UROP Project
art education, student civic engagement, social studies, curriculum design
Research Mentor: Dr. Rachel Fendler, she/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Art Education, Fine Arts
Contact Email: rfendler@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Art Education, Fine Arts
Contact Email: rfendler@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: Art, Social Studies Education
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: If traveling is required, faculty will carpool with mentees. Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7 hours per week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Art, Social Studies Education
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: If traveling is required, faculty will carpool with mentees. Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7 hours per week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
The research project aims to foster the collaborations of art, history, and civics educators and faculty, to develop an effective and evidence-based curriculum focused on civic engagement and participation in Leon County K-12 school students. In year 1 (2023/24), teachers and faculty collaborated on writing interdisciplinary, arts-informed units for students, aimed at developing their civic engagement. In year 2 (2024/25), teachers will implement these units, and faculty and research assistants will observe the implementation, follow student outcomes, and develop an exhibition to disseminate this work.Research Tasks: Literature review, classroom observation, data collection & analysis, exhibition preparation.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: interest in art education and/or curriculum.
Recommended: experience in classrooms and/or working on exhibitions.
Mentoring Philosophy
In my mentoring, I am to establish mutual goals and support the intellectual curiosity and growth of mentees. By inviting mentors into my project, I hope the project is impacted positively by the mentorship through horizontal collaboration and inputs.Additional Information
Link to Publications
www.civicarted.com
artificial intelligence, linguistics, computer science, computational linguistics
Research Mentor: Tom Juzek, Dr Juzek
Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: tjuzek@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: tjuzek@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, students should have an interest in computational linguistics (a mix of linguistics and computer science); neighbouring fields like linguistics, computer science, language programmes, psychology, philosophy, etc., are also highly appreciated.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6-8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tue (3 Sep), Thu (5 Sep), Fri (6 Sep), 5pm - 5:30pm: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99762839337
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, students should have an interest in computational linguistics (a mix of linguistics and computer science); neighbouring fields like linguistics, computer science, language programmes, psychology, philosophy, etc., are also highly appreciated.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6-8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tue (3 Sep), Thu (5 Sep), Fri (6 Sep), 5pm - 5:30pm: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99762839337
Project Description
Scientists have found that Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, like ChatGPT, have their own way of using language, including using certain words, like "delve", more often than people usually do. I am interested in why AI models use language this way and what it means. This is important because human language is starting to show signs of being influenced by the way AI uses language. In other words, AI models like ChatGPT are affecting how people use language, but there is a lack of awareness about this issue.Research Tasks: Research assistants will work on studying, labelling, and organising language data, which comes from both AI and people. They are encouraged to explore smaller projects within the main research area, and will receive support and guidance along the way.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: If an assistant knows how to programme or how to analyse language, then that is great. It is okay if assistants are new to programming and/or languages, guidance will be provided. Thus, ...
Required: Assistants should have a genuine interest in both language and programming.
Mentoring Philosophy
As a mentor, my main goal is to support growth and success in ways that are meaningful to the student. I see mentoring as a partnership where both sides can learn and benefit. In this project, students will have the chance to take charge of a smaller part of the work. I aim to create an environment where it is alright to face challenges, and where encountering obstacles is just a natural part of the learning process. Honesty and mutual respect are at the core of this partnership.Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://github.com/tjuzek/delve/blob/main/jw_why_delve_paper_draft.pdf
Crime, Law, Hate Crime
Research Mentor: Matthew Vanden Bosch, he/him
Department, College, Affiliation: FSU College of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: mvandenbosch@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: FSU College of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: mvandenbosch@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Preferred Criminology majors, open to all
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday, September 4th, 3:30pm-4:00pm. https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94884723213
Thursday, September 5th, 3:00-3:30pm. https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96568318381
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Preferred Criminology majors, open to all
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Wednesday, September 4th, 3:30pm-4:00pm. https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94884723213
Thursday, September 5th, 3:00-3:30pm. https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96568318381
Project Description
The project, focused on the evolution of state hate crime laws over time, will be focused on gathering data for a database. This will be composed of hate crime legislation in each state for as many years as possible, allowing future work to show how these laws get added to or removed from over time, as well as how they may spread between states. There is not currently any clear database regarding hate crime laws in each state at any given point in time other than showing the current status of hate crime legislation, so this work will provide the ability to look at these changes (possibly in response to social or political movements) over time.Research Tasks: The primary duty of assistants for this project will be data collection, pulling these laws from legal databases like Justia or state law databases. If there is interest, there may also be work for reviewing the literature to establish the status of research into hate crime legislation and responses.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: knowledge of and experience with Microsoft excel.
