Please reference the chart below for opportunities offered through the Work-Study Research Assistant Program for the Spring 2024 semester. Opportunities for Spring 2024 will be posted from mid-December through the January 8th. Follow the link in the Job Posting column to access the position listing and apply on JobX. Only applications from undergraduate students with work-study awards will be considered. Please note that the opportunities denoted with the First Generation image are offered by faculty members who themselves identify as first generation (neither parent completed a four-year degree); first generation students are particularly encouraged to consider these positions and apply to those that align with their skills and interests.

Job Posting	Faculty Name	Department	Research Focus/Brief Position Description	Status
12918	Zongjie Wang	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Sustainable power and energy lab (SPEL) focuses on new opportunities and conducts diverse research activities and education from a variety of perspectives including power systems and system modeling. Our approach is interdisciplinary, combining engineering, economics and mathematics to better understand the interactive forces of systems and markets. By utilizing innovative tools and advanced technologies, our lab will exploit enhanced performances of power systems to develop a variety of novel applications to improve grid efficiency, security, resiliency, stability, planning, and operation, along with maximum penetration of renewable energy integration. Students are expected to achieve skills in reading and summarizing literature reviews relevant to modern power system optimization. In addition, students will achieve the goal of establishing different power system modeling from the perspectives of power system planning and operation and are expected to understand how to use different software tools including Matlab, Python, Cplex, or Julia for simulation validation.	Closed
13151	Steve Utke	Accounting	The focus of this research is to understand the amount of tax that multinational firms pay, or would pay if they did not operate globally. This position involves collecting income tax data of publicly traded firms in order to determine how much tax these firms owe on their foreign earnings.	Closed
14024	Amanda Crawford	Journalism	My research focuses on the intersection of misinformation and gun violence, primarily using journalistic methods such as interviewing, public record research, and other reporting. This includes studying conspiracy theories about mass shootings and the role of the media and social media in the spread of misinformation. My research also includes review of academic literature and judicial opinions as well as public policy analysis. The student researcher will assist me by collecting and summarizing news articles, online information and academic literature; requesting public documents and court records; and reviewing interview and video transcripts. They may also do fact-checking prior to publication, assist in interviews, and other tasks.	Closed
13042-Waterbury	Kimberly Cuevas	Psychological Sciences	In the CAP Lab, we study the building blocks of early cognitive development. We play different games to understand how babies and young kids learn, remember, and think at different points during development. By wearing our EEG & ECG sensors as they play, we gain insight into how brain waves and heart activity are involved in kids’ thinking. Student research assistants interested in developmental cognitive neuroscience research with a background in psychological sciences are encouraged to apply. RAs will contribute to multiple aspects of research (community outreach, recruitment, data collection, data coding) investigating the development of self-regulation, memory, cognitive flexibility, imitation, and the “social brain”. As an undergraduate research assistant (RA), you will be trained in one or more of the following areas: community outreach, data collection, data coding (behavioral or psychophysiological), data entry, sibling monitoring, data analysis and interpretation, literature searches. Lab members at the Waterbury Campus have the opportunity to work infants, toddlers, & preschoolers.	Filled
13043	Kimberly Cuevas	Psychological Sciences	In the CAP Lab, we study the building blocks of early cognitive development. We play different games to understand how babies and young kids learn, remember, and think at different points during development. By wearing our EEG & ECG sensors as they play, we gain insight into how brain waves and heart activity are involved in kids’ thinking. Student research assistants interested in developmental cognitive neuroscience research with a background in psychological sciences are encouraged to apply. RAs will contribute to multiple aspects of research (recruitment, data coding) investigating the development of self-regulation, memory, cognitive flexibility, imitation, and the “social brain”. As an undergraduate research assistant (RA), you will be trained in one or more of the following areas: community outreach, data coding (behavioral or psychophysiological), data entry, data analysis and interpretation, literature searches. (There are no data collection opportunities at the Storrs Campus.)	Filled
