UROP Project
***Using Radon as a Geochemical Tracer to Quantify Discrete Flows in Karst Conduits
Geology, Groundwater, Chemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Ming Ye, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: mye@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Gavin Wills he/him
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: gjw24@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: mye@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Gavin Wills he/him
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: gjw24@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
The goal of this project will be to develop an executable method for estimating groundwater input from karst (meaning characteristic of dissolution) aquifer rock (matrix) into submerged caves (conduits). To accomplish this goal, radon concentration, measured at karst windows, will be assessed for the ability to accurately quantify matrix discharge into a conduit. By nature, karst aquifers can be heterogenous regarding both structure and water transport. Due to their heterogeneity, researchers have had limited success accurately quantifying how the flow of groundwater changes across the matrix/conduit boundary. Current estimation methods of matrix discharge rates use differences between measured flow volumes at different locations. These estimations can contain large sources of error which require large distances to mitigate. Previous studies have shown success with using radon to quantify diffuse flows through sediments. This study will aim to adapt riverine theory to karst conduits.This project will consist of two major parts. First, we will review literature to formulate a justifiable, executable plan which then allows us to transition into data collection. Following field data collection, we will interpret our results into a scientifically proven report.
Research Tasks: Literature review
Data collection/analysis
Field work
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Algebra(required)
Basic calculus(recommended)
Basic knowledge of hydrogeology(recommended)
Ability to operate in the field (recommended)
Mentoring Philosophy
My primary goal is making the learning environment a comfortable place to make mistakes. Mistakes are expected and will ultimately lead to greater success as each mistake fosters further learning. I believe that meeting frequently is key to facilitating learning and inquiry. Additionally, a mentoring relationship should be based in mutual respect where both people are willing to learn from the other. I aim to promote critical thinking, inquiry, and accountability by granting the mentee independence and ownership of their work.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Assessing the Impact of Florida Teen Courts
juvenile justice; teen court; restorative justice; criminal justice policy
Research Mentor: Dr. Alexandra Cockerham,
Department, College, Affiliation: Interdisciplinary Social Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: amg08k@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. James Cockerham
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: jmc09m@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Interdisciplinary Social Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: amg08k@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. James Cockerham
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: jmc09m@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 5
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 5
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
This project aims to examine the effects of teen courts on recidivism in Florida by learning how restorative practices and procedures are implemented across teen courts in our state. Teen courts are a diversion program serving as an alternative to processing juveniles through the traditional justice system. The goal of Teen Court is to address the youth’s behavior through peer-driven consequences and support, without involving the juvenile justice system typically assigning rehabilitative measures such as counseling, restitution, curfews, and community service. By focusing on restorative justice and peer accountability, Teen Court helps youth understand the impact of their actions and encourages positive behavioral changes.However despite their common mandate, there is variance in the way the process is implemented across counties. This variance offers the opportunity to learn from restorative practices and procedures and the way that they are implemented. Across Florida, teen court programs vary in the way that they structure their sessions, the involvement of parents in the process, the methods through which volunteers are recruited and trained, the extent of cross-sector collaboration between teen courts and other juvenile justice stakeholders, the types of sanctions typically handed out, the number of times a youth can be admitted for services, and the struggles that they face.
In this project we want to learn more about the best practices across Florida teen court by conducting site visits across several teen courts in Florida and through organizing and analyzing field notes.
Research Tasks: We envision that our research assistant would help work on more of the qualitative components of this project. In addition to conducting a handful of site visits and observations, we also have a collection of field reports from prior site visits that need to be condensed and analyzed for insights.
