The Honors Research Assistant Program provides Honors students an opportunity to work with professors as paid research assistants. Specific projects and the type of work entailed varies with each participating professor. Twenty-five HRAP positions are funded each fall and spring semester.
Student Eligibility
Open HRAP positions will be listed below at the start of each fall and spring semester. Start date, rate of pay, and project details are determined by the sponsoring professor.
Students: Click on the research project titles below to learn more about each opportunity. When you find a position that interests you, download the Student Application form at the bottom of this page and send it directly to the faculty sponsor for the research project. Twenty-five positions will be filled for Spring 2025.
Positions will be closed as they are filled. Reach out to the professor right away if you are interested in working with them on the project!
POSITION FILLED
Psychosocial Factors Influencing Condom Negotiation Among Female College Students
Faculty Sponsor: Mauricio Carvallo, Associate Professor, Psychology
Email: mcarvallo@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
High rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies among young adults, including college students, make condom use a critical public health concern. Research aimed at increasing condom use in this group focuses on understanding the barriers and motivations that shape sexual behavior and promote healthier practices. A key area of this research is examining how college students approach condom negotiation—a process that involves navigating conversations about condom use with sexual partners, often influenced by communication challenges, power dynamics, and personal comfort.
This research project aims to investigate the cultural and psychological factors that impact female college students' ability to initiate and sustain conversations about condom use with sexual partners. Specifically, it will explore how various psychological factors, such as traditional gender roles and fears of rejection, criticism, or conflict, interact to make condom negotiation more difficult for female students. and sustain conversations about condom use with sexual partners.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The research assistant will assist in conducting a literature review that summarizes existing research on condom negotiation among college students. Additionally, the research assistant will be actively involved in the design and implementation of a study that explores the factors that hinder college women’s ability and willingness to engage in condom negotiation with their sexual partners.
POSITION FILLED
Russia's War Against Ukraine: Perspectives from Eurasia
Faculty Sponsor: Hannah Chapman, Assistant Professor, International and Area Studies
Email: hschapman@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
The primary aim of this project is to assist in the organization of a symposium entitled “Russia's War Against Ukraine: Perspectives from Eurasia.” Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had profound consequences for the global order, significantly altering geopolitical dynamics within and across the Eurasian region. This symposium aims to examine how countries in the region have responded to and been affected by the war. The event will critically explore the regional dimensions of the conflict, considering the agency and strategic interests of Eurasian states and societies. It will investigate the political, economic, and social effects within these countries, examining both governmental strategies and societal perspectives. By participating in this HRAP project, the student assistant will gain hands-on experience in academic event management and research methodology. They will develop practical skills in coordinating international academic events, conducting literature reviews, supporting editorial processes, and managing complex logistics. The position offers unique exposure to current scholarship on Eurasian geopolitics while building transferable professional skills in project management, academic writing, and scholarly publication processes. Through direct collaboration with established scholars, the assistant will also develop valuable professional networks in political science and area studies.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The research assistant will undertake two core sets of responsibilities. First, they will manage symposium logistics, including coordinating travel and accommodation for international participants, preparing venue and technical requirements, and supporting day-of-event operations. Second, they will provide research support for the resulting journal publication. In particular, they will conduct literature reviews on domestic attitudes toward foreign powers and asymmetrical power dynamics in global politics. They will also assist in editorial tasks during the development of the special issue. The selected student will need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
POSITION FILLED
Analysis of 2 mHealth Apps for Cancer Patients
Faculty Sponsor: Marshall Cheney, Associate Professor, Health and Exercise Science
Email: marshall@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
This project is an analysis of the interviews conducted at the end of 2 mHealth studies for cancer patients. Our team is analyzing the qualitative data using the Dedoose qualitative data analysis software. Our team consists of students and faculty as well as collaborators at the OUHSC. We will write 1-2 abstracts for conference presentations and produce a manuscript by the end of the semester.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student research assistant must first complete the CITI trainings for both OU and OUHSC and be approved by the IRB before seeing the data. While IRB approval is in process, the student will read and summarize background articles for the manuscript and conference presentations. Once the student receives IRB approval, the student will have data analysis tasks each week as part of the researhc team. We will hold 1 in-person meeting each week and have analysis or writing assignments each week.
