Author: Eskin, Jodi

Research Assistant Needed for a Weight Loss Research Study

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Opportunity Description: We are seeking undergraduate student(s) to assist with a digital behavioral weight loss intervention targeting postpartum Black women. The study focuses on promoting changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors, with social support delivered through a private Facebook group. The undergraduate research assistant will be involved in managing REDCap surveys, creating infographics using Canva, and designing PowerPoint presentations. All duties will be conducted online, and weekly progress updates will be expected. This position offers a valuable opportunity for students interested in digital health, behavioral interventions, and health equity research. 

Student Qualifications

  • Students from any discipline with an interest in health research may apply
  • Must be available to work during summer
  • Remote work
  • Biweekly meetings
  • Basic knowledge of Canva
  • Interest in learning new technology

    How to Apply
    Please email your interest or any questions to Snehaa Ray at snehaa.ray@uconn.edu

    Mentor: Snehaa Ray, Doctoral Candidate
    Department: Department of Nutritional Sciences
    Email: snehaa.ray@uconn.edu
    Timing: Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: All campuses (remote work)

    Research Assistant in Survey Research, Substance Use

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    Opportunity Description

    Research assistance with literature reviews, article revision, and/or statistical programming sought. Practical, hands-on experience in searching primary literature, study design, statistical programming, and/or writing articles. Five hours weekly commitment sought. Currently working on analysis of substance use (i.e., cannabis, alternative tobacco use) using nationally representative survey data.

    Student Qualifications
    Interested students should have at minimum an introductory statistics, econometrics or equivalent class. Basic familiarity with statistical programming from such coursework is needed; a desire to learn additional techniques is a bonus.

    How to Apply
    Please email me explaining interest. Provide a resume and please note any relevant coursework.

    Mentor: Stephen Amrock, Assistant Professor
    Department: Medicine
    Email: amrock@uchc.edu
    Timing: Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: UConn Health, Other – virtual possibility

    Research Opportunity – Neurolinguistics and Neurocomputational Work

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    Opportunity Description

    The BrainLens Lab invites applications for research assistant positions focused on exploring the neural mechanisms underlying naturalistic language comprehension across populations with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This project employs a combination of behavioral and neural methodologies to enhance our understanding of how the brain processes language in real-world scenarios.

    Students are expected to conduct literature reviews, participate in data collection, and manage and analyze research data. The position requires less than 9 hours per week, with weekly to biweekly team meetings for progress updates. Course credits are available, and opportunities for publication involvement may arise based on progress and interest.

    Student Qualifications
    Background or strong interest in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, or a related field.
    Basic knowledge of statistical approaches and data analysis tools (e.g., R or Python) is a plus.
    Attention to detail and consistency is important.

    How to Apply
    If you are interested, please send an email to Dr. Chanyuan Gu (kmw24003@uconn.edu) with your resume.

    Mentor: Chanyuan Gu, Postdoctoral Fellow
    Department: Psychological Sciences
    Email: kmw24003@uconn.edu
    Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: Storrs

    Social Media and Marketing Strategist

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    Opportunity Description

    This position will support the publication of a book on the topic of the politics of disability and the US care crisis. The writing relates to the ways ableism (or the devaluation of disability) is embedded into every aspect of our culture and society, which then translates into such things as a lack of care infrastructure and the resulting dependence on the unpaid care work of family members.

    I am looking for a student who can assist with social media and marketing. The student will conduct social media research (reviewing and compiling social media accounts and content related to topics covered in the book), navigate social media platforms, organize information gleaned from social media thematically in spreadsheets, synthesize broad trends, and advise on social media plans for the book, all while learning about the nonfiction trade book publishing process.

    Student Qualifications
    Required:
    – Social media literacy with IG, TikTok, and Twitter, and other platforms
    – Completed coursework in marketing/publicity, business/communications, and/or journalism

    Preferred:
    – Experience working in publicity, marketing, or advertising
    – Have interest in topics related to disability and/or caregiving

    How to Apply
    Please submit a resume and brief write up of why you are a fit for the position.

    Mentor: Laura Mauldin, Associate Professor
    Department: WGSS/SCI
    Email: laura.mauldin@uconn.edu
    Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
    Campus: Storrs

    Research Assistant for Autism Intervention Systematic Review

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    Opportunity Description

    Join our systematic review project focused on understanding the effects of interventions on the brain and behavior of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We are conducting a comprehensive synthesis of neuroimaging and behavioral data from studies examining pre- and post-intervention changes in individuals with ASDs.

