UROP Project
Technology Based Interventions to Address the HIV Prevention and Care Continuum
Digial Health, HIV, adolescents and young adults, Interventions
Research Mentor: Dr Lisa Hightow-Weidman, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Institute on Digital Health and Innovation, Nursing
Contact Email: lhightowweidman@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Mr Matthew Rosso he/him
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mrosso@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Kate Muessig she/her
Faculty Collaborators Email: kmuessig@fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Institute on Digital Health and Innovation, Nursing
Contact Email: lhightowweidman@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Mr Matthew Rosso he/him
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mrosso@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Kate Muessig she/her
Faculty Collaborators Email: kmuessig@fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Nursing
Project Location: Innovation Park
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/8amHhNoPZzmTzzMUVUY68vmJEIvP2ANO30iB6gyS5MqnWkXJku9pdQz4GOoQlGeJ.IRKf7EdwWhjcYJR
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Nursing
Project Location: Innovation Park
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/8amHhNoPZzmTzzMUVUY68vmJEIvP2ANO30iB6gyS5MqnWkXJku9pdQz4GOoQlGeJ.IRKf7EdwWhjcYJR
Project Description
The RA will operate as a member of the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation (IDHI) team by providing research support to the design, implementation and evaluation of health behavior research studies using technology-based digital health interventions. Within IDHI we have a plethora of exciting, technology-based interventions (https://idhi.fsu.edu/projects) at various stages of implementation (from those currently in development to those completed and in analysis). The RA will join our team of faculty, staff and post-docs to provide support and learn from the very best what it takes to develop, implement and evaluate digital health interventions that aim to have a significant public health impact.Research Tasks: literature reviews and assistance with data analysis and manuscript development
creation of digital health content for interventions
assisting with study participant recruitment and retention
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required
Must posses some knowledge of research principals and practices
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written
Demonstrated ability to work well with others
Recommended
Proficiency in technology-related communication, including some basic knowledge of social media, texting, smartphone apps
Interest in the development and evaluation of technology-based interventions
Interest in HIV care and prevention, mental health, stigma focused work
Mentoring Philosophy
I have a long-standing commitment to training; all my researcher projects have involved mentees. As a result, I am aware of the importance of goal setting, periodic evaluation of milestone progress, and frequent communication. I have mentored >50 medical, graduate, postgraduate students, and new faculty, four of whom I have successfully mentored through their postdoctoral training and into Assistant Professor positions.Within IDHI students actively participate in ongoing research projects, contributing to data collection and analysis activities. I believe in learning by doing. As such, primary training mechanisms that I use with mentees – include involving them in research studies at each phase – from planning through publication and dissemination. This includes working with them to carve out pieces of projects that they can take the lead on as well as ways in which they can play a more supportive, “trainee” role for project elements they may be less familiar with. Aside from traditional research assistant duties, IDHI students are offered the opportunity to first-author manuscripts, facilitate community discussions, or present at a national conference based on data from ongoing projects.. This approach has been extremely successful as a professional development vehicle for my students and staff.
Additional Information
Please reach out directly if you have any questions about the project. Happy to chat!!Link to Publications
https://idhi.fsu.edu/Exploring the Adaptability of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Flood Depths Across Different Areas
Flood prediction, machine learning models, adaptability, flood risk management
Research Mentor: Maryam Pakdehi,
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: mp22bo@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: eahmadisharaf@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: mp22bo@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: eahmadisharaf@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Environmental engineering, Civil engineering, Computer engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 4-5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Environmental engineering, Civil engineering, Computer engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 4-5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
This proposal outlines a collaborative project between an undergraduate student and myself, focusing on examining how machine learning models can predict flood depths in diverse locations. Our initial models showed promise in a coastal area during Hurricane Ida and worked well in other events. However, we want to expand their potential. The project involves collecting and preparing data from various regions, using tools like Excel and ArcGIS. This process will help students become familiar with flood data and prediction. This effort will assess how well the models can predict flood depths in these different contexts, advancing the development of effective flood prediction tools.Research Tasks: • Gather and organize flood-related existing data from publicly accessible websites.
• Preprocess the data using Excel, ArcGIS, and other existing software.
• Participate in the classification of different regions based on model performance.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: • Proficiency in data handling using tools like Excel and ArcGIS.