Mentoring Philosophy
I believe that the basis of an effective and positive mentoring relationship is effective communication. So, I will focus on establishing a relationship where you can feel comfortable discussing your goals in research and the struggles you experience reaching them, in order to provide me with the ability to help you meet your academic goals. My university for my undergraduate degree was not a research-focused university, so there was no program like UROP available. While I was not considering an academic career at the time, I believe that UROP can provide interested students with a significant opportunity to learn and advance themselves, improving their skills and abilities in research and in academia. I would like to be able to help give current students some of the advantages that I missed, through mentoring them in UROP.When we meet, I will focus on providing clear and honest feedback regarding opportunities for growth and expanding in new directions. Of critical importance to being an effective researching, in my own opinion, is maintaining a strong work life balance, including your social life, undergraduate coursework, and the research through this project. I will prioritize the ability for you to keep a good work life balance, and believe that maintaining healthy and positive relationships beyond work alone is critical to continuing to being an effective worker and researcher.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
History, Religion, Emotion, Mormonism, Government
Research Mentor: Will Perez, he, him
Department, College, Affiliation: Religion - American Religious History, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wgperez@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Religion - American Religious History, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wgperez@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6-7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6-7,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Short Summary:I am interested in identifying what "happiness" was in nineteenth century antebellum America and how it was manifest in religion and politics. To "pursue happiness" is at the heart of American identity, but because happiness is a contested emotion, its pursuit has led to longstanding conflict and even violence. My main case studies in this research project are white American Christians in the 1800s and Mormonism (The Church if Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Both groups are pursuing happiness in diverging ways and are responding to what they perceive as threats to happiness, and ultimately to democracy. This study has relevance for our own social and political moment. The UROP researcher will assist with this project by helping to sift through relevant historical material and find the sources needed to better understand happiness in America and to tell the story and make the argument intended by this dissertation.
Dissertation Summary:
The concept of happiness was forever etched into the American psyche when Thomas Jefferson proposed that its pursuit was a self-evident and God-given right. As the new republic fashioned for itself a model for happiness, it endowed that emotion with religiopolitical significance, associating it with notions of democracy, enlightened individualism, and the burgeoning “American dream.” While happiness came to be understood as a predominantly private endeavor, a collective fear of its suppression kept its pursuit a matter of public interest. Americans’ fear of losing happiness was often manifest in various forms of violence perpetrated against perceived threats to its attainment. Appeals to preserving and perpetuating happiness served as a disciplining force that established standards for citizenship, public performance, race relations, and gender roles. In this dissertation, I will establish the white mainstream antebellum understanding of happiness—specifically how this understanding was entrenched in religiopolitical rhetoric. I argue that in many ways, the American pursuit of happiness became the mainstream’s governance of happiness.
In exploring this governance, I will refine the concept of religiopolitical identity, primarily as it relates to the aim of securing happiness. This merging of ideology with theology played a central role in American popular democracy’s enforcement of appropriate avenues by which to pursue happiness. It was also key in outsider attempts to subvert and reroute those avenues. The early Mormon movement, spurred by its own fears that happiness was at stake in the wake of increased industrialization and secularization, provided an alternative religiopolitical identity with which to pursue it. I argue that this difference in the understanding of happiness and its pursuit was at the heart of America’s generally negative response to Mormonism in the nineteenth century. Mormons pursued happiness through means that were more collectivistic than individualistic, seemingly anti-democratic, and that entailed a reconfiguration of race relations and gender and family dynamics. Mormonism embraced an older framework of communal republicanism that feared the nation was descending into anarchy. On the other hand, the American public feared that Mormonism was a slippery slope by which the nation could crumble into monarchy. The battle between the Latter-day Saints and the religiopolitical collective of the American people makes clear that, despite it being an unalienable privilege, in the antebellum United States there was a right and a wrong way to pursue happiness.