We hope that our UROP research assistant would conduct site visits, synthesize site visit observations to help us recognize patterns and generate theory, and help us review survey results from a prior survey sent out to county teen courts. Research tasks may involve reviewing relevant literature, compiling descriptive information regarding county level teen courts, visiting teen court, and detailing patterns observed.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Ability to read academic literature, synthesize field reports, and observe teen court
Mentoring Philosophy
My goal as a faculty at FSU is to help students find their passions and realize their potential. Mentors have the power to expose students to new interests and opportunities. In my PhD program, I had the immense privilege to work with mentors that have changed the trajectory of my life just because they believed in me, encouraged me to challenge myself and guided me along the way. I hope to pay this forward to undergraduate students.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://osf.io/x6qvu/files/c9nqyRobust Statistical Inference for Phase Variability: A Median-Based Approach
Functional Data Analysis, Time Warping Functions, Functional Spatial Median, Centered Log-Ratio Transformation, Robust Hypothesis Testing
Research Mentor: Wei Wu,
Department, College, Affiliation: Statistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wwu@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Statistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wwu@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 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: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
In Functional Data Analysis (FDA), time warping functions are essential for aligning structural features and isolating phase variability, such as the timing of biological growth spurts or the rhythm of a human gait. However, analyzing these functions is mathematically challenging because they inherently reside on a constrained, non-linear manifold. While recent advancements have utilized the Centered Log-Ratio (CLR) transformation to map these functions into an unconstrained Hilbert space to perform Functional Analysis of Variance (FANOVA), these methods rely exclusively on the functional mean. The functional mean is notoriously sensitive to outliers, meaning a single anomalous subject, such as one irregular stride in a biomechanical dataset, can severely distort the estimated phase variation and lead to flawed statistical inferences.To address this vulnerability, this project proposes a novel, robust hypothesis testing framework centered on the functional spatial (geometric) median rather than the mean. Because the geometric median is inherently resilient to extreme outliers, it provides a much more accurate representation of central tendency in messy, real-world datasets. The research will leverage the CLR transformation to project the data into a linear space, compute the functional median, and construct a robust, distance-based test statistic to compare independent populations. By utilizing non-parametric resampling techniques like permutation testing to evaluate statistical significance, the framework's power and robustness against data contamination will be rigorously validated through simulation studies and applied to empirical datasets.
Research Tasks: Literature Review: The student will begin by conducting a targeted literature review focusing on Functional Data Analysis (FDA), time warping functions, and the Centered Log-Ratio (CLR) transformation. Under my direct guidance, they will also study robust statistical methods, specifically the functional spatial median, to build a strong theoretical foundation for the research.
Methodological Framework: In close collaboration with me, the student will help formulate the robust mathematical framework for comparing median warping functions. This will involve mapping the non-linear data into an unconstrained Hilbert space and defining the appropriate distance-based test statistics for population comparison.
Algorithm Development: The student will translate our theoretical framework into computational algorithms, primarily focusing on adapting methods to compute the functional spatial median. I will provide hands-on coding support as we implement non-parametric resampling techniques, such as permutation testing, to evaluate statistical significance.
Data Analysis and Simulation: Once the algorithms are established, the student will execute comprehensive simulation studies to test our method's robustness against artificial outliers, comparing it directly to traditional mean-based tests. Working together, we will then apply this robust framework to analyze empirical datasets, such as biomechanical gait or growth data, to extract real-world insights.
Report Writing and Presentation: The final phase involves synthesizing our findings into a comprehensive research report and a poster presentation for the UROP symposium. I will actively mentor the student through the scientific writing process, helping them structure their arguments, visualize the data effectively, and clearly articulate the project's significance.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Foundational Mathematics and Statistics Background -- Required: To successfully grasp the core concepts of Functional Data Analysis and our proposed methodology, the student must possess a strong quantitative foundation. Specifically, the student is required to have completed basic mathematics and statistics coursework, including Calculus, Linear Algebra, Introduction to Probability, and Introduction to Statistics. This background is essential for understanding the geometric spaces and probabilistic frameworks we will be working with.
Programming Experience (Python or MATLAB) -- Recommended: While I will provide extensive mentorship and hands-on guidance for all computational tasks, prior coding experience in Python or MATLAB is highly recommended. Familiarity with either of these programming languages will allow the student to transition more smoothly into algorithm development, execute simulation studies efficiently, and actively participate in the empirical data analysis phases of the project.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy is centered on developing a relationship founded on mutual respect, identifying mentees' goals, and encouraging growth through rigorous challenges.Although this UROP position requires a commitment of only 5 to 10 hours per week, my approach is to mentor the undergraduate student using the traditional methods I apply to my graduate students. I believe in giving mentees ownership of their work and promoting accountability early on. The proposed project -- focusing on robust statistics and functional spatial medians -- is conceptually profound yet highly accessible, making it an exceptional fit for an ambitious undergraduate.