• Analytical skills for interpreting model results.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research setting.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy is rooted in cultivating a dynamic and supportive relationship with students. I believe in guiding students beyond mere task completion, nurturing their growth as researchers and individuals. I emphasize the practical applications of research theories, establish well-defined project tasks, maintain transparent communication, and proactively address challenges. My aim is to empower students to innovate and think creatively, while providing steady guidance to ensure their success. Through this approach, the additional mentor (Dr. Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf) has successfully guided a UROP student to secure a prestigious research internship, illustrating the effectiveness of a holistic mentoring strategy.Additional Information
Implications of this Work: This research has the potential to reshape flood prediction methods by showing how machine learning models can adapt across different areas. The insights gained can inform the creation of flexible flood prediction tools that transcend geographical boundaries. This work enhances our grasp of flood dynamics and contributes to effective flood risk management, ultimately protecting communities and minimizing the impact of devastating floods.Link to Publications
Artificial Intelligence in Independent Music Study: Value Maximization of ChatGPT
AI; Music; ChatGPT; Self-learning
Research Mentor: Huixian Wu, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Music, Music
Contact Email: hw20by@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Music, Music
Contact Email: hw20by@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: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-6 hours, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-6 hours, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
ChatGPT is a language model invented by OpenAI which is good at generating human-like conversations. It can discuss various topics, including the field of music study, which will be processed in this project. It can also supply suggestions and assistance according to the questions it receives. However, according to its official statements, ChatGPT works based on patterns in data instead of true understanding, which means it could make up something is not correct.Research assistants will get the music-relating topics from me at the beginning of the project, if they have their topics that also works. They will explore how much the ChatGPT could help, guide, and inspire, during their independent music study, which will be leaded by themselves instead of professors as in universities or colleges. After assistants finished their topics, they will work with me to discuss how they feel about the whole progression. Assistants are expected to conclude their strategies to maximize the value of ChatGPT, as well as their concerns, at the very end of the project.
Research Tasks: There are two primary research tasks for this project: asking questions to ChatGPT and data collection.
Asking Questions:
You will get a topic from me, and you need to do the research with using ChatGPT. I will help you to organize your research schedule. Ask questions to ChatGPT whenever you think it is an appropriate point. Please consider what valuable questions you can ask to ChatGPT, because the questions can be simple or complex, the point is how much help you can get from ChatGPT after asking those questions.
Data Collection:
You will need to collect and record all the questions you ask, and all the answers you get from ChatGPT. Afterwards, we will work together and examine if those answers are correct or useful.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended (basic) proficiency in MS Word
Mentoring Philosophy
Encouraging growth through challenges is important in my mentoring philosophy. In recent months, the emergence of ChatGPT has captured the attention of many. As a musician, my consideration is around the ways in which ChatGPT will reshape and influence our approach to music study. I firmly believe that humanity's adaptability to and utilization of these evolving technologies are of utmost importance.For students, when provided with tools such as ChatGPT, it becomes significant for them to grasp the significance of leveraging these tools and transforming them into potent aids. The ability to master new technologies and effectively integrate them, particularly when incorporated into personal independent study, is indispensable to both students' careers and their overall lives.
This project is open to all major students, acknowledging that music is an integral part of everyone's life. This universality implies that each one of us has the potential to become a musician. I hope this project will help people to build their personality stronger, and help them face to the new challenges bravely in the future.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
***Verification and Validation tests for novel ``Moment of Fluid'' multiphase algorithm.
High performance computing, evaporation, condensation, freezing, microgravity, cryogenic fuels
Research Mentor: Mark Sussman,
Department, College, Affiliation: Mathematics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: sussman@math.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Mathematics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: sussman@math.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: 2
Relevant Majors: "Open to all majors."
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: "Open to all majors."
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
We have recently developed a new ``moment of fluid'' algorithm for simulating phase change processes: evaporation, condensation, freezing, melting, and boiling. The new algorithm needs further testing. Applications: sloshing, evaporation, and condensation in cryogenic fuel tanks (microgravity and regular gravity), materials processing (e.g. solidification and melting of silicone), Additive manufacturing. There are many applications! I am wide open for suggestions.Research Tasks: 1. literature review in order to identify viable verification and validation tests.
2. determine parameters, initial conditions and boundary conditions needed in order to run the tests.