POSITION FILLED
Training the Eye: Visual Literacy & AI
Faculty Sponsor: Lucia Colombari, Assistant Professor, College of Fine Arts Dean's Office
Email: lucia.colombari@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
The rise of Artificial Intelligence and AI-generated images has brought about significant changes in today’s visually-oriented world, sparking complex questions regarding their societal impact and ethical concerns. This shift requires critical inquiries into AI’s impact on visual culture, including issues related to intellectual property, misinformation, and image perception. As part of a broader investigation into the intersection of emerging technologies and the creative industries, this research project examines the challenges and opportunities presented by the reception of AI-generated images. By leveraging the fundamental methods of art history for analyzing and interpreting visual information, this project is also invested in developing practical and accessible tools to enhance visual literacy.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student assistant will engage in a research project at the intersection of artificial intelligence and visual culture. Through rigorous exploration of leading AI image generation platforms (i.e., DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion), the research assistant will systematically document technical mechanisms of image generation, analyze image generation capabilities and limitations, and collect qualitative and quantitative data on the reception of AI-generated images. Learning opportunities include gaining hands-on research experience by collaborating directly with faculty to investigate cutting-edge AI image generation technologies, as well as developing advanced technical and analytical skills that are increasingly valuable in the job market.
POSITION FILLED
The role of a protease and sequence recognization in cell detachment from a biofilm
Faculty Sponsor: Kara Deleon, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Email: deleonkb@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Biofilms by the bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) are notorious for their corrosion of metals and more recently have been found to be associated with gut illnesses. My lab is determining the mechanism by which DvH cells attach and detach from surfaces. The purpose of this project is to characterize a protease that we have shown to be important in cell detachment. Two biofilm matrix proteins have been shown to be important for biofilm formation and one of these has recently been suggested to be the target of this protease. We hypothesize that this protease can cleave one or both biofilm structural proteins that are essential for cell attachment thereby allowing the cell to detach from the biofilm. In this study, the student will use available strains and create new mutants for use in biofilm studies to determine the target of this protease.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student is expected to:
POSITION FILLED
"It Takes a Family": Socio-economic dimensions of copper metal production in ancient Niger, West Africa
Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Fenn, Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Email: thomas.fenn@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
This research focuses on examining ancient metallurgical remains, specifically ceramic crucibles used for melting and casting metal, from the archaeological site of Marandet (Niger, West Africa), dating from ca. AD 600-1000. The site of Marandet played a key role in Trans-Saharan trade networks, and examining these ancient metallurgical remains from the site will aid in understand the role(s) the site and this production played in local, regional and long-distance trade networks and socio-economic systems of West Africa during the late 1st and early 2nd millennia AD. This proposed research builds on previous work (Fenn 2006; Fenn and Killick 2016; Fenn et al. 2009, 2017), through detailed documentation of the metallurgical crucibles, utilizing high-resolution 3D scanning technology, to generate multivariate multidimensional metric datasets for statistical evaluation and interpretation. Through this detailed documentation, it is hoped that homo- or heterogeneity within and across the variables measured for these crucibles will shed light on the craftspeople who produced them, allowing for interpretations of labor organization and production. It is the belief of this researcher (TFenn), that (semi-)nomadic pastoralists were the primary producers of these crucibles and the associated metallurgy, and that whole families (from oldest to youngest) may have been involved in their production, and that the metric variables recorded from the high-resolution 3D scanning will elicit this interpretation.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student will utilize new 3D scanning technology available in the Bizzell Library, to develop a method for accurately and fully scanning the crucibles from the site of Marandet. Once the methodology is worked out, the student will then commence to scan all crucibles from this research collection (about 40-50 in total), to develop the metrics dataset which will be used for statistical evaluation. Evaluation of the dataset will focus on determining if variability (or a lack of variability) in the dataset supports the hypothesis of families of nomadic pastoralist as the primary producers of the crucibles and metallurgy found at the site of Marandet. I expect the strudent working with me on this also to use the outcome of this research in a presentation at the Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Day. Subsequently, this research will be submitted for publication within the next 6-12 months, and the student will be a co-author on the publication, and on future presentations of the results (e.g., at conferences).