I will invest significant, hands-on effort into guiding the student through every phase of the research process. I am committed to creating a safe environment where it is acceptable to fail, debug code, and learn from mistakes, thereby promoting learning through inquiry. By evaluating the mentee’s talents and actively building on them, we will create an interactive environment for learning that bridges the gap between foundational coursework and applied statistical research.
Ultimately, my goal is to balance belief in the student's potential with concrete action and experience. By setting high academic standards and providing unwavering support, I expect our collaborative efforts to culminate in the completion of a graduate-level paper for publication within a year.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
MODERNIZING & DECENTRALIZING CLINICAL TRIALS WITH AI, DH, & COMMUNITY DRIVEN INNOVATION TO DELIVER BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL AMERICANS
public health, clinical trials. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, artificial intelligence
Research Mentor: Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender, she/her/ella
Department, College, Affiliation: Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, Nursing
Contact Email: amu18@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Ms. Alyson Urbaniak she/her/ella
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: amu18@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, Nursing
Contact Email: amu18@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Ms. Alyson Urbaniak she/her/ella
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: amu18@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Remote
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Remote
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 12:00
End Time: 5:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/2228628652
Project Description
This research project focuses on implementing decentralized, at-home clinical trial methodologies to enhance health outcomes across American communities, with emphasis on adolescents to young adults (18-21 years), aging older adults (55+ years), nationwide patient representation, and key stakeholders and community- based organizations (CBOs). The overall goal is to expand access to decentralized trials and strengthen the FDA’s regulatory mission by improving data quality, participant representation, and informed decision making.Research Tasks: Research assistants will primarily conduct a systemic literature review identifying key barriers and facilitators regarding patient participation in decentralized (remote) clinical trials that use patient-generated health data (PGHD). Using the Covidence platform, research assistants will evaluate peer-reviewed publications to identify topically-relevant articles and work together in synthesizing the articles to write a final manuscript.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: source evaluation, database searching, critical thinking, reference management
Mentoring Philosophy
My approach to mentoring undergraduate students is grounded in the belief that every student brings unique experiences, perspectives, strengths, and aspirations to the research environment. I strive to create an inclusive and welcoming space where all students feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute meaningfully, regardless of their prior research experience or background.I view mentorship as a collaborative process that balances guidance with independence. While I provide the support, training, and resources necessary for students to succeed, I also encourage them to take ownership of their learning and research activities. I believe that fostering self-motivation, curiosity, and initiative helps students develop confidence in their abilities and prepares them for future academic and professional opportunities.
To support this growth, I establish clear expectations, maintain open communication, and encourage students to set personal and academic goals. I value effort, persistence, and continuous learning, recognizing that mistakes and challenges are important parts of the research process. By creating opportunities for students to ask questions, explore new ideas, and engage in problem-solving, I aim to cultivate critical thinking and a sense of intellectual independence.
Ultimately, my goal is to help undergraduate students develop not only technical and research skills but also the confidence, professionalism, and self-directed mindset needed to become successful scholars, professionals, and lifelong learners.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://cpshe.fsu.edu/***Cognitive Skills Model for Predicting Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease, statistics, dementia, meta-analysis, memory
Research Mentor: Dr. Dorota Kossowska-Kuhn,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: kuhn@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Gillian Gouveia
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: glgouveia@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: kuhn@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Gillian Gouveia
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: glgouveia@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: online
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: online
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
The proportion of individuals aged 65 and over is expected to nearly double by 2050, reaching 1.6 billion people. Consequently, the prevalence of dementia, primarily driven by aging, is anticipated to rise sharply. Dementia, currently the 7th leading cause of death globally, significantly contributes to disability and dependency among older adults. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form, comprising 60-80% of dementia cases. Early diagnosis allows patients and their families to understand the challenges ahead and develop strategies for managing current and future issues. With emerging medical treatments, early and accurate diagnosis is increasingly critical.Spatial navigation tests have shown promise in diagnosing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes AD, predicting the risk of conversion from MCI to dementia, and monitoring AD progression. Our meta-analysis on spatial navigation skills in individuals with MCI revealed significant differences between this group and cognitively healthy older adults at the level of standardized mean difference Hedges g = 0.88 (Kossowska-Kuhn et al., in prep). We plan to take the next step towards conducting a model-based meta-analysis that will allow us to compare the effectiveness of various potential predictors of Alzheimer's disease in predicting its presence, as well as identify which of these predictors make independent contributions to the prediction.
