UROP Project

Diphenylbutadiene cis-trans photoisomerization by sequential two photon light absorption.

Photochemistry photoisomerization

Research Mentor: Jack Saltiel, Dr.
Department, College, Affiliation: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: jsaltiel@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Sulthana Fehroza PP Ms.
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: sp22be@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Sumesh Babu Krishnan Edwin Hilinski Dr.
Faculty Collaborators Email: skrishnan2@fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Chemistry and/or biochemistry preferred
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10 is a minimum., 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

Evidence will be sought for the light intensity dependence of the cis to trans photoisomerization of cis,trans-1,4-diphenylbutadiene in different solvents. The excitation femtosecond laser pulse power dependence of transient intermediates obtained from cis,trans-1,4-diphenylbutadiene will be determined in hexane and in acetonitrile.

Research Tasks: Synthesis and purification of cis,trans-1,4-diphenylbutadiene. Learn to apply gas-chromatography and NMR spectroscopy for analytical use. Learn to carry out fs laser spectroscopic measurement of excited state intermediates.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Having taken CHM 2211L would be an advantage. Having had any chemistry laboratory course would help.

Innovating Qubit Control and Nanophotonic Devices for Next-Generation Quantum Technologies

quantum, photonics, simulations, qubits, quantum communication, spin

Research Mentor: Lukasz Dusanowski,
Department, College, Affiliation: Electrical & Computer Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: dusanowski@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry
Project Location: IRCB, 2001 Levy Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU buss runs between the main campus and College of Engineering every 30 minutes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Quantum technologies hold immense potential for revolutionizing computing, communication, and sensing, offering unprecedented capabilities beyond the limits of classical technologies. The ability to control qubits - fundamental units of quantum information, analogous to a bit in classical computing, with high precision is crucial for realizing practical quantum systems. This research project aims to investigate new types of qubits in solid-state materials and develop techniques to manipulate them using light. This will pave the way for generating multi-particle entanglement, quantum state transfer, quantum networks, and optical quantum information processing. For that purpose, we will explore different types of nanophotonic structures and utilize their unique properties, such as their ability to confine light at the nanoscale to enhance the interaction between light and qubits. By joining our group, you will be involved in the design, fabrication, and experimental investigations of nanophotonic devices in various platforms hosting spin-qubits. You will have the unique opportunity to gain expertise in multiple fields, such as photonics, quantum optics, and materials science. In particular, you might be involved in designing nanophotonic devices using advanced simulation techniques, such as Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulations, and incorporating machine learning concepts to explore a vast design space and identify optimal configurations for specific quantum applications. The fabrication of these photonic devices will utilize cutting-edge nanofabrication techniques, such as Focused Ion Beam milling, which allows for precise patterning and sculpting of nanostructures with high spatial resolution. Experimental investigations will be conducted using state-of-the-art optical spectroscopy techniques. No prior experience in photonics or quantum technologies is required.

Research Tasks: Literature review,
Programming,
Numerical simulations,
Building optical setups,
Running spectroscopic experiments,
Data collection and analysis.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Time management: required,
Problem-solving: required,
Laboratory skills: recommended,
Programming (Python, Matlab): recommended,
Data collection and analysis: recommended.

High temperature superconductor

Superconductor, Bi2212, HTS, Joint, Microscopy, Mechanical testing

Research Mentor: Shaon Barua, He/Him
Department, College, Affiliation: ASC/NHMFL, N/A
Contact Email: sbarua@asc.magnet.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: Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10-20 hr, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Bi–2212 is a promising candidate for ultra-high field magnets (>25 T) because of its round wire geometry, twisted multifilamentary architecture, and macroscopically isotropic electromagnetic properties. This project encompasses the fabrication and characterization of various magnet components, including mechanical testing, braiding techniques, microscopic analysis, and joint assembly methods. The research aims to fully evaluate the material's performance characteristics and manufacturing feasibility for next-generation high-field magnet systems.