POSITION FILLED
Variation in response of harmful algae strains to resource availability
Faculty Sponsor: Dave Hambright, Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Email: dhambright@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
The phytoplankton of many lakes worldwide are dominated by the harmful algae Microcystis. Some species of Microcystis produce chemicals (microcystins) that render the water toxic to humans and other animals, but some species do not produce these chemicals. Though several hypotheses have been put forward, we do not know the function(s) of these chemicals in Microcystis. Ongoing research in the lab is focused on qualifying and quantifying ecological, physiological, and genomic differences between toxic and non-toxic strains of Microcystis, in order to characterize the potential function(s) of microcystins. Our research combines laboratory experimentation, including nutrient, light, and temperature manipulations, and genomics to compare how these strains differ and whether the capacity to produce toxins carries notable benefits or costs to the Microcystis.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Student researcher will work along side of and assist graduate students in various research efforts in the Faculty Sponsor's lab, thus gaining important research experience . Student responsibilities will include:
Foliage-associated arthropods of Oklahoma's grazing lands
Faculty Sponsor: James Hung, Assistant Professor, Oklahoma Biological Survey
Email: kljhung@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Grazing lands (ranges and pastures) constitute the bulk of Oklahoma's land use. As such, identifying management strategies that preserve biodiversity and ecosystem function on grazing lands is critical for the future of environmental protection in Oklahoma. Our lab surveyed foliage-associated arthropods (insects and spiders) from a series of grazing lands and natural areas in their vicinity in the summer of 2024, and will process these arthropods to examine their biomass and diversity in the Spring 2025 semester. Our goal is to ascertain whether adaptive multi-paddock grazing results in a higher arthropod diversity than traditional continuous grazing.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The Student Research Assistant will meet with PhD student Ben Turnley and with Dr. Hung to learn the main types of arthropods found in grazing lands, and then sort them and take digital images of them for subsequent data analysis. The Student Research Assistant will also have opportunities to work on other ongoing projects in the lab as time allows, including pinning and mounting pollinator specimens, examining pollen samples using a microscope, and raising captive native bees.
POSITION FILLED
A Different Approach to Curvature
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Jablonski, Professor, Mathematics
Email: jablo@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
To study and classify curves in the plane, geometers have developed notions of curvature which measure the bending of a curve using derivatives. More precisely, one can use two derivatives to track the bending of the tangent line. This theory is well-developed and classical, at this point. However, one can approach curvature through the lens of integrals, instead of derivatives. This perspective has been only partially developed and there is room for more exploration.
This project is open to any student with moderate to advanced experience and coursework in mathematics. The successful student will have taken a standard, full sequence in Calculus and Differential Equations. Some experience with proofs would be good to have.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student will meet weekly with Prof. Jablonski, read relevant research articles (with the professor's help), fill in the gaps of proofs that Jablonski shares, and write-up notes and the results using LaTeX.
POSITION FILLED
On the Move: Unequal Care and the Unseen World of Companion Animal Transport
Faculty Sponsor: Lori Jervis, Professor, Center for Applied Social Research
Email: lori.jervis@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
In the US south, dogs and cats that fall through society's cracks often find themselves in overcrowded and under-resourced animal shelters. Some of these animals will not leave the shelter alive. The lucky ones, though, journey north on what some have dubbed the “underground railroad” of the No-Kill animal welfare movement. This research project and our subsequent book manuscript takes readers behind the scenes to explore the hidden world of animal transport through the experiences of rescuers who move vulnerable shelter animals from poor and rural areas of the south to wealthier northern communities. How and why did transport become a critical lifesaving strategy for southern shelter animals? What drives a small number of rescuers from across the US, many of them unpaid or poorly paid women, to relocate tens of thousands of animals every year? And what are the consequences of this work to rescuers, animals, and society?
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
As an honors research assistant on this project, you review and provide feedback on a book manuscript based on several years of ethnographic research, including open-ended interviews and observations. In addition, you may be asked to edit transcripts based on observations of animal shelters and rescue, time permitting. The ideal student for this project will be interested in companion animal rescue, qualitative research, and ethnographic writing. This project will also provide a window into the world of book editing and publication.
POSITION FILLED
Defining Apprenticeship Rehearsals: Systematic Review of Project-Based Learning in Secondary Schools
Faculty Sponsor: Julianna Kershen, Assistant Professor, Instructional Leadership & Academic Curriculum
Email: jkershen@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Postsecondary experiences for high school graduates, in vocational training, college coursework, and workplace opportunities, increasingly require applicants who exhibit “deeper learning”—graduates who are creative problem solvers with collaborative interpersonal skills. Concurrently, policymakers are revising diploma expectations to include apprenticing within internships. What kinds of classroom-based experiences prepare high school students with the dispositional, social, and academic knowledge and skills needed to engage successfully in apprenticeships? This systematic review investigation examines peer-reviewed literature on project-based learning (PBL) as a means to synthesize the evidence of PBL processes (i.e., real-world applications, iterative learning, student-student collaboration, disciplinary content/skills, mastery learning) so as to consider how ambitious classroom-based learning and teaching interactions and student performances of learning offer rehearsal for the school-connected apprenticeships and skills needed for postsecondary success.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
We will be conducting a systematic review of PBL literature using Covidence software. Assistant will be responsible for reviewing the use of software, collaborating with team members throughout the review process, and if possible, outlining the manuscript.