Almost from the beginning, Americans’ general disdain of monarchy, authoritarianism, and deceit brewed fear among non-Mormons and contributed to the branding of Mormonism as fraudulent. By extension, this also meant for them that Mormonism’s version of happiness and the means whereby it should be attained was duplicitous and insincere. As Mormons sensed internal and external forces closing in on their own prospects for happiness, they doubled down on their efforts to secure it. I argue that these efforts are reflected in early Latter-day Saint lingo as to the means of happiness and its roadblocks in their experience, their efforts at militancy and alternative forms of government, and expansive attempts to gather and link the human family for time and eternity. The resulting theology and practice showcase how the early Latter-day Saints presented a divergent approach to prevailing formulations of happiness. In the end, this approach would not be tolerated.
Throughout the nineteenth century, both the Latter-day Saints and the American majority fomented anxieties and acted out of fear that the other party would make happiness unattainable. Ultimately, as early Latter-day Saints pursued happiness in heterodox ways, they helped reify mainstream understandings of what was and what was not authentic American happiness. Lastly, I argue that the Latter-day Saint assimilation into the mainstream was not just one of orthodoxy and patriotism, but of proving an emotional compatibility with the status quo.
Research Tasks: Tasks are primarily the reading through primary source material archived online (i.e. nineteenth century women's diaries, historical newspaper, etc.) and extracting content that is relevant to the study at hand pertaining to Mormonism, Americanism, Christianity, and happiness.
Other tasks include proofreading drafts of thesis/conference presentation work, finding/checking sources, etc.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required - Basic internet/database search proficiency.
Required - Ability to organize material and maintain accurate lists of sources.
Required - Ability to relay material/information in a professional and timely manner.
Mentoring Philosophy
I will help guide mentees in the pursuit of our shared goal while helping to nurture their academic interests and development.I believe in teaching correct skills and principles and trusting the mentee to "govern" themself.
I believe in transparency and accountability that is fostered by consistent open communication.
All questions are welcome and I make myself available to help explain or re-explain expectations and to ease stress and anxiety.
I believe the mentee's insight and connections are valuable and I hope to engage in conversations that bring their ideas to the fore and help them to think critically and form their own arguments that may contribute to the project.
I hope to foster an environment of optimism, respect, and purpose that will benefit the mentee long after our work together is completed.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://religion.fsu.edu/person/william-perez
Meteorology, Weather, Instruments, Observation, Analysis
Research Mentor: Mr. Shawn Smith,
Department, College, Affiliation: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: srsmith@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Prof., Ms. Mark Bourassa, Kristen Briggs
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: srsmith@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Prof., Ms. Mark Bourassa, Kristen Briggs
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Meteorology, Marine Science, Computer Science, Scientific Computing, Engineering
Project Location: 2000 Levy Avenue, Building A, Suite 292, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: City of Tallahassee bus service, Innovation Park line. Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Meteorology, Marine Science, Computer Science, Scientific Computing, Engineering
Project Location: 2000 Levy Avenue, Building A, Suite 292, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: City of Tallahassee bus service, Innovation Park line. Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Ever wondered how weather observations are made over the ocean? Or how these observations support weather forecasting? Do you have an interest in weather instrumentation or computers? One of the primary sources of high-quality weather observations over the oceans is research vessels. These ships typically are equipped with fully automated weather stations (AWS) that record the ship’s position and motion, along with a wide range of weather and near surface ocean observations. The Marine Data Center (MDC) at FSU routinely receives AWS data from over 35 research vessels operating across the world’s oceans. Our team routinely monitors these observations to ensure they are of high quality, and we frequently communicate with technicians on the ships that are responsible to maintain the AWS. When problems are discovered, we reach out to the ship as soon as possible so that repairs can be made, limiting the number of days when suspect observations are collected. In addition, researchers at the MDC use these weather observations to investigate the exchange of heat, moisture, and momentum between the ocean and atmosphere. These interactions are key drivers for weather systems over the oceans that have significant impact on commercial shipping, energy producers, fisheries, and a the public at large.The goal of this UROP project is to analyze and evaluate weather observations from the AWS on research ships contributing to the MDC. Possible projects include
(1) Examining suspect wind observations from a sonic anemometer and working with the technicians on the vessel hosting that instrument to determine the source of the erroneous data
(2) Running algorithms to estimate the heat, moisture, and momentum exchanges (known as fluxes) from several research cruises to the Southern Ocean. In this analysis, the UROP would be identifying the range of extremes that exist in a part of the ocean known to have some of the most severe storms on the globe. Observations from this region are rare and highly valuable to the scientific community.
