UROP Project | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Privacy-Preserving Edge AI for Automated Demolition-Site Monitoring

edge computing, computer vision, Wi-Fi sensing networks, privacy-preserving AI, demolition automation

Research Mentor: Dr. Xin Liu,
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Florida State University, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: xliu15@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Roshan Panahi
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: rpanahi@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Juyeong Choi
Faculty Collaborators Email: jchoi@eng.famu.fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or Civil Engineering. Students from other majors with relevant programming or data-analysis experience are welcome.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours per week, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

Day: Monday, August 31
Start Time: 3:00
End Time: 5:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/xinliucs

Project Description

Construction and demolition operations generate large amounts of waste, yet improving equipment productivity and material recovery requires reliable data from real jobsites. Video monitoring can provide this information, but contractors are often reluctant to share recordings because they may contain faces, equipment identifiers, accidents, or other sensitive events. This interdisciplinary project will develop a privacy-preserving edge-AI system that collects video from demolition equipment over a local Wi-Fi network, processes the data on an on-site gateway, and retains only the operational information needed for analysis. The system combines rugged vehicle-side cameras and long-range Wi-Fi links with event-triggered recording, detection and redaction of personally identifiable information, and computer-vision models that recognize equipment activities such as crushing, scooping, swinging, dumping, and loading. The research will evaluate whether privacy-filtered video still preserves enough information to estimate equipment cycle times accurately. The long-term goal is to make large-scale, privacy-aware data collection practical for demolition contractors and to support safer, more efficient, and more sustainable demolition planning.

Research Tasks: The research assistant will: (1) review literature on edge computing, privacy-preserving video analytics, object detection, and construction-equipment activity recognition; (2) help organize and document an egocentric/exocentric demolition-video dataset; (3) annotate selected frames or short clips for workers, equipment, faces/identifiers, and activity classes; (4) run and compare baseline computer-vision models for detection, tracking, redaction, and activity recognition; (5) evaluate model outputs using metrics such as precision, recall, F1-score, mAP, and cycle-time error; (6) assist with controlled testing of cameras, Wi-Fi links, and the on-site gateway; (7) maintain reproducible experiment notes and summarize findings in figures and short reports; and (8) contribute to the abstract and poster for the FSU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Site visits, if offered, will be optional and conducted only with required safety training and supervision.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: curiosity, reliability, willingness to learn, and basic experience with programming or quantitative analysis. Recommended: Python; introductory machine learning or computer vision; Linux/Git; data labeling; statistics; networking or wireless systems; and clear technical writing. Prior construction or demolition experience is not required. Training will be provided for project-specific tools, responsible handling of video data, and research documentation.

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring approach is structured, inclusive, and centered on increasing student ownership. At the beginning of the project, the student and I will identify learning and career goals, define a manageable first milestone, and agree on a communication plan. We will meet regularly, at least every other week, while the student will also have access to day-to-day guidance from the project team. I will model how to turn a broad research question into testable tasks, provide examples and starter materials, and use code or data reviews to give specific, timely feedback. Early assignments will be scaffolded; as the student gains confidence, they will make more decisions about experiments, analysis, and presentation. I encourage questions and treat unsuccessful experiments as evidence to learn from, provided they are documented carefully. Progress will be evaluated through reproducible work, thoughtful interpretation, communication, and growth rather than only positive results. The student will receive credit for contributions and support in preparing a symposium poster and pursuing future research opportunities.

Additional Information

This project is an interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr. Juyeong Choi and Dr. Roshan Panahi in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The undergraduate researcher will focus primarily on computational and controlled laboratory tasks; any field participation will be optional, supervised, and subject to site safety and data-privacy requirements.