POSITION FILLED
Repellent Activity of Natural Non-Toxic Chemicals on the Cayenne Tick, Amblyomma mixtum
Faculty Sponsor: Heather Ketchum, Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Email: heather.r.ketchum-1@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Arthropod vector-borne diseases have more than tripled between 2004 and 2016. More than 60% of these cases were tickborne. In Oklahoma, 90% of our vector borne diseases are caused by ticks. Since most tickborne diseases are caused by tick bites, reducing exposure is the best defense against tickborne diseases. There are only six EPA registered insect repellents recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Of those, N,N-diethyl-3-methyl benzamide (DEET) a synthetic chemical is the most commonly used however, its effectiveness varies across species, the duration of efficacy is no more than six hours, and there are concerns among the public about toxic effects. Other recommended natural or synthetic repellents have repellent properties and while they may repel ticks their duration of effectiveness is limited to one to two hours. With the lack of effective repellents and increase in tickborne diseases there is an increased interest in investigating novel natural products for tick repellency. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the repellent activity of two natural products for control against cayenne ticks.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student will be expected to read literature, attend weekly lab meetings, assist with experimental design, conduct in vitro bioassays, assist with data collection and analysis, possess a growth mindset, and be willing to be part of a research community.
POSITION FILLED
Surveying the Role of Chinese Calligraphy in Chinese Language Education in the United States
Faculty Sponsor: Nian Liu, Associate Professor, Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Email: nian.liu@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Chinese calligraphy, a traditional art form that embodies the essence of Chinese culture, has been integrated into various Chinese language programs in the United States. However, the extent and methods of this integration remain underexplored. This research project aims to survey the current state of Chinese calligraphy education across U.S. universities and institutions, examining how it is incorporated into Chinese language education. By identifying best practices, challenges, and trends, this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of how cultural components enhance language acquisition and cultural literacy. The research will involve collecting data from institutional websites, distributing questionnaires to Chinese language educators, and potentially conducting follow-ups with select institutions to gather detailed information. The ultimate goal is to generate a comprehensive overview of Chinese calligraphy’s role in language education, providing insights that may inform curriculum development and cultural education strategies, and have the results published on an academic journal.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The research assistant will work closely with the principal investigator on various aspects of the project. Their responsibilities include:
Preferred Qualifications:
POSITION FILLED
Large Language Models (LLMs) for domain-specific applications
Faculty Sponsor: Kun Lu, Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Studies
Email: kunlu@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
The project will explore the use of LLMs for domain-specific applications.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Students will learn the cutting edge Large Language Models such as GPT, Llama, Gemini for their uses in specific domain problems. Programming knowledge in Python is preferred.
What's in a name? Examining how the news describes "anti-media media"
Faculty Sponsor: Lindsey Meeks, Associate Professor, Communication
Email: lmeeks@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
American journalists have long worked to clarify their professional identity and the value of their profession. A more recent phenomenon disrupting journalists’ professionalization is the rise of “anti-media media” or "news-adjacent media." These entities claim “mainstream media” are neglecting or delegitimizing their causes and tell audiences that their outlet is the only choice for adequate coverage of these issues. These entities often shun the news media while still claiming many of the professional roles of journalists. But in return, how do “mainstream” journalists cast these entities and their roles in the news ecosystem? Do journalists identify them as “news” or “journalists” in their coverage, thereby lending them reputational capital and authority? This study will investigate how established American news outlets and other members of the news ecosystem frame U.S. anti-media media and news-adjacent media, whether their framing legitimizes or delegitimizes these entities, and how this framing contributes to journalists’ professional identity efforts. In a time when more Americans are saying it is hard to find or identify credible information, this study will address what role journalists play in categorizing who is and is not part of their profession and normatively helping to maintain a functioning democracy.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Responsibilities will include (1) aiding in data collection, such as using various databases to retrieve news articles and news transcripts based on keyword searches, (2) helping to create a set of terms to help categorize various descriptors of these anti-media media and news-adjacent media, and/or (3) applying those terms to the retrieved data to track how "mainstream media" are characterizing these entities.
