UROP Project
protein purification, HPLC, gel electrophoresis, protein labeling, EV loading, mammalian cells
Research Mentor: Dr. Helene Tigro, she her
Department, College, Affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Medicine
Contact Email: helene.tigro@med.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Dr. Zucai Suo
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: zucai.suo@med.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Medicine
Contact Email: helene.tigro@med.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Dr. Zucai Suo
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: zucai.suo@med.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Biochemistry or Biological Science
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 hours a week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Biochemistry or Biological Science
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 hours a week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medical condition resulting in morbidity and permanent disability that can be caused by a major trauma directly to the spinal cord or vertebrae, degenerative disease or spinal infection. SCI arises from the disruption of nerve axons running through the spinal cord which leads to the loss of sensory and motor function. Following the initial trauma, a cascade of secondary events will transpire, including excessive proinflammatory response that includes the activation of CNS resident microglia to pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, that release inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), contributing to further neuronal death and tissue damage. M1 phenotype is dominated by NF-kB that increases phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) expression, which rapidly hydrolyses cAMP. cAMP is the main regulator maintaining innate immune cell homeostasis and preventing the M1 phenotype, especially in the presence of anti-inflammatory interleukin 4 (IL4). Elevated cAMP and IL4 levels activate the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, that secrete factors associated with tissue repair, wound healing, and neuroprotection. Stimulating intracellular cAMP and IL4 activity remarkably promotes neuronal survival, regeneration, and enhances intrinsic axonal growth.We propose to investigate the possibility of using engineered extracellular vesicles for therapeutic conversion that could be utilized in SCI. In vitro and in vivo experimental SCI models have shown that combining cAMP elevation with anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL4, phenotypically converts pro-inflammatory M1 microglia to M2, which enhances peripheral nerve recovery and regeneration, suppresses inflammation, and stimulates tissue repair and wound healing.
In the experimental set-up, mouse IL4 will be expressed as recombinant murine IL4-R9 in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells and purified by column chromatography. Purified IL4 will be analyzed by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE and native PAGE) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Purified IL4-R9 will be loaded into the MSCEVs and verified by Cys5-labelling, and immunostaining with Alexa Fluor 488-labeled anti-IL4 antibody, using TIRF and confocal microscopy.
Mouse microglia cells will be cultured in appropriate conditions and microglial classic activation will be achieved by LPS or IFN-γ induction, after which the expression of pro-inflammatory markers (iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α) is determined in cell lysates by Western blot or ELISA analysis.
Research Tasks: Literature review, conducting laboratory experiments (recombinant protein expression in E. coli, protein purification using different methods such as HPLC, protein analysis using gel electrophoresis, protein labeling using different dyes, mammalian cell work etc), data collection, data analysis.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Good pipetting skills are required. Good time management skills are required. Good work ethics is required.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy is creating an interactive environment for learning, promoting learning through inquiry and laboratory experiments, and sharing my own experience with the mentee's.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://med.fsu.edu/suolab/publications
climate crisis, hydrogen, sustainability, engineering our energy future
Research Mentor: Dr. Sastry Pamidi, He
Department, College, Affiliation: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Center for Advanced Power Systems, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: pamidi@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Center for Advanced Power Systems, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: pamidi@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry
Project Location: 2000 Levy Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32310 - lose to MagLab and FAMU-FSU Engineering in Innovation Park
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU buss runs between the main campus and innovation park every 30 minutes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry
Project Location: 2000 Levy Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32310 - lose to MagLab and FAMU-FSU Engineering in Innovation Park
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU buss runs between the main campus and innovation park every 30 minutes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Hydrogen (H2) is a versatile energy carrier. NASA rockets and space shuttles have used H2 for a long time. Hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy sources (solar and wind energy) will be a sustainable fuel if the infrastructure is developed for production, storage, and distribution. The public and private sectors are investing heavily in hydrogen infrastructure. Hydrogen is a colorless gas. Hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources is referred to as “Green Hydrogen.”Our research group at the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) is investigating green hydrogen as a fuel for electric aircraft, electrical power generation, and energy storage. Students joining our group will contribute to our research projects on hydrogen-fueled electric aircraft, hydrogen for sustainable energy systems, assessing the properties of liquid hydrogen, and cryogenic (low-temperature) techniques for using liquid hydrogen. Our projects involve both modeling/simulations and experimental investigations.
UROP students will be integral to a research group with faculty, research staff, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates. Many UROP students who worked in our group transitioned to paid research assistant positions and graduate programs.