Link to Publications

https://xinliulab.github.io/

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Watershed-Scale Modeling of Fertilizer-Associated Nitrogen Leaching and Nutrient-Reduction Strategies

Nitrogen leaching, Watershed modeling, Fertilizer management, Water quality, Agricultural conservation practices

Research Mentor: Fahad Hasan, He/Him
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: fh23b@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
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: Friday, September 4
Start Time: 2:00
End Time: 3:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96258200365

Project Description

Agriculture faces the dual challenge of ensuring food security while sustaining the health and productivity of agroecosystems. Effective fertilizer management is essential for increasing crop production and conserving soil and water resources; however, nutrient leaching resulting from fertilizer applications has raised significant environmental concerns. This project will evaluate fertilizer-associated nitrogen leaching at the watershed scale using process-based modeling. The model will simulate nitrogen fate and transport under different fertilization practices and hydrologic conditions, identify areas vulnerable to nutrient loss, and assess the effectiveness of agricultural conservation practices. Based on the modeling results, watershed-scale nutrient-reduction strategies will be recommended to improve fertilizer-use efficiency, protect water quality, and support sustainable agricultural production.

Research Tasks: The undergraduate researcher will review relevant literature, collect and organize watershed and agricultural data, and assist with preparing model inputs. The student will help run model simulations, analyze nitrogen-leaching results, identify areas vulnerable to nutrient loss, and compare selected conservation practices. The student will also prepare tables, graphs, and maps and assist with presenting the research findings.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Interest in environmental science, agriculture, water resources, or a related field; willingness to learn; basic computer skills; and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Recommended: Experience with Microsoft Excel, data analysis, GIS, or computer modeling. Prior research or modeling experience is helpful but not required. Training will be provided.

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring approach is supportive, patient, and flexible. I understand that undergraduate researchers may have limited research experience, so I will provide clear instructions and guide the student through each task step by step. I will encourage questions and create a comfortable environment where mistakes are treated as part of the learning process. Tasks will be assigned based on the student’s interests, skills, and progress. I will meet with the student regularly to discuss their work, address challenges, and provide constructive feedback. My goal is to help the student develop research, data-analysis, and communication skills while gradually becoming more confident and independent.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IV6l4msAAAAJ&hl=en

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Brain Mechanisms Underlying Speech and Language Processing

speech processing; brain mechanisms; EEG

Research Mentor: Dr. Zilong Xie,
Department, College, Affiliation: Communication Science & Disorders, Communication and Information
Contact Email: zx22c@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, but communication science and disorders, psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience are strongly encouraged to apply
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours per 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

This project investigates how the brain processes speech sounds in both native and nonnative speakers. Participants listen to and respond to speech sounds in a quiet testing environment while their brain activity is recorded using noninvasive sensors placed on the scalp. These sensors measure brain responses to sound by capturing hearing-related brain waves.

Research Tasks: The RA will be responsible for participant recruitment, data collection and management, data organization, and assisting with data analysis and literature reviews.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required Qualifications:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Experience with programming languages such as R, Python, or similar tools is preferred and considered a plus

Mentoring Philosophy

My lab is a safe environment in which students feel it is acceptable to fail and learn from their mistakes. We give students ownership of their work and promote accountability. We encourage students to ask questions and hope to see them work independently and take risks.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://hear.cci.fsu.edu/pubs/

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Structures for Change: Creative Movement in Carceral Spaces

Creative Research, Community-Engaged Research, Dance, Communication, Incarceration

Research Mentor: Dr. Hannah Schwadron, She
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Dance, Fine Arts
Contact Email: Hschwadron@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: Leon Regional Juvenile Detention Center
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
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:

Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 12:00
End Time: 5:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93685333001