Database of the London "Pops" Chamber Concerts, 1860-1904
Faculty Sponsor: Sanna Pederson, Professor, Music
Email: spederson@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
I am in the process of creating an online database for the concerts held in St. James Hall, London, from 1860-1904. There are over 2000 concerts, and they have never been compiled and documented. They were a crucial means for putting English concert life on par with that in continental Europe. They became a mainstay of London culture, reviewed by George Bernard Shaw, and even appearing in a Henry James short story and a Sherlock Holmes adventure. My documentation and commentary for a similar project can be found on my blog "Music in Berlin, 1870-1910": https://sannapederson.oucreate.com/blog.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The research assistant will check my database for the accuracy of 3 types of information about concerts in the database: the date, the performers, and the program of the music performed. More advanced students will enter new data and search for additional concerts. This project is for students interested in music history, 19th century London, and virtuoso musicians, including Clara Schumann, Joseph Joachim. It’s also for students interested acquiring skills in the digital humanities, such as becoming familiar with using newspaper archives, Zotero bibliography software, Excel, and Wordpress.
The American School of Architecture
Faculty Sponsor: Stephanie Pilat, Professor, Architecture
Email: spilat@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
The American School of Architecture refers to the imaginative and radical approach to design that emerged at the University of Oklahoma in the 1950s and 1960s under the leadership of Bruce Goff, Herb Greene, and others. Unlike the dominant architectural schools of the time, which adhered to European models such as the French Beaux Arts or German Bauhaus, the American School was an original and authentically American approach. It emphasized individual creativity, organic forms, and experimentation, rejecting both classical imitation and abstract minimalism. Drawing inspiration from the natural landscape, everyday objects, and non-western cultures, students were encouraged to approach each design problem anew and resist imitation of any kind. At the core of the American School curriculum were two ideals. First, the purpose of architectural education was to cultivate individual creativity and problem solving not produce disciples of a style. Second, architects should be taught to respond to specific sites, clients, material resources and moments in time not designing for abstract and generic universals. The work to emerge from this school was unlike any other; student designs envisioned dramatic, fantastic and experimental environments that were grounded in their natural contexts.
As faculty, I am engaged in a number of research projects related to the American School history. First among these is my current book project, Cultivating Creativity: Lessons from the American School of Architecture. Other projects include a series of public exhibitions such as Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California. We have an exhibition opening in San Francisco in February of 2025. Our team is currently working on a proposal for an installation at the Chicago Architecture Biennial. View proposal here (PDF).
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
A student assistant would help with archival research in the OU Libraries American School Archive. This is a great opportunity to engage in archival research with the wonderful support of OU librarians. The student assistant would be asked to research the collections through the online portal, set up visit appointments and then review and photograph relevant materials. They may also be asked to help organize materials for the book project or exhibitions. Much of the American School work is visual and basic photography, photoshop or illustrator skills are helpful but not required. The student may also be invited to attend project meetings, contribute writing and/or drawings. The student may be asked to help organize and attend events.
POSITION FILLED
Teaching & Learning Human Perspectives of Engineering
Faculty Sponsor: Jacob Pleasants, Assistant Professor, Instructional Leadership & Academic Curriculum
Email: jacob.pleasants@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Engineering is often perceived to be only concerned with technical problem-solving using math and science. In reality, engineering is a highly social profession that has significant connections to cultural values and ethical principles. The goal of this project is to investigate how this more “human” perspective of engineering can be communicated in engineering education. It will also explore how (and if) students develop those more human views.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
A student researcher will analyze some existing data that have been collected for this ongoing project. They will also be involved in data collection and analysis to be conducted during the spring semester. This could include developing a research plan, recruiting participants, and potentially interviewing participants.
POSITION FILLED
The OU Listening Project - An Oral History Initiative
Faculty Sponsor: Andreana Prichard, Associate Professor, History
Email: aprichard@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
TLP is a collaboration between OU students, faculty, alumni, and Oklahoma community members to memorialize the myriad histories of OU and of local communities. The stories of individual Oklahomans and their communities are what make this place great; oral history interviews document these stories for posterity and foster appreciation for the diversity of experiences and events that constitute OU. Shaped by a philosophy of community-centered archiving, the project seeks specifically to empower communities (of OU stakeholders and those living in local Oklahoma communities) in the process of preserving their own histories.