Research Tasks: Data analysis
Sample preparation
Mechanical testing
Microscopy
Literature review
Documenting and reporting research outcomes

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Skills will be developed along the duration of the program.
Attention to details
Eagerness to learn
Computer programming language (MATLAB or Python) recommended

Entrepreneurship and Adversity: Field Research in Our Community

entrepreneurship, adversity, low-income, poverty

Research Mentor: Dr. Susana Santos, She / her
Department, College, Affiliation: Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
Contact Email: ssantos@jmc.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Madison Miller She / Her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mpm25b@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Dr. Eric Liguori he / him
Faculty Collaborators Email: eliguori@fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, but students studying (or interested in) Business, Entrepreneurship, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, and/or Political Science may find a particularly strong alignment.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Project is on campus
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 2:00
  End Time: 2:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5640121627
• Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 12:00
  End Time: 12:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5640121627

Project Description

This forward-looking, applied research project is a collaborative initiative between the FSU's Entrepreneurship and Adversity Research Lab (EARL) https://jimmorancollege.fsu.edu/research/labs/earl-lab and the University of Notre Dame's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (https://gppe.nd.edu/community-engagement/initiatives/urban-poverty-and-business-initiative/). Its overarching goal is to explore how individuals facing adversity (e.g., poverty, marginalization, and economic instability) navigate the process of starting and growing a business. The project seeks to understand both the barriers and enablers these individuals encounter, and to ultimately contribute to more inclusive, community-focused models of entrepreneurship development.

To explore these adversity dynamics, we will work with the Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP) https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/leap, a local community outreach initiative iwht a proven trackrecord for success. LEAP serves aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs in Florida’s Big Bend region, including Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties, by offering a multi-phase program that includes a business bootcamp, one-on-one mentoring, and customized consulting. LEAP is designed for individuals who may not have access to traditional forms of business education or financial capital but possess the drive and vision to build enterprises that support their families and strengthen their communities.

Working through the lens of the LEAP program, our research will be highly hands-on and rooted in real-world engagement. Students involved in the project will work directly with LEAP participants - local entrepreneurs navigating challenging circumstances - to conduct interviews, gather insights, and analyze their lived experiences. This immersive, field-based approach not only strengthens research skills but also offers students a meaningful opportunity to contribute to community development efforts and to witness firsthand the impact of entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment.

We anticipate that the findings will advance scholarly understanding of entrepreneurship in under-resourced environments and contribute to a growing body of research on entrepreneurship and poverty. Given the relevance of the topic and the novelty of the research design, we expect to produce publications in peer-reviewed journals and present at leading academic conferences. The work may also inform public discussions through media coverage and policy briefs targeting local community leaders and stakeholders.

This project provides students with a unique perspective on entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment and social change, and fosters critical research skills applicable to both academic and policy contexts.

Research Tasks: Our work will proceed in phases, beginning with a comprehensive literature review of entrepreneurship, adversity and poverty. Then we will move into an active data collection phase, and students will support and conduct in-depth interviews, focus groups, and structured surveys with LEAP participants. Students involved in this project will participate in the research design and data collection processes, gaining hands-on experience with qualitative and / or quantitative research methods. This research offers a rare opportunity to engage with entrepreneurs at various stages of venture creation and development and to hear directly about their lived experiences, motivations, and challenges. Engagement with the LEAP bootcamp sessions (https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/leap) during the fall semester is requisite, so we will work to develop a rotating schedule that merges our research goals and needs with student schedules. Throughout the year, students will also engage in other LEAP program activities, deepening their exposure to applied research in the field. Students will also be able to participate in the University of Notre Dame's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative webinars and related programs.

The ultimate deliverables include a conference presentation with all participating students as co-authors. From there, depending on student engagement and the outcomes of the data analysis, we'll look at the viability of pursuing a journal publication. We also hope to share these insights with policy makers and community leaders, and are presently exploring opportunities in that regard.Image


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required Skills: strong written and verbal communication skills; high attention to detail; reliability and commitment
Recommended Skills: critical thinking; collecting and analyzing data; conducting literature reviews

Caregiver-Mediated Interventions for Verbal Speech in Minimally Verbal/Nonspeaking Autistic Children

Autism, Early Intervention, Speech-Language Pathology, families

Research Mentor: Ashley Sellers, she/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication and Information
Contact Email: ajs05n@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: Relevant majors may include Communication Sciences and Disorders, Social Work, Education, Special Education, Psychology, Nursing, Human Development and Family Sciences, but open to all majors.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours, 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

Many autistic children have limited or no spoken words, even into adulthood. While there are many ways to communicate, spoken language can open additional opportunities for connection, learning, and independence. Research suggests that when caregivers are taught strategies in the early years to support their child’s communication, it can lead to meaningful gains in speech, but the evidence is spread across many individual studies.
This project will bring those studies together in one place through a meta-analysis. By systematically reviewing and combining results from past research, I aim to answer several questions, including: "How effective are caregiver-mediated interventions for helping minimally verbal or nonspeaking autistic children develop verbal speech?" and "What makes some interventions more effective than others?" I aim to identify gaps in the existing research so they can be addressed in future studies.

