UROP Project
Embedding Mindfulness Everywhere in Healthcare
Mindfulness, pain management, anxiety reduction, clinical care
Research Mentor: Adam Hanley,
Department, College, Affiliation: Complementary Health Innovation Lab, Nursing
Contact Email: adam.hanley@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Carter Minnick
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
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Department, College, Affiliation: Complementary Health Innovation Lab, Nursing
Contact Email: adam.hanley@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Carter Minnick
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Complementary Health Innovation Lab at Innovation Park, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Tallahassee Orthopedic Center
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Complementary Health Innovation Lab at Innovation Park, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Tallahassee Orthopedic Center
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Monday, August 31
Start Time: 2:00
End Time: 2:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94535412806 - Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 2:00
End Time: 2:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/95774288756
Project Description
This research program explores how mind-body interventions, like mindfulness, can reduce pain and anxiety for patients at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and the Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic. As a UROP student, you’ll play a hands-on role: inviting patients receiving care to take part and guiding them through a brief (<15 minute) tablet-based intervention. Over the academic year, we’ll run multiple randomized controlled trials, and you’ll be part of the full research process, from data collection to dissemination. All participating UROP students will be credited as co-authors on peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Research Tasks: Data collection, participant recruitment, literature reviews, paper writing, potentially work with psychophysiological equipment during experiments
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Critical thinking skills, ability to prioritize and problem solve, ability to work independently, comfortable speaking to strangers, willingness to learn new skills to keep up with best clinical practices, attention to detail
Recommended: TMH volunteer status, Prior knowledge of research design, knowledge of Windows, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office, steady hands, enthusiasm regarding mindfulness-based medicine
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy fosters curiosity, competence, and compassion in undergraduate research assistants studying brief mindfulness-based interventions in medical care. I provide hands-on opportunities in study design, data management, and analysis, offering structured guidance early and increasing autonomy as skills grow. Students gain interdisciplinary exposure to psychology, medicine, and integrative health while upholding ethics, professionalism, and cultural humility. Grounded in mindfulness, my approach emphasizes present-moment engagement, constructive feedback, and resilience. I aim for students to leave with strong research skills, confidence, and an appreciation for mindfulness as both a research focus and a practical tool for addressing complex problems with empathy.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://chil.nursing.fsu.edu/Dante Today
literature, Italy, global cultures, digital humanities, archives
Research Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Coggeshall, she/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages & Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: ecoggeshall@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages & Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: ecoggeshall@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 3
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: 8, 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: 3
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: 8, 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
Dante Today: Citings and Sightings of Dante’s Works in Contemporary Culture is a crowd-sourced and curated digital archive that catalogs references to Dante’s Inferno (and other works) across global visual and verbal cultures, of the twentieth century and beyond. We have posted more than 2000 “sightings” and “citings” of Dante’s works, and each week we receive new submissions to post, sent to us by readers from around the world. The editors (that means you!) describe, tag, and organize the contributions into general categories (Consumer Goods, Digital Media, Dining & Leisure, Music, Performing Arts, Places, Visual Art and Architecture, Written Word, etc.), but we leave to our readers the opportunity to judge the nature and depth of each reference, to classify the references according to their own ways of reading. The goals are twofold: 1) to provide a central access point for these references; and 2) to offer data that students and scholars of Dante can use to think about the “afterlife” of Dante’s works in relation to reception theory, media studies, and cultural studies.Research Tasks: The project is an ongoing collaboration between faculty and students at FSU and at Johns Hopkins University. Although the research assistants will work independently, they will also correspond regularly with the whole research team. We will all work together to catalog and write posts for new submissions to the site; to systematize the current categories and tags; to add to the growing bibliography on the site; and to research additional contributions to be posted. Depending on the students’ interests, qualifications, and time, research assistants may have the opportunity to provide input on the design and functionality of the site, to create publicity materials for various social media platforms, and/or to contribute original research on the archive’s holdings. Knowledge of Italian is not a requirement, but knowledge of Romance languages and cultures (especially Italian), familiarity with the Wordpress platform, and/or good design sense would be very welcome.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: listening; incorporating feedback; working independently; expressing curiosity; English-language writing.