3. run the simulations and visualize the results.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: required: ability to access journal articles, and if needed access "interlibrary loan."
required: ability to learn the visualization tool "Visit"
recommended:computer programming
Mentoring Philosophy
My hope is that a student who chooses to participate in a UROP with me will be able to write a report at the end; the components of the report are:1. abstract: what is the "research question"?
2. introduction: background of the "research question" in relation to the current state-of-the-art. Predictions for outcomes.
3. state the conditions for controlled experiments.
4. report results for the experiments
5. conclusions: were the findings consistent with the predictions? explain they were (or were not) consistent.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
http://www.math.fsu.edu/~sussman (also look up "mark sussman florida state" on scholar.google.com)Examining Diversity in Eating Disorder Research: Trends in U.S. Sample Reporting Practices
eating disorders, risk factors, diversity, systematic review, longitudinal
Research Mentor: Catherine Broshek, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: cb20ek@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: cb20ek@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: Psychology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Psychology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Eating disorders represent one of the most severe and deadly classes of psychopathology (van Hoeken & Hoek, 2020). As such, a considerable amount of research efforts has explored which demographic, psychological, psychiatric, and environmental risk factors pose the greatest risk for the development of eating pathology. Despite some progress that the eating disorder field has achieved in the study of risk factors, some methodological limitations have persisted, and thereby stunted progress in accurate risk prediction. One such limitation is the field’s over-prioritization of study samples which are predominantly white and female. While eating disorders have commonly been understood as affecting predominantly White, affluent, adolescent girls from wealthy countries (Douglas, Balas, & Gordon, 2021), epidemiological research has been demonstrated that individuals of all genders, sexual orientations, ages, races, ethnicities, and socio-economic statuses are affected by eating disorders (Qian et al., 2021; Santomauro et al., 2019). Therefore, it is important that when asking the question of what risk factors predict eating disorders, we are also evaluating who these risk factors pertain to. Investigating external validity, or generality, of findings is crucial in risk factor research because risk factors are not assumed to have a uniform impact across populations (Kraemer et al., 1997). Without explicitly investigating how individual risk factors impact different populations, progress in detecting risk and developing appropriately targeted interventions will be limited due to lack of generality.The current study seeks to address a gap in knowledge by empirically investigating the state of diversity science with regard to generality in eating disorder risk factor literature. To do so, we ask four primary questions. First, what proportion of studies report sample characteristics at all? Second, have practices in reporting sample characteristics changed over time? Third, what is the average demographic make-up of samples included in this literature? Lastly, do the reported samples reflect the broader population of individuals affected by eating disorders? To address these questions, we are conducting a systematic review of all eating disorder risk factor studies published prior to 2023. Addressing these questions is aligned with recent calls to improve the state of diversity science in psychological research broadly (Buchanan et al., 2021), and to better contextualize the risk factor findings the field has amassed thus far.
Research Tasks: Research assistants are needed to assist with data collection in the form of locating full text articles and extracting relevant data (e.g., sample characteristics such as race, gender, and sexuality). Research assistants will also be involved in data analysis. Research assistants will receive training in data management and systematic review methods.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Familiarity with FSU library search engines, interlibrary loans, and databases such as PubMed and PsycInfo- recommended
Experience with literature searches- recommended
Google Workspace- recommended
Mentoring Philosophy
As a research mentor, I am committed to fostering a work environment centered on curiosity, growth, and mutual respect. I encourage students to identify their own unique interests and goals, and work closely with them to identify best practices for answering the questions that excite them. My goal is for mentees to feel like active contributors in the research process, and I feel that this is best achieved when mentees feel that their goals, interests, and ideas are approached with respect and encouragement. Moreover, when pursuing a mutual goal, I deeply value frequent, open, and effective communication, which I aim to model in all interactions with mentees.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Exploring "How" a Mathematics Intervention "Works" for Students with Disabilities
Mathematics, Personal Finance, Algebra, Curriculum Development, Students with Disabilities
Research Mentor: Mrs. Deidre Gilley,
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Teacher Education , Education
Contact Email: deidre.gilley@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Teacher Education , Education
Contact Email: deidre.gilley@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
Research Alignment to Majors: Education, Psychology, Communication Science and Disorders, Nursing, Pre-med etc.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, September 5th from 1:30-2:00 pm EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Wednesday, September 6th from 10:00-10:30 EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Thursday, September 7th from 2:30-3:00 EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Research Alignment to Majors: Education, Psychology, Communication Science and Disorders, Nursing, Pre-med etc.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, September 5th from 1:30-2:00 pm EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Wednesday, September 6th from 10:00-10:30 EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Thursday, September 7th from 2:30-3:00 EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Project Description
