UROP Project
Career development
Research Mentor: Dr Wen Zhu, She/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wzhu@chem.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Faculty Collaborators:
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Department, College, Affiliation: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wzhu@chem.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Faculty Collaborators:
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, and Education-related degrees
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8 hours,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, and Education-related degrees
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8 hours,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
This undergraduate research project aims to explore and document the diverse career trajectories available to individuals holding a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry.Research Tasks: The student researchers will: Define the skill set of Chemistry and Biochemistry graduates; design and distribute surveys targeting current students and recent graduates, conduct interviews with alumni and industry professionals to gather qualitative insights, analyze trends in job markets, required skills, and geographic mobility, develop informational materials (e.g., infographics, reports, or presentations) summarizing pathways and recommendations for current students.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: reading, writing, survey design and data analysis
Mentoring Philosophy
For this project, I will provide structured milestones while giving students room to shape the direction, from designing surveys and conducting interviews to analyzing and presenting results. I aim to help them develop not only research and analytical skills but also critical thinking, professional communication, and teamwork abilities that will serve them well beyond this project.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Hate Crime; Legislation; Database Creation
Research Mentor: Matthew Vanden Bosch,
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology & Criminal justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: mvandenbosch@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology & Criminal justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: mvandenbosch@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Preferred Criminology or related disciplines
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: will update later
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Preferred Criminology or related disciplines
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: will update later
Project Description
This project aims to build a longitudinal database of hate crime legislation in the United States. This database will track when laws were implemented and changed, as well as catalogue the protections included. Through this project, we will be able to identify trends in hate crime legislation adoption and how states have updated these laws as time progressed. There is currently no existing database tracking these laws overtime, and few databases even provided a contemporary view. To build this database, students will answer surveys about the specific laws (the laws will be provided by me), helping to create an easily understood and consistent database.Research Tasks: Reading dense legislation
Answering surveys
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended:
familiarity with survey platforms such as qualtrics
experience with reading legal documents
Mentoring Philosophy
As a mentor, I aim to treat each student that I work with and mentor uniquely. While I have a general philosophy for mentoring as a whole, I also recognize that each student has their own unique needs, goals, and skills when I start working with them, whether this is for academic or research purposes. Broadly, I focus on helping my students to develop the critical thinking skills and abilities needed for successfully pursuing research independently. Importantly, I do not simply think about preparing them to be most effective on the current research project they are working on. Instead, my primary is objective is ensuring that my students will be the most prepared and effective for a variety of future projects. When possible, I aim to directly guide them in the processes of research, providing them with my example of how to complete the work needed in research and the most effective way to achieve their goals. I encourage my students to attempt to complete the work independently, after providing an example of the work and clearly guiding them through the steps of the research. In doing so, I help to foster confidence and capability in students, so that they will be more capable of pursuing research independently or with supervisors who may have a relatively hands-off approach.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Sports, Transparency, Social media
Research Mentor: pmerle@fsu.edu Patrick Merle,
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: pmerle@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: pmerle@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Faculty Collaborators:
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
The idea is to examine how the best professional cyclist communicate about their training through a platform called Strava. A content analysis would allow us to understand if they publicly share their data for more transparency and greater trust.Research Tasks: literature review, data collection.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: detail-oriented, meticulous, attentive, prompt (all required).