12983	Crystal Park	Psychological Sciences	Our lab studies stress–both day-to-day stressors and major traumas and adaptive and maladaptive approaches to cope with stress. We focus on the meanings people make of their stresses and their lives; we focus on cancer survivors, trauma survivors, people with chronic pain, and others who are dealing with stress. We also study integrative medicine, particularly yoga and the psychology of religion and spirituality. We have a weekly lab meeting/journal club that meets Wednesdays 1:25-2:15, where we discuss articles relevant to our work. The lab has a number of different projects going on, including reviewing research related to emotional wellbeing, cancer survivorship, divine forgiveness, trauma, and yoga interventions. Students will be assigned to a specific project based on their interests and project needs.	Filled
14040	Sudha Srinivasan	Kinesiology	The REINVENT-PT lab (REhabilitation INnoVations & Emerging Novel Technologies in Physical Therapy) at UConn is interested in understanding developmental trajectories of individuals with developmental disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, etc. across the lifespan. We are interested in studying how infants and children with developmental disabilities explore their physical and social environment compared to typically developing peers and the cascading effects of motor difficulties on a child’s social communication and cognitive development. We are also interested in assessing health-related outcomes in adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities, including their physical activity and physical fitness levels. Based on our understanding of the developmental trajectories of individuals with disabilities, our goal is to develop multisystem, engaging, evidence-based, behavioral interventions and assistive technologies to empower the lives of people with disabilities. At present, the lab has 2 ongoing research projects: we are exploring the utility and efficacy of using playful joystick-operated ride-on-toys to promote upper extremity function and spontaneous use in children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy both in a summer camp setting and as a home-based program. We specifically need help with the project listed above in terms of recruitment efforts, data collection, and systematic analyses of video data collected from children, and data analyses.	Closed
14041	Hana Maruyama	History & Asian and Asian American Studies	The Fudeko Project records the life stories of individuals who lived through the World War II forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans using a remote, asynchronous interviewing and correspondence program. Over the course of a year, participants will receive weekly prompts via email and letter-writing that help them develop storytelling skills, build comfort in delving into traumatic life experiences, and come away with a narrative that they can share with friends and family–as well as humanities researchers and the wider public. Within the next year to two years, we will build an open-source data collection platform with Greenhouse Studios, creating a low-cost, low-stakes, easy-to-use tool for communities to record individuals’ stories. The data from this initial round will help us better understand the technical needs and develop a sustainable workflow going forward. Students will assist in the development of the interviewing and correspondence methodology by sending out prompts; collecting, digitizing, and organizing responses; assisting participants with any technical problems; and creating materials that synthesize initial findings for the public to bring in new audiences and participants. There may also be opportunities to author blog posts, develop social media content, or co-author a journal article—these can be tailored to the student’s professional interests and will be developed through conversation and collaboration with the PIs and staff.	Closed
13031	Chen Chen	Educational Leadership	This research will examine the intersection between sport and environmental justice, using literature review and critical discourse analysis. Given the negative environmental impact created by the sport industry, what are the existing strategies and practices used by sport teams and organizations in attempting to address climate change? What are the challenges and limitations of these strategies and practices? The student will primarily be responsible for some or all of the following tasks with the guidance and support of the principal investigator: 1) data collection – collecting official publications and social media posts by various professional sports teams that have demonstrated environmental awareness and have deployed relevant environmental-friendly strategies; 2) data analysis – categorizing and coding the textual data; 3) completing the research report.	Closed
14076-Waterbury	Melisa Argañaraz Gomez	Urban and Community Studies	I am seeking a research assistant to support a book project focused on Latin American children and youth care work and labor in Waterbury and Baltimore during the pandemic. Children’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have received little attention. Popular discourses claim that children are less likely to be affected by the virus and focus on isolation/mental health consequences. In doing so, these discourses present children as passive victims. This research examines how youths’ political acts of care are critical to the survival of their families, peers, and society; however, ‘care for their families’ may force youth to sacrifice their well-being and future prospects. This research focuses on the active participation of immigrant Latin American children in US society and the necessity for safety nets to protect/recognize their care work. This work includes topics such as criminality, care work/labor, health, and education of Latin American Children and Youth. A long side this research you will be able to develop your own research project. The research assistant will provide direct support for the execution and analysis of this study. Common tasks will include literature searches, support for online recruitment of participants, transcription of interviews, coding, and proofreading final writing outcomes. Additional tasks related to research will be completed as needed. You will gain valuable research experience, particularly in participatory qualitative research methods and analysis. This project will require in-person/virtual meetings at UConn Waterbury campus. You will have plenty of opportunities to network with different organizations around the Waterbury/Baltimore area.	Closed
