UROP Project
AI That Remembers: Making Language Models Faster by Recycling Their Memory
LLM, KV cache, AI efficiency, ML systems
Research Mentor: Oteo Mamo,
Department, College, Affiliation: Computer Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: om21d@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Computer Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: om21d@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: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or any major with Python experience and curiosity about AI
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, 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: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or any major with Python experience and curiosity about AI
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, 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: 12:00
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/om9740
Project Description
Every time an AI model like ChatGPT reads a document, it builds an internal "memory" of what it read, and today that memory is constantly thrown away: when the model is updated, when the conversation ends, when space runs out. Rebuilding it from scratch wastes enormous amounts of GPU time, money, and energy. Our group develops methods that let models keep, compress, and reuse this memory, and we release them as open-source tools (SALT - accepted at EMNLP 2026, one of the top AI conferences). As a research assistant you'll run real experiments on GPUs, analyze the results, and contribute to open-source software. No prior AI experience required.Research Tasks: Literature review of recent AI efficiency papers.
Running experiments on GPU servers, data analysis and visualization in Python, and reproducing results from published papers.
Testing, documentation, and issue triage for our open-source repositories (SALT, CRELAY).
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: basic Python, curiosity.
Recommended: Git/GitHub, Linux command line, NumPy or PyTorch.
Mentoring Philosophy
I still remember my first weeks in research. Everything felt too big, and the best thing my mentor did was break it into pieces I could actually finish. That is how I intend to mentor. We start with small, well-defined tasks and grow toward open-ended questions as confidence builds, so mistakes are cheap and every week ends with something concrete. In our first meeting we set your personal goals such as graduate school, industry, or simply finding out whether research is for you. We meet one-on-one weekly, and questions are the point. Constant communication is very important and encouraged. My goal is that you leave UROP able to run a small research project on your own.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://openreview.net/forum?id=GYC3owoYBO , https://github.com/oteomamo/SALTSundown America: Qualitative Data Collection of Racial Prejudice Using Online-Based Records
Sundown, Race, Qualitative, Data collection
Research Mentor: Jack Mills,
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: jmills4@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: jmills4@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: 7-10, 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: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, 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
This project serves to finish the initial data collection of adverse racial experiences--including violence, non-violence, and other discrimination--in communities with known historical ties to sundown behaviors. Broadly, sundown behaviors refer to community practices that prohibited the residency, and often even the mere presence, of non-White people. In the seminal literature on sundown America, there are approximately 1,400 communities with possible sundown ties. This project seeks to understand current racial experiences in those communities as we wrap up data collection for the remaining share of communities in the sample.Research Tasks: Data collection--searching for news articles, police reports, community forums, and other outlets that describe racial experiences in communities with known sundown histories. Data collection follows a structured process that students will be trained on before collection begins. Research assistants are expected to work 7-10 hours.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Basic web searching skills.
Mentoring Philosophy
I mentor students by teaching them to evaluate evidence rather than wait for definitive answers, which means pushing them toward sharper questions than the ones they arrived with. To me, mentorship is not just guiding others toward professional milestones—it is about creating a self-fulfilling culture of support, curiosity, and shared success. By emphasizing the people behind the work and ensuring that both interpersonal and interprofessional harmony are prioritized, I hope to contribute to a cycle of mentorship that empowers the next generation of scholars, researchers, and leadersAdditional Information
Link to Publications
Building an Association to Honor Civil Defiance in Nazi Germany and Empower Voices of Courage
History, Holocaust, Women, Jewish, Intermarriage
Research Mentor: Mr. Liam Wirsansky, He/Him/His
Department, College, Affiliation: Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation, N/A
Contact Email: lwirsansky@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: nstoltzfus@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation, N/A
Contact Email: lwirsansky@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: nstoltzfus@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Virtual and in person meetings on campus on occasion
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, 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: Virtual and in person meetings on campus on occasion
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Wednesday, September 2
Start Time: 7:00
End Time: 8:00
Zoom Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/9089375618?pwd=S0IxYWQ4MkFIalhaSWcvT3lXcUlydz09
Project Description
Empowering Actions of Courage: Honoring Civil Defiance in Nazi Germany, Encouraging Civil Courage Here and NowThe Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation commemorates and encourages acts of civil courage, concrete actions by persons alone or collectively to illustrate and defend the values of democratic governance of, by, and for the people, in defense of pluralism. We seek to inspire civil courage today through education, emphasizing under-reported acts of women’s defiance in the face of fear. This civil courage is identified with what the Czech dissident Václav Havel called “the attempt to live in the truth,” a form of defiance rooted in everyday life of civilians who defy mass conformity, when necessary, to openly live in the light of their own consciences.