Project Description

This project uses structured dance improvisation as a framework for creative practice and collaborative and reciprocal learning within carceral environments, and in this case, the Leon Regional Youth Detention Center. Led by FSU Associate Professor of Dance, Dr. Hannah Schwadron, the curriculum builds on improvisatory dance movement premises designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills while developing self-agency through artistic expression. By using the movement floor as a real-time relational laboratory, this project treats UROP student researchers, incarcerated youth participants, and participating detention center educators and correctional officers alike as active change-agents whose shared insights reshape the environment and their own relationships to it through teamwork, adaptability, and shared leadership skills. The creative research frame emphasizes ongoing experimentation with movement practices and documentation of descriptive findings, autoethnographic reflection, and pedagogical development, first as a group of researchers at FSU in the first half of the Fall semester, and in a series of visits to the Leon Regional Youth Detention Center in the second half of the Fall Semester. The project year will culminate in two formal presentations through the Spring Semester at the AATI March 2027 symposium and the undergraduate research symposium, and opportunity to co-author an original essay for online publication with Dancer Citizen journal that reflects on project outcomes.

The nature of the project progress across two semesters. In the Fall semester, UROP students begin by working directly with Schwadron on campus to learn and embody her “Structures for Change” approach to dance improvisation and develop pedagogical tools for co-facilitation. In the second half of the Fall semester, they will join Schwadron at the Leon County Youth Detention Facility to co-facilitate movement sessions. In the Spring semester, UROP researchers will work with Schwadron to prepare and deliver two formal presentations and one co-authored essay.

Dr. Schwadron and FSU students will secure FSU IRB approval to document their own experiences and descriptive insights while working alongside incarcerated youth. Consent forms will be administered to all UROP and youth participants and will follow all policy and procedure required by FSU and the youth detention center.

As an FSU faculty-led initiative, this UROP project submission unlocks specific resource opportunities to support the undergraduate team. Dr. Schwadron will apply for the UROP Research Mentor Materials Grant to cover essential project materials. FSU student assistants who show exceptional dedication during this Fall/Spring cycle will be mentored to apply for independent summer funding, such as the FSU IDEA Grants (stipends up to $4,000), to expand the research.

Research Tasks: UROP student assistants are integrated into this project as active co-researchers and co-facilitators over a two-semester developmental sequence:

Fall 2026 Semester: Field Research & Workshops

The Fall 2026 semester focuses on preparation for and undertaking of Structures for Change workshops and co-facilitation as well as support for IRB submission. Specific tasks include Weekly movement practice (UROP student researchers learn “Structures for Change” dance improvisation repertoire and co-facilitation practice, first at FSU and then off campus with youth at the detention facility; schedule TBD), Support for IRB Application Drafting and Submission ( co-author application and draft consent forms for all participants), Reflective data collection (Maintain ongoing autoethnographic research journals detailing personal observations of group dynamics and shifts over time).

Spring 2027 Semester: Reflection & Dissemination

The Spring 2027 semester focuses on reflection and descriptive sharing of findings through two formal presentations and an original co-authored essay for online publication. Specific tasks include two Formal Presentations (Prepare and deliver two formal public presentations at the March 2027 AATI Symposium hosted at FSU and another at the FSU Undergraduate Research Symposium), Dancer Citizen Essay (Co-author an original essay synthesizing qualitative findings, project observations, and pedagogical growth).

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Through close mentorship across both semesters, UROP students will develop 1) Qualitative Research Skills through Practice of descriptive research methodologies, autoethnographic logging, and human subjects research compliance (IRB), 2) Applied Pedagogy through firsthand experience navigating community-engaged arts research alongside youth in residential detention here in Leon County, and 3) Professional/Academic Experience through preparation and delivery of two formal symposium presentations and co-authoring of an original reflective essay.

Required skills/interests:
• Strong interest in dance and community-engaged arts education.
• Evidence of strong writing and verbal communication.
• Openness to collaborate with interdisciplinary and intergenerational team of faculty PI, justice-impacted youth, detention facility educators, correctional officers, and facility administrators.
• Weekly availability for studio practice, group discussion of project planning and progress, co-facilitation of movement workshops, co-writing sessions, and presentation practice.
• Access to personal transportation to and from Leon County Youth Detention Facility (approx. 10 min drive from campus)

Recommended skills/experience:
• Previous experience in structured dance or theater environments (in any form/dance modality).