Recommended: writing skills in a language other than English; design skills; previous experience with Wordpress and other digital publishing platforms.
Students need not be language/literature/humanities majors to apply for this position: it is more important that researchers have an interest in or curiosity about the visual and verbal cultures of the 20th and 21st centuries. All students in the arts and sciences are welcome to apply!
Mentoring Philosophy
In my role as a UROP mentor, I focus on the transferrable skills that can be acquired through humanities data collection, fostering curiosity, rigor, and clarity of expression. I know that few undergraduate students who choose to collaborate with me on my project (on the resonance of Dante’s works in contemporary culture) will go on to become scholars of medieval Italian literature, so I encourage students from the earliest stages to chart their own path within the landscape of the work that we do. The data that we collect in our archive vary greatly across different genres, media formats, content areas, and geographical provenances. I work closely with my UROP students to locate materials that most stimulate their curiosity, and then I encourage them to gravitate further toward those items for their independent research and creative projects. In doing so, I actively foster each student’s sense of ownership over the questions they ask and the ideas they produce.Additional Information
I look forward to chatting with you!Link to Publications
dantetoday.orgAdvancing Adolescent Health Using Digital Technologies
nursing, adolescence, artificial intelligence, digital health interventions, digital prototype
Research Mentor: Dr. DJ Schnabel, Jr., he/his/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Institute on Digital Health and Innovation, Nursing
Contact Email: djs26d@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: Institute on Digital Health and Innovation, Nursing
Contact Email: djs26d@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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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: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 2
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: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/9879938637
Project Description
The Institute on Digital Health and Innovation at the College of Nursing was established in 2022 to advance individual and public health through collaborative and synergistic partnerships focused on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of digital health tools, technologies, and innovations.I am seeking 1-2 students who are interested in working with me on researching and generating digital interventions that support adolescent and young adult health. My pre-doctoral dissertation work focused on exploring the use of artificial intelligence to better understand the trajectories of adolescent mental health. In my current post-doc position, I am continuing my dissertation work as well as working to develop digital interventions (e.g., mobile applications, chatbots) that can further support adolescent health. Projects may span a wide range of topics, and include puberty, physical health, mental health, sex & sexuality, and other sensitive health topics. I hope to work collaboratively with students to move these projects forward while also providing meaningful opportunities for research skill development, academic growth, and career exploration. Your specific work and goals with me will be determined collaboratively.
UROP students mentored by IDHI faculty and staff (including myself) during the 2026-2027 academic year will participate in an institute-wide cohort and have opportunities to contribute to supplemental projects aligned with their interests. Cohort members will attend a weekly virtual lab meeting via Zoom on Fridays at 1:00 PM focused on professional development and collaborative opportunities across the institute. This is in addition to our 1:1 weekly meetings to discuss your individual work progress (we will come up with a mutually-agreed time after you start). While the meeting time may offer some flexibility, preference will be given to applicants who can regularly attend a weekly Friday meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Research Tasks: Possible tasks include literature reviews and reading articles, participate in IDHI UROP training sessions (Fridays at 1pm), basic writing, basic data analysis, engage with digital health prototyping, and additional tasks that may align with your interests/career objectives.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Clear and effective communication, comfort with reading for extended periods of time, basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, foundational time management skills
Mentoring Philosophy
As an experienced pediatric critical care nurse and nursing educator, I believe that everyone learns differently. As a mentor, it is important to me that we work together for you to pursue your passions, learn about yourself and your strengths, and develop a path toward achieving your goals. I believe that maintaining effective communication is key to success, and will therefore expect mentees to be willing to meet with me weekly via Zoom. That said, I don’t believe in micro-managing work; rather, I hope to provide the guidance and support necessary for you to take on progressively more independent work. The ideal mentee match with me would be someone who feels comfortable asking questions, trying new things, being creative, and learning from inevitable mistakes along the way. For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring is seeing mentees grow in confidence, develop their skills, and move closer to achieving their goals. All of this said, I pride myself on being “down to earth,” approachable, and open-minded. I hope we can develop a professional relationship that extends beyond your time in the UROP program.Additional Information
Before returning to graduate school, I worked for a decade as a pediatric critical care nurse and flight nurse, and I draw on this clinical experience to guide my work. You don’t need to be a nursing student to work with me, although nursing students are encouraged to apply if interested. Students pursuing any discipline with interest working with children/adolescents in their future careers would be a strong fit for working with me.For those of you who were unable to attend the 9/1 round table, you can find the recording here. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, and I look forward to hearing of your interest!