Mentoring Philosophy
I try to empower students with sufficient knowledge so they can gain confidence and ultimately find their ways through the projects. I strive to create an environment that can motivate the mentee through safe and open discussionsAdditional Information
Link to Publications
Health; qualitative research; infectious disease; sickness behavior
Research Mentor: Dr. Eric Shattuck,
Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: eshattuck@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Choeeta Chakrabarti
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: eshattuck@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Choeeta Chakrabarti
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: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Most of us take colds, flus, and maybe even COVID for granted as a normal part of life. However, the decisions we make about what we do when we're sick - whether we rest, treat ourselves with over the counter medication, see a doctor, and/or continue to attend class, work, and social events - have important consequences for our health and the health of others. For instance, if we don't rest we may find that our sickness gets worse. If we continue to attend class, we risk giving our infection to others. This project aims to understand American cultural models (that is, shared beliefs about appropriate and inappropriate behaviors) surrounding common infectious diseases and provide a comparative framework and standardized methodology for measuring and comparing models from other cultures. This will be accomplished through in depth interviews with FSU students. End products of this work include conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications with authorship opportunities for the UROP student.Research Tasks: Assisting with generating interview questions, assisting with and conducting qualitative interviews, literature review,, assisting with data analysis, assisting with presentation and manuscript preparation
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word and Excel) required
Experience with interviewing recommended but not required
Mentoring Philosophy
I have successfully mentored 6 UROP students since joining FSU in 2023. Most of these students continued working in my lab as volunteers after their UROP term ended. I work with mentees to identify their goals (e.g., learning statistics) early in the process to ensure that the relationship is positive and productive on both sides. I strive to match mentees with projects that closely align with their interests and goals in order to promote a feeling of ownership and deep involvement with the project. I view mentorship as a long-term relationship; it does not end when a mentee graduates or leaves the lab. I am easily accessible to my mentees in person or over email - you will always hear back from me within 24-48 hours. My lab is a safe, respectful environment comprised of students from multiple majors. I encourage discussion and collaboration. The following describes the shared ethos in my lab:• We are kind to ourselves and our colleagues
• We are a team. We take care of each other and are always willing to assist our colleagues if they need help
• We respect each other and our differences as individuals
Additional Information
Link to Publications
www.ericshattuck.com
Health; nature; one health; mental health
Research Mentor: Dr. Eric Shattuck,
Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: eshattuck@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Meghan Mick
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Anthropology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: eshattuck@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Meghan Mick
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: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
There is a growing body of research showing that exposure to nature or natural environments including forests, streams, and even bird songs, is associated with better mental and physical health. Results like this have informed hospital decor, architectural design, and park design, among others. Using survey and photovoice (photos paired with narrative responses) data collected from FSU students last semester, this project explores exposure to nature, feelings of connectedness to nature, and mental and physical health in college students. One goal of this project is to establish an ongoing Scholarship in Practice research project for Dr. Shattuck's One Health class.Research Tasks: Assisting with analyzing survey data, assisting with analyzing photovoice data, literature review, assisting with preparing academic poster(s) and publication(s) based on the data
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Familiarity with Microsoft Office software (Word and Excel) required
Mentoring Philosophy
I have successfully mentored 6 UROP students since joining FSU in 2023. Most of these students continued working in my lab as volunteers after their UROP term ended. I work with mentees to identify their goals (e.g., learning statistics) early in the process to ensure that the relationship is positive and productive on both sides. I strive to match mentees with projects that closely align with their interests and goals in order to promote a feeling of ownership and deep involvement with the project. I view mentorship as a long-term relationship; it does not end when a mentee graduates or leaves the lab. I am easily accessible to my mentees in person or over email - you will always hear back from me within 24-48 hours. My lab is a safe, respectful environment comprised of students from multiple majors. I encourage discussion and collaboration. The following describes the shared ethos in my lab:• We are kind to ourselves and our colleagues
• We are a team. We take care of each other and are always willing to assist our colleagues if they need help
• We respect each other and our differences as individuals
Additional Information
Link to Publications
www.ericshattuck.com
extracellular vesicles, human stem cells, 3-D culture, neural engineering
Research Mentor: Dr. Yan Li, Dr. Li
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: yli@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: yli@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Maybe one more
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Biomedical Engineering
Project Location: 2525 Pottsdamer St., Tallahassee, FL
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Biomedical Engineering
Project Location: 2525 Pottsdamer St., Tallahassee, FL
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Immune therapy has proven to be an effective method of targeting FAP overexpressing cells for lysis, especially in cancer research. By using engineered chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), patient immune cells can be programmed to target tumor and tumor- associated antigens, eliciting a strong inflammatory response that is difficult for tumors to suppress. T-cells engineered to express CARs that target FAP localize to the tumor microenvironment, destroying fibroblasts in the tumor stroma that mediate immune suppression and cause tumor- associated fibrosis.Research Tasks: literature review, data collection, data analysis,
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: cell culture, reading and writing skills,
Mentoring Philosophy
I mainly focus on the self-motivation driven research. I will identify the students' motivation and motivate them more. I help and encourage students to pay attention to small details and put deep thoughts while performing experiments. When students gain more understanding and skills, I challenge them to develop independent thoughts. I also share my own experience. I create a safe environment in which mentees feel that is acceptable to fail and learn from their mistakes.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hHCTRMgAAAAJ&hl=en
Stigma, Geospatial, Health
Research Mentor: Dr. Xavier Hall Casey Xavier Hall, He/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, Nursing
Contact Email: cxavierhall@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
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Department, College, Affiliation: Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, Nursing
Contact Email: cxavierhall@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, but nursing students will be given special consideration given my affiliation.