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy reflects commitments core to this research project: communication, teamwork, problem solving, and adaptability. I see these as priorities to practice together in community as change-making agents with diverse skills to source and develop. I invite students as co-researchers and co-facilitators, sharing my own body of work in dance improvisation as opportunity for collaborative and reciprocal learning that relies on the input and insight of all in the room. While I lead the project as principal investigator and point of contact for project communications and coordination, my aim is to engage UROP students (as well as teen participants, correctional officers, and youth detention center facility educators and administrators) as creative research partners, centering our shared and distinctive points of view and background as assets that inform the direction of the project and its outcomes. I hold myself to a high standard of preparedness and creative play, and invite/expect the same of student co-facilitators. My goal is to encourage a willingness to try new things by modeling it, risking inevitable moments of uncertainty or even failure to underscore and emphasize the safe, brave space of experimentation and creative play.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://dancersgroup.org/2025/04/a-beautiful-future-moving-together-when-the-journey-gets-bumpy/

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A Literature and Case Review of Political Consumerism and Corporate Accountability

political consumerism, consumer boycotts, corporate accountability, case studies

Research Mentor: Rachel Canino,
Department, College, Affiliation: Political Science, Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: rc23i@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: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

This project studies consumerism and public policy. Familiar examples include boycotts and divestment campaigns. It is a well-established area of research spanning both historical campaigns and recent episodes. The research assistant will help build the bibliographic and empirical foundation for a larger study in two ways. First, by surveying and annotating the existing scholarly literature on when and why consumer pressure succeeds or fails. Second, by identifying and cataloging documented cases of consumer campaigns that have targeted publicly traded companies, using FSU Libraries news archives and academic databases.

Research Tasks: 1. Literature review and annotated bibliography of scholarship on political
consumerism and consumer campaigns

2. Identifying and cataloging documented consumer-pressure campaigns such as
boycotts, divestment, and subscription cancellations, drawn from news archives and
academic sources

3. Organizing sources and case materials into a structured, searchable format such as a
spreadsheet or a reference-manager library

4. Writing short thematic summaries that synthesize what the collected sources show

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: None required. The student will be taught how to build an annotated bibliography, evaluate and synthesize scholarly sources, and organize research materials. A willingness to read closely and to learn FSU Libraries research databases is helpful and recommended, but neither required nor expected in advance.

Mentoring Philosophy

My approach to mentoring begins from the belief that research skills are learned by doing, with guidance. Early on, I work with the student to understand what they want from the experience, whether that is preparing for graduate study, strengthening their writing and analytical skills, or simply learning how research works, and I shape their role around those goals. I give students ownership of a clearly defined part of the project so their contribution is genuinely their own, and I pair that independence with regular, low-pressure check-ins where questions and mistakes are treated as a normal part of learning. I see my job as teaching concrete, transferable skills, such as how to find and evaluate sources, build an annotated bibliography, and synthesize a body of literature, while gradually handing over more responsibility as the student's confidence grows.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Generative AI for Smart Cities Applications

Generative AI, Human Mobility, Data Analytics

Research Mentor: Guang Wang,
Department, College, Affiliation: Computer Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: guang.wang@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: Computer Science,
Data Science,
Statistics,
Math,
Geography,
Urban Planning
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
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

This project aims to harness the power of large-scale, diverse, and real-time urban data to address critical challenges in city planning, mobility, and public services. As cities become increasingly digitized, massive volumes of data, ranging from traffic flows, environmental sensors, social media, utility usage, and public transit records, offer unprecedented opportunities to understand and improve urban systems. However, effectively analyzing and visualizing these heterogeneous data sources to support timely and effective decision-making remains a significant challenge. This project aims to develop generative AI models for synthetic data generation, privacy data protection, and predictive modeling, etc.

Research Tasks: Data Collection: Gather and curate diverse urban datasets, including transportation logs, air quality data, social media feeds, energy usage records, census information, and IoT sensor data.

Tool Design: Design interactive visualization tools.