https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/fj7NwfqLzAa-o9nQO_lPod1WRGPZRer2TJ2Zv6dd8BkAQsezQPsYtzMJg2ysh9rU.1HVH48EK6mvBqaMJ
Link to Publications
https://idhi.fsu.edu/Developmental plasticity of Cholinergic Release
neuromodulation, imaging, rodent models, systems neuroscience
Research Mentor: Andrew Moberly,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: amoberly@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: amoberly@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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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: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 9, 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: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 9, 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
The overall goal of this project is to determine how patterns of cholinergic release across the mouse neocortex change across development. Acetylcholine (ACh) is a key neurotransmitter that modulates neuronal activity in response to behavioral states and learning. Recent work in our lab has demonstrated that ACh release patterns are heterogeneous across the cortex and closely linked to distinct behavioral states in adult animals. However, it remains unclear whether these cholinergic release patterns and their associations with behavioral states change as animals mature. To address this gap in knowledge, we will image ACh activity in adolescent mice using a fluorescent sensor, enabling us to longitudinally track ACh activity patterns across the neocortex throughout development.Research Tasks: Animal handling, microscopy, in vivo imaging, data collection, quantitative data analysis
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Willingness to work with mice. Recommended: Experience with MATLAB or other programming languages for data analysis.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring approach aims to foster a supportive, collaborative environment where students receive hands-on training in cutting-edge neuroscience techniques. I strive to help students develop critical skills, including experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication, that will support their future research careers. I view mentorship as a reciprocal process: mentors benefit from fresh perspectives and insightful questions that trainees bring, enriching the learning experience for everyone involved.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Understanding of superconducting materials for very high magnetic field applications
superconducting material, REBCO coated conductor, performance characterization, Bi-2212 multifilamentary round wire, Nb3Sn, coil winding
Research Mentor: Aixia Xu, She/her
Department, College, Affiliation: ASC-NHMFL, N/A
Contact Email: ax07@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: ASC-NHMFL, N/A
Contact Email: ax07@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Applied Superconductivity Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU bus Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 20, 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: Applied Superconductivity Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU bus Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 20, 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
The goal of the project is to understand the superconducting materials including high temperature superconductors of Bi-2212 and REBCO, and low temperature superconductor of Nb3Sn, to address challenges encountered during the magnet development efforts. We will carry out comprehensive characterizations to understand the materials and provide conductor information to the magnet designer and the conductor manufacturers to further improve conductor performance.Research Tasks: The task covers literature review, data collection and data analysis. The students will work in the lab and in the office.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: Microsoft word, Inventor, and lab working experience
Mentoring Philosophy
The students will work based on individual interests. The students will learn multiple skills in an open environment. They will have opportunities developing their interests and chose the specific project. Students are encouraged to go to the lab making mistakes and learning from that,Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=08nlq1UAAAAJ&hl=enWater Governance Networks
water, governance, policy, anthropology, bureaucrats, participation
Research Mentor: Oswaldo Medina-Ramirez,
Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: oswaldo.medina@fsu.edu
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Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: oswaldo.medina@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
Water crises aren't just caused by dry weather—they also stem from breakdowns in trust and communication among those who manage the water supply. This project, part of the Governance-Anthropology-&-Policy Lab, investigates how water governance networks—coalitions of local water users, governments, nonprofits, and universities—operate and decide who gets water, how it is shared, and how to protect it for the future.Why This Work Matters: This applied research examines day-to-day operations, including the benefits and challenges participants face in collaborative networks. It translates social theory into practical tools to improve environmental governance across the Americas.