We take our name from the thousands of German Jews rescued from the Holocaust through the refusal of their non-Jewish partners to divorce, in the face of continuous, enormous pressures from Nazi propaganda and Gestapo terror. They did this openly every day in the face of scorn and taunts from neighbors, colleagues and their own families of birth, who sided with Hitler and his promises of a great new world for ‘racially pure’ Germans. Their civil courage is distinguished from traditionally recognized and clandestine acts of resistance such as the military conspiracy to kill Hitler, through its public expression carried on by actions of civilians in everyday life, personally or collectively.
The Rosenstrasse Protest serves as a model and an inspiration about the capacity and responsibility of individuals to make a difference. The Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation was created to preserve and amplify their stories of resistance, to inspire others today. So often in the memory of Hitler and the Holocaust, voices of perpetrators are broadcast by our fascination with evil. How do ordinary people come to commit horrendous, genocidal acts? A mission of the Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation, in light of inspiring civil courage today, is to give resistors and rescuers the last word, rather than the Nazi perpetrators they defied. Our focuses include:
1) Education about the history of the rescue of approximately 2,000 Jews through an open demand by their non-Jewish wives, who asked only for their return, in Nazi Berlin in late winter 1943. This makes sense considering the context of several conditions, prominently the decade-long defiance of these non-Jewish women to bend their knee to Hitler by abandoning their Jewish partners (during the Holocaust Gestapo practice was to deport Jews whose Gentile partners had divorced). Just as important was the public willingness of these wives to put their lives on the line; their day-to-day stance of civil courage since the day Hitler took power communicated their willingness to die for their families, which was underlined during their protest by threats by armed guards that they would be shot if they did not clear the streets. Also prominent was the sensitivity of Hitler and propagandist Joseph Goebbels to popular morale, increased following Germany’s recent military debacle at Stalingrad and the greatly increasing damage caused by Allied bombing raids. The release of Jewish people was of course for tactical rather than moral reasons. The regime thought of it as merely temporary; neither Nazi ideology nor Hitler’s goal to destroy all Jews budged, but time ran out as the Allies pushed Hitler’s Reich back to defeat.
2) Honoring the memory of this rescue together with the women who displayed this important civil courage form of resistance. These protesters and other German non-Jews rescued their Jewish partners beginning with noncompliance with the regime and German society. They thwarted the Nazi dictatorship's intentions to fully carry out its fundamental objective of "racial purification" long enough for more than 10,000 German Jews to survive—nearly all of Germany’s “full” Jews (in Nazi vocabulary) who survived outside of Nazi camps, without going into hiding. They were not in hiding because the regime knew exactly where they lived and continued to supply these “mixed” families with ration cards.
3) Establishing a network and an association of descendants and relatives of those who experienced the Rosenstrasse protest, together with other descendants from German intermarried couples who survived due to the civil courage of the non-Jewish partners. We seek to accumulate an archive of personal narratives, documents, and texts, to allow these persons to get to know one another.
4) Documenting and educating about actions of civil courage around the globe today, with the goal that actions to defend democracy and civil courage can become normative behavior here and now.
Project Title: Building an Association to Honor Civil Defiance in Nazi Germany and Empower Voices of Courage:
Project Description: Join a meaningful research and public history project that honors unsung heroes of the Holocaust—ordinary people who did the extraordinary by defying the Nazi regime through an open, day-to-day stance that followed their conscience rather than Nazi terror and mass conformity. Through this project, student researchers will help build an association of descendants and relatives of those involved in the protest and related intermarriage rescues, contributing to an online archive that preserves these
Research Tasks: As a research assistant, you'll help us bring these stories to life by:
Conducting genealogical and historical research to locate descendants and engage new participants.