(3) Using space-based satellite observations to evaluate and confirm the existence of extreme weather and flux events identified from research vessel AWS data.
This research project will provide students with an introduction to weather instrumentation used on ships, an understanding of the instruments’ technical capabilities and limitations, the opportunity to work with the scientific data formats used for weather observations, and experience in programming and data analysis necessary to process and evaluate AWS data. The students may also interact (virtually) with technicians working on active research vessels.
Research Tasks: The student will learn about the methods and technology used worldwide by research vessels to make high-quality weather observations, including gaining an understanding of the challenges of making measurements in the marine environment.
The student will be tutored in how to read and understand the technical specifications for weather instruments and will learn how to use the technical documents to understand the raw sensor data and use it to identify potential errors in observations.
The students will also use data collected during past research cruises and, if helpful satellite observations, to gain skills in computer programming (e.g., Python), data analysis, introductory statistics, and preparing scientific plots and graphs.
Students will be expected to report regularly to their scientific mentors during team research meetings. They will prepare graphs and tables to present their research results and will present their results via their UROP poster to the MDC and at the FSU UROP Symposium. For Fall 2024, we anticipate the student will work in person at our lab in Innovation Park.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Basic computer skills (e.g., familiar with Mac or PC environment, web browsing, Microsoft office suite). A willingness to learn new techniques, be very detail oriented, and to participate as part of a team.
Recommended: Introductory knowledge of computer programming (e.g., C, C++, Python) and familiarity with LINUX operating environment. We anticipate the student will be able to learn many concepts and coding techniques during the project.
Mentoring Philosophy
Overall, I believe in providing an inquiry-based learning experience where mentors provide general guidance to the student, but let the student find their way to a solution to a research task or question. Trying something that does not work is both expected and encouraged. I promote a very interactive learning environment where the student can engage with other students, scientists, and technicians. I provide an informal lab experience and want the student to be comfortable to ask any questions to improve their understanding of the task at hand. I also expect the student to take ownership of their research and be willing to communicate their results and ask questions within a structured communications environment (e.g., weekly team meetings).Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://www.coaps.fsu.edu/shawn-smith
HIV, sexual health, health disparities, Black women
Research Mentor: Dr. Brittany Lane, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Center of Population Sciences for Health Equity, Nursing
Contact Email: blane2@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Center of Population Sciences for Health Equity, Nursing
Contact Email: blane2@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors but should be interested in health-related issues
Project Location: 2010 Levy Avenue, Building B, Suite 3600 Tallahassee, FL; project can also be remote
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 hours/week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors but should be interested in health-related issues
Project Location: 2010 Levy Avenue, Building B, Suite 3600 Tallahassee, FL; project can also be remote
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 hours/week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
This project explores how individual, interpersonal, community and societal-level factors influence HIV-related partner communication among young women in South Africa, focusing on different partnership types (e.g., age-disparate, transactional, casual, and committed). It examines whether age, education, and parental status moderate these relationships. Additionally, the study investigates how participation in a cash transfer intervention impacts these relationships over time. The findings will inform the development of targeted HIV prevention interventions by addressing sexual health communication strategies within diverse relationships.Research Tasks: literature review, attend meetings
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended skills: experience searching academic databases, ability to synthesize research findings, communication skills, and interest in health disparities
Mentoring Philosophy
As a mentor, I aim to support and guide my mentees in achieving their research aspirations. Central to this is creating a safe environment where they feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and expressing themselves without fear of judgment. I do not expect perfection but rather an openness to learning and growth. Also, I am committed to respecting my mentees' time by attending meetings punctually and notifying them in a reasonable time if I cannot make it. I expect the same accountability and respect from my mentees to ensure our time together is productive. Moreover, I believe clear and consistent communication is the foundation of a successful mentoring relationship. Mentees should communicate any challenges so we can find solutions and develop strategies together. I strive to foster an atmosphere where mentees feel empowered and encouraged. By prioritizing communication, accountability, and a positive learning environment, we can work together to achieve their goals and foster continuous development.Additional Information