Where We Are Working: Arizona, USA (Arizona Water for All Network); Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Water Governance Mechanism); Loja, Ecuador; and Florida, USA (Apalachicola – potentially). By comparing real-world water networks across North and South America, this project reveals how diverse cultures build trust and address water scarcity.
Research Tasks: - Literature review
- Data collection (interviews, document analysis, network data )
- Data analysis (qualitative coding and network analysis)
- Academic writing
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: - Academic writing (required)
- Qualitative data coding (recommended, though I plan to train students in qualitative coding)
- Social Network Analysis (recommended, though I plan to train students in SNA)
- Semi-structured interviewing (recommended, though I plan to train students in interviewing techniques)
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring approach is experiential, "learning by doing," and aims to turn research assistants into confident, autonomous scholars and effective practitioners. Emphasizing mutual respect, I start by understanding each mentee’s goals and career aspirations, then tailor research tasks to match their ambitions—such as mastering ethnographic and mixed methods, social network analysis, or preparing for graduate studies. Instead of assigning isolated tasks, I give mentees real ownership of specific parts of the research, encouraging deep engagement and personal responsibility. I foster an interactive, collaborative learning environment that combines high standards with a respectful, supportive space. Because qualitative research and governance work are inherently complex and iterative, I see mistakes as essential learning opportunities and create a safe space where students can take intellectual risks, fail, and learn from errors without fear of judgment. This approach ultimately provides students with the technical skills, analytical depth, and resilience needed to succeed in research and academia.Additional Information
Selected students will be part of the GAPS-Lab (Governance-Anthropology-Policy-&-Sustainability Lab). This initiative focuses on advancing environmental and water governance across the Americas through research and practice. Students are trained in mixed-methods and ethnographic data collection techniques.Link to Publications
Conservation implications of novel mutations in a federally endangered plant
ecology and evolution, conservation biology, botany
Research Mentor: Josh Rowe, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: FSU Department of Biological Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: jbr22f@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: FSU Department of Biological Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: jbr22f@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Maybe one more
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Due to space limitations, I am restricting applicants this year to ecology, evolution, botany, environmental science, or conservation majors.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Due to space limitations, I am restricting applicants this year to ecology, evolution, botany, environmental science, or conservation majors.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Monday, August 31
Start Time: 12:00
End Time: 1:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99639366923
Project Description
This project, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, investigates the causes of low reproductive rates in the federally endangered mint, Apalachicola rosemary (Conradina glabra). This species has evolved unusual floral mutations that may influence its ability to persist despite habitat loss and other threats. By combining seed set data, pollination experiments, germination experiments, and mutation surveys, this research seeks to identify the ecological and genetic factors shaping its reproductive health. The findings will guide conservation strategies for C. glabra and offer broader insights into managing endangered plant species.Research Tasks: Students will gain experience in literature reviews, lab work, data analysis, and field research. Activities may include:
- Dissecting and cataloguing seeds
- Performing digital image analyses
- Preparing and maintaining germination experiments
- Co-developing and conducting pollination studies
- Assisting with mutation and population field surveys
Because much about this species remains unknown, projects could also branch into related intersectional topics such as parasitism, fire ecology, or ant behavior, depending on student interests.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Willingness to learn, time management, attention to detail, communication, adaptability
Recommended: Basic scientific literacy, basic statistics, familiarity with plant terminology, basic fieldwork experience
Mentoring Philosophy
My research interests and approaches to mentoring are informed by my diverse background as a wildland firefighter, Everglades restoration coordinator, and wildlife biologist. In my experience:1) The best working relationships are built on clear communication and mutual respect.
2) All complex skills are learnable with patience, practice, and guidance.
3) Ownership of your work builds confidence and competence.