Knowledge of hydrogen is not essential. We will teach everything needed to be successful. Curiosity and interest in learning are required.
Please join us and help us create a green energy future!
Research Tasks: Literature review related to hydrogen
Modeling of hydrogen fuel systems
Supporting experiments at low temperatures
Data collection and analysis
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Willing to working in group settings
Required to follow lab safety rules (training will be provided)
Basic computer skills (Excell, Word, PowerPoint)
Mentoring Philosophy
We engage with students by embedding them in our larger research group. They learn by observing us solve research problems, supporting us with the design of experiments, and assisting us in collecting the data. As we engage the students, we explain the basics, the motivations for our research, and the broader outcomes. We observe the students learn their interests and strengths to engage them in research tasks matching their interests and strengths. Providing mentorship for our student's personal and professional growth is the purpose of engaging UROP students in our research projects.The goal is to generate long-lasting interest in engineering and provide opportunities to enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills and build professional relationships.
Additional Information
We have several research projects related to green hydrogen for sustainable energy systems. We will accommodate students with interests in modeling and simulation and experimental research.Link to Publications
http://izea.eng.famu.fsu.edu/2022/11/21/nasa-selects-famu-fsu-college-of-engineering-to-help-develop-sustainable-aviation-system/
astrophysics, physics, applied mathematics, statistics, computational science, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification
Research Mentor: Dr. Tomasz Plewa,
Department, College, Affiliation: Scientific Computing, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: tplewa@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Scientific Computing, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: tplewa@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Motivated by observations of supernova remnants such as SN 1987A or Tycho, we are investigating links between the supernova progenitor structure, instabilities developing during the explosion process, and characteristics of emerging young supernova remnants. The starting point for such investigations are stellar evolution studies of supernova progenitors.From practical point of view, stellar evolution calculations require solving a set of coupled, nonlinear ordinary or partial differential equations. In this project, we will be using the MESA code,
http://mesa.sourceforge.net/
to solve the required evolutionary equations. In recent years, MESA had become a tool of choice for studying variety of astrophysical systems such as stars, binary stars, planets, and basic physics problems in dedicated settings. In this project, we study the evolution of thermonuclear flames powering Type Ia supernovae explosions, and assess sensitivity of their properties, such as speed and width, on the fuel parameters. The results of this study will subsequently be used as input to supernova explosion codes such as Agile-IDSA,
http://www.physik.unibas.ch/~liebend/download/index.html
or FLASH,
https://flash.rochester.edu/site/flashcode/
More advanced students may participate in and contribute to the analysis of multiphysics simulation results, such as computing nucleosynthetic yields and obtaining specific characteristics of explosion models.
This project is strongly computationally-oriented and requires practical user knowledge of Linux or MacOS operating systems. In addition, a broader range of topics is available to students fluent with programming languages such as C, C++, Fortran, or Python. Familiarity with simulation data analysis and visualization tools (e.g. Excel, gnuplot, matplotlib) is a plus.
Applications of students who do not have programming skills or do not plan taking a programming class during the first semester of this project are strongly discouraged.
Additional information related to the project can be obtained at
http://people.sc.fsu.edu/~tplewa/Research/index.html#resources
Research Tasks: All the required work will be done on desktop computers provided by the Department of Scientific Computing or with student's laptop computers serving as front ends to departmental computers (connecting via Remote Desktop/Anydesk software), and Zoom for weekly communications. The project tasks involve,
(1) Review text book information about mathematics and physics relevant to problems in stellar evolution.
(2) Familiarize with the Linux operating system. Download, install, and familiarize with the MESA stellar evolution code.
(3) Construct a series of stellar evolution tracks for various stellar masses (Hertzsprung-Russel Diagram).
(4) Present evolution of stellar structure using Kippenhahn's diagrams (see, e.g., https://github.com/orlox/mkipp ).
(5) Study sensitivity of stellar progenitors characteristics or stellar physics phenomena to problem parameters.
(6) Obtain a series of stellar evolution or relevant multiphysics simulations.
(7) Analyze obtained results.
(8) Prepare a poster presenting the project findings.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: familiarity with the Linux-type operating system; practical knowledge of MATLAB, Python, or Fortran/C/C++.
Required: interest in and solid basic preparation in the areas of mathematics, physics, or statistics.
Mentoring Philosophy
Promoting learning through inquiry -- the Socratic method.Sharing my own research experience.