Project Location: Mostly remote and flexible outside of meetings
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, but nursing students will be given special consideration given my affiliation.
Project Location: Mostly remote and flexible outside of meetings
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Stigma of multiple forms has been shown to have negative impacts on health. Stigma exists across multiple experiences and identities including socio-economics, substance use, HIV, gender, race, sexuality, disability and other lived experiences. Most research about the impact of stigma has looked at individuals, rather than higher levels of the social ecology (e.g., neighborhoods, states, etc.); however, when stigma is examined at higher levels it tends to focus on policy issues at the state level or other examinations at larger units of geography. Less is known about stigma as a feature of neighborhoods and activity spaces. In this project students will learn how to conduct a systematic review while supporting a systematic review focused on geospatial stigma (especially at the neighborhood level). The project will likely result in published peer-reviewed manuscripts.Research Tasks: Students will assist with literature review, data extraction, and summarizing findings.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Students with basic tech skills and English skills will learn on the job how to conduct systematic reviews for allied health sciences (social sciences, public health, nursing, medicine, psychology, etc.) including abstract review, full-text review, data extraction, and writing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentorship philosophy for working with undergraduate students is:1) Collaboratively create an understanding of how we envision teamwork. I always start by discussing what works well for all parties to develop a compact. This is a roadmap of what kind of communication works well, what kinds of rules we want to set for ourselves, and how we will operate as a team. We will revisit the compact regularly through the course of the project.
2) Identify common interests and long-term goals. I always want to know a students’ interests and long-term goals so that a learning experience can be tailored to best fit these interests and goals.
3) Develop foundational understanding and skills in scientific research. My goal is to help UROP students develop an understanding of behavioral health research through an applied project. This will serve as a foundation for future endeavors.
4) Encourage independent-learning and intellectual curiosity. While I provide educational resources to my students, I also encourage students to learn independently, seek resources, and develop an intellectual curiosity that will serve them if they pursue graduate coursework.
5) Meet a student where they are at. I am a queer, first-generation college graduate and I understand how those identities and experiences impacted me as an undergraduate student. I strive to meet my students where they are at in regard to identity or experience with the understanding that we all come from different backgrounds which may impact the ways we experience academic endeavors including power structures within academia.
Additional Information
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VHTb9_8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=aoLink to Publications
https://cpshe.fsu.edu/
Storytelling, aging, Black womanhood, endarkened narrative inquiry, public interest communication, nature
Research Mentor: Dr. Dr. Chris Omni, MPH, MLS, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: African American Studies, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: comni@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Faculty Collaborators:
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Department, College, Affiliation: African American Studies, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: comni@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
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Faculty Collaborators:
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Preference: Communication, Journalism, English, Photography
Open to all majors
Project Location: meeting via Zoom
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Preference: Communication, Journalism, English, Photography
Open to all majors
Project Location: meeting via Zoom
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
In 2016, my Mama died from a 26-year victory over cancer. When she died; her stories died with her.I am now 50 years old and deeply regret not taking the time to sit in her presence to gather the gems of her life. Although I will never be able to fully right that wrong, I can certainly move forward in a space of intentionality to gather the stories of older Black women and write their truths. To braid my expertise in endarkened narrative inquiry and storytelling to develop the framework for a non-fiction book series that also serves as a gift to the children of aging parents.
Listening EAR needs two dedicated research mentees who are truly interested in the art of storytelling and active listening. Mentees will sit in on weekly Zoom calls and listen to the life story of Rosa Lee Pollock- an 80-year-young Black woman who lives in Marianna, FL. Besides her spiritual expansiveness and youthful energy, I was drawn to Mrs. Pollock because of her most recent story related to the launch of Rosa’s Community Garden located on her land in Marianna, FL. In her words, “I may not live long enough to see it to completion, but I want Rosa’s Garden to be a light in the community.” A community that is also a food dessert. (https://eng.famu.fsu.edu/cee/2025/senior-design/222)
Upon completion of this two-year research project, it is our aim to identify a publishing company and take our comprehensive findings to print. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Rosa’s Community Garden’s ongoing fundraising efforts. Additionally, between the space of gathering stories and final book publication will be small submissions to peer-reviewed journals. This activity will help to generate buzz about the project, raise awareness about Rosa’s Community Garden, and provide research mentees with the opportunity to engage in autoethnographic research as they explore their own lives through the lens of a larger cultural context.
