UROP Project | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Video-Based Surgical Skill Assessment using Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Video Processing

Research Mentor: Dr. Erim Yanik, He/Him
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechanical Engineering / Dean's Office, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: yaniker@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Maybe one more
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all Engineering and Computer Science majors.

Open to medical school (On different terms. Please reach out and ask).
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering / FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
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: Friday, September 8th from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Erim Yanik is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Erim Yanik's Personal Meeting Room

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6674363117?pwd=c1ozam14UU1vZ01oNG8ydEhnMjdQUT09

Meeting ID: 667 436 3117
Passcode: bB0Eby

Project Description

Current surgical education predominantly relies on mentor-apprenticeship, leading to subjective and labor-intensive learning paradigms. Regrettably, this approach detrimentally impacts surgical outcomes, contributing to the loss of approximately 400,000 lives annually due to surgical errors.

In this interdisciplinary study, we strive to use artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies to develop automated and objective state-of-the-art solutions to improve surgical education & evaluation, and feedback, as well as surgical data collection procedures, aiming to alleviate the patient safety concerns.

We use models from simple fully-connected networks to large language models, e.g., ChatGPT to achieve our objective.

Research Tasks: 1. Literature Review
2. Data Processing & Analysis
3. Artificial Intelligence Modelling
4. Video Editing, Processing & CAD modelling

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required:
* Proficiency in basic deep learning concepts, e.g., convolutional neural networks, fully-connected neural networks, recurrent neural networks.
* Proficiency in coding in Python.
* Proficiency in Tensorflow packages.
* Basic computer skills: open/edit images and videos.
* Microsoft Office skills
* Good communication skills.
* Most importantly curiosity and an open mind

Recommended:
* Experience in PyTorch package.
* Experience in ChatGPT prompt engineering or Large Language Models in general (not a requirement).
* Experience in meta learning, active learning, self-supervised contrastive learning concepts (not a requirement).
* Technical Writing Skills.
* Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop.
* CAD skills.
* Basic understanding of Surgical procedures (not a requirement).

Mentoring Philosophy

My philosophy is to enhance mentees' learning and comprehension as an "independent researcher". In our interdisciplinary studies, there are no textbook solutions and we figure things out using our own intuition and research capabilities. As a mentor, I will do my best to convey "why" any of what we do matters, "how" do we approach to these interdisciplinary problems and "what" are some solutions we can come up with together.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=-ekL3ZYAAAAJ

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Bridging the gap into the Geosciences for underrepresented pre-college students

Geoscience, Science Education, summer camp, place-based learning

Research Mentor: Dr. Amanda Tazaz, She/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Learning Systems Institute, N/A
Contact Email: atazaz@lsi.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Maybe one more
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: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday, September 6th at 3pm.
Thursday, September 7th at 5pm.
Friday, September 8th at 12pm.

Recording: https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/6FGyb-sXz5_0iC1dFx0PajVirDYlXi6BDvrHlwuUkQZcBNeL2-rhaOyLJAfZIqxS.nz2ZQ3cHCbbH6rBm

Project Description

In this project, we will create a geoscience summer camp program focused on local environmental challenges that will be implemented with pre-college students in the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend. The aim of this project is to provide exposure and hands-on-research opportunities in geoscience to historically underrepresented high school students. The project will develop summer camp activities focused on the following 4 topics: rising sea level and coastal management, ground water and the karst aquifer, river management, and natural hazards (such as storms).
This project is at its very early stage and I am open to allowing my UROP mentee to select which topic they would like to focus on.

Research Tasks: Literature review, summer camp activity development, piloting activities developed for the program.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Ability to work independently and in groups.
Time management skills.
Strong communication skills.

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy is to provide an inclusive environment where all members of the team are encouraged and supported on their academic journey. I believe that everyone has valuable thoughts and suggestions that can enhance academic research.

Additional Information

I indicated partially-remote, however, I am open to discussing fully remote opportunities as needed.