Creating a safe environment in which mentees feel that is acceptable to fail and learn from their mistakes.
Additional Information
https://news.fsu.edu/news/science-technology/2020/12/17/fsu-computational-scientist-demonstrates-how-supernovae-detonate/https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slaa141
https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.16674
Link to Publications
http://people.sc.fsu.edu/~tplewa/Research/index.html
social media, artificial intelligence, mental health, anxiety, depression, eating disorder, body image
Research Mentor: Dr. Madeline Dougherty,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wick@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wick@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Psychology preferred but open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Psychology preferred but open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
My research focuses on the impact of social media on mental health and well-being of its users, with a focus on its effect on body image and eating disorder risk. My past research has investigated topics such as posting edited photos on social media, influencers, the clean girl aesthetic, the body positivity movement, and more. Potential topics to focus on this year include the effect of AI on the mental health and well-being of its users, as well as other relevant topics/trends on social media.Research Tasks: literature review, data collection, data analysis (descriptive and inferential)
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: N/A
Mentoring Philosophy
I believe good mentorship is an act of service. I work to identify opportunities for my students to grow and flourish, knowing that different students need different things, depending on their unique skillsets and career goals. I treat my students as junior colleagues in the field, recognizing their ideas as good ideas worth pursuing. I model good work-life balance to my students and make a point of celebrating my students’ successes, whether that is finishing a difficult week of midterm exams or presenting their research at a conference for the first time.Additional Information
If interested, attach to your email (1) your resume (or CV) with pertinent quantitative metrics and (2) a writing sample (on any topic and of any length) that showcases your writing skills.Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0mbeVs0AAAAJ&hl=en
food, advertising, psychophysiology
Research Mentor: Dr. or Prof. Rachel Bailey, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: rbailey2@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: rbailey2@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors if interests align
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors if interests align
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Research assistants will help collect data in a psychophysiology and eyetracking lab for projects related to food advertisements, sustainability features, and cultured meat consumer acceptance.Research Tasks: Data collection
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Detail orientation, time management
Special training will be provided.
Mentoring Philosophy
Appreciating the significance of trust, particularly in post-pandemic social dynamics, I focus on creating inclusive environments where students feel safe and supported. I've found that both policies and assessments contribute to this as much as personality and interaction. Drawing from pedagogical, cognitive science, and psychological insights, I maximize mentorship impact by developing experiential, formative training and assessments that seek to align learning outcomes with real-world student goals. Along with a mixture of policies that reflect flexibility, compassion, fairness, and consistency, I endeavor to demonstrate my commitment to their long-term success.Additional Information
https://icc.cci.fsu.edu/Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7jVDlAsAAAAJ&hl=en
Sea level, physical oceanography, statistical analysis
Research Mentor: Dr. Yueyang Lu, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, N/A
Contact Email: yl24q@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, N/A
Contact Email: yl24q@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Math, Physics, (Physical) Oceanography, or other relevant majors
Project Location: Research Foundation Building A, 2000 Levy Ave #292, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, Sep 3, 4PM-4:30PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98380996514)
Wednesday, Sep 4, 4PM-4:30PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98380996514)
Thursday, Sep 5, 4PM-4:30PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98380996514)
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Math, Physics, (Physical) Oceanography, or other relevant majors
Project Location: Research Foundation Building A, 2000 Levy Ave #292, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, Sep 3, 4PM-4:30PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98380996514)
Wednesday, Sep 4, 4PM-4:30PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98380996514)
Thursday, Sep 5, 4PM-4:30PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98380996514)
Project Description
Global mean sea level has risen by nearly 100 mm (~4 inches) since 1993, as estimated by NASA. However, this rise is not uniform globally - the rate of sea level change exhibits significant spatial and temporal variability, fluctuating over scales ranging from hours to years. Understanding the characteristics and drivers of regional sea level change is crucial for predicting future sea level and mitigating the impacts on coastal communities.This project aims to understand and quantify the sea level variability in the US East Coast using observational data. The student will develop a fundamental understanding of the regional sea level dynamics, analyze the sea level variabilities across different time scales, and attribute the variabilities to underlying physical processes.
Research Tasks: - Reviewing literatures of sea level variability
- Downloading observational data of sea level
- Quantifying and separating the sea level variability across different scales using statistical methods such as linear fitting and spectral analysis
- Identifying the physical processes impacting the variabilities
- Writing up and/or presenting the research findings
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required:
- Strong interest in sea level and physical oceanography
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Basic coding skill in MATLAB or Python, etc.