This specific branch of the project will begin to focus on behavioral features in predicting the presence of AD, such as apathy, affective symptoms, impulse control, social changes, and psychotic symptoms.
Research Tasks: -literature review
- data collection
-data analysis
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: All motivated and hard-working students are welcome.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy revolves around empowering undergraduate students to excel in their project work through a combination of ownership, accountability, shared experience, and interactive learning. I believe in fostering an environment that nurtures their growth and encourages independent thinking.I emphasize giving mentees ownership of their work by involving them in project decisions, from goal setting to execution. This not only bolsters their confidence but also instills a sense of responsibility for their outcomes. I promote accountability by setting clear expectations and milestones, enabling them to track their progress and take pride in their achievements.
Drawing from my own experience, I share stories of challenges and successes, illustrating the real-world applications of their efforts. This bridges the gap between theory and practice, enhancing their understanding and motivation. I also encourage open dialogue, where questions and ideas are welcomed, creating an interactive platform for collaborative learning.
I understand that each student is unique, with varying skills and aspirations. To accommodate this, I tailor my guidance, offering guidance that aligns with their interests and goals. I provide resources, recommend reading materials, and suggest relevant workshops, fostering holistic development.
In conclusion, my approach to mentoring undergraduates centers on nurturing their autonomy, cultivating responsibility, leveraging shared experiences, and fostering an interactive learning ecosystem. By doing so, I aim to not only support their immediate project objectives but also to equip them with lifelong skills for success.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
***Screen Time or Fragmentation? Smartphone Use and Focus in College Students
focus, attention, cognition, digital, technology
Research Mentor: Dr. Dorota Kossowska-Kuhn,
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: kuhn@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Gillian Gouveia
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: glgouveia@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: kuhn@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Gillian Gouveia
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: glgouveia@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: online
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: online
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
Smartphones are a constant part of college students’ daily lives, but it is not yet clear whether attention is more strongly related to how much time people spend on their phones or how frequently they interrupt their attention by checking them.This study will examine the relationship between smartphone use and focus in Florida State University students. Participants will complete a brief online sustained-attention task and questionnaires assessing subjective focus, mental fatigue, stress, sleep, and phone-related interruptions during academic work. Participants will also provide objective iPhone Screen Time information, including average daily screen time and number of phone pickups.
The primary goal is to determine whether digital fragmentation, reflected by frequent phone pickups and checking behavior, is more strongly associated with subjective and objectively measured attention than total screen time. The study will also examine whether students’ perceptions of their own ability to focus correspond to their performance on an objective attention task.
The project is designed as a fully online study and will provide undergraduate researchers with experience in research design, participant recruitment, behavioral data collection, survey methodology, cognitive assessment, data management, and quantitative analysis.
Research Tasks: Conducting literature searches on smartphone use, digital interruptions, sustained attention, mind wandering, and cognitive fatigue.
Assisting with development and testing of the online Qualtrics study.
Piloting the survey and computerized attention task and identifying technical or usability problems.
Assisting with participant recruitment and monitoring data collection.
Reviewing uploaded Screen Time information and verifying reported screen-time and pickup measures according to a standardized coding procedure.
Organizing, cleaning, and quality-checking survey and behavioral-task data.
Learning to score measures of subjective focus and sustained attention.
Assisting with descriptive statistics, correlations, regression analyses, and visualization of study results.
Participating in research meetings to discuss hypotheses, methodological decisions, findings, and interpretation.
Contributing to preparation of research presentations, posters, and potentially a manuscript based on the project.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: All motivated and hard-working students are welcome.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy revolves around empowering undergraduate students to excel in their project work through a combination of ownership, accountability, shared experience, and interactive learning. I believe in fostering an environment that nurtures their growth and encourages independent thinking.I emphasize giving mentees ownership of their work by involving them in project decisions, from goal setting to execution. This not only bolsters their confidence but also instills a sense of responsibility for their outcomes. I promote accountability by setting clear expectations and milestones, enabling them to track their progress and take pride in their achievements.
Drawing from my own experience, I share stories of challenges and successes, illustrating the real-world applications of their efforts. This bridges the gap between theory and practice, enhancing their understanding and motivation. I also encourage open dialogue, where questions and ideas are welcomed, creating an interactive platform for collaborative learning.