Documenting personal histories from descendants of Rosenstrasse protesters and German-Jewish intermarriages.
Creating and curating family webpages with photos, stories, and documents.
Supporting website development and content updates for the Foundation.
Students may tailor their involvement based on their interests and skills, whether in history, writing, research, genealogy, language translation (German/French), or digital media. Exemplary student research will be published through the foundation and additional support will be provided for other publishing opportunities.
This is more than a research project; it's a chance to shape how resistance and courage are remembered, to inspire more of it. By participating, you’ll help ensure these legacies are preserved, shared, and honored for generations to come.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Some knowledge of web design and/or German is welcomed but not required.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Some knowledge of web design and/or German is welcomed but not required.
Mentoring Philosophy
UROP researchers will participate in weekly mentoring meetings with Liam Wirsansky (FSU, BA and M.S.; Director of Research and Development, Rosenstrasse Civil Courage Foundation). These meetings will emphasize a collaborative, student-centered mentoring approach in which researchers are encouraged to develop their own questions, perspectives, and research interests while receiving guidance in research methods, historical context, archival work, and project development. Liam will work closely with students to build the skills, confidence, and independence necessary for meaningful participation in the project, complementing the direction and mentorship provided by Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus. Students will also have opportunities to learn from and collaborate with current and former students who have worked with the Foundation, fostering a supportive research community in which knowledge and experience are shared across levels of experience.Additional Information
Link to Publications
rosenstrassefoundation.orgAcoustic Emission Monitoring for Damage Characterization in Infrastructure Composites
Acoustic Emission, Damage Characterization, Composites, thermal cracking, material science
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Elwardany, he, him, his
Department, College, Affiliation: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: melwardany@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: melwardany@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Building A
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU Bus Services Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Building A
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU Bus Services Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Monday, August 31
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTM1ZGI0ZjItZDU0MC00NTg1LWI2MDEtMTBjMjUwYTJlMjI0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22a36450eb-db06-42a7-8d1b-026719f701e3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f113451a-3d58-481d-a651-00ec6c504481%22%7d - Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTM1ZGI0ZjItZDU0MC00NTg1LWI2MDEtMTBjMjUwYTJlMjI0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22a36450eb-db06-42a7-8d1b-026719f701e3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f113451a-3d58-481d-a651-00ec6c504481%22%7d - Day: Thursday, September 3
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTM1ZGI0ZjItZDU0MC00NTg1LWI2MDEtMTBjMjUwYTJlMjI0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22a36450eb-db06-42a7-8d1b-026719f701e3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f113451a-3d58-481d-a651-00ec6c504481%22%7d
Project Description
This undergraduate research explores the use of acoustic emission (AE) as a non-destructive technique for detecting and characterizing damage in infrastructure composites, such as fiber-reinforced polymers and polymer-modified concrete. AE sensors capture transient elastic waves generated by microcracking, fiber breakage, and delamination during mechanical loading. By analyzing AE signal features, such as amplitude, energy, and frequency content, the study aims to identify distinct damage mechanisms and monitor their evolution in real time. The project provides students with hands-on experience in experimental testing, signal analysis, and data interpretation, while contributing to the development of smarter, more durable, and sustainable infrastructure materials.Research Tasks: Literature review
Hands-on experimental work
Data collection
Data analysis
Revising Python codes (potentially)
writing manuscript (potentially)
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required:
Committed, willing to learn, and a critical thinker
Recommended:
Python coding skills
Mentoring Philosophy
I believe undergraduate research should be an enjoyable and motivating experience that fosters curiosity, confidence, and independence. My approach emphasizes regular weekly meetings to provide structure, guidance, and feedback, while also celebrating progress and keeping students engaged. I encourage students to take ownership of their projects, develop problem-solving skills, and see research as both a process of discovery and a source of personal growth. By creating a supportive and inclusive environment, I aim to help students enjoy the research journey, stay motivated through challenges, and build transferable skills that will serve them in graduate school, professional practice, and beyond.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://lnkd.in/p/eK6pJcuGHurricane-Resilient Design of Onshore Flexible Structures via ML-Assisted Aerodynamic Optimization
optimization, machine learning, structures, wind, wave, hurricanes
Research Mentor: Pedro Fernandez-Caban,
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: plf22a@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Arezoo Bakhshizadeh