Link to Publications

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Distinguishing friend from foe: identifying novel genetic pathways for innate immune recognition of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria.

microbiome, microbiology, immunity, immunology, plant

Research Mentor: David Thoms,
Department, College, Affiliation: Biological Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: dt22o@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: 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: 12 hours per week, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday September 6, 1:00p to 1:30p, https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99897721388
Thursday September 7, 3:00p to 3:30p, https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93516080463
Friday September 8, 1:30p to 2:00p, https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96967614499

Project Description

The microbiome, a collection of symbiotic microbes within and on a host, has broad implications, ranging from human health to ecosystem balance and sustainable agriculture. Both plants and animals rely on a healthy microbiome for growth and fitness. Maintaining a healthy microbiome is vital for survival, as an unhealthy microbiome reduces fitness and can even lead to death. Creating a healthy microbiome involves controlling pathogens while nurturing beneficial microbes. Yet, pathogens and beneficial microbes are often very similar and distinguishing between them is challenging, even with advanced techniques. The immune system likely plays a role, but the details are complex and unclear.

While mammals employ two immune strategies, plants offer a simpler model to study immune-microbe interactions due to their possession of only one, akin to ours. Contrary to the animal gut, plant roots are externally colonized by microbes, allowing easier live studies on an intact organism. Therefore, the Thoms lab uses plant roots to investigate how immunity discerns pathogenic and beneficial bacteria and shapes bacterial growth based on their lifestyles. To identify how immunity distinguishes between bacterial lifestyles, you will use a model system composing of the plant root, a pathogen, and a beneficial strain. We have found that this pathogen induces a novel potent immune response, while the beneficial does not. Working in teams of two, you will use immune assays to perform a classic forward genetic screen. You will screen through plant mutants to identify candidates that are unable to induce an immune response to the pathogen. The candidate mutants will be full genome sequenced to identify the mutated genes and to discover the novel immune pathways required for distinguishing friend from foe.

Research Tasks: preparing media, autoclaving and cleaning lab supplies and equipment, setting up and running immune assays, plant propagation, collecting seeds without cross-contamination, organizing mutant collections, practicing good aseptic microbiology technique, maintaining a detailed electronic lab notebook, collecting data, maintaining a clean lab environment, reviewing the literature and presenting your results.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: demonstration of your ability to follow instructions (required), attention to detail (recommended), good organization (recommended), dedication and passion for your role in the lab (required)

Mentoring Philosophy

Our purpose: To do “good” science with integrity. Experiments that are not honest and trustworthy are experiments not worth doing. This includes accurate enough documentation to facilitate repeatability.

Our vision: To pioneer understanding of how Nature balances symbiotic relations between multicellular hosts and their microbial communities to improve host health and productivity.

Mentorship meetings are crucial for ensuring trainee learning and practice of effective experimentation. Mentorship meetings should be used to ask questions about the literature and to discuss hypotheses, experimental design, data analysis, and conclusions. I practice an open door policy, and meetings can be held at the bench, in my office, or even in the hallway. Meetings over text or video are discouraged. Trainees are expected to meet with me a minimum of once per week. Mentorship meetings may be scheduled ahead of time with me to ensure sufficient access. However, spontaneous or unscheduled meetings are also encouraged, so long as time is available. These meetings are key to your professional development as a scientist and lab member.

The lab also maintains its own Slack channel (or similar app) for communication. Slack should be used to discuss lab business, schedule celebrations, share papers and protocols, and for peer-to-peer communication concerning the lab. Slack can also be a more effective way than email to contact me.