Generative AI model development.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Data collection and analysis skills are required.
Experience in Python is required.
Familiarity with LLMs is recommended.

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring goal is to encourage every student to learn something. Based on my previous mentoring experiences, I think all students are talented and my role as a teacher is to guide them to knock on the correct door. To this end, my mentoring philosophy concentrates on encouraging students to ask questions. I treat all students with respect and maintain academic fairness. In addition, I strive to create a friendly learning environment and make students feel comfortable and supported. I think students can improve their performance after they know what they do not know, and a very effective way is by asking questions, so I usually encourage students to ask questions.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Improving AI reliability for healthcare applications

AI, LLM, healthcare

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: 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

This project aims to develop reliable artificial intelligence (AI) methods for healthcare applications, with a focus on improving the trustworthiness of AI-assisted clinical decision-making. The research will address key reliability challenges, including uncertainty estimation and calibration, hallucinations and factual errors, and robustness and generalization across diverse patient populations, clinical settings, and data distributions. By developing methods that can better quantify confidence, identify unreliable predictions or generated outputs, and maintain stable performance under changing conditions, the project seeks to enable safer and more dependable use of AI in healthcare. The ultimate goal is to provide trustworthy AI tools that can effectively support healthcare professionals in making informed clinical decisions.

Research Tasks: Data collection, data analysis, and conduct experiments with LLMs.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Has healthcare background (recommended).

Mentoring Philosophy

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Structural, Functional and Metabolic Reorganization of Pain Modulatory Networks pre- and post- OnabotulinumtoxinA (OnabotA) Treatment of Chronic Migraine (CM)

migraine, imaging, pain, sensory testing

Research Mentor: snikolova@fsu.edu Simona Nikolova,
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Psychology and Florida State University College of Medicine, Medicine
Contact Email: snikolova@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: medical or computer majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

Day: Wednesday, September 2
Start Time: 3:00
End Time: 3:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92592129561

Project Description

Chronic migraine is a disabling neurological condition that affects pain processing and brain networks involved in pain regulation. OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) is an approved preventive treatment for chronic migraine, but it does not work equally well for all patients, and the brain mechanisms underlying treatment response are not fully understood.
The purpose of this study is to understand how brain activity, pain modulation systems, and clinical symptoms change over time in response to Botox treatment, and to identify brain-based markers that may help predict who benefits most from therapy.
This research study will examine how migraine treatments affect brain function, pain processing, and symptoms over time. This study includes Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans, sensory testing, questionnaires, and daily headache tracking.

Research Tasks: data collection, conducting interviews, data analysis

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: To be able to conduct interview, collect sensory and MRI data and drive participants from TMH to College of Medicine if needed is required.
To have some experience with RedCAP is recommended.
Some experience with data analysis and statistics is recommended.

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy is centered on providing students with meaningful, hands-on research experiences while supporting their development toward increasing independence. In my migraine research program, I aim to involve students in the full research process, from participant interaction and data collection to neuroimaging analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication. I believe students learn best when they are given opportunities to contribute to authentic research questions while receiving appropriate guidance and feedback.

I strive to create an inclusive and collaborative environment in which students feel comfortable asking questions, developing new skills, and taking ownership of their work. I tailor mentorship to each student's background, interests, and career goals, gradually increasing responsibility as their skills and confidence develop. My goal is not only to teach students how to conduct rigorous research, but also to help them develop critical thinking, scientific independence, and an appreciation for how research can ultimately improve the lives of patients with migraine and chronic pain.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

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Building Neuromorphic Tactile Sensors for Robotics

Tactile Sensors, Robot, Human-Computer Interactions, Machine Learning, Fabrication

Research Mentor: Te-Yen Wu, Prof
Department, College, Affiliation: Computer Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: tw23l@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: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Traditional tactile sensing systems for robotics often rely on dense sensor arrays and complex wiring to retrieve high-resolution tactile information. As the sensing resolution increases, the number of electrical connections, data channels, and computational requirements can grow substantially, creating challenges in scalability, integration, and real-time processing, particularly for large-area or deformable robotic surfaces.
This project explores approaches for integrating sensing and information-processing operations directly into the tactile sensor architecture. Inspired by how biological tactile receptors and peripheral neurons encode, transform, and transmit sensory information before it reaches the brain, we aim to develop tactile interfaces that perform part of the signal interpretation physically at the sensor level. Rather than transmitting every raw measurement independently, the proposed sensing architecture can encode salient tactile features into a reduced set of signals.