Research Tasks: literature review, data collection (conducting interviews), transcript review, editing interview footage for the creation of short podcasts
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Compassionate Listening, Time Management
Recommended: Written and Verbal Communication, Attention to detail
Mentoring Philosophy
I take a womanist approach to my pedagogical practices to support the wholeness of students, not just their intellectual well-being. I even offer creative, metaphorical undercurrents of eco-womanist thought because of my deep love and honoring of Mother Earth. I prioritize the "green heart" approach to mentoring as I follow a G.R.O.W. acronym:To be Gentle: I acknowledge that students may not show up to the classroom or my office in emotional states of readiness; therefore, I create and hold space for healing and self-restoration that complements the educational goals of the course or meets the needs of the meeting.
To honor Reciprocity: I honor the fact that teaching and mentoring are spaces of reciprocity. Although there is a structured system of hierarchy based upon my position as an educator, I frequently remind students and mentees of the power that they, too, possess based upon their own lived experiences.
To provide Oxygen: I honor my Divine assignment to support student's educational and emotional journeys of discovery. I provide a fresh air approach to research as well as my courses. I build in nature-based experiences in every course to allow students time to engage in a Praxis of Pause rather than be consumed by a culture of hyperproductivity.
To amplify Wonder: I ensure that most encounters are full of excitement and potential. I offer opportunities to demonstrate creativity while expanding one’s imagination.
Additional Information
If you are not a compassionate listener, please do not apply for this opportunity!We will spend upwards of 50 hours gathering the stories of a woman who has seen eight decades of life. This endeavor will require time, patience, attention, and appreciation.
Link to Publications
The interviews will be divided into three segments and follow the paths discussed in my TEDx Talk - "Nature: A Site of Radical Self-Restoration" - https://youtu.be/_gRaGFkFVbU?si=X3XX4O5qc0nLvc2_
Engineering, coatings, materials, friction, wear, materials science, mechanical testing
Research Mentor: Santiago Lazarte, He/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: s.lazarte@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
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Department, College, Affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: s.lazarte@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
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Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Chemical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Project Location: AME building (Engineering Campus) - 2003 Levy Ave Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Innovation bus route Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Chemical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Project Location: AME building (Engineering Campus) - 2003 Levy Ave Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Innovation bus route Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
In mechanical systems, the friction and wear of materials causes large amounts of waste in both energy and cost. Improvements in frictional losses in passenger automobiles in the next 15-20 years could save the world 1 x 10^11 gallons of gasoline per year, reduce CO2 emission by 1000 (million) tons per year and would result in an energy reduction of 13,472,000 TJ/year. Wear of materials could easily have as much of a functional and economic impact as friction. Re-placement of worn components is costly due to component costs, replacement labor costs, losses from equipment downtime and the environmental impacts of discarding components. Thin coatings and solid lubricants are of interest in the field of tribology (the study of contacting materials in relative motion) and are being used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), cutting tools, and aero-space applications to improve the performance and life-time of the components. They are very thin (~100 nm) and sometimes they show low resistivity and “self-lubrication”, requiring no added oil or grease for low friction performance. The processing and fabrication parameters influence the structure and properties of the coatings. However, the processing-structure-properties relationship is not fully mapped out for these coatings. In this research project, we are focusing on diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings for low friction and low wear applications at high temperatures. Students will have exposure to mechanical testing, sample handling, and the development of custom instrumentation for testing the performance of our desired samples. Students will also have exposure to other projects and people from different fields, enhancing their scientific perspective and approach to tackle research problems.Research Tasks: - Literature review
- experiment planning
- data collection
- MATLAB coding
- data processing
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended:
-MATLAB/coding
-Calculus
-electrical circuits
*Nothing is required. The right person will be taught the necessary skills for the project.*
Mentoring Philosophy
By facilitating the skills and probing the understanding of the mentee throughout the research process, I will create an environment where the mentee feels safe communicating their ideas and helping out with the research projects. My ultimate goal is to teach the mentee how to conduct high-quality research and prepare them to the extent where they can operate as an independent unit, where I will be accessible for guidance and validation. To achieve this, I will provide hands-on experience in the lab with graduate students and the professor. I also strongly believe in work-life boundaries. I use an open communication method where I can be reached by phone, email, or in person (office drop-in). This allows me to normalize communication between us and use the same channel to inform of unavailability rather than have no communication at all. Expectations of each other will be discussed during our initial meetings.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Neuroscience, Psychology, Cognition, Memory