Overall, I want you to feel comfortable talking with me and other lab members and to provide easy access to mentorship and communication.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty.php?faculty-id=dt22o

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***An Environmental Scan of Open Science Support in Academic Libraries

open science, data collection, library, data management

Research Mentor: Ms. Kassidy Hof-Mahoney, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: University Libraries, N/A
Contact Email: khofmahoney@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, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday, Sept. 6th at 2:00pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92993026216

Thursday, Sept. 7th at 3:30pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96774727507

Project Description

Open science is the movement towards making all aspects of scientific research as open and accessible as possible and is a growing movement in the research community. NASA and other government agencies have even declared 2023 the “Year of Open Science" (https://nasa.github.io/Transform-to-Open-Science/year-of-open-science/). Libraries are an integral part of supporting and facilitating advancement in open research practices and Florida State University Libraries are in the process of developing an open science program to work towards this.

As a part of the program development process, this project will examine and catalog public facing websites of FSU’s peer institutions to see what other libraries are advancing open science, with particular attention to how these libraries are supporting their researchers and students who incorporate open science practices into their workflows. The research assistant would inventory library websites and assist with research documentation on the Open Science Framework (osf.io). This project is an opportunity to learn about the research process, data collection, and information management skills that will be useful no matter what field you go into as well as gain experience in an emerging, but important, global research trend.

Research Tasks: Searching and recording mentions of open science and related topics on academic library websites
Document and organize open science webpages and tools, instructional materials, and other elements using spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel
Assist in research project documentation by updating the Open Science Framework project and adding the protocols we use to Protocols.io

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended:
Ability to work independently
Willingness to learn new skills and concepts
Experience with spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel

Mentoring Philosophy

I believe mentorship should be a collaborative relationship that benefits both the mentor and the mentee. In order to achieve this, we will work together to develop goals and expectations for each other to take advantage of the time we have as best we can. I will strive to create a supportive environment where students can learn in the way that best suits them and aren't afraid to ask questions or try new things. I have benefited greatly from positive mentors that helped me get to where I am today and I hope to continue this by sharing my own experience and knowledge with students through UROP.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Salvaged Materials Supply

sustainability, reuse, materials, environment, publication

Research Mentor: Prof Katie Kehoe, she / they
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Art, Fine Arts
Contact Email: mkk22f@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 hours a week, 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

In the sculpture and expanded media area within the Department of Art, I am developing a free materials supply source that consists of salvaged materials. Faculty, staff, and students will be welcomed and encouraged to contribute to and freely use the salvaged materials collected and organized in this supply. And as part of this initiative, I aim to create a physical catalogue that includes physical samples of salvaged materials accompanied by a brief summary describing the properties of each sample. This catalogue will be made available for faculty, staff and students to flip through for inspiration and ideas on what materials can be salvaged and used as raw material in the creation of new artworks. When the catalogue is developed enough, I will look into the possibilities of digitizing and publishing its contents; research assistants will be credited for their contribution.

Research Tasks: Primary:
- Salvage materials, clean, cut samples, identify and list material properties
- Assist in organizing the Salvaged Materials Supply Source
- Research artists working with salvage and compile examples to potentially supplement samples catalogue
Secondary:
- Support in digitizing physical content

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: - values sustainable practices
- demonstrates imagination toward materials and reuse
- is detailed orientated and reliable

Mentoring Philosophy

I regard mentoring to be a privilege and I appreciate the important impact mentors can have on mentees – by providing an example of professionalism, sharing knowledge and passion toward a subject, and facilitating an inclusive, respectful environment that supports experiential learning. I appreciate that one very important aspect that defines the relationship between the mentor and mentee is a shared interest in the research or initiative, and a committed responsibility for cultivating an experience that is mutually beneficial – the mentee gains practical experience and guidance and the mentor receives needed research assistance.

It is important to me that I become someone my mentees learns they can count on – someone who is reliable, organized, fair, and also an inspiration to them. I work hard to lead by example. As I know that when my mentees see I am driven and successful in my research and practice, I am a far better resource to them. My determination to continue to learn, grounds me as a mentor, and my drive to be the best I can be, challenges me to seek out new ideas and techniques, to embrace change, and always work hard to refine my process so I can assure the students I mentor are gaining the best guidance I can offer.