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email: ab22cd@fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: plf22a@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Arezoo Bakhshizadeh
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email: ab22cd@fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU Bus (Seminole Express) Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
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: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU Bus (Seminole Express) Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
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
During hurricanes, extreme wind and storm surge conditions are the main environmental forces affecting civil infrastructure in coastal regions. In particular, lightweight, tall, and slender structures (e.g., transmission/communication towers, light poles, etc.) are sensitive to the variable and dynamic nature of wind and wave action. Therefore, predicting and optimizing the performance of such structures remains an ongoing challenge. This UROP project investigates novel ML-assisted optimization strategies that account for the combined effects of wind and waves and their interaction with coastal structures.Research Tasks: -Literature review
-CFD simulation and wind tunnel testing
-Data processing and analysis
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: -Python (JupyterLab) - Required
-Excel - Required
-Latex (Overleaf) - Recommended
Mentoring Philosophy
My role as an undergraduate mentor is to facilitate opportunities to enhance the technical and professional skills of mentees. I continuously tailor research tasks based on my conversations with mentees to ensure such tasks align with skills the students want to develop further (e.g., technical writing, data analysis, programming, etc.). I've also found it helpful to share my own research experience through the years, from my undergraduate days to my current role as a faculty member. In particular, mentees often relate to stories from my early research experiences that highlight common challenges faced by undergraduate researchers and how best to address them.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nzBOhdoAAAAJ&hl=enProduction of Membrane Manifold for Water Quality Testing
Environmental Engineering, Water Treatment, Filtration
Research Mentor: Jeffrey Farner, He/Him
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jmf23i@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Deanna Delgado
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: dmd25e@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jmf23i@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Deanna Delgado
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: dmd25e@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Environmental Engineering & Mechanical Engineering, Open to all majors
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering - Innovation Park (Engineering Campus) & Centennial Building, 2077 E Paul Dirac Dr
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Can take the FSU shuttle to CoE building and walk across Engineering campus (~ 10 min). If the RA has a car, there is available parking at the Centennial building (no permit required). Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, depending on research progress., 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: Environmental Engineering & Mechanical Engineering, Open to all majors
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering - Innovation Park (Engineering Campus) & Centennial Building, 2077 E Paul Dirac Dr
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Can take the FSU shuttle to CoE building and walk across Engineering campus (~ 10 min). If the RA has a car, there is available parking at the Centennial building (no permit required). Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, depending on research progress., 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: 12:00
End Time: 1:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/4681056490?omn=94664593930
Project Description
Plastics introduced into the environment are exposed to factors like UV radiation, physical abrasion, and elevated temperatures. These weathering processes alter the physical and chemical composition of the plastic surface, leading to the release of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). Existing at diameters small enough to travel through the pore space in sand and soils, MNPs are observed in surface waters, groundwaters, and drinking water.The goal of this project is to produce and test a filtration setup (manifold) for advanced water treatment. The UROP RA will be directly involved in design, construction, and testing (leak checking, flow monitoring, etc.) the initial construction. Following successful production, the manifold will be tested for flow and contaminant removal. This is part of a larger project looking at micro- and nano plastic removal due to advanced water treatment methods.
Research Tasks: The UG RA will be involved in all aspects of the project: experimental setup, data collection, analysis, and results communication. Tasks will include CAD design, manufacturing, assembly, and production of a filtration system, in manifold, tubing, pumps, reservoir, etc. Following production, the system will be tested for integrity and to determine flow and pressure capabilities. Concurrent with this, a literature review will be performed to better place this work in the context of the current state of the science.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: We're looking for curious students with attention to detail and an interest in physically producing a filtration system. An ability to troubleshoot and critically review any issues is important in any lab setting. As this will be working directly under a PhD student and within the wider culture of a lab group, interpersonal skills and communication are necessary skills.