Link to Publications
hurricanes, weather, meteorology, atmosphere, industry
Research Mentor: Jeremiah Otero, he/him/his
Department, College, Affiliation: Moody's HWind, N/A
Contact Email: jeremiah.otero@moodys.com
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Chana Keating she/her/hers
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: chana.keating@moodys.com
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Moody's HWind, N/A
Contact Email: jeremiah.otero@moodys.com
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Chana Keating she/her/hers
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: chana.keating@moodys.com
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Science
Computer Science
Project Location: 799 West Gaines Street Suite 105
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: 2:00–2:30 EDT on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzExMGI4MDQtN2JjMC00ZTJiLWFkOGItY2YwYmZhZjhkZjU1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%221061a8b8-b1ee-4249-bb84-9a2cd2792fae%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e6c2a066-1418-48fc-8101-2a0d8ec6bb96%22%7d
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Science
Computer Science
Project Location: 799 West Gaines Street Suite 105
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: 2:00–2:30 EDT on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzExMGI4MDQtN2JjMC00ZTJiLWFkOGItY2YwYmZhZjhkZjU1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%221061a8b8-b1ee-4249-bb84-9a2cd2792fae%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e6c2a066-1418-48fc-8101-2a0d8ec6bb96%22%7d
Project Description
Curious about tropical cyclone (TC) research and operations in industry? Consider applying to work as a research assistant with Moody’s HWind. Our group monitors the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins for tropical activity and creates “snapshots” of TC winds during real-time events. Clients in insurance, government, and academia utilize HWind products to anticipate claims, prepare event responses, and perform research. The selected student will perform research aimed to help improve HWind products and operations. Specific projects are flexible depending on the student’s interest and skillset. For example, we would like to have a robust and statistical comparison of HWind and National Hurricane Center TC tracks. We are also interested in comparing the TC structure and intensity of HWind snapshots to reanalysis datasets such as ERA5. Lastly, the student researcher could work to create a dataset with relevant TC statistics that can be used for context throughout the TC season. For instance, if three Category 5 hurricanes occurred in September, how would this stand out statistically from historical records? In addition to these research related projects, the student will also observe real-time operations. The student may also learn how to provide tropical weather briefings, which provide important context for our analysts prior to shifts.Research Tasks: The student will primarily perform data analysis on preexisting datasets. This will include a combination of sorting/organizing, math, and visual plotting. We will also provide online resources and literature for the student to learn more about tropical cyclone structure and relevant processes.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required. Some experience with coding in Python is recommended. Students must have their own working laptop and be interested in studying impactful weather.
Mentoring Philosophy
I strongly value communication, as I believe it is the key to unlocking a successful mentor-mentee relationship in any environment. Early conversations about your interests, skills, and intensions will help us maximize our time together and meet your personal goals. We will certainly continue these conversations throughout the project, both formally and informally, to make sure the project remains enjoyable and goal oriented. I am very flexible with working hours and understanding of anything that may be happening in your life outside of work. With transparency we can adapt and accommodate.I also believe that people work best when they feel comfortable and accepted within the workplace. I welcome all colleagues that are passionate and hard-working, regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, ability, etc. In addition to meeting the scientific objectives outlined previously, my goal for mentees is to gain confidence in this type of workspace, take ownership of their projects, and strive for independence. I am happy to provide the general and technical support needed to help you achieve that. As a recent graduate (I completed my Ph.D. in 2024), I can relate to students who are considering various career paths, and I hope I can help by speaking from personal experience.
Additional Information
The student will primarily meet and interact with both me (Jeremiah) and Chana. Our small HWind team in Tallahassee includes two other full-time employees, one of whom works remotely. We also currently have four graduate student analysts who largely produce HWind snapshots and work on their own research projects. The group is tightknit and very collaborative; questions and curiosity are welcomed. HWind is part of Moody’s, which is a global professional services and risk management company.Our office, located on Gaines Street, is only open two days a week; the rest of the time we work from home. In-office days change semester to semester depending on analysts’ availability. As such, it is not expected for the student researcher to work in person every week. We plan on working out a hybrid schedule and the student should be comfortable working mostly out of the office. This flexibility will also help us navigate what should be a very active hurricane season.