14079	Gregory Semenza	English	I teach and write on literature and film–and, sometimes, specifically on the transformation of literature into film. I am deeply invested in understanding the historical significance of art, whether in its own moment or in later periods. My most recent book-length work has been focused on film history (especially the World War Two period) and the theorization of film genre (especially Horror). This position directly involves the student in the initial phases of research for a book project focused on the horror film as a genre that meditates on the history and nature of film itself. Over the course of the year, the student will assist Professor Semenza in reviewing the important literature in the field, constructing a comprehensive bibliography of this literature, building a usable filing system for accessing these materials, and performing several similar tasks that should result, by the end of the spring semester, in a complete book proposal. Though the student will meet with Professor Semenza each week, much of the work can be performed remotely.	Filled
13047	Mayra Toro Herrera	Plant Science and Landscape Architecture	The student will work in the Greenhouse Research and Extension Team. We work on projects related to water quality and quantity of greenhouse-grown crops. The student will assist the graduate and post-doctoral fellows in research projects in the laboratory and greenhouses. For this position, tasks may include maintaining and sampling plants in different settings (the greenhouse or growth chambers) and preparing materials for conducting or harvesting the experiments, such as irrigation systems, trays, paper bags, centrifuge tubes, test tubes, etc. Additionally, the student will sample, collect, and enter data and perform miscellaneous duties as directed. The student will also conduct an independent project related to plant production under the supervision of the post-doctoral fellow.	Filled
13048	Mayra Toro Herrera	Plant Science and Landscape Architecture	The student will work in the Greenhouse Research and Extension Team. The student will assist the post-doctoral fellow in a project related to developing a searchable database photo library with materials and photos collected for team members. The main task includes extracting information from sources, tabulating and classifying data, processing and editing photos, and organizing databases. Another task may include collecting bibliographic information and support material from past and ongoing laboratory and greenhouse research projects. For this purpose, some activities may involve compiling a list of references from index or abstract sources, updating manuscripts and databases, and summarizing published research and literature review.	Closed
14104-Stamford	Frederick Roden	English	The process of research will involve cataloging and digitizing an archive of photos, slides, and papers in the context of writing a book on figures from this family. The subject deals with memory, history, narrative, and identity. Themes include history of women in the 20th century, immigration history in the 20th century, and local/regional history. The student worker will partner with the professor in making an inventory and digitizing materials from this archive (in-person on campus). The student worker may be asked to pursue some remote (online) research with archives and libraries to inform and explain aspects of the history.	Closed
13321	Chris Elphick	Ecology and Evolutionary Biology	Our research group studies multiple aspects of ecological change, especially in relation to land use and climate change, and the conservation consequences for biodiversity. We have studies focused on birds, insects, and plant communities, and we work in coastal wetlands, forests, farmland, and urban settings. We use a variety of field, lab, and computer-based methods. More information at https://elphick.lab.uconn.edu/. Position involves reading scientific literature and extracting information for use in subsequent analyses. We have several projects, but the main focus for the semester will be on our research using the EntoGEM database to study global insect decline. More information here https://entogem.github.io/ and here https://statusofinsects.github.io/index.html.	Filled
14149	Anna Tarakanova	Biomedical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering	Our group specializes in molecular and multiscale modeling & simulation to study biomaterials, biomechanics and biophysical processes associated with the body’s function in health and disease. Multiple projects are available, depending on student interest and fit. Students will work directly under the supervision of the faculty member — we are always interested in mentoring self-motivated undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. The student will gain experience in molecular model development, atomistic modeling, molecular dynamics, coarse-graining approaches, molecular simulation setup and implementation on supercomputers, molecular visualization software, MATLAB/Python/bash scripting, and scientific writing. The student will have a chance, if successful, to contribute to a scientific publication and present their work at a conference.	Closed