    As a research assistant, your primary responsibilities will include:

    • Assisting with full-text screening of articles to determine eligibility based on our inclusion criteria.
    • Extracting data related to study design, participant demographics, intervention characteristics, neuroimaging, and behavioral outcomes.
    • Attending weekly team meetings (45 minutes online) to discuss progress, address challenges, and receive ongoing training and support.
    • Ensuring accuracy and consistency in data coding, and resolving discrepancies collaboratively.

    This position offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in research methods, systematic reviews, neuroimaging, and autism intervention research. Course credit is available for this role; however, monetary compensation is not available.

    Time Commitment: Approximately 4-6 hours per week. Flexible schedule with an expected commitment for the Fall 2024 semester, with the possibility of extension into Spring 2025.

    Student Qualifications
    Required:

    • Junior or senior with interest in neuroscience, psychology, special education, or related fields.
    • Major in psychology, pre-med, neuroscience, education, or related field.
    • GPA of 3.5 or higher.
    • Attention to detail and ability to follow complex instructions.
    • Strong communication and teamwork skills.

    Preferred (but not required):

    • Previous research experience or coursework in neuroimaging, systematic reviews, or autism spectrum disorders.
    • Familiarity with academic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus) and citation management software.

    How to Apply
    To apply, please submit your CV, a brief statement of interest, and your weekly availability for Fall 2024 to deborah.schneider-richardson@uconn.edu at your earliest convenience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.

    Mentor: Deborah Schneider, Post-Doctoral Research Associate
    Department: Psychological Sciences (BrainLENS)
    Email: deborah.schneider-richardson@uconn.edu
    Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: Storrs

    Research Assistant Opportunity – Fact Checker

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    Opportunity Description

    This position will support the publication of a book on the topic of the politics of disability and the US care crisis. The writing relates to the ways ableism (or the devaluation of disability) is embedded into every aspect of our culture and society, which then translates into such things as a lack of care infrastructure and the resulting dependence on the unpaid care work of family members. I am looking for a student who can assist with fact checking for the book, which is an important process in all researched/journalistic writing. Duties will include but aren’t limited to:

    • Checking cited references
    • Cross checking field notes
    • Learning how to use citation software
    • Creating bibliographies
    • General support

    Student Qualifications
    Qualifications:

    • Experience with research
    • Knowledge of fact checking processes

    Preferred Qualifications:

    • Experience working for the school newspaper or in other journalistic endeavors

    How to Apply
    Please email your resume and a brief write up of why you think you are a good fit for this opportunity to Professor Laura Mauldin (laura.mauldin@uconn.edu.

    Mentor: Laura Mauldin, Associate Professor
    Department: WGSS/SCI
    Email: laura.mauldin@uconn.edu
    Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
    Campus: Storrs

    Research Assistant at ECOM (Expression, Communication, and the Origins of Meaning) Research Group

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    Opportunity Description

    As an undergraduate research assistant at ECOM (Expression, Communication, and the Origins of Meaning Research Group), you will play a key role in organizing conferences and talks, contributing to the smooth execution of these academic events. You will also assist with research activities, particularly in conducting literature reviews to support ongoing projects. Additionally, if you have skills in website design, you will help maintain and update the ECOM website, ensuring it effectively communicates our work and events to the academic community. We are especially interested in students from philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, or related fields, as this role offers valuable experience in both research and event coordination, along with the opportunity to enhance your digital skills.

    Availability: Must be available to work approximately 9 hours per week, with some flexibility to accommodate key event dates. Specific times will be discussed during the interview process.

    Student Qualifications
    Academic Background: Must be an undergraduate student majoring in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, or a related field.

    Research Skills: Ability to conduct thorough literature reviews, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and synthesis of academic materials.

    Event Coordination: Interest in or experience with organizing academic events, such as conferences and talks, is preferred.

    Technical Skills: Basic proficiency in website design and maintenance is desirable but not required.

    Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for coordinating with event speakers, team members, and managing public-facing content.

    Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting, as well as independently on assigned tasks.

    Attention to Detail: Must be detail-oriented, especially in tasks related to research, event planning, and website content management

    How to Apply
    Interested students should submit the following materials to apply for this research opportunity:

    • CV/Resume: Include relevant academic background, coursework, and any previous research or event coordination experience.
    • Short Statement: Provide a brief statement (no more than 300 words) explaining your interest in this position, any relevant skills or experience you bring, and your availability.

