobile +13052241968,,94312473172# US ,+16465588656,,94312473172# US (New York) 

(2) Friday, September 8th, 2023 02:00 PM:
 https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98560708862,
 Meeting ID: 985 6070 8862; One tap mobile: +13052241968,,98560708862# US, +16465588656,,98560708862# US (New York)

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: 2023
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=62fcf7i5bedJrrcxQ5av4nMd-iF2E7N6uyvWKajRJ2k