Mentoring Philosophy
My goal for my students is that their research be influential to the scientific community and relevant to society, that their studies benefit their understanding of the field and equip them for their careers, and that their experiences deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Beyond simply collecting data, students learn how to formulate questions, independently solve problems, interpret and analyze that data, and communicate their findings to others.Input from, and exchange with, colleagues is a critical aspect of student development. To foster collaboration and open communication, weekly group meetings include brief presentations detailing current research successes, techniques, and failures. By regularly presenting in a low-stakes environment, students become comfortable articulating the complexity of scientific research, as well as receiving and responding to feedback.
UGs in my lab work closely with a graduate student. I am directly involved in project development and meet regularly with UGs both in group settings and individually, but the MS/PhD is the contact for day-to-day activities. Upon joining the lab, students and I discuss their project, including the context and value of the research, expectations for both of us, and anticipated deliverables. Each student completes required departmental safety trainings and a research group-specific orientation before working in the laboratory. As the PI, my responsibility is primarily to support and encourage students in their development. My goal for UGs is that they learn techniques, gain laboratory experience and confidence, and inspire a love of research and science communication.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=Sp9dlukAAAAJ&view_op=list_worksOpioid Use and Special Populations in Florida
opioid use disorder; opioid misuse; treatment; medications for opioid use disorder
Research Mentor: Dr. John Moore,
Department, College, Affiliation: Social Work, Social Work
Contact Email: jmoore6@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Social Work, Social Work
Contact Email: jmoore6@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: No, the project is remote 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:
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: No, the project is remote 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:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
The Florida’s Linked Opioid Response and Epidemiological Network for Comprehensive Evaluation (FLORENCE) Project examines the prevalence of opioid use behaviors and opioid use disorder (OUD) among Floridians to inform the state’s opioid abatement strategies.The project integrates primary and secondary data sources. Primary data collection centers on the design, implementation, and analysis of a targeted survey assessing substance use behaviors, treatment access, service utilization, and related outcomes among Floridians with a history of opioid use disorder and incarceration. Secondary analyses draw on representative surveys and Medicaid claims data to estimate the prevalence of opioid misuse and OUD and to evaluate the reach and effectiveness of evidence-based treatments. Findings are intended to ultimately contribute to measurable reductions in opioid-related harm across Florida.
Students will contribute to the project by supporting the design, implementation, and data management of a primary survey assessing substance use behaviors, treatment access, and service outcomes among Floridians with histories of opioid use disorder and incarceration, as well as assisting with secondary analyses of representative surveys and Medicaid claims data.
Research Tasks: literature review, survey design and development, primary data collection, data management and cleaning, quantitative data analysis (primary survey and secondary sources).
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended skills: Literature searching, survey methodology and questionnaire design, data collection, data cleaning, quantitative statistical analysis and interpretation
Mentoring Philosophy
Effective mentorship begins with taking the time to understand each student’s individual goals, motivations, and existing strengths. Through careful evaluation, I work to build on those foundations rather than impose a one-size-fits-all approach. I believe the strongest mentoring relationships are grounded in mutual respect, open communication, and a genuine interest in the mentee’s development. I strive to create an interactive and supportive learning environment in which students feel safe to ask questions, take on leadership roles, and learn from mistakes without fear of judgment. By sharing relevant experiences from my own path and encouraging inquiry-driven exploration, I help students connect theory with practice. At the same time, I give students meaningful ownership of their work and foster development by balancing encouragement and belief in their potential with opportunities to conduct independent, student-led research. In doing so, I aim to help mentees develop both the skills and the confidence to become independent, thoughtful researchers and professionals.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://fcpr.fsu.edu/projectsAttraction and Close Relationships
romantic relationships, marriage, dating, love
Research Mentor: Dr. Andrea Meltzer, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: meltzer@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: meltzer@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: 2
Relevant Majors: Psychology
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: Psychology
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
Help with a variety of research projects in the Attraction and Close Relationships Lab.Research Tasks: Attend a bi-weekly lab meeting on Fridays from 10-11am in the Psychology Building; read peer-reviewed research articles; help collect data for various ongoing research projects; data cleaning and coding
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: friendly, organized, conscientious
Mentoring Philosophy
In my social psychology research lab, we study the development, maintenance, and deterioration of romantic relationships. We like to give undergraduate students as much hands-on research experience in this domain as possible. In doing so, we strive to create a comfortable, interactive environment that promotes learning and diversity.Additional Information
Link to Publications
www.andreameltzer.comSimulating Robotic Fiber Placement for Smarter Manufacturing
Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), digital twin, 6DOF robotic arm, path planning, composite manufacturing, robot simulation, manufacturing data generation
Research Mentor: Paul Davidson,
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechancial and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: paul.davidson@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechancial and Aerospace Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: paul.davidson@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: Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Science.