Additional Information

Please feel welcome to email with any questions.

Link to Publications

www.main.katiekehoe.com

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Sensitivity Towards Spanish Subjunctive Mood Within Nominal Clauses: An Eye-tracking Experiment with Heritage Speakers

Spanish Heritage Speakers, Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Eye Tracker

Research Mentor: Mr. Moreno Saul Moreno, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: sm19bm@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Antje Muntendam
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: amuntendam@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
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: 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: Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 12 – 3 pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/97294690722)
Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 12 - 2 pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/97294690722)
Thursday, Sept. 7 from 12 - 3 pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/97294690722)
Friday, Sept. 8 from 12 - 2 pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/97294690722)

Project Description

This study collects data from heritage speakers of Spanish and a control group, using a reading task with eye-tracking, a questionnaire, and proficiency measurement tasks. Its primary objective is to study the Spanish subjunctive variation in nominal clauses by Spanish heritage speakers and that of the control group while considering the effect of proficiency, language context of use, attitude, motivation, and identity on sensitivity to the Spanish subjunctive.

Research Tasks: Data cleaning, data analysis, & literature review.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: speak Spanish

Mentoring Philosophy

Any aspect of a solid base between people, whether it be at a personal level or professional aspect, is generated by effective communication. Building a mentoring relationship begin with just that, an effective communication toward the goals. I will aim to further solidify this scientific project via a clear understanding of each other’s objectives.

Scientifically, I will strive to help you craft your own path and work with a clear mindset toward your own expectations. I desire to provide the necessary tools that will aid you in your own professional journey. My willingness to understand you implies to use our time wisely, which in return demonstrates my respect to you as well. Your ideas will be heard as they represent your critical thinking and voice and will establish a mutual understanding of the intended goals for this present study. Discussing ideas towards any issues to find solutions is highly important.

Experience shapes our outlook. I will share my knowledge with you to catapult you a step farther into your own crafting. All progress is gradual. Research is not foreign to the everyday process requiring patience and dedication. Effective use of time fuels progress while patience creates effective progress. Pursing your own professional path will require skills and virtue which craft integrity and responsibility.

In our lives, keeping a good work-life balance is fundamental. I hope this is another quality present during our mentorship. Keeping a healthy mind is as important as anything else such as physical and emotional states.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Backtracking Career and Technical Education Pathways

STEM, Information Technology, Alumni Tracking, Employment Outcomes

Research Mentor: Dr. Faye Jones, She, her
Department, College, Affiliation: Office of the Dean, Communication and Information
Contact Email: faye.jones@cci.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Marcia Mardis
Faculty Collaborators Email: mmardis@fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors. STEM majors, and specifically computing or technology majors, are preferred.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: September 6 at noon
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91237574589

Project Description

Backtracking CTE Pathways is a collaboration between Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College to understand the pathways students take through college and into careers in information technology. Specifically, the project gathers data about former students, including institutional data (such as grades) and information from surveys and interviews. These data include information about students who completed the program, who did not complete the program, and who changed programs or transferred to other institutions. Data are analyzed to identify potential pathways and critical junctions that may lead to student success or other outcomes. The research team expect that this approach will reveal opportunities and hindrances students face as they pursue credentials in information technology.

Research Tasks: Tasks involve conducting alumni interviews, cleaning transcribed interviews, analyzing the findings, and creating visual graphics of the findings.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Skill with interviewing and graphic design recommended.

Mentoring Philosophy

The mentor/mentee relationship is one that is built on trust and respect. It is important that goals are developed that are mutually beneficial. Students should expect an environment built for learning and appropriate communication about tasks, deadlines, and adequate guidance on how to perform tasks. The mentor is open to innovative ideas, questions, and encourages growth through exposure to research.