Additional Information
I hope to work with a student who is interested in continuing beyond UROP for Directed Individual Study (DIS) credits next year. Extended involvement offers substantial benefits: in-depth research experience, exemption from Experimental Biology Lab (BSC 3402L), opportunities to present at conferences, and potential co-authorship on publications. These experiences are especially valuable for students considering graduate school or careers in academic research, endangered species conservation, and/or environmental protection. I have three DIS students this year, two of whom were UROP last year. As a result, I am only looking to recruit one student this year. I will be collaborating with another UROP mentor this year, Carolina Baruzzi, so please check out her project as well.Link to Publications
Interested in learning more about Apalachicola rosemary? Check out US Fish and Wildlife's most recent assessment: https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/tess/species_nonpublish/3667.pdfStudy of superconducting materials for high-field magnets
Superconductors, microscopy, microstructure, high-field magnets
Research Mentor: Prof. Eric Hellstrom, He
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: hellstrom@asc.magnet.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Aixia XU She
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: aixiaxu@asc.magnet.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Jianyi Jiang He
Faculty Collaborators Email: jjiang@asc.magnet.fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: hellstrom@asc.magnet.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Aixia XU She
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: aixiaxu@asc.magnet.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Jianyi Jiang He
Faculty Collaborators Email: jjiang@asc.magnet.fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, AI
Project Location: Shaw Building - 2031 E. Paul Dirac. Dr., Tallahassee - by the MagLab
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Bus between main campus and the MagLab Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 hours per week, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, AI
Project Location: Shaw Building - 2031 E. Paul Dirac. Dr., Tallahassee - by the MagLab
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Bus between main campus and the MagLab Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 hours per week, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Monday, August 31
Start Time: 4:00
End Time: 5:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93291031629 - Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 5:30
End Time: 6:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93291031629 - Day: Wednesday, September 2
Start Time: 4:00
End Time: 5:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93291031629
Project Description
We investigate superconducting materials that can be made into wires. These wires carry enormous currents, which are needed for the next generation of high-field magnets in the MagLab and for fusion. For example a 1 mm diameter wire made of Bi-2212 (formula Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8) carries more than 1,000 A at liquid helium temperature (4.2 K), whereas the copper wiring used in buildings is only rated to 20-30 A. Our work focuses on two ceramic superconductors Bi-2212 and REBCO (Rare Earth, Ba, Cu, O). As the slide shows, in the Applied Superconductivity Center we have a wide range of capabilities to synthesize and investigate these materials. The specific project for the UROP students will depend on the students' interest, background, and capabilities. This will be discussed at the Zoom session where students can learn about the projects.Research Tasks: One example of a research project may be grinding and polishing samples; doing microscopy of the polished samples; analyzing images of samples using commercial software to quantify the geometry of each filament in the wire; and using statistical analysis to compare the geometry of different wires and their current carrying capacity. This could involve AI analysis of the microstructure of the wires.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Patience; perseverance, inquisitiveness, willingness to make mistakes in the lab and learn from them
Mentoring Philosophy
The student will be part of the Applied Superconductivity Center, where we have many undergrads who work in the lab. Our goal is provide an opportunity to learn about how to do research. Our philosophy is to have the student work on an aspect of an ongoing research project where the student can see how their results contribute to the overall project. We expect that once the student is trained, they will take responsibility for their research. We value communication and help the student learn how to present their results by having them talk about their research progress several times per semester in our weekly research meetings.Additional Information
We have hired UROP students to work in the lab after they finish their UROP.Link to Publications
https://nationalmaglab.org/magnet-development/applied-superconductivity-center/Conlang showcase: Resources and examples from the FSU community
conlanging, linguistics, languages, art, world building
Research Mentor: Dr. Carolina González, she, her
Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: cgonzalez3@fsu.edu
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Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: cgonzalez3@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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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: 5-6, 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: 5-6, 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 project focuses on building a website featuring language invention and showcasing multi-media examples of world building and conlanging from the FSU community.Research Tasks: Literature review (including websites and resources on language invention)
Editing texts, audio, and images
Assisting with the creation of a multi-media digital exhibit of conlanging examples in Omeka
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required:
Dependable, proactive students with an interest in language, linguistics and/or language invention
A willingness to learn to work with the Omeka platform.
