UROP Project

healthcare, consumer decision-making, medical decisions, insurance

Research Mentor: Matilda Vevera, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: Marketing, Business
Contact Email: cmv18@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:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: [Wednesday, September 4 @ 4-4:30pm] Link to Recording of Meeting: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/C0PW_xemtPqjUnognqtpjHQZ4VxFW9ifZaSTkBm5i_p-2YO5dtGiQH4rUac-jHWd.faD5tG3QeXCoMDt6?startTime=1725480058000

Project Description

Medical decisions, consumption decisions regarding consumers’ maintenance of their physical and mental well-being, may not function the same as other consumption decisions. They are often motivated by physical discomfort, require knowledge in domains foreign to the consumer, involve high levels of potential risk with outcomes ranging from harmful to beneficial, and trigger higher level emotions such as worry, fear, and even trauma. Under these conditions consumers often look for heuristics to alleviate the burden of decision-making. This paper using a mixed-methods approach specifically tests the role of insurance coverage as a heuristic for consumer medical decision-making beyond the more understood economic impacts on choice.

Research Tasks: Literature review, data collection, data cleaning, data analysis
This is a mixed methods project (experimental, secondary data, qualitative) so more specific tasks can be decided upon based on the interests of the student and the needs for the project.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: All of the following skills are recommended but not required of the student:
- general understanding of experimental design
- data cleaning using programs such as R, SPSS, Stata, Excel
- data analysis through programs such as R, SPSS, Stata
If student does not have these skills that is completely okay, but they will most likely spend the first couple of weeks of working together learning some of these skills.

artificial intelligence, psychology, mental health

Research Mentor: Michael Irias ,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: irias@psy.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: 6
Relevant Majors: We're particularly interested in students with backgrounds in psychology, computer science, or related fields, but all motivated individuals are encouraged to apply!
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable

Project Description

Are you fascinated by the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health? Join us in exploring the potential role of Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI agents in delivering various forms of psychological support. This project aims to develop conversational AI agents capable of interventions that range from basic psychoeducation, to full psychotherapy interventions.
Working closely with Michael Irias, a PhD student in clinical psychology, you'll gain invaluable interdisciplinary experience spanning social psychology, clinical psychology, and applied computer science. By working with our team, composed of both social and clinical psychologists, you will:
- Contribute to the development of AI-powered therapy interventions
- Explore the ethical implications and effectiveness of digital mental health support
- Gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art AI technologies
- Develop skills in research methodology, data analysis, and scientific writing

Research Tasks: - Help build, test, and evaluate various components of AI systems, including text-to-speech technologies and user interfaces
- Conduct literature reviews on AI technologies relevant to mental health interventions
- Assist in compiling and organizing resources for AI systems to use to provide high-quality interventions
- Participate in the assessment of AI-generated therapy conversations
- Help organize and format therapy manuals and instructional materials for AI to learn from
- Explore and test cutting-edge technologies that could be useful for creating high-quality interventions.
- Assist in analyzing user feedback and system performance

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: While these skills are recommended, we value a willingness to learn, curiosity, and reliability above all. If you're passionate about this topic but don't have these skills, we still encourage you to apply!

Recommended skills:
- Programming experience (e.g., Python, JavaScript)
- Familiarity with AI agents and AI-related concepts
- Basic knowledge of psychological theories and therapeutic approaches
- Experience with app development or user interface design
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Basic understanding of research methodologies

Overall, a background in either computer science or psychology (or related fields) would be highly beneficial. This project involves elements of app development and involves understanding psychological concepts, particularly in the context of therapy. We'll be working with therapy manuals and developing AI systems, so familiarity with programming and mental health concepts would be advantageous.

computational chemistry, perfluoroalkyl substances, perfluorosulfonic acids, perfluorocarboxlic acids, and nonthermal plasma

Research Mentor: Kimberley Christopher,
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: kmc23@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Bruce Locke
Faculty Collaborators Email: locke@eng.famu.fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Computer Science
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, September 3rd 2-4pm

Project Description

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse set of compounds that are toxic at low concentrations, ubiquitous in the environment, and especially difficult to degrade due to their inherently strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Many methods to degrade PFAS are currently being investigated and nonthermal plasma, which produces several reactive intermediates, has proven successful. Mechanistically, there are many competing theories for the degradation of different classes of PFAS; however, no consensus has been reached about the exact degradation pathway. Experimentally, it is difficult to deduce the mechanism of degradation as the concentration of PFAS in wastewater treatment may be well below detection limits of analytical equipment. Computations, therefore, are an invaluable tool to study the degradation of PFAS from a thermodynamic point of view. In this study, we will, for the first time, conduct a systemic computational analysis from a Physical Organic Chemistry perspective to understand how PFAS are degraded in nonthermal plasma. We will investigate how chemical structure affects reactivity, what role reactive intermediates play in PFAS degradation, and we will quantitatively evaluate various degradation mechanisms utilizing a variety of methods from the field of Computational Chemistry.