Research Mentor: Danielle Jones,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: djones@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: djones@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: This position is open to all majors, but it's a great fit for students planning to apply to grad school in psychology, neuroscience, or healthcare fields like medicine, nursing, or PA programs.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: This position is open to all majors, but it's a great fit for students planning to apply to grad school in psychology, neuroscience, or healthcare fields like medicine, nursing, or PA programs.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
In psychology, we often ask people to describe their mental health symptoms—how anxious, sad, or irritable they’ve been over the past two weeks. But here’s the catch: memory isn’t perfect, and for people with mental health issues, memory can be even less reliable. This study asks: How much can we trust what people remember about their own mental health?We’re recruiting 125 participants who will wear EEG caps (which measure brain activity) during lab sessions, complete daily mental health surveys for two weeks, and then give a final summary of how they felt during that time. We’ll compare their daily reports to their “retrospective” summary to see how closely they match—and more importantly, we’ll see which one is more accurate by comparing them to biological markers in the brain.
The brain data (like attention and emotional processing signals) give us something like an anchor or reality check. If the daily reports line up better with the brain responses than the retrospective ones do, that tells us something huge about how we should be measuring mental health in both research and clinical practice.
Research Tasks: As a research assistant on this project, you'll be trained to handle every step of the study process. You'll start by learning how to use EEG equipment to record brain activity. This includes prepping the scalp, placing the EEG cap, checking signal quality, and running the recording software. I’ll teach you how to troubleshoot common issues, manage participant comfort, and make sure the data you're collecting is high quality. By the end of your training, you'll be able to set up and run EEG sessions independently.
In addition to EEG, you'll guide participants through the entire study visit. This includes obtaining informed consent, collecting saliva samples, walking them through each task, and monitoring them throughout the session to make sure everything goes smoothly. You’ll also help with setting up the daily survey system (delivered via text), installing a location tracking app, and conducting a short interview where participants describe their daily experiences during the study period. You'll be the main point of contact for participants, so this is a great role if you like interacting with people and want a deeper understanding of how complex studies are run from start to finish.
EEG data processing can be pretty technical, but you’ll start learning the basics as you prepare your poster presentation. If you're interested in programming, you’ll have the chance to work with MATLAB to clean and preprocess EEG data, and use R to run analyses that link brain activity to mental health symptoms. If you’re not into coding, no problem—there are non-programming alternatives. You’ll use Brain Vision Analyzer, a point-and-click program for EEG data processing, and SPSS for statistical analysis. Both options will give you hands-on experience working with real data and learning how to interpret brain responses in the context of psychological research.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required Skills: None – all training will be provided.
Recommended Skills:
- Strong attention to detail
- Comfortable interacting with people
- Reliable and organized
- Interested in mental health or brain research
- Willingness to learn new technology and procedures
- Good communication skills
- Ability to follow protocols and problem-solve in real time
- Professional and respectful
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring approach is shaped by my own path into research: non-traditional, messy, and built on people taking chances on me. I try to offer that same kind of opportunity by giving students real responsibility, practical skills, and the space to grow into roles they might not have imagined for themselves.On my project, learning is hands-on. You’ll be trained on EEG setup, running participants, managing study sessions, and working with brain and behavioral data. I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect curiosity, consistency, and a willingness to learn. I won’t chase you down to make you successful, but if you take initiative, you’ll have the chance to do meaningful work.
I also work with students on what comes next. Grad school, med school, and nursing programs are common next steps, and those wins are always exciting! But one of my proudest moments was when a former RA messaged me to say she had taken a job with a circus in New Orleans. She was academically exceptional but felt stuck, planning to apply to grad school just to stay enrolled and continue performing in the FSU circus. After some honest conversations, she realized she didn’t need a degree to justify doing what she loved.
Whether someone is applying to a PhD program or a circus, I help them edit applications, polish resumes, and write recommendation letters. I'm happy to be a professional reference for whatever future they decide is worth chasing.