Recommended
Previous experience with building websites and/or curating multi-media
Mentoring Philosophy
I am faculty in the Dept. of Modern Languages and Linguistics. Most of my mentoring in recent years has focused on graduate students, particularly at the PhD level. However, I enjoy mentoring undergraduate students, and I have been done so in the UROP program for several years. My mentoring philosophy centers around fostering the professional growth of my students. I prefer to meet regularly, usually once a week, and ideally face to face. This promotes accountability and helps move a project forward. It also gives me a chance to learn more about your progress in your classes and about your professional interests. I know it can be intimidating to work with faculty, particularly in the early years of your undergraduate studies, but I endeavor to promote a welcoming and safe environment, and to be a professional resource to you during the project and beyond.Additional Information
My main expertise is the study of sounds (phonetics, phonology) but I've been teaching courses on language invention at FSU since 2015, and I've recently published a book on conlanging (González, C. 2025. Inventing Languages: A Practical Introduction. Cambridge: CUP). You can read a blog I wrote recently on language invention here: https://cambridgeblog.org/2025/08/of-invented-languages/.Link to Publications
https://mll.fsu.edu/person/carolina-gonzalezHydrogen Embrittlement of Structural Materials for Fusion Energy Applications
Fusion energy; Materials characterization; Mechanical properties;
Research Mentor: Junliang Liu,
Department, College, Affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jliu@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jliu@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: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
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:
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: 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:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
Future fusion reactors will expose structural and plasma-facing materials to extreme conditions, including high temperatures, neutron irradiation, mechanical stresses, and hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium and tritium. Hydrogen can enter these materials and interact with defects, grain boundaries, and precipitates. These interactions may reduce ductility, promote cracking, and cause premature failure—a phenomenon known as hydrogen embrittlement.This undergraduate research project will investigate hydrogen behavior and its effects on candidate materials for fusion applications, with an initial focus on the vanadium alloys. The student will study how hydrogen exposure changes the material’s microstructure and mechanical properties. Depending on progress and instrument availability, the work may include sample preparation, hydrogen charging or exposure, heat treatment, microscopy and hardness or nanoindentation testing. The project will help establish relationships among processing conditions, hydrogen retention, microstructure, and material degradation.
Research Tasks: 1. Conduct a literature review on hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen-isotope retention in metals and alloys.
2. Identify important mechanisms of hydrogen absorption, diffusion, trapping, and release in metals and alloys.
3. Prepare metallographic samples through cutting, mounting, grinding, and polishing.
4. Assist with hydrogen charging or controlled hydrogen-exposure experiments.
5. Perform heat treatments to investigate hydrogen diffusion and trapping.
6. Characterize samples using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
7. Measure changes in hardness or other mechanical properties after hydrogen exposure.
8. Process experimental data and prepare figures, presentations, and research reports.
9. Present research progress at group meetings and, when appropriate, at the UROP Research Symposium.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: 1. Basic knowledge of chemistry, physics, or engineering materials.
2. Basic computer skills for data organization and analysis.
3. Ability to work independently while communicating regularly with the research team.
4. Experience with MATLAB, Python, Origin, microscopy, metallographic sample preparation is helpful but not required.
Mentoring Philosophy
I build my research group on collaboration, mutual respect, and transparency in our relationships. My mentoring philosophy is grounded in a clear understanding of wanting to understand my students’ interests, motivations, and background. Working together, we will set clear experimental plans and milestones. Weekly one-on-one meetings will be scheduled to track progress and provide feedback on experiments, data collection and interpretation. Questions are strongly encouraged at every stage, and (inevitable) mistakes are treated as learning opportunities. Unexpected results and negative data are always part of research and will be examined without blame to extract mechanisms, improve methods, and update plans.Students will be asked to prepare summary reports and will be given opportunities to practise their presentation skills by sharing results at group meetings. Once promising results are generated and they are ready, they will be supported to present at more formal external conferences. Overall, I hope students learn and enjoy the group and feel motivated to continue their passion for research.