I am acquiring 2 UROPs for two separate ongoing research projects: (a) my dissertation evaluating the development of personal finance skills and (2) a study evaluating the development of algebra skills and the alignment of skills with the workplace. Both research studies include young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (autism spectrum disorder), are mixed methods, and are in the data analysis stage. Both studies are part of a multi-year grant within the "General Curriculum Access" Lab at FSU and are in the data analysis phase. UROPs will primarily work within one project, either my dissertation or the algebra study, based on preferences, interests, and availability.More specifically, my dissertation evaluated the effects of a mathematics intervention when delivered by a teacher and a paraprofessional in a small group to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This project not only is evaluating the effects of the mathematics intervention on the learning of the participants (i.e., personal finance skills) but also exploring the perceptions of the teacher and paraprofessional related to mathematics instruction for this population, the intervention being used, and what potential variables influence their instruction. The algebra study evaluated the effects of an algebra curriculum when delivered by a teacher whole group to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This study is interested in evaluating the learned algebra skills of participants as well as analyzing typical errors made by participants and how the skills generalize to the workplace / workforce. Both studies will result in multiple published manuscripts within highly competitive academic journals.
Research Tasks: There are a range of tasks that will be available to each research assistant based on their preferences and interests. Both projects have already been implemented and thus all that is left now is data analysis. Examples of tasks can include transcribing, data coding, data management / organization, and data analysis. They will use a range of resources and tools to help them with these tasks including online coding software (e.g., NVivo), Microsoft software (e.g., word, excel), and Google Drive software (e.g., word, excel). Any resource they are expected to use will come with training of the particular software.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Highly recommended: good sense of time management, ability to work independently, ability to be flexible, openness to learning new skills and knowledge, experience of working with individuals with disabilities, interest in education, etc.
Recommended: basic knowledge of Microsoft software (e.g., PPT, excel, word), basic knowledge of google drive, basic knowledge of Canvas, etc.
Mentoring Philosophy
Mentoring is a two way street between the mentor and the mentee. I firmly believe that the mentor can grow just as exponentially as the individual being mentored. When I enter into a mentoring relationship, I seek just this. While I strive to contribute to the development of the whole person I am mentoring, I also strive to learn from them. I strive to push my mentees professionally and personally. I provide high standards and expectations, continuous feedback, and hold an "open door policy".Additional Information
Here is our research lab website: https://www.gcalab.orgHere is a link to the summer program I direct: https://www.summerinstitutetally.org
I will be attending the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable at various times (see below) as well as have included a recorded video explaining my research project and the projects associated with my lab (GCA Lab, website link above).
Recorded ZOOM Research Information: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/play/2emZs67WLFoyIN366PSFpE8Fy8UORH1-P5ravyn5bKmjY8NUj3DNiyMvcOtCuNMe2nSfiF1AeJS00Bga.nnwQG239nC1m5NXI?autoplay=true&startTime=1692995803000
PPT From Recorded ZOOM: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QIiK8xVVqlakMG6I7IcxZLmEmLfNJ33n/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100628932763464333741&rtpof=true&sd=true
Roundtable times and zoom links:
Tuesday, September 5th from 1:30-2:00 pm EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Wednesday, September 6th from 10:00-10:30 EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Thursday, September 7th from 2:30-3:00 EST LINK: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/deidregilley
Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=lx4gY4sAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdateSocial ecology and evolution
disease, ecology, evolution, game theory, social norms
Research Mentor: Bryce Morsky,
Department, College, Affiliation: Mathematics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: bmorsky@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Mathematics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: bmorsky@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: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors with skills in mathematics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Thursday, Sept. 7 from 3:30-4 (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96664728848)
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors with skills in mathematics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Thursday, Sept. 7 from 3:30-4 (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96664728848)
Project Description
My research program has been primarily concerned with understanding biological and social systems through mathematical modelling. I am interested in understanding questions in theoretical ecology and evolution from the general to the specific. Additionally, much of my work focuses on sociality in a variety of settings, such as cancer, infectious diseases, and human communities. Sociality has many roles in nature from explaining multicellularity to civilization. Cooperation is important for the acquisition of resources for tumours, and for the establishment of effective herd immunity from vaccination. The research project is to study such a system in a game theoretic framework that features social dilemmas, where the socially optimal state is untenable due to individual selfishness. We will be interested in cases where social dilemmas arise, how they arise, and how they may be ameliorated.The specific subject is to be decided with the mentee, but can include: public goods games among microbes, behaviour during an epidemic, social finance, and social norms and the evolution of human cooperation. We will couple a biological/economic/physical system with a social dynamic in a mathematical model, and then study the impact of the social behaviour on that system. The model may be a system of differential equations or an agent-based model, depending on the students' skills and interests.