Additional Information

See recorded roundtable discussion at
https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/Z-BwNE1rBleqao602quYTBksj9oj0suZNFywIy6lknj6zT0ZQ0s3CXkGfxqziG0w.YmP3FXtsiI572KL6

Link to Publications

https://directory.cci.fsu.edu/faye-jones/

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Novel models and simulation of bacterial networks and their collective behavior

Quorum sensing, bacterial colonies, systems biology, networks, decision-making, game theory

Research Mentor: Marcos Muller Vasconcelos,
Department, College, Affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering , FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: m.vasconcelos@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: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 hours/week, 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

Bacteria are among the simplest life forms on Earth. Each bacterial cell possesses minimal sensing and actuation capabilities. Nevertheless, they can perform incredibly complex tasks as if operating in unison, akin to the formation of multicellular organisms. Behind this intriguing phenomenon lies a mechanism known as Quorum Sensing. In this project, students will delve into understanding how Quorum Sensing operates, learn the art of mathematically modeling it, and engage in computer simulations. Additionally, they will gain proficiency in using Cello, a programming language designed for creating computational circuits within living cells.

Research Tasks: Literature review
Learn mathematical modeling of inter and intra species bacterial quorum sensing
Perform Matlab and/or Python simulations
Learn how to use the language Cello to design DNA code for decision-making bacteria

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Knowledge of Matlab or equivalent (recommended, but not required)
Interest in synthetic biology (strongly recommended)

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy is based on helping students gain confidence in their ideas and developing their creativity. I strongly believe that there is no limit to what the human mind can accomplish, and that the world of ideas has an infinite number of 'low hanging fruits'; we just need to learn how to look at problems from different angles. I am committed to sharing my experience and providing a safe and nurturing environment for students who have a genuine interest in science and a passion for developing new ideas.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Black Men in Tech

Secondary Students, Technology, Engagement, Families

Project Description

Black Men in Tech explores the engagement of rising 9-12 grade Black youth through exploration and conduct of multimedia projects (i.e., game design, web design, and videography). Student engagement was measured at the conclusion of each training module and student/parent interviews are now underway to understand program and student outcomes.

Research Tasks: Students will assist with data analysis, visualization of project findings, and serve as a contributing author on a publication.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Attention to detail is required.
Creativity or skill in graphic design preferred.
Above average skill in writing recommended.

Mentoring Philosophy

Additional Information

See recorded roundtable discussion.
https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/Z-BwNE1rBleqao602quYTBksj9oj0suZNFywIy6lknj6zT0ZQ0s3CXkGfxqziG0w.YmP3FXtsiI572KL6

Link to Publications

https://directory.cci.fsu.edu/faye-jones/

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The effect of private preferences on content distribution platforms

Social networks, content distribution, signaling games, micro economics, misinformation

Research Mentor: Marcos M. Vasconcelos,
Department, College, Affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: m.vasconcelos@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: Economics
Electrical Engineering
Marketing
Business
Industrial Engineering
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 hours/week, 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

Information dissemination is primarily controlled through platforms across their social media network structure. At the heart of this system is the platform itself, which has access to a vast array of heterogeneous content. On the periphery, individual users act as information consumers. It has become widely recognized that these platforms utilize a mechanism popularly known as "The Algorithm". The "Algorithm" selects the type of information to present to users, relying on a Model or an estimation of content preferences specific to each consumer. The user's objective is straightforward – to maximize utility – while the platform's aim is to enhance consumer engagement. The misalignment between the user's and platform's objectives results in intriguing behaviors that can be observed empirically. In this project the students will investigate how content distribution platform works, what engagement maximization means, and how the misalignment with the user's objective due to inaccurate private preferences estimates might lead to polarization and segregation in social networks.

Research Tasks: Literature review
Mathematical modeling
Study social networks and how "The Algorithm" works

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Interest in mathematical modeling of social networks (strongly recommended)
Interest in Economics and Marketing (recommended)

Mentoring Philosophy

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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