Project Mentor
Dr. Qazi Arka Rahman
Department: Social & Critical Inquiry
Research Project Overview:
This project examines the intersection of American imperialism, forced migration, and the Asian American experience within the frameworks of American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Critical Refugee Studies. This project engages with narratives spanning multiple geopolitical sites of American influence. Thus, the envisioned project demonstrates how literary texts illuminate crucial aspects of American global influence that traditional diplomatic or political histories often overlook. Through the study of these varied perspectives, this project advances American Studies’ methodological approaches by illustrating how literary narratives expose the capillary nature of American power—operating across multiple scales through military presence, economic policies, development programs, cultural imperialism, and immigration laws. By centering Asian displacement narratives, this research expands American Studies’ geographical and theoretical scope, offering new insights into how American global power functions beyond conventional state-centric disciplinary analyses focusing on the later half of the twentieth century.
This multifaceted project has four intended deliverables:
- A Research Article – focusing on argumentative intersections of three fields mentioned in the project description
- An Exhibition of Digital Arts – focusing on creative visual expressions of research in the humanities
- A Public Talk – focusing on being delivered/developed as a podcast for easier dissemination
- Revised Syllabus for AAAS 2010 Critical Refugee Studies – focusing on developing pedagogical modules on refugee epistemology
Role of a SHARE Summer Apprentice:
The SHARE apprentice is expected to primarily contribute to all or selected items from the following:
- locating and evaluating academic sources across multiple disciplines (American Studies, Asian American Studies, Critical Refugee Studies)
- organizing research materials for different project components
- create annotated bibliographies for both academic and creative aspects of the project
- developing resource list of digital and AI usage for humanistic research
- researching pedagogical models
Summer Schedule/Time Commitment:
The total time commitment of 90 hours during summer will be fulfilled according to a mutually agreeable schedule. The basic expectation is to have biweekly virtual meetings to track progress and update of resource lists. The apprenticeship can also accommodate other commitments the student may have.
Preferred Qualifications:
Students from any discipline and academic stage are welcome. The key qualifications sought are curiosity, openness to learning, and a willingness to develop the ability to balance following instructions with making independent decisions. No prior experience is necessary.
To Apply:
The application opens on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Click here to submit an online application for this research apprenticeship through the Quest Portal. The application deadline is Friday, March 28, 2025, at 11:59pm.
Click here to view an outline of the general application questions. There are no additional questions for this apprenticeship application.
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 original documents back to campus with you.