Consider altruism in the ecology of cancer and bacteria as examples. Cancer and bacteria can produce public goods that are prone to being taken advantage of by free-riders. Examples include angiogenic factors in tumours, and siderophore production in bacteria. Because cheaters do not pay the cost of production of these goods, they have more energy to compete against altruists. There are several questions that arise from this social dilemma: how can altruists survive with competing cheaters? What role do cheaters play within the infection? If altruists and cheaters can coexist, how do they interact and evolve? How can we use our understanding of cooperation in this system to better treat disease?
Another example is the spread of pathogens in human populations, which crucially depends on social, political, psychological, and economic factors. Behavioural factors may promote or inhibit the spread of disease, and thus have implications for public policy. Events of the past few years have demonstrated with unusual force how critical the interactions between social and epidemiological dynamics are to controlling disease, and how much we still have to learn about them. Examples of the role of behaviour in epidemiology include: social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic; emergence of MRSA from antibiotic overuse; burial traditions and the spread of Ebola; and anti-vaccination movements. Such behaviour is often influenced by social norms, which help determine the expectations individuals have on both what others will do and what they should do and thereby guide personal decision making. How does this affect the trajectory of an epidemic, and what public policies should be recommended to mitigate the spread of disease? Other types of contagion outside of disease can also be studied in this framework.
Research Tasks: conduct research, develop code, literature review, mathematical analysis, mathematical modelling, writing
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: mathematical aptitude
Recommended: familiarity with differential equations
Recommended: coding (any language)
Mentoring Philosophy
Learning biological and social theory is an exciting endeavour, and mathematics plays an integral role, which many students are unaware of. I am excited to introduce this fact to my students. For students coming from other fields, it provides motivation for learning the mathematics. And, for students more knowledgeable about mathematics, it provides an exciting arena for applications of mathematical theory. Working at the crossroads of biology, social science, and mathematics, I strive to make theory engaging and accessible to students coming from different backgrounds. I think that the intrinsic multidisciplinarity of the field is a strength in captivating students. I am enthusiastic about sharing the relevance and scope of theory: how it has and can address our questions, and its applications to and impacts on society. Though most students will not likely take a scientific career, the tools of scientific inquiry, mathematical problem solving, and modelling will be useful throughout their lives.It is important to find a topic that interests both the mentee and mentor. Since my interests are varied, I work with my mentees to find a topic that they are passionate about and capable completing. The projects can vary a great deal in the amount of mathematics and coding required. Students likely will not have all the required skills. However, if they are willing, I can teach them anything they may be missing. Interest and work ethic are key to success.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://www.math.fsu.edu/~morsky/Measuring Corrosion of Steel Rebars Inside Cracked Ultra-high Performance Concrete
Civil engineering, concrete, corrosion, durability, infrastructure
Research Mentor: Dr. Qian Zhang,
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: qzhang@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Peizhi Wang
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: qzhang@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Peizhi Wang
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: 2525 Pottsdamer St, Tallahassee, FL 32310 College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: School buses to College of Engineering from FSU main campus Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: 2525 Pottsdamer St, Tallahassee, FL 32310 College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: School buses to College of Engineering from FSU main campus Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an advanced concrete material with superior structural and durability performance. UHPC shows much higher compressive strength (above18 ksi), tensile strength and post cracking ductility as compared to normal concrete. In addition, UHPC has very dense microstructure, effectively preventing harmful substances, such as chloride ions, to penetrate into the interior of the material, therefore offering excellent protection for steel rebars inside the UHPC. The exceptional corrosion resistance leads to widespread interest by civil engineers in implementing this advanced material in infrastructures, such as bridges, in coastal regions, where reinforcement corrosion is the major deterioration mechanism.However, when UHPC cracks under service loadings, these cracks may serve as pathways through which deleterious substances penetrate, potentially reducing the protection for steel rebar against corrosion. This research aims to employ an in-situ testing approach to monitor the corrosion of steel reinforcement within cracked UHPC specimens to establish a meaningful relationship between the patterns of cracks and the corrosion progression of the steel rebars. This will help to aid the design and maintenance practices of UHPC infrastructures.