View more information here (PDF).
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Students will work with project director to document the history of the university and of its various stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and concerned community members and to work with discrete communities throughout the state and further afield to document their own histories or events.
POSITION FILLED
Architectural Proportion through the Lenses of Psychophysics
Faculty Sponsor: Tiziana Proietti, Assistant Professor, Interior Design
Email: tiziana.proietti@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
The project is an interdisciplinary research endeavor that bridges the fields of architecture and neuroscience and takes place at the Sense|Base Laboratory based at the University of Oklahoma directed by principal investigator Tiziana Proietti.
At Sense|Base we investigate human perception and experience of architectural proportion through methods of science. We ask the following questions: when is architectural proportion perceptible and discriminable to the human eye? How is the perception of proportion affected by perspective distortion? What are the effects of the experience of architectural proportion on human behavior? We consider the realistic conditions in which architectural proportion is experienced by the moving person, and how these conditions were addressed in the prior scientific literature. Then we explore how concepts and methods of the modern science of human behavior and experience can advance our understanding of proportion. To do so, we conduct psychophysical experiments in two distinguished formats: "external observation" and "immersive observation." In the first approach, the observer is stationary and external to the observed scene, while in the second approach, the observer is either stationary or moving, immersed into the observed scene. Complementary to the psychophysical experiments we are creating a pedagogical model to train students' perception of proportion. To do so we invent exercises and proportional tools.
The research conducted at our laboratory will free studies of architectural proportion from speculative reasoning unsupported by empirical evidence. This novel research will reveal whether and under which spatial conditions architectural proportion affects perception and behavior.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Although all students willing to apply are welcome to do so, students with background in human sciences such as cognitive psychology, neuroscience, behavioral science, psychophysics, and architecture would fit better the position. Research assistants will conduct experiments, contribute to their design, instruct subjects, collect and analyze data, and produce graphics to communicate results.
POSITION FILLED
Framing Climate Change & Environmental Issues In Editorial Cartoons
Faculty Sponsor: Darren Purcell, Associate Professor, Geography and Environmental Sustainability
Email: dpurcell@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Editorial cartoons often distill complex issues into simplified forms, making them accessible to readers who might not fully grasp the events being caricatured or lampooned. Our project will explore how American editorial cartoonists have responded to environmental crises and global-scale meetings, such as COP and IPCC conferences, that address these issues. The goal of this research is to identify underlying scientific themes and how they are treated by cartoonists of varying political positions.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Research assistant will will assist with the collection and archiving of editorial cartoons, collecting metadata, and initial coding to identify themes. Student will also participate in an initial scoping review to identify previous research and remaining holes in the literature.
Documenting settler-colonial impacts on indigenous landscapes
Faculty Sponsor: Asa Randall, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Email: ar@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
This project analyzes historical archives to document recent impacts to ancient places. Specially, over the course of 8000 years, indigenous communities in northeast Florida constructed massive mounds out of shell, earth, and other materials. These places were deeply significant to those communities, and were maintained for generations. Tragically, during the 20th century, these same locations were targeted for their contents, which was used to build roads. Archaeologists and historians have traditionally focused on understanding the ancient histories of these locations, before they were destroyed. In this research, I am documenting the economic, social, and legal contexts that enabled these places to be destroyed. Primary sources for the research are contemporary newspapers, photographs, deeds, and court documents.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
The student research assistant will work with me to explore documents stored in digital archives. Students will use a variety of software tools to collate, parse, and categorize archival documents housed in libraries and county clerk databases. The student will gain a detailed understanding of how to search for and acquire historic documentation, how to use the Zotero software package for historical research, and in addition will be exposed to other digital humanities software tools such as Obsidian and Markdown.