14153-Stamford	Mary Newell	English	The research will focus on intersections of literature with ecology, including news articles on climate crisis and pollution, newly published books, ecopoetry, and events of interest such as poetry readings. The student need not be expert in these areas but should have an interest in learning more. The student will look for new news articles, newly published books, and events related to literature and the environment. They will create and update a bibliography and post the recent version weekly. In weekly meetings, in person or by zoom, we will review and refine the project.	Closed
14164	Erika Skoe	Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences	The Auditory Brain Research (ABR) Lab studies how people from different walks of life hear, using a variety of different methods (including EEG, MRI, blood serum) that tap into cochlear and brain function and the quality of their auditory environments. The ABR team consists of graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs from diverse disciplines. Duties of the Research Assistant will include general office and administrative work as well as basic research methods. Depending on the skills and interest of the student, additional research-related tasks may be assigned. Work will be completed under the supervision of the lab manager or post doc.	Closed
14461	Alexandra Paxton	Psychological Sciences	The dyscord lab focuses on how people communicate and work together. We use a variety of research methods—including eye-tracking, motion-tracking, computer vision, touch-screen games, online games, and driving simulators—to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of human interaction. This WSRAP posting is for a research assistant to assist primarily with the data collection process, including recruiting participants, running experiments, and organizing data after the experiments.	Filled
14486	Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead	Educational Psychology	A scoping review of published evaluation studies that include youth as co-leaders of the study. Students will be expected to: (a) participate in training on how to use specific computer programs used in scoping reviews (e.g., Covidence), (b) review and code studies, (c) participate in regularly scheduled lab meetings (in person or online), and (d) devote 5-6 hours/week to the project.	Closed
14475	Alexandra Paxton	Psychological Sciences	The dyscord lab focuses on how people communicate and work together. We use a variety of research methods—including eye-tracking, motion-tracking, computer vision, touch-screen games, online games, and driving simulators—to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of human interaction. (Note: If the applicant has an interest in this research but does not have significant data science and/or programming experience, see other posting by faculty Alexandra Paxton). This WSRAP posting is for a research assistant to assist primarily with data science and/or programming activities in the lab (including coding experiments, posting online experiments, analyzing/visualizing data, and documenting/maintaining lab code).	Closed
14089-Stamford	Mars Plater	History	I am writing a book about green spaces in New York City during the 1800s. I am learning about how parks and private commercial green spaces (called “pleasure gardens,” “beer gardens,” and “excursion groves”) were where working-class New Yorkers fought against authorities and elites in order to have fun outdoors in the ways they wanted to, while fighting amongst themselves over issues of racism, sexism, and nativism. A forgotten strand of environmentalism grew in these complicated and dramatic green spaces! I have found tons of nineteenth-century newspaper articles that reference parks and commercial gardens and I am looking for help typing them up and organizing the notes into categories. Through conversations with me, you would know which articles were especially relevant, and I would ask you to flag them and share any thoughts that you had while reading them.	Closed
14501	Sohyun Park	Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture	We are looking for a student research assistant to support data collection and organization for our Landscape Architecture Foundation Case Study Investigation project. The undergraduate student research assistant will assist the PI and Graduate Research Assistant in research efforts utilizing survey and field research techniques.	Closed
13252	Jeffrey Cohen	Finance	My current research is related to topics in real estate finance/economics; affordable housing; transportation economics; renewable energy economics; substance use disorder treatment economics; inequality among various demographic groups, in their burden of environmental noise pollution; and other economics/finance related topics. Much of my work utilizes statistical techniques to analyze data and test hypotheses on the above topics. More details about my research can be found on my UCONN webpage: https://www.business.uconn.edu/person/jeffrey-cohen/. I am looking for student(s) who can support my efforts with at least one, or more, of the following: (i) researching background literature and writing literature reviews for topics related to my research interests; (ii) supporting data analysis with Excel and/or statistical analysis software such as Stata, R, and/or Python; (iii) background research and writing for developing grant proposals; (iv) making of thematic maps with GIS software; (v) supporting developing presentation slides using Powerpoint and/or other software.	Closed