Throughout the project, students are anticipated to acquire the subsequent knowledge and skill sets in the following area: 1) a foundational understanding of the corrosion science; 2) proficiency in corrosion measurement through electrochemical techniques; and 3) competence in both the formulation and characterization of ultra-high performance concrete materials.
Research Tasks: The students are expected to conduct the following tasks with close guidance of the graduate students:
1) Preparation of UHPC specimens
2) Conducting flexural testing on UHPC specimens
3) Characterizing crack patterns
4) Use electrochemical techniques to measure the corrosion of steel rebars
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended:
1) Basic knowledge of statics
2) Basic knowledge of chemistry
Mentoring Philosophy
As a mentor, my goal is to create a supportive and empowering environment where mentees feel valued, heard, and encouraged to explore their interests. I strive to foster open communication, active listening, and mutual respect, aiming to guide mentees in setting and achieving their goals. I view mentoring as a collaborative journey, where I provide guidance, share insights from my experiences, and facilitate skill development, all while recognizing the importance of adaptability and understanding in meeting each mentee's distinct needs and aspirations.Through this project, the mentees will be involved in hands-on experimental research about preparing and testing UHPC, observing and documenting the crack patterns, and measuring the corrosion. By embracing these tasks, mentees gain a comprehensive perspective on UHPC's behavior, contributing not only to their personal growth but also to the advancement of materials science and engineering as a whole. The students will work closely with the faculty and graduate student mentors, who will share their experiences with the students to facilitate their learning experience. The students will also have opportunity working with other graduate students in the research group, attending the group meetings, and be included in the related publications if applicable. This will give the students a full research experience.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
***Small scale experiments for building demolition and rescue operations
Sustainability, resilience, rescue, demolition, optimization, productivity
Research Mentor: Juyeong Choi,
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jchoi3@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Hiba Jalloul and Maral Nazemi
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: hjalloul2@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jchoi3@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Hiba Jalloul and Maral Nazemi
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: hjalloul2@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Project Location: 1753 W Paul Dirac Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 to 6 hours a week, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: 3:00 - 3:30 PM, September 5 (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99125994125)
3:00 - 3:30 PM, September 6 (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99168279637)
(or email me at jchoi@eng.famu.fsu.edu if you are unavailable during the given times)
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Project Location: 1753 W Paul Dirac Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 to 6 hours a week, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: 3:00 - 3:30 PM, September 5 (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99125994125)
3:00 - 3:30 PM, September 6 (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99168279637)
(or email me at jchoi@eng.famu.fsu.edu if you are unavailable during the given times)
Project Description
Recycling and reuse of demolition waste is the key to making the construction industry more sustainable and decoupling resource consumption from economic growth. Globally, the construction industry is notoriously one of the largest raw material consumers with low resource recovery. Although around 90% of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is recyclable after proper processing and could be used to meet a building’s raw material demand, at least 35% of global C&D waste is sent to landfill sites. Considering the growth of economies and elevated concerns about raw material supply disruptions, there is a pressing need for sustainable harvesting of demolition waste, which comprises most C&D waste (more than 90%). As such, sustainable demolition operations are important from the environmental sustainability perspective.Parallelly, the realm of building demolition operations, integral to rescue efforts after structural collapses, plays a pivotal role in saving lives. In this context, the swift and safe removal of rubble becomes paramount to maximizing survival rates.
Building demolition operations for both cases largely involve heavy machines (i.e., excavators). However, there has been a lack of study on the optimal operation of heavy machine for demolition tasks and the design of excavator buckets.
In this research project, UROP students will participate in experiments where they operate small-scale heavy equipment for different demolition tasks in order to look for more sustainable demolition operations and develop the optimal bucket design for rescue operations.