Recommended:
- Background or experience in fluid mechanics or physical oceanography
- Good knowledge in statistical methods including linear fitting and spectral analysis
- Good writing and presenting skills for summarizing results
Mentoring Philosophy
The overall goal that I propose this UROP project is to introduce self-motivated students into the sea level field of both scientific and social importance.As a postdoc, my research is on the sea level dynamics in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean using numerical ocean models. This UROP focuses on different geographic location and uses different method (observations). Therefore, I consider the mentee as a “collaborator” rather than an “assistant” of my own research. It means that I expect the mentee and I to both contribute to our understanding of this topic.
For guidance, I will try to provide as much help as I could, including programing, searching relevant literature, and explaining basic physical concepts, etc. I will give the mentee sufficient freedom to dive into the direction that interests him/her. I welcome the mentee to come up with their own ideas about the topic.
I endeavor to support an open and inclusive research environment. I would like to achieve a collaborative and reciprocal relationship between the mentee and me.
Additional Information
Feel free to reach out to me at yl24q@fsu.edu at any time if you have any questions. We can also discuss to modify/change the project if you are interested in other topics in physical oceanography (I can propose another project). My expertise can be found on my personal website above.Link to Publications
https://yueyanglu.github.io/
qualitative, dramaturgy, theatre
Research Mentor: Ms. Dee Selmore , she/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Theatre, Fine Arts
Contact Email: dselmore@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Theatre, Fine Arts
Contact Email: dselmore@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Though this project is open to all majors, the preferred majors are Theatre, English/Literature, History, African American Studies, Cultural Studies, Communications/Media Studies, Education, Film, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Creative Writing, and related fields.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Though this project is open to all majors, the preferred majors are Theatre, English/Literature, History, African American Studies, Cultural Studies, Communications/Media Studies, Education, Film, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Creative Writing, and related fields.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
This project involves exploring the psychological and emotional impact of embodying traumatic characters on Black actors. Using a production of August Wilson's Fences, the project aims to provide comprehensive research support to the director, cast, and production team, ensuring an authentic portrayal of the play’s cultural, historical, and thematic elements. Additionally, the research will delve into how performances that engage with historical and contemporary racial and gender-based trauma affect the mental health and well-being of Black actors. Through a mixed-methods approach, the study will examine factors such as stress, emotional exhaustion, and identity disruption among actors who have portrayed roles involving trauma.The research will involve a diverse sample of professional and amateur Black actors, with data collected over six months. Research assistants will play a critical role in conducting interviews, administering assessments, and managing the data. Alongside the psychological study, the project will assist in creating audience engagement materials and material for talkbacks to enhance understanding of the play and the research findings. By combining dramaturgical research with an in-depth study of performance psychology, this project will contribute to the literature on Black studies and performance, offering insights into the challenges faced by Black actors and informing strategies to support their mental health in the performing arts industry.
Research Tasks: Literature review, dramaturg tasks, develop a research portfolio, data collection, administering assessments, data analysis, data management, content creation, among other tasks.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Strong reading and literary analysis skills required
Content creation recommended
Interviewing skills recommended
Assessment administration recommended
Data analysis (qualitative) recommended
Knowledge of performance psychology (desired but not required)
Understanding of racial trauma and its impacts recommended
Project management (desired but not required)
Video production and editing (desired but not required)
Ethical research practices required
Data management and security recommended
Statistical software proficiency (e.g., SPSS, R) (desired but not required)
Strong communication skills required
Cultural sensitivity and awareness recommended
Time management required
Critical thinking and problem-solving required
Mentoring Philosophy
My approach to mentoring is rooted in the belief that research is not just a pursuit of knowledge but a transformative experience that shapes critical thinking, creativity, and professional growth. I am committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where undergraduate researchers can thrive, learn, and contribute meaningfully to their fields of study. I prioritize each student's individual growth and development. I encourage students to take ownership of their projects and develop a sense of agency in their academic journey.Research is a collaborative endeavor, and I firmly believe in fostering a partnership between mentors and students. I encourage open communication, active participation, and the exchange of ideas to ensure students feel not just valued, but integral to the research process. I emphasize academic rigor and ethical research practices, striving to create a mentoring relationship based on trust, respect, and encouragement. I am committed to being approachable, offering continuous support, and addressing any challenges students may encounter during their research.