Link to Publications
https://www.rms.com/event-response/hwind
Homicide; Violence; Victimization; Disability; Hate Crime
Research Mentor: Dr., Prof., Brendan Lantz, He/Him/His
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: blantz@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Marin Wenger She/Her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mwenger@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Contact Email: blantz@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Marin Wenger She/Her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mwenger@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Criminology, Sociology, Public Health, Psychology, Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Criminology, Sociology, Public Health, Psychology, Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Violence against people with disabilities is a serious social issue, and fatal violence—specifically violence committed by family members and caretakers—is of particular concern. Addressing this violence requires understanding the details of these incidents and their outcomes, yet detailed data focusing specifically on victims of such violence does not currently exist. Following this, this research project will create a detailed database of known homicides of disabled people killed by family members and caretakers in the United States, spanning the last several decades. During the research period, the research team will assist with collecting information—via media reports, newspapers, and other sources—on disabled homicide victims, analyzing patterns in these cases, and writing and disseminating research reports.Research Tasks: Reading and summarizing previous research on violence toward people with disabilities; collecting information and coding data from various news and media sources; potentially analyzing research results; assistance with research summaries.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended experience with Excel
Mentoring Philosophy
I adopt a flexible mentoring philosophy, built on open communication and regular meetings, with the shared goal of building a relationship founded on mutual respect.Additional Information
Link to Publications
Alzheimer's disease, spatial orientation, rodent animal disease models
Research Mentor: Dr. Aaron Wilber, He/Him/His
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wilber@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Shawn Moseley He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: moseley@psy.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: wilber@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Shawn Moseley He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: moseley@psy.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology, Computer Science, Math
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10-12,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology, Computer Science, Math
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10-12,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
The goal of this project is to assess impaired memory reactivation (replaying sequences of activity that were recorded during a learning task during post-task sleep) as a possible cause of impaired ability to get oriented in space we have observed in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Another available project is to access which normal systems in rats are responsible for spacial orientation and disrupt these systems using drugs or optogenetics (laser light inactivation).Research Tasks: - Assist with analyzing brain recording and behavioral data for transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
- Assist in data collection by performing behavior experiments.
- Section and stain brain tissue and assist with quantifying positive cells in specific brain regions.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Basic science background recommended. We will teach needed skills.
Mentoring Philosophy
We provide diverse, interactive, and stimulating learning opportunities by building a customized training plan that meets both the student's and our laboratory needs. I meet students at least bi-weekly following laboratory meetings and for students with more involved training plans more often. The training is driven by the student's interests and begins to be developed during the interview where I learn about the student's interests and career goals and think about a goodmatch to specific projects in my laboratory. The interview is also used to identifying students that maintain and build on the diversity in our group. Diversity leads to better ideas and solutions to problems we encounter and improves the training experience and knowledge base for everyone in my group.
Additional Information
Link to Publications
https://wilber.neuro.fsu.edu/publications
Action Recognition, Deep Learning, RF Sensing
Research Mentor: Dr. Xin Liu, He/Him/His
Department, College, Affiliation: Computer Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: xl24j@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Jackie Ye He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: zy22b@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Computer Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: xl24j@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Jackie Ye He/Him/His
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: zy22b@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
Other than previous approaches, instead of using Wi-Fi signals to generate a human skeleton sequence, we would generate a human mesh sequence and use it for action recognition. Using human mesh sequence as raw data will bring more information compared with using skeleton sequence, for instance, body surface, torso rotation, etc., which would improve the accuracies of the final action recognition. On the other hand, due to the significant increase in data size, mesh based deep learning model will require much more computational resources. Thus, an efficient down-sampling methodology becomes critical in this project.Research Tasks: Research Tasks:
a. Literature Review:
1. Past papers survey
2. Sampling methods they have used
3. Data categories they have used
4. Deep learning models
b. Data collection: Both RGB and RF data, total 868 data clips with 13 persons
c. Data analysis:
1. Robustness of the RF based mesh (Wi-Mesh)
2. Effectiveness of different down-sampling methods
3. Deep learning results of mesh sequences with different numbers of vertices
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Programming skills in C or Python are required.
An interest in developing wireless signal processing and machine learning algorithms is required.