As a research assistant, you’ll help me search for and screen studies, organize and code data, and contribute to the synthesis of findings. You’ll learn how evidence reviews are done, build skills in research methods, and see firsthand how science can help guide intervention recommendations for children and families. Students who are interested may also have opportunities to continue in later phases of the project, helping to design new studies that fill the research gaps we identify.


Research Tasks: • Conduct literature searches in academic databases (e.g., PsycINFO, PubMed) to locate relevant studies
• Screen studies to determine if they meet inclusion criteria, using Covidence (Covidence training will be provided)
• Extract and organize data from selected studies (e.g., participant characteristics, intervention details, speech outcomes)
• Assist with coding intervention and outcome variables for analysis
• Contribute to summarizing and synthesizing results. If desired, training using R for meta-analysis.
• Participate in regular check-ins to discuss progress, troubleshoot challenges, and learn meta-analysis methods


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required
• Ability to read and understand academic articles written in complex English
• Attention to detail and accuracy in handling information
• Willingness to learn new research methods and follow protocols
• Strong organizational skills
• Reliable communication and ability to meet deadlines
Recommended
• Familiarity with academic database searching (e.g., Google Scholar, PsycINFO, PubMed)
• Interest in autism research, speech-language development, or intervention science

Income inequalities in higher education admissions and athletics

College Admissions, Social Economic Status, College Athletics, Audit Study

Research Mentor: Hans Hassell,
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: hans.hassell@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: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Do the rich receive preferential treatment in college admissions? Is there still a back door that the affluent can use to get their foot into higher education? This project will audit college athletics departments to test whether families perceived as high-income receive preferential treatment in admissions-related communications compared to low-income families. Inspired by the revelations of Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, this study will take stock of where we stand 5 years post scandal and the reforms that followed and examine whether access to higher education officials varies based on socio-economic status. EPA students will help collect data on athletic departments, design correspondence treatments, manage outreach to athletics departments, and analyze responses. This research speaks to ongoing concerns about equity and fairness in college admissions, especially in domains where athletic recruitment plays a gatekeeping role. Students will gain experience in experimental design, ethical research protocols, and data analysis.

Research Tasks: Data collection, Research Design, Treatment Design, Survey Design and implementation

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: Familiarity Qualtrics survey design, Google Search

Framing Threats to International Peace and Security: What Does the U.S. Say at the UNSC?

International Relations, United Nations, United States, Diplomacy, Text Analysis

Research Mentor: Prof. Olga Gasparyan,
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Political Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: og23a@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Ms. Huijie Xu
Faculty Collaborators Email: hx23a@fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Most applicable for: Political Science, International Affairs, Public Admin, Policy, but open to all.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 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

How does the U.S. frame threats to international peace and security? Maintaining international peace and security is the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Relevant issues include but are not limited to interstate conflicts, civil wars, humanitarian crises, natural disasters, nuclear weapons, climate change, and public health. We are interested in how the UNSC’s most influential member - the U.S. - shapes these crucial international issues by strategically framing them at the UNSC. From the U.S. perspective, what are the important issues that require attention, who should take the responsibility, what actions should be taken to address the issues, and how does the U.S. argue with other countries about these issues? We collect all the U.S. speeches delivered at the UNSC public meetings and build an analysis framework with a corresponding codebook to systematically analyze American diplomatic discourse.

Research Tasks: Data collection: read through the U.S. speeches and classify items based on our codebook.
Data analysis: analyze coding results, identify systematic patterns, and interpret implications.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Reading ability (required) and data analysis ability (recommended)

