Project Mentor
Dr. Frederick Roden
Department: English
Research Project Overview:
There are two related projects a SHARE apprentice may assist with, one a crossover book dealing with an archive of my own, and the other concerning scholarly work in the field of memory studies.
Project 1: The SHARE apprentice would be responsible for doing archival research remotely, using digital databases and/or consulting individuals at particular archives. S/he-they would be focused on historical research that is regional and American immigration related circa 1870-1970. The student’s learning experience would include how to research digital archives as well as engage remotely with librarians and archivists, learning about place, immigration records, and locating individuals.
Project 2: The SHARE apprentice would learn about the various fields that come together in the study of memory and would help develop a bibliography as well as contact list for a special issue of a journal I am editing in this field. The SHARE apprentice would work in researching the interdisciplinary field of memory studies, focusing on especially resources in the humanities and performing secondary research in specialized areas.
Role of a SHARE Summer Apprentice:
Project 1: The student’s contribution to my research for the first project would mean locating usable data and context for the narrative I am writing from my archive: filling in the gaps through historical research. This work would be ideal for someone planning on entering the archival/library field, who loves research, and/or who may be a History or literature major.
Project 2: The contribution in the second project would teach a humanities student how to research interdisciplinary fields (touching on the social sciences and biological sciences, e.g. neuroscience and genetics). The student would learn about those fields and how they relate to the work of memory whether in narrative, the popular search for origins (e.g. DNA testing for ancestry/ancestral memory). The student would also learn about academic publishing and the process of selections within that area.
Summer Schedule/Time Commitment:
The SHARE apprentice would be able to do much of this work on their own time. The exception might be when interfacing with archivists/librarians. Beyond correspondence by email, it might be necessary to have virtual meetings at particular times when that professional is working, but these would be few.
There is flexibility in scheduling supervisory meetings. The preference would be for work to begin early in the summer (e.g. June 1 or so), although a later starting date is not out of the question (July 1 or perhaps as late as July 15).
Preferred Qualifications:
This apprenticeship is suitable for students interested in history and archives, including History or literature majors. Prior coursework is less important than intellectual curiosity and/or extracurricular experience.
To Apply:
The application deadline has passed.
Please note:
All students hired for a SHARE Summer apprenticeship must complete a federal I-9 form and present original documents in person to OUR staff as part of the hiring process. Visit this U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services page for more information about acceptable documents. You cannot begin working until this is complete. Students are encouraged to plan ahead for this. For example, if you are going home for spring break, consider bringing documents back to campus with you.