RNA Nanopore Data Analysis for Virus-Host Interactions
Faculty Sponsor: Susan Schroeder, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences
Email: susan.schroeder@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
RNA helps organisms adapt to environmental stress and also virus infections. Changes in the amount and types of RNA as well as chemical modification of RNA messages fine tune gene expression. Direct RNA nanopore sequencing uses new technology and Al to identify changes in RNA epitranscriptome profiles. The Schroeder lab is using nanopore sequencing to study Sindbis virus, influenza virus in smokers, and the ways that virus infections help tomato plants survive drought. Our team is looking for skilled computer science students to assist with data processing and analysis as well as adapting and developing machine learning techniques to improve the accuracy of identifying chemically modified nucleotides. We are looking for a motivated student with skills in python, scripting, and using OSCER. Familiarity with molecular biology and machine learning or Al techniques is desirable but not required. Curiosity and a good sense of humor are always appreciated in our applicants. Come join a great research team and discover the amazing ways that RNA and RNA viruses affect gene expression, health, and resilience.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
POSITION FILLED
Addressing durability concerns in binders with interlayer reinforcement
Faculty Sponsor: Shreya Vemuganti, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences
Email: svemugan@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is one of the fastest emerging technologies and involves layer by layer building of a binder material with additives without the use of formworks while enabling the design freedom to produce complex structural geometries. To enable this technology to reach end use applications in construction such as printing large scale fail-safe concrete structural elements, the low tensile strength of concrete is to be overcome. With changing weather and seasonal alterations, the potential of durability issues rising and negatively impacting infrastructure is increasing. These structures are constantly subjected to environmental deterioration mechanisms affecting their durability and life. Moreover, lack of knowledge and data about durability of 3D printed reinforced concrete structures hinders the growth of this digital fabrication method to truly offer its advantages towards transportation. This project will investigate to understand the effect of deterioration mechanisms such as chloride ingress and freeze and thaw on the mechanical performance, and flexural strength capacities of (a) cementitious binders with successive layers representing 3D printed elements (b) cementitious binders with different types of reinforcement incorporated at the interface between successive layers.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Task 1 - Prepare 3 specimens for each type of reinforcement - steel, glass fiber (GF) and carbon fiber (CF) for flexural testing (ASTM C580) without exposure, with freeze-thaw exposure and chemical ingress exposure.
Task 2 - Subject elements to deterioration mechanisms including freeze-thaw and chloride ingress for 60 days at 30-day intervals
Task 3 - Investigate the durability of exposed elements under flexure and develop a comparative database to non-exposed elements
Task 4 - Perform microscopic analysis at failure interfaces to understand bond and failure modes with exposed vs non-exposed interlayers.
POSITION FILLED
Data-driven methods in epidemic disease modeling
Faculty Sponsor: Weinan Wang, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Email: ww@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
This project analyses the role of data-driven methodologies for pandemic modeling and control.More precisely, the faculty member aims to exploit the abundance of available data and integrate existing data with disease dynamics based on epidemiological knowledge. In addition, the faculty member plans to brings methods from other disciplines together, such as data science, human behavior, epidemiology, and systems-and-control theory.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Student Research Assistant will be mentored to read literature, collect data, and write reports and research papers. In addition, the student will be asked to join weekly (1 hour) meeting with the faculty member to discuss progress in reading papers and the faculty member will answer questions and provide advice. The research assistant should have already taken ODE and linear algebra courses.
POSITION FILLED
Receptiveness to Dental Therapy in Persistently Impoverished Rural Oklahoma
Faculty Sponsor: Mark Woodring, Faculty, Public & Community Health Programs
Email: Mark.J.Woodring-1@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Residents in three USDA persistently impoverished counties will be surveyed to gather information related to dental health needs, access, and new ideas to improve public health outcomes across rural and tribal Oklahoma. We are partnering with Sooner Survey at the OU Hudson College of Public Health at OUHSC for this work.
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Student will follow-up with the Sooner Survey team as the survey is implemented and share insight and perspectives as we guide a final report and deliverable to a coalition of stakeholders interested in improving dental health outcomes across the state.
POSITION FILLED
Design and research assistant
Faculty Sponsor: Jon Young, Professor, Drama
Email: jon.young-1@ou.edu
Research Project Summary:
Honors Research assistant will work with the Faculty member on devolping and assembling the Creative and Research materials related to two regional theatrical design in Houston, Texas and one national design exhibition in Columbus, Ohio. Research assistant should have exepereicne in Conducting historical and conceptual research, assisting with creating Computer Aided Design renderings and drawing using software platforms such as: Vectorworks, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Lightroom. Assist with creating and assembling exhibiton and design presentation materials
Student Research Assistant Responsibilities:
Conduct historical and conceptual research, assist with creating Computer Aided Design renderings and drawing using software platforms such as: Vectorworks, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Lightroom. Assist with creating and assembling exhibiton and design presentations
Contact honors@ou.edu with any questions or for more information.