Research Tasks: Literature Review
Computational Experiments
Data Analysis
Writing Reports


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Prior coding experience is recommended

Film Studies, Bollywood, Media Studies, Gender Studies, South Asia

Research Mentor: Ms. Rebecca Peters, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Religion, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: rlp08c@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors; Most relevant for Film Studies, Women's Studies, Asian Stuides, Communications, Humanities in General, International Affairs
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, September 3, from 4pm - 4:30pm zoom link: (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/97456840808)
Friday, September 6, from 12pm - 12:30pm zoom link: (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96715540980)
Friday, September 6, from 5:30pm - 6pm zoom link: (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/97567830090)
Zoom recording of the project: https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffsu.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2Fjamn0k8vQmws1G8ehCVlxbo2B_k2I4mKw6W1lI5JXV2qucOf2Po6T0_0D_mLxkXE.2qJpGPjf9fY6zhcn&data=05%7C02%7Crlp08c%40fsu.edu%7C384ce17c232d49d424af08dccebf85c6%7Ca36450ebdb0642a78d1b026719f701e3%7C0%7C0%7C638612569209163398%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HGoxPTl1v4zPRiqOa0EQpJA18QtIPRLRIsr2MDuLvyA%3D&reserved=0

Project Description

This project looks to quantify whether women directors impact the representation of women characters in their films. We are doing so by analyzing Bollywood films directed by women. To determine the number and quality of female characters, we will utilize what is called "film coding." "Film coding" is done through through close watching and marking every time we see certain things. Basically, we're looking to see what real impact having a woman in the role of director has on a film.

Research Tasks: The student research assistant will watch subtitled Bollywood films (no language proficiency or other experience in or knowledge of India is necessary), and complete surveys on their computers about each woman character onscreen. The student will receive training and will have the support of the mentor for
any questions or points of clarification. The process allows for a flexibility of when it can be completed within the week, for students who have more unusual schedules. NO prior film knowledge and no coding knowledge is necessary.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: None
Recommended: Access to Netflix and Prime; An understanding of Excel; Understanding of Google drive folders and files organization

artificial intelligence, social psychology, human relationships, digital communication

Research Mentor: James McNulty,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: mcnulty@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Mr Michael Irias he him his
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: irias@psy.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: We're particularly interested in students with backgrounds in psychology, computer science, or related fields, but all motivated individuals are encouraged to apply!
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable

Project Description

Are you intrigued by how artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of human social interactions? Join us in exploring the far-reaching impacts of socially-oriented Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI agents on human connections. This project aims to investigate how AI is reshaping our social fabric, from personal relationships to broader societal dynamics.

Working closely with Michael Irias and Dr. James McNulty, you'll gain valuable interdisciplinary experience spanning social psychology and applied computer science. By joining our team, you will:
- Contribute to groundbreaking research on AI's role in human social dynamics
- Explore the potential of AI to enhance or reshape various types of relationships
- Investigate AI's capacity to bridge cultural divides and reduce political polarization
- Gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art AI technologies
- Develop skills in research methodology, data analysis, and scientific writing

Research Tasks: - Help design, develop, and test AI agents for various social purposes (e.g., AI friends, romantic partners, debate partners)
- Conduct literature reviews on the intersection of AI and social psychology
- Assist in designing and implementing experiments to test the psychological impact of social AI
- Participate in the analysis of AI-human interactions and their effects on social connections
- Help create surveys and other research instruments to measure changes in social dynamics
- Explore potential applications of AI in reducing miscommunication and fostering cross-cultural understanding
- Assist in analyzing data and preparing results for publication or presentation

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: While these skills are recommended, we value a willingness to learn, curiosity, and reliability above all. If you're passionate about this topic but don't have all these skills, we still encourage you to apply!

Recommended skills:
- Programming experience (e.g., Python, JavaScript)
- Familiarity with AI agents and AI-related concepts
- Basic knowledge of social psychology and research methods
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Overall, a background in either computer science or social sciences (psychology, sociology, communication studies) would be highly beneficial. This project involves elements of AI development and requires understanding social psychological concepts, particularly in the context of human relationships.