Research Tasks: - Performing a literature review on sustainable demolition and building collapse rescue operations
- Operating small-scale machines to generate data needed for understanding demolition operations and finding optimal bucket designs.
- Collecting and analyzing motion and pressure data collected from small-scale experiments
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Data analysis (recommended); Experience with sensors (recommended)
Mentoring Philosophy
I believe trust is an instructor’s most important quality, as it motivates students to welcome challenges and become active problem solvers. A advisor’s belief in students’ capability in solving problems as well as a respect for their opinions can strongly motivate learning and bring students into the center of the learning process. While I will provide guidance as needed, I will open myself to students' opinions and discuss them. Also, I always encourage students to challenge themselves, come up with their own solutions, and share them with me. In this way, I can provide more constructive feedback.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Assessing the Impact of North Carolina Teen Court on Recidivism
juvenile justice, recidivism, criminal justice
Research Mentor: Dr. Alexandra Cockerham,
Department, College, Affiliation: Interdisciplinary Social Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: amg08k@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. James Cockerham
Faculty Collaborators Email: james.cockerham@montreat.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Interdisciplinary Social Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: amg08k@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. James Cockerham
Faculty Collaborators Email: james.cockerham@montreat.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
An interdisciplinary team of scholars are working with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to determine the effects of teen courts on recidivism in North Carolina. Teen courts are a diversion program serving as an alternative to processing juveniles through the traditional justice system. Teen courts are aimed at providing the opportunity for reform and prevent the stigma of adult adjudications, allowing youth to move past their encounter with the juvenile justice system (Nellis, 2011) . Teen courts are thought to help reduce recidivism by connecting the juvenile more directly to their crime. Specifically, the teen court process is seen as beneficial, because the offender is given the opportunity to observe directly how their behavior impacted the victim both through victim impact statements and at the conclusion of the hearing when the judge addresses the offender (Stickle et al., 2008). Most teen court sanctions are designed to go beyond simply punishing the offender, encouraging juveniles to restore part of the damages their behavior caused to the community (Butts et al., 2002) .In this analysis we are interested in examining the effect of teen court programs in North Carolina on recidivism. Given the nature of teen courts, specifically their unique ability to connect offending juveniles to their crime and the comprehensive nature of including the youth’s parents, peers, and community in the sentencing process, we believe that this is a unique diversion source that will have reductionary effects on an at-risk youth’s propensity to enter and a court involved youth’s propensity to re-enter the system.
In this analysis, we focus the scope of our research on the juvenile justice system in North Carolina, specifically examining the effects of the teen court program on recidivism. Within North Carolina, there are 68 counties that are served by teen court and 32 that are not. Within these 68 counties, in 2022 there were 3,400 youth served by teen court and 14,000 youth that went through the traditional justice processing and 4,300 youth that were processed via diversion plans or contracts.
Research Tasks: This research will contain both a quantitative and qualitative component. For the quantitative analysis, we will compare juvenile offenders that completed teen court with those that did not participate in the teen court program across the same time period among youth that live in the 68 counties where teen court is offered as a diversion alternative.
We envision that our research assistant would help work on more of the qualitative components of this project. We need to gather descriptive information that could help us learn more about the structure of teen courts in North Carolina. In addition to conducting a handful of site visits, observations and interviews, we will also send a survey out to each of the 68 teen courts in North Carolina. This will allow us to gather information on the type of teen court model that is used (i.e, adult judge model, youth judge model, mixed models, peer jury model, youth tribunal, etc.) and types of sentencing that are typically handed out. We will also send a survey to the 32 counties that do not use teen court as an option to learn more information about their best practices with regard to options for diverting youth from the traditional justice system.
We hope that our UROP research assistant would help us design the surveys that will be sent out across North Carolina. This would involve reviewing relevant literature, compiling descriptive information about the counties that offer teen court and those that do not, and designing and editing survey questions that will be sent across counties. Depending on when we get the survey results, we may also have our research assistant code the responses and draft initial interpretations of the results. There may also be opportunities for proof-reading and reference searching as we begin writing the research brief.
This project involves a partnership between academics from different disciplines and state of North Carolina agencies. We will also have occasional meetings with the team and hope that our research assistant would sit in on the meetings. This would allow our research assistants to learn more about our research partnership.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Professionalism and self motivation