Project Location: Engineering Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, 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: Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Science.
Project Location: Engineering Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, 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: 1:00
End Time: 1:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/8500931501 - Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 1:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/8500931501 - Day: Wednesday, September 2
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 1:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/8500931501
Project Description
Building a computer simulations that mirrors how a robot lays down carbon fiber material to make aircraft structural parts. The simulation will serve as a testbed for training future AI/ML models to improve the process.Research Tasks: This project develops an open-source simulation pipeline that mirrors the process of a robotic arm laying down carbon fiber to build structural parts. Starting from a fiber path design, the system translates geometric intent into robot motion, simulates execution, and logs the full process state at each step. Over two semesters, an undergraduate researcher will build and validate this pipeline using freely available robotics and simulation tools. The end product is a functioning digital twin that generates rich, structured data from varied manufacturing scenarios, laying the groundwork for future machine learning models aimed at defect prediction, process optimization, and quality control in robotic composite manufacturing.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Good to have:
* Coding skills using python.
* Some experience or knowledge of composites and composite manufacturing (not a deal breaker)
Mentoring Philosophy
I believe good mentoring is built around the work itself. A compelling project creates natural momentum, it sets the standard, surfaces the hard questions, and drives the student to grow into the skills the problem demands. My role is to frame the challenge clearly, share relevant experience as it becomes useful, and hold the work to a high bar. Progress on the project and development of the student happen together, not separately. The end goal is a finished, usable piece of work that the student can point to with pride and that the field can build on.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Parental Influence and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy in College Students
career counseling; psychology; self-efficacy; external conflict; career course
Research Mentor: Ms. Jackie Belle, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: jbelle@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: jbelle@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: No, the project is remote 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:
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: No, the project is remote 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:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
The proposed study seeks to examine the relationships among career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), parental influence, and career indecision in college students. We will be using a sample of students enrolled in an undergraduate career development course at FSU.Research Tasks: Fall: literature review, work on research proposal, prepare for data collection
Spring: data collection, data analysis, statistics, writing report
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: reading and analyzing research articles, working on data collection, data analysis
Mentoring Philosophy
My research broadly examines factors that influence how individuals make career decisions, including negative career thoughts, parental and social influences, career decision-making self-efficacy, and external conflict. As undergraduate research assistants, students will have the opportunity to participate in multiple stages of the research process. Depending on current projects and individual interests, responsibilities may include conducting literature reviews, assisting with participant recruitment and data collection, organizing and managing research data, learning basic quantitative research methods, contributing to research presentations, and discussing the interpretation and application of research findings.A central goal of this experience is mentorship and professional development. I aim to help students develop research skills while also learning more about their individual academic and career goals. Students interested in psychology, counseling, career development, education, or related helping professions are especially encouraged to participate. No previous research experience is required (although beneficial); curiosity, reliability, willingness to learn, and consistent communication are most important. Research assistants will have opportunities to learn about graduate education and careers in psychology and related fields. Mentoring may include conversations about graduate school, developing a CV, identifying research interests, building professional skills, and understanding how research can inform counseling and other forms of professional practice.
My goal is for students to leave the experience with a stronger understanding of the research process, meaningful skills they can carry into graduate school or future employment, and greater confidence in identifying and pursuing their own professional interests.