When Gains Feel Like Losses: Theory, Experiments, and Observational Evidence

Immigrant, Zero-Sum Thinking, Behavioral Game Theory, Collective Decision-Making

Research Mentor: Dr. Ou Kai Ou,
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Political Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: kou@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: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Public debates over immigration policy often reveal an underlying cognitive shortcut: when people lack clear, reliable information about the consequences of a policy, they may default to zero-sum thinking—the belief that one group’s gain necessarily comes at another’s loss. This tendency is not limited to immigration, but the politics of immigration provides particularly vivid examples. For instance, uncertainty about how immigrant labor affects wages or public resources has led some citizens to oppose pro-immigration reforms even in regions where empirical evidence shows net economic gains. Similarly, during debates over pandemic relief or housing assistance, narratives framing resources as finite and threatened by “outsiders” gained traction despite studies showing broader benefits of inclusionary policies. In such contexts, asymmetric information—where individuals have incomplete or uneven access to credible information—creates fertile ground for zero-sum intuitions, which in turn can steer collective decision-making toward policies that are not only suboptimal, but sometimes counterproductive to the very constituencies that support them. This project examines how informational uncertainty interacts with zero-sum thinking in shaping public opinion and policy preferences, with immigration as a central empirical case.

Research Tasks: The UROP research assistants will engage in various research-related tasks, including literature reviews, data collection, data entry, conducting laboratory experiments, reaching out to individuals for interviews, and other pertinent assignments. These tasks will be structured as weekly assignments. Mentees will receive email notifications detailing their assignments at the start of each week, typically on Sunday or Monday, with the expectation that the work will be completed by Friday afternoon. Approximately 30% of tasks can be executed remotely, and 70% of tasks should be performed in person. Regular research meetings between the mentor and mentee will be held every 2 weeks. Mentees are anticipated to possess the necessary skills for their assigned tasks, although they may be encouraged to acquire new skills as needed to effectively complete their assignments. Most work will be conducted and submitted electronically. Therefore, it is expected that mentees have proficiency in using software such as MS Office, Adobe, and any other relevant applications.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required skills vary depending on each mentee’s assigned tasks. The only universal requirement is the ability to conduct literature reviews without using large language model tools (e.g., ChatGPT), which, while useful, can produce false information or cite non-existent sources. Priority will be given to individuals with experience in conducting interviews, running lab experiments with human subjects, or developing websites.

Teaching Robots to Be Smart Teammates Using AI

Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Predictive Modeling

Research Mentor: Dr. Xinyao Zhang, Cynthia
Department, College, Affiliation: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering , FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: xzhang@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: College of Engineering Building
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Bus routes from FSU main campus to Engineering Building, https://eng.famu.fsu.edu/students/bus-routes
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours a week, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Tuesday, September 2
  Start Time: 3:00
  End Time: 3:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/9937971059
• Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 3:00
  End Time: 3:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/9937971059

Project Description

Inspired by the power of effective teamwork, our research tackles challenges in modern robotics: enabling humans and robots to collaborate as true teams. To achieve this, robots evolve from simple tools into intelligent partners capable of understanding human actions and anticipating their needs. For example, teach a robot to pass the correct tool to an operator or assist a technician with a complex assembly task.
Our research group builds the AI brains for next-generation collaborative robots. This project offers an exciting opportunity to become an AI trainer and data detective, turning raw data into robotic intelligence.


Research Tasks: • Explore literature in the field of human-robot collaboration.
• Write Python scripts to clean, process, and visualize data.
• Develop and test predictive algorithms.
• Participate in weekly team meetings to share ideas and results.
• Document findings in a final research poster or report.


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: • Curiosity and willingness to learn about AI, data, and robotics.
• Basic programming familiarity. No expert coding skills are required.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Compassion Fatigue Among Early Childhood Educators

teachers, burnout, empathy, compassion fatigue

Research Mentor: Elizabeth Blue, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Education Psychology and Learning Systems, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: elb21d@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: Psychology, any Education major, social work, sociology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Partially 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 3
  Start Time: 3:30
  End Time: 4:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93028940490
• Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 12:30
  End Time: 1:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91252265680
• Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 1:00
  End Time: 1:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99029372342

Project Description

This study will examine if early childhood education teachers in Florida who work with higher need children are experiencing compassion fatigue, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, or compassion satisfaction. In this study researchers will investigate how factors such as teacher years of experience, educational attainment, age, and level of empathy influence the association of compassion fatigue. Participants will be recruited using archival data from a larger study known as the Florida Division of Early Learning American Rescue Plan Act - Curriculum Expansion and Implementation Study. To measure relevant research questions, the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index will be utilized. All participants will be recruited using email to complete an online questionnaire.

Research Tasks: Participant Recruitment
Data Collection
Data Cleaning
Data Analysis

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Proficient excel and outlook skills, time management, organization skills, and communication skills.