    Please send your application materials to Utku Sonsayar utku.sonsayar@uconn.edu

    Mentor: Dorit Bar-On, Professor
    Department: Philosophy
    Email: dorit.bar-on@uconn.edu
    Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
    Campus: Storrs

    Research Opportunity – Robotics Design

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    Opportunity Description

    The Ruka Lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering studies prosthetic and robotic grasping, manipulation, and controls. This position is a research experience focusing on end-effector and test object design. In addition to end-effectors, the choice of test objects is important to comprehensively validate the invention. Working on this project entails designing, building, testing, and iterating using 3D modeling software and additive manufacturing techniques. The student will be expected to work approximately 10hr/week and will primarily include independent design work and regular weekly meetings to discuss progress. Submitting work for publication will be contingent on good progress and interest from the student.

    Student Qualifications
    Experience with Solidworks or other 3D modelling software is necessary. Experience with MATLAB is a plus, as is experience with prosthetics and robotics, but not necessary. Those without prior research experience are encouraged to apply, so long as they are excited to work on creative hands-on design projects that they will help bring to life.

    How to Apply
    Please email Professor Yuri Gloumakov (yuri.gloumakov@uconn.edu), and include your year, major, classes you have taken related to design and engineering, a design portfolio (if you have one), how many hours per week you would like to work, and a brief description of why you are interested in this position. Attaching a resume is optional.

    Mentor: Yuri Gloumakov, Assistant Professor
    Department: Electrical and Computer Engingeering
    Email: yuri.gloumakov@uconn.edu
    Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: Storrs

    • Congratulations, 2023 SURF Award Recipients!

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    The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce the selection of 48 undergraduate students to receive SURF Awards in support of their summer undergraduate research projects.

    Click here to view the full list of Summer 2023 SURF awardees.SURF logo 2

    Congratulations, SURF awardees! Your curiosity, initiative, and motivation were evident in your applications and you have an exciting summer of deep engagement with the process of academic inquiry ahead of you. We look forward to hearing about all you learn and discover!

    We thank the faculty members who supported SURF applicants in a range of roles: mentors, letter writers, and faculty review committee members. SURF represents a collaborative effort between students and faculty. This program would not be possible without the support and participation of the UConn faculty!

    OUR also extends thanks to SURF supporters in the UConn community. We are grateful to the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and to the Deans of the Schools and Colleges of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources; Engineering; Fine Arts; Liberal Arts and Sciences; Nursing; and Pharmacy, who all pledged funding to the SURF competition this year. Alumni, parents, and friends of UConn also helped fund SURF awards. This collaborative funding effort ensures that SURF supports a diverse array of undergraduate research endeavors. We are grateful to all of our program partners for making intensive summer research opportunities available to students seeking to enrich their undergraduate experience in this way.

    Once again, congratulations to the recipients of 2023 SURF awards, and good luck with your summer projects!

    • Apply Now for Summer 2023 Undergraduate Research Experiences (REUs)

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    Interested in spending the summer engaged in an exciting research project or a formal REU program? With March fast approaching, many summer program deadlines have passed. However, there is still time to prepare application materials for the summer opportunities listed below with late February and March deadlines.

    Mountain Lake Biological Station, University of Virginia, REU Program – Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Field Research
    Deadline: February 20, 2023
    https://mlbs.virginia.edu/reuprogram
    The MLBS REU program is a 10-week summer program that provides students the opportunity to conduct guided, but independent, original research in field biology. Visit the REU website for information on specific REU projects and mentors; the program supports 10 students each summer. $6,250 stipend, room and board provided.

    Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) Undergraduate Summer Research Internship – Virginia Tech
    Deadline: 5pm EST, February 20, 2023 
    https://maop.vt.edu/Undergraduate_programs/summer_research.html
    This program provides undergraduates from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Wide variety of academic disciplines; $3,000 stipend, free on-campus room and board. Applicants should be rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

    TIP Innovation Fellowship Program – UConn program open only to UConn undergraduates, master’s students and recent (Dec 22/May 23) graduates. 
    Deadline: February 24, 2023
    https://innovation.uconn.edu/technology-incubation-program/summer-fellowship/
    The TIP Innovation Fellows Program is a paid, 10-week mentored summer research experience for STEM and Business students. Students are placed with on-campus technology start-up companies located in Farmington, Storrs, and Stamford. $4,000 stipend for undergrads. The program includes workshops and seminars on Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

    Brookings Institution Internship Program
    Deadline: February 26, 2023
    https://interns-brookings.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=-435682078
    The Brookings Internship Program provides undergraduates the opportunity to learn new skills by working with Brookings’ staff in a variety of research areas – Economic Studies, Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development, Governance Studies and Metropolitan Policy. Three types of internships are offered – paid, academic for credit, and external sponsorship.

    NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP)
    Deadline: March 1, 2023
    https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip
    This summer internship program provides undergraduates with the opportunity to conduct full-time biomedical research. These traineeships are available only in the intramural laboratories of the NIH. Most of the laboratories are located on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Students who are selected receive a monthly stipend that is based on education level and experience.

    REU Program, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
    Deadline: March 1, 2023
    https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/chemistry-biochemistry/undergraduate/reu
    This new summer REU program will offer undergraduates the opportunity to participate in projects ranging from membrane biochemistry to bio-inspired materials synthesis all geared toward solving important problems in biology. $6,000 stipend and free on-campus housing. 

    Loyola Adventures in Urobiome Data (LAUD) Summer Research Program
    Deadline: March 3, 2023
    https://ssom.luc.edu/luerec/administrative/laud/
    The 8-week LAUD program includes projects for hybrid (combination of in-lab and online) or online only. Selected student researchers will gain exposure to current research areas in benign urologic disease, conduct hypothesis-driven research, and develop the skills to synthesize, interpret, and present their scientific research. Applicants should have completed genetics or cell biology along with a statistics course. $6,000 stipend. 

    Agroecology Extension (AX) Summer Research Fellowship – University of Vermont
    Deadline: March 4, 2023
    https://www.uvm.edu/four/ax-summer-research-fellowship
    The AX Fellowship is collaboration between UVM Extension and the Plant and Soil Science Department, and coordinated by the Agroecology and Livelihoods Collaborative on UVM’s main campus in Burlington, VT. Fellows will be matched with mentors engaged in various agroecological extension research projects including in pest management, agronomy, vegetable/berry farming, fruit tree farming, or field crop and soil management. On-campus housing or housing allowance is provided.

    REU in Nanotechnology and Photonics at Boston University
    Deadline: March 15, 2023
    https://www.bu.edu/photonics-reu/overview/
    The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation from undergraduates (rising freshman to rising seniors) and community college students. Students will participate in mentored discovery, engineering of new devices, and fabrication at the nanoscale level to explore optical and integrated nano-scale systems, while developing critical skills, awareness and confidence necessary to advance in academics and research in the future. $6,000 stipend and free on-campus housing. 

    American Student Placements in Rehabilitation Engineering (ASPIRE) REU Program – University of Pittsburgh
    Deadline: March 17, 2023
    https://www.herl.pitt.edu/education/undergrad/aspire
    ASPIRE is a 10-week research program that focuses on rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. Students indicate their top three projects choices on their application. Selected students receive a $4,750 stipend with housing provided at no-cost. Seminars and workshops will augment the research experience.

    American Society of Plant Biologists – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
    Deadline: March 15, 2023
    https://aspb-surf.secure-platform.com/a/
    The ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships fund undergraduate students so they can conduct research in plant biology early in their college career. SURF recipients must present their research at ASPB’s annual Plant Biology meeting in the year following the fellowship award. Students may work with a mentor at their own institution or at another institution. Mentors must be a member of ASPB, have an ongoing research program of high scientific merit, and demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate education and research. $6,000 stipend, membership in ASPB, and $700 in support for the materials, and $575 to support student travel.

    INSPIRE U2 REU Program – Spelman College
    Deadline: March 15, 2023
    https://sites.spelman.edu/inspireu2-reu/
    The Increasing Statistical Preparation in Research Education for Underrepresented Undergraduates (INSPIRE U2) program is designed to expose rising first current first year and sophomore female students to statistical programs and analytical techniques with the goal of increasing student interest in advanced degree programs in the quantitative fields. Selected students will receive a stipend and travel costs. 

    Smart Manufacturing REU at Drexel University
    Deadline: April 1, 2023 (apply early as applications reviewed on a rolling basis)
    https://drexel.edu/engineering/academics/departments/chemical-biological-engineering/department-research/research-experiences-for-undergraduates/
    This goal of this 9-week SMREU is to provide hands-on experience in cutting-edge research relevant to smart manufacturing to undergraduate students. Smart Manufacturing refers to using advanced data analytics, computational methods, and automation to improve efficiency, productivity, and cost across processes, factories, and entire supply chains. $5,500 stipend and on-campus housing provided to program participants.