Mentoring does not end with the completion of a research project. I am dedicated to providing long-term mentorship and offering guidance and support as students navigate their academic and professional paths. Overall, I aim to inspire a passion for research in my students and empower them to achieve their full potential as scholars and professionals.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
Video Analyses, Substrate, Deep-Sea Corals
Research Mentor: Dr Amy Baco-Taylor,
Department, College, Affiliation: EOAS, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: abacotaylor@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Virginia Biede
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: vbiede@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Sierra Landreth
Faculty Collaborators Email: sll22d@fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: EOAS, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: abacotaylor@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Virginia Biede
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: vbiede@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Sierra Landreth
Faculty Collaborators Email: sll22d@fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Environmental Science, Biology, Geology, Computer Science
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Environmental Science, Biology, Geology, Computer Science
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
The goal of this project is to review deep-sea remotely operated vehicle videos to help characterize substrate on seamounts of the Hawaiian Ridge and Emperor Seamount Chain in the North Pacific. Students with appropriate backgrounds may develop an automated image analysis project. There is potential for this project to develop into characterization of habitats and comparisons among sites.Research Tasks: Video annotation, Data Entry, Data Management
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Strong excel skills are required
Image J, coral point count, or BIIGLE software experience not required but would be helpful
R or GIS software experience helpful but not required
Experience with automated image analyses would be ideal but not required
Mentoring Philosophy
We will aid research assistants in learning valuable research skills such as basic data acquisition, time management, spreadsheet management, and methods of data analysis. By contributing to the larger overall goals of the lab, research assistants will have the opportunity to participate in meaningful scientific processes and gain research experience.Additional Information
Link to Publications
doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00715
Health insurance, Insurance prices, Regulation
Research Mentor: Dr Kyeonghee Kim, She/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Risk Management and Insurance, Business
Contact Email: k.kim@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Risk Management and Insurance, Business
Contact Email: k.kim@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Risk management and insurance
Accounting
Finance
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Risk management and insurance
Accounting
Finance
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Examine the effect of health insurance price regulation on insurer performanceResearch Tasks: Collect data on health insurers’ price change requests (rate requests) across state insurance departments in the US
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Excel - required
Stata - recommended
Mentoring Philosophy
My philosophy for mentoring can be summarized in two folds: Encouraging growth through challenges & Promoting learning through inquiry. I understand undergraduate students are adjusting to their college life while also navigating their career prospects. I hope I can help with a UROP student’s academic career interest through the UROP project mentoring.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Nutrition; exercise; health; microbiome; gut; food science; inflammation; dietetics; metabolism; aging; clinical;
Research Mentor: Mr. Cole Patoine, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Health, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: cjp23a@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Health, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: cjp23a@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Nutrition and Dietetics
Exercise Physiology
Food Science
Biology
Chemistry
STEM
Pre-Med
Neuroscience
Psychology
Nursing
Microbiology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday Sept 4th, 4-6pm: Join Zoom Link Here:
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94089330630
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Nutrition and Dietetics
Exercise Physiology
Food Science
Biology
Chemistry
STEM
Pre-Med
Neuroscience
Psychology
Nursing
Microbiology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday Sept 4th, 4-6pm: Join Zoom Link Here:
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94089330630
Project Description
We are interested in understanding the mechanisms and dynamics of host-diet-microbe interactions and how these interactions influence our health. We utilize and integrate nutrition, microbiology, molecular biology, in-vitro systems, in-vivo models, metagenomics, bioinformatics, and machine-learning approaches to address, investigate and understand these interfaces. The Gut Biome lab is currently focused on running 3 clinical trials: 1. The effect of watermelon on gut and cardio metabolic health in college aged students with obesity (12-week trial to begin this fall), 2. The effect of peanut butter on gut health and metabolic health in school-aged children (8-week trial to begin this fall), 3. The effect of dietary pulses on gut and metabolic health in college aged students. We are collecting blood biomarkers, oral and fecal microbiome, cognitive data, urine samples, and utilizing new technology such as gas-sensing capsules to answer our research objectives and generate new questions.Research Tasks: Students will be asked to develop their own project idea based on existing or ongoing lab data and to work through each step of the scientific process while developing their project. Some research tasks may involve: Data collection and data analysis, literature review, conducting screening visits with participants, fecal DNA extraction, phone-interviews, and recruiting participants.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: You will succeed in our lab if you are committed to learning something new. No skills are "required", however, we are looking for those with a strong work ethic, great communication skills, reliability, and a passion for nutrition, health and learning.