I understand that each student is unique, with varying skills and aspirations. To accommodate this, I tailor my guidance, offering guidance that aligns with their interests and goals. I provide resources, recommend reading materials, and suggest relevant workshops, fostering holistic development.
In conclusion, my approach to mentoring undergraduates centers on nurturing their autonomy, cultivating responsibility, leveraging shared experiences, and fostering an interactive learning ecosystem. By doing so, I aim to not only support their immediate project objectives but also to equip them with lifelong skills for success.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
AI-Enabled Continental-Scale Assessment of Water Quality and Environmental Vulnerability Across the United States
Water Quality; Machine Learning; Climate Change; Watersheds; GIS
Research Mentor: Shahin Alam,
Department, College, Affiliation: Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science/Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: ma23ch@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science/Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: ma23ch@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: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Geography/GIS, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Biology, Public Health, or premed related disciplines.
Students from other majors with an interest in environmental research and data analysis are also encouraged to apply.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Geography/GIS, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Biology, Public Health, or premed related disciplines.
Students from other majors with an interest in environmental research and data analysis are also encouraged to apply.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
Water quality across the United States is influenced by interacting climatic, hydrologic, land-use, population, agricultural, and infrastructure-related factors. However, these relationships vary substantially among geographic regions and watershed systems. A continental-scale assessment can help identify common drivers of water-quality degradation as well as regions that may be particularly vulnerable to future environmental change.This project will integrate large publicly available environmental datasets across the conterminous United States to investigate spatial and temporal patterns in water quality. Potential variables include nutrients, streamflow, precipitation, temperature, drought, land use and land-cover change, agricultural activity, population, wastewater infrastructure, and other watershed characteristics.
Students will contribute to constructing a harmonized geospatial database linking water-quality observations with watershed-scale environmental predictors. Statistical methods, GIS, and machine-learning approaches will then be used to identify the major factors associated with water-quality conditions and determine whether these relationships differ among climatic and geographic regions.
The project will also investigate whether artificial-intelligence and machine-learning approaches can identify areas with elevated susceptibility to water-quality degradation.
The long-term goal is to develop a continental-scale environmental intelligence framework capable of identifying vulnerable watersheds, understanding major environmental drivers, and supporting future water-resource monitoring and management.
Research Tasks: Research assistants may:
Conduct literature reviews on continental-scale water-quality studies.
Compile publicly available water-quality monitoring data.
Collect climate, hydrologic, land-use, agricultural, population, and watershed data.
Organize and quality-check large environmental datasets.
Link monitoring locations to watershed boundaries using GIS.
Develop maps of environmental conditions across the United States.
Analyze spatial and temporal trends in water quality.
Compare water-quality patterns among geographic and climatic regions.
Conduct statistical correlation and regression analyses.
Develop machine-learning models such as random forest and gradient boosting.
Evaluate important predictors of water-quality vulnerability.
Conduct model validation and uncertainty analyses.
Prepare scientific figures and maps.
Assist with research abstracts, posters, presentations, and manuscripts.
Individual student projects will be developed based on each student's interests and technical background.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required
Interest in environmental science, water resources, environmental health, or data analysis.
Willingness to learn new analytical tools.
Attention to detail.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Basic familiarity with spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel.
Recommended but Not Required
Python or R.
ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
Statistics.
Data visualization.
Hydrology or water-quality coursework.
Machine learning.
Remote sensing.
Students are not expected to have all of these skills before joining the project. Training will be provided.
Expected Research Products
Depending on progress and student interests, research assistants may contribute to:
FSU Undergraduate Research Symposium posters.
Research presentations.
Conference abstracts.
Reproducible environmental databases.
GIS products.
Machine-learning models.
Scientific manuscripts.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy emphasizes progressive development from guided learning toward independent research. Undergraduate researchers enter projects with different academic backgrounds, technical experience, and professional goals; therefore, I tailor research responsibilities to each student's strengths and interests while gradually introducing more challenging analytical tasks.Students will initially receive structured guidance on scientific literature, data management, GIS, statistical analysis, and research documentation. As their skills develop, they will be encouraged to formulate questions, interpret results, troubleshoot problems, and take increasing ownership of a defined component of the larger project.
Regular meetings will provide opportunities to discuss progress, address challenges, evaluate results, and establish achievable research goals. I encourage students to ask questions and view unexpected results and mistakes as normal components of scientific discovery.