RNA, NMR, LARPs

Research Mentor: Shibu Adhikari, Mr.
Department, College, Affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: sa20ep@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Victoria Ogunkunle
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: vogunkunle2@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Chemistry
Biochemistry
Biology
** Anyone with basic knowledge of general chemistry and biochemistry.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hrs,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable

Project Description

Our lab is focused in understanding the interaction between La-Related Proteins (LARPs) with RNA. LARPs proteins are found to have implication in different sort of diseases like cancer and so on. We, primarily, focus on the biophysical techniques to decipher the underlying the biochemistry of these RNA binding proteins. Eventually, we aim to structurally characterize these interactions using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance experiments.
Specifically, in this project, we would study LARP1 (La-Related Protein 1) which is an RNA-binding protein that is primarily involved in the translation and stability of mRNAs. Human LARP1(Hs LARP1) is found to play a role in post-translation regulation of 5’ terminal oligopyrimidine motif (5’ TOP), a cis-regulatory RNA component of the 7-methylguanosine cap of TOP mRNAs. The La-module of HsLARP1 has been shown to bind with 5’TOP and 3’ poly(A) motifs of mRNA compared to other LARPs. As LARP1 has been found to repress TOP mRNA translation via the C-terminal DM15 region, the role of the N-terminal La-Module in the regulation of TOP mRNAs is still ambiguous. Since it has been known that LaMOD in HsLARP1 has a folded LaM domain followed by an intrinsically unstructured region (IUR). Here, we investigate the dynamics of the unstructured region of human LARP1 along with its effects on the activity of La-module. We devised the constructs to express and purify IUR regions of humans LARP1 using a self-cleaving peptide N-pro EDDIE to study the RNA-binding mechanism followed by structure characterization using NMR experiments.

Research Tasks: Literature Review
Setting Up Experiments
Data Collection
Scientific Writing

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended:
Pipetting Techniques

** As a wet lab biochemistry research lab, skills will be trained along the way. One should be motivated to learn new techniques along with some background information on the particular experiment.

3D Printing, Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Microfluidics

Research Mentor: James Thornham, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Molecular Biophysics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: jrt21e@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: Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, (not compulsary and open to all STEM majors)
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 3:00-3:30 PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/6991611323?omn=92758939424)
Thursday, Sept. 5 from 3:00-3:30 PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/6991611323?omn=92758939424)
Friday, Sept. 6 from 3:00-3:30 PM (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92758939424)

I have been made aware that there have been difficulties joining my roundtable sessions. I apologise for this inconvenience. I have changed the link for the final session, so hopefully it works this time. Please reach out if you are having trouble or were not able to attend a session and would like more information. Thank you!

Project Description

Microfluidic devices use fluidic channels to achieve highly precise control of nanoliter volumes of liquids. These devices have been used in commercial bio-analysis systems and wearable biotechnology. They are also commonly utilized in biological and health science research. In the Roper laboratory, we apply microfluidics to the study of islets of Langerhans, a micro-organ found in the pancreas. Islets are responsible for the secretion of insulin and other hormones into the bloodstream to regulate blood glucose. In diabetes mellitus, blood glucose becomes dysregulated, resulting in increased risk of heart disease among other life-threatening symptoms. Over half a billion people have diabetes world-wide, making the study of islet dynamics and behavior critical. In the past decade, we have used microfluidic devices to enable measurements of insulin release dynamics from individual islets. Microfluidics have also been central to our study of the interactions between islets under varying glucose conditions and how they synchronize their secretion patterns.
Traditionally, microfluidic devices are fabricated using a technique called photolithography which requires expert training and is labor intensive. With the advent of 3D printers, long fabrication processes requiring highly skilled technicians can be circumvented. Multiple devices can be 3D printed in the same printing run and prototype devices can easily be designed and made, speeding up the development process of microfluidic devices for research, healthcare and bioanalysis applications.
In this project, we will be developing and optimizing methods for 3D printing of microfluidic devices. The UROP student will be learning how to design microfluidic devices in 3D modelling software, and how to fabricate them with 3D printing. Specifically, we would like to design and fabricate a rapid mixing junction which combines and mixes two flows of liquid in a few seconds. We would also like to design a variable microfluidic resistor, a component which would make microfluidic devices significantly easier to design and control. Additionally, any ideas that the student has will certainly be incorporated into the project. If development of the microfluidic components is successful, the devices will be utilized by researchers in our lab and others in the microfluidics field, and likely will result in becoming a named author on a publication.

Research Tasks: Learning to use 3D design software, designing microfluidic devices, 3D printing and fabricating components, collecting data on the efficacy of microfluidic devices or components.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Experience with 3D modelling or printing would help but is not required.

History, Holocaust, Women, Jewish, Intermarriage

Research Mentor: Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus, He/Him/His
Department, College, Affiliation: History, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: nstoltzfus@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Mr. Liam Wirsansky He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: ljw16d@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. George Williamson
Faculty Collaborators Email: gwilliamson@fsu.edu

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: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday, September 4th from 5-5:30pm and 5:30-6pm.