Research Tasks: literature review, prototype fabrication, data collection, data analysis

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: required: Arduino Programming, Electrical Knowledge
recommended: Machine Learning, 3D-printing Design

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy is to help students become independent, confident researchers while providing the guidance and resources they need to succeed. I encourage students to take ownership of their ideas, explore ambitious questions, and learn through both successes and failures. I aim to create a supportive and collaborative environment where expectations are clear, feedback is constructive, and each student’s goals and strengths are respected. Ultimately, I see mentoring as a partnership that helps students develop strong research skills, professional confidence, and their own identity as researchers.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://teyenwu.com

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Tracing Co-Rumination in Couples’ Conversations through Language-Based Models: Understanding the Costs and Benefits of Co-Rumination at Scale

couple, relationship, communication, observational

Yunzhi (Ariel) Zheng_profile picture.jpg

Research Mentor: Yunzhi (Ariel) Zheng, she/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Human Development and Family Science, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: yz20by@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: Human Development and Family Science, Psychology, Social Work, Computer Science majors preferred but open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6, 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 examines how romantic partners communicate and support one another during conversations about stressful experiences. Romantic couples will complete two eight-minute conversations about external stressors and then review their interactions in 30-second segments to rate specific communication behaviors. The project integrates behavioral observation with natural language processing (NLP) to develop interpretable, theory-driven indicators of couples’ communication patterns. The project provides opportunities for undergraduate researchers to gain experience with observational couple data, transcript preparation, and computational approaches to studying relationships.

Research Tasks: UROP research assistants will contribute primarily to the preparation and quality assurance of observational couple conversation data. Tasks may include assisting with participant recruitment and laboratory-session preparation; verifying automated transcripts against video recordings; correcting transcription errors; assigning speaking turns to the correct partner; aligning transcripts with 30-second conversation segments; checking data for accuracy and completeness; and organizing and de-identifying research files. If students have specific research questions they hope to answer using the project data, they may also have opportunities to develop an independent research question and gain experience with data analysis and research dissemination under supervision.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Attention to detail, reliability, ability to follow research procedures, willingness to work carefully with confidential research data, and effective communication skills.

Recommended: Interest in relationship science, psychology, or family science; prior research experience; familiarity with data management. Experience with Python or natural language processing is helpful but not required.

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy is developmental and collaborative. I aim to meet students where they are while helping them gradually build the confidence and skills to take greater ownership of their work. At the beginning of the mentoring relationship, I want to understand each student’s interests, prior experiences, strengths, and professional goals and identify opportunities that are both manageable and appropriately challenging. I believe students learn best when expectations are clear and when they understand why the work they are doing matters. I therefore will provide guidance, examples, and feedback early on, while helping students connect specific research tasks to broader scientific questions. As students become more comfortable, I encourage them to develop questions they are interested in answering themselves and to think critically about which methods and evidence are appropriate for those questions. I also strive to create an environment where students from different educational and cultural backgrounds can participate meaningfully, and I treat questions as evidence of engagement. Research inevitably involves uncertainty, missed opportunities, and mistakes, and I see these as specific opportunities for learning. In providing feedback, I aim to balance warmth and support with accountability while remaining open to feedback from students about how I can better support their development. Ultimately, I hope students leave the experience able to think critically, use evidence responsibly, and feel greater confidence in their ability to contribute to research.

Additional Information

Link to Publications

https://yunzhiarielzheng.github.io/

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