I emphasize reproducibility, responsible research practices, teamwork, critical thinking, and effective scientific communication. Whenever appropriate, students will participate in preparing posters, presentations, abstracts, and manuscripts. My goal is for students to complete the UROP experience with stronger technical skills, increased scientific confidence, and experience conducting meaningful interdisciplinary environmental research.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
Prayers in the Panhandle: The Homelessness Crisis in Tallahassee (1970-2000)
homelessness, social welfare, religious aid organizations, role of government, housing, mental health, alcoholism, perceptions of homelessness,
Research Mentor: Liam Philbin ,
Department, College, Affiliation: History, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: lmp22m@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email: lmp22m@fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: History, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: lmp22m@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email: lmp22m@fsu.edu
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: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 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
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 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
Focused on causes, responses, and political/social dynamics to homelessness in Tallahassee, Florida from 1970-2000. Focus of the project, for sake of feasibility, is on social aid responses to homelessness (private, religious, governmental, non-profit, etc.). The project is a work of history and follows the methods of the field in its arrangement. Other major themes include the role of public/private resources in social welfare, perceptions of homelessness, and the role of national politics in regional/local history regarding the topic.Research Tasks: I need assistance in reviewing a 12 year period in Leon County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes as well as some other assorted documents such as state and national reports on the unhoused. Most of the work will be done in either Strozier Library (Special Collections, or Basement Archives) or in the Florida State Archives.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Reading/Analytical Skills, Note-Taking under certain parameters and topics.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy is providing a means of communicating my experiences in research via the work that we will be doing together. I hope to give the mentees valuable experience in the technical skills of research and research organization/planning while also introducing them to the nitty-gritty experiences of local government and private/public dynamics in social welfare. I also want to be able to encourage them to look at what they find personally interesting within the project as I believe that simple exposure to different fields and topics can help lead to a student discovering their own research passions and desires for their future.Additional Information
Link to Publications
*** Weather influencer and severe weather
This project focuses on the study of weather influencer during severe weather events (flooding, tornado, hurricanes etc...)
Research Mentor: Patrick Merle,
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: pmerle@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: pmerle@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 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: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
The idea is to study weather influencer and understand which platforms they use, who they are, what they do specifically, how do they communicate their reports, and do people actually follow their advice and recommendations.Research Tasks: literature review, data collection, data analysis.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: strongly recommended: punctuality, accuracy, precision, seriousness, motivation.
Mentoring Philosophy
The idea is to empower a research assistant to be the best version on themselves during this project through certainly mutual respect and a precise understanding of high academic standards in a safe environment. I want the research assistant to feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and learning from their mistakes and challenges.Additional Information
Link to Publications
DexKit: Low-cost Educational Platform for Dexterous Manipulation of a Robotic Arm
Haptics, Robotics, Robot-Human Interfaces
Research Mentor: John Marcial-Manjarres, He/Him
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: john1.marcial@famu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: john1.marcial@famu.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: Engineering
Computer Science
Project Location: College of Engineering: AME
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FAMU and FSU buses go from on campus to engineering center Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10-20, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Engineering
Computer Science
Project Location: College of Engineering: AME
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FAMU and FSU buses go from on campus to engineering center Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10-20, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Friday, September 4
Start Time: 1:00
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7696970324?pwd=3G39GIQElBWZjtwEmMC5OK09vOxnbV.1
Project Description
This project seeks to establish a low-cost educational platform to teach robotic dexterity. Current state-of-the-art for robotic hands can mimic the likeness of an actual human hand in both fine movements and force, however not without financial setbacks making these largely inaccessible to students. For this project, the following research questions will drive this study:1) How can we reach the same performance as state-of-the-art with off-the-shelf components?
2) How do we design a control system with these reduced parameters?
3) How many different human-input methods can we implement into one platform?
This study utilizes resources from collaborators, such as haptic devices, that we can modify for a more robust educational platform and expand what we can teach. We currently have a platform running with a control interface, but we are looking to expand!
Research Tasks: data collection, data analysis, 3D modeling, literature review, programming
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required - Mechatronics Embedded Systems (Arduino, Raspberry Pis, etc), CAD (SolidWorks or Fusion 360)
Recommended - Programming (Python or C/C++)