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/9089375618?pwd=S0IxYWQ4MkFIalhaSWcvT3lXcUlydz09

Project Description

Imagine standing up against an oppressive regime, not with weapons, but with sheer courage and conviction. This project is all about celebrating those who dared to defy Hitler’s Germany in the most profound way—through acts of civil and humanitarian courage.
At the heart of this research lies the story of the Rosenstrasse Protest, where the non-Jewish partners of German Jews refused to divorce their loved ones despite immense pressure from the Nazi regime, propaganda, and even their own families. These brave individuals showed the world that everyday civilians could make an extraordinary difference simply by choosing to live according to their conscience.
Our mission, through the Rosenstrasse Foundation, is to shift the focus from the perpetrators of evil to the heroes of defiance. We aim to honor and amplify the voices of those who risked everything to save lives, especially the women whose courageous acts of defiance in Nazi Germany serve as timeless inspirations. By joining this project, you'll help to document and preserve these remarkable stories, build a network of descendants, and contribute to an archive that ensures these acts of bravery are never forgotten.
As a research assistant, you will not only dive into the incredible history of resistance during the Holocaust but also play a key role in building an association that connects descendants and relatives of those who participated in the Rosenstrasse Protest. You will work on gathering personal narratives, translating important German and French documents, and developing an archive that brings these powerful stories to light.
This project is more than just research—it's a chance to honor the past and empower the present by reminding the world of the incredible impact that ordinary people can have when they choose to stand up for what's right.

Research Tasks: Student researchers help support the foundation through their contributions, with the UROP objectives including the facilitation of the maintenance of a webpage for each family of descendants and relatives of those who experienced the Rosenstrasse Protest, or the rescue of a German Jew through intermarriage. Relatives and descendants will be engaged to build their family pages, using photos, stories, documents that relate their experiences.

Student tasks include any or all of the following, depending upon student interests:

Identify survivors and descendants and help them establish a family webpage of stories, photos, documents.
Locate organizations, persons, or media commemorating Rosenstrasse, civil courage, and intermarriage.
Maintain and develop/design the Rosenstrasse Foundation website in all aspects.
Genealogical research to identify persons who are descended from German intermarriages who wish to document their family history on the foundation website; contact organizations for the same purpose.
Identify and announce relevant events, link articles and archives, write or edit Wikipedia articles on related topics such as intermarriages in Nazi Germany and the survival of German Jews in intermarriages.
Write articles to publish or broadcast in outlets identified by the Foundation and supported with ideas for stories from it.
Identify the ways that Germans have responded to the request from the Schroeder-Fischer government (1998-2005) to honor acts of civic courage (Zivilcourage) to build civil society, and how we could initiate forms of honoring of the Rosenstrasse Protesters.

We are thrilled that our student research assistants are the ones conducting the research and doing the related work that supports these goals!

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Some knowledge of web design and/or German welcomed but not required.

content analysis, care work, gender, gender equality

Research Mentor: Alessandra Noli Peschiera, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: anolipeschiera@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Ashley Johns she/her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: ajohns@fsu.edu
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: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, Sep. 3rd, two 30-minute sessions from 2pm to 3pm, drop-in style - https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91002807223

Project Description

For this project, we want to explore care work depictions in advertisements. Specifically, we want to look at advertisements for household products, and explore who is depicted as mainly responsible/knowledgeable for the household care task. We will look at variables such as gender and race, to see what the representation for these types of ads looks like. Care work is a task that has been historically associated with women; we want to explore if current ad depictions continue to reinforce this more traditional notion, or if there are newer representations that promote a message of equal responsibility between women and men for household care tasks.

Research Tasks: Literature review, data collection, coding

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Good time management - required
Able to work in a team - required
Good communication skills - required
Good writing skills - recommended
Some knowledge of Excel - recommended

misdemeanor courts, criminal justice system,

Research Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Copp, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: jcopp@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: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, but geared toward criminology/criminal justice, sociology, law, and other related fields.
Project Location: Multiple courtroom locations throughout the 2nd Judicial Circuit
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Sept 3rd from 3-3:30: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96560037162
Sept 6th from 3-3:30: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93952200115

Project Description

Recent research has highlighted some of the concerns related to the misdemeanor system of justice in the United States, including violations of due process and practices that contribute to inequities. The current research intends to explore the misdemeanor system in Florida's Second Judicial Circuit to understand the extent to which misdemeanor courtrooms are complying with the law and to understand some of the factors associated with non-compliance and other potential sources of unfairness. To accomplish this, the research team will compose a process for systematic courtroom observations and research assistants will attend arraignment hearings throughout the circuit to assist in data collection. This work will be conducted in collaboration with the Leon County Public Defender's Office. The findings will be issued in a final report, and may result in additional published materials.

Research Tasks: Literature review, courtroom observation, data collection, data analysis, attendance at project team meetings.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended skills include attention to detail, time management, and an openness to collaborative research.