UROP Opportunities for students

Research Description: The goal of this research is to learn more about the experiences of college students who are members of the heavy metal music subculture. Studies about heavy metal college students can provide insights into a particular population that may be especially susceptible to high rates of early attrition and non-completion of degrees, as the heavy metal subculture is traditionally dominated by working-class men (Weinstin, 2000). This study undertakes the challenge of learning more about college students' experiences in the metal music subculture but also tackles social class and gender as well.

This project involves a qualitative research design in which student would gain experience recruiting participants, conducting one-on-one interviews with participants, transcribing audio recorded data, and analyzing data. Students will also gain experience in publishing and presenting the results of the analyses.

Researchers' knowledge and skills:
This research project is ideally fit for students who have extensive knowledge about the heavy metal music subculture and are interested in the experiences of metallectuals in higher education. Students with experience reading and learning about social class, gender, popular culture, and cultural studies will also find the project a great fit.

Contact:
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Krista Soria at ksoria@umn.edu

Contact: Katey Pelican, pelicank@umn.edu
Ecosystem Health Initiative, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, CVM

Research description:
Our research group takes broad interdisciplinary approach to understanding the ecology of diseases that affect wildlife, domestic animal, and human populations. One of the pressing challenges in disease ecology is understanding how infections are spread between individuals, and how the risk of disease spread might be impacted by
variation in the landscape. So we have designed studies to find out how differences in forest habitat alter the small mammal community, and how in turn these differences in community structure shape contact rates between animals and potential for disease spread across varied landscapes.

Summer UROP opportunity:
You can be a part of our research at the (lovely, famous, and conveniently close-by) Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. The summer field work will include four weeks (1 week each in May, June, July, August) of small mammal trapping. We will mark, release, and recapture animals to estimate the abundance and diversity of small
mammals in different forest habitats. We will also collect several samples for disease screening and genetic analysis. After samples are collected and data entered, student participants will have several options to shape their involvement in the analytical stages of the research. Student projects could focus on either the ecological or epidemiological aspects of the research.

Skills you should have:
You should be organized and able to coordinate multiple tasks
You should be physically able and willing to work outdoors, hot or inclement weather possible
You should have basic data collection / entry skills (data sheets, excel spreadsheets)

Skills you could learn:
Trapping and handling small mammals
Using mark-recapture methods to estimate populations
Using GIS to map habitat variations
Collecting basic epidemiological data to monitor population health

A legacy refers to something handed down from one person to another. Through her teaching, advising, research, publications, and other academic activities, Eicher has had tremendous effect on students, colleagues, and the field of textiles and clothing, especially the socio-cultural significance of dress and textiles.

The purpose of this project is to determine the influence which she has had on her graduate students' intellectual and professional lives. Information will be obtained from her students through he design of an on-line interview and analysis of the responses. This is a qualitative method of inquiry.

In addition to satisfying the criteria for a UROP project, the outcomes of this project will be: 1) a proposal to the International textiles and Apparel Association for recognition of an outstanding undergraduate research paper (report), and 2) inclusion in a book-in-process titled "Through the Lens of a Scholar: An Intellectual Biography of Joanne Bubolz Eicher."

Contact: Gloria Williams, gwilliam@umn.edu

This blog is intended as a way for U of MN faculty members to post research/scholarly/creative projects for UROP applicants. Please post a brief description of a potential project including qualifications for applicants and contact information.