Barrett College Fellows Projects Search
Research projects
Project # 144
Center name: DREAMS Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote
Faculty lead: Mengya Xia
Project description
Our work focuses on understanding ways to promote individual positive development and optimal well-being in the family context, interpersonal settings, and broader ecological systems from the person-centered and transactional dynamic approaches, with an emphasis on fostering adolescent relationship health, social-emotional development, competence and character strengths, and flourishing as a whole.
Specifically, we are running a research study about adolescent (age 12-17) social connection and well-being. This project is funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and led by Dr. Mengya Xia. We aim to disentangle the multi-faceted constructs of social connection and well-being, as well as their associations, using multiple assessments across contexts. The ultimate goal of our research is to inform prevention/intervention to promote child and adolescent health and well-being in real life. For more information about our projects, please visit https://mengyaxia.wixsite.com/dreamslab/research. We are willing to accept 2-3 students for this project!
Special skills needed
-Detail-oriented and organized
-Interpersonal and communication skills
-Experience in computer skills, including data analysis softwares (R, SPSS, etc.)
-Experience working with adolescents and parents in school settings -Psychology (specifically developmental, social, and positive)
Majors
-Psychology (specifically developmental, social, and positive)
-Education
-Social and Behavioral Sciences
Years
ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work); First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025); 2nd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 145
Center name: MSD, Space Architecture & Extreme Environments (SAEE)
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Elena Rocchi
Project description
Barrett Honors students will participate in SAEE Barrett Research programs, including: 1) Working in the labs of the Interplanetary Initiative, The Next Lab, and the Luminosity Lab, contributing to cutting-edge science, with one student per lab. 2) Engaging in supply chain management within the Business program to contribute to designing the first Starbucks in space, with one student. 3) Participating in the SAEE Barrett Global Flex program in Rome, one of the space capitals of the world, providing an ideal environment for this program and open to all. The faculty lead is Elena Rocchi, working in collaboration with the different lab directors, program heads, and faculty abroad. By the time of application, new opportunities in labs and cities may arise, so students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with me, as the leading faculty member, to discuss available placements and opportunities in more detail.
Special skills needed
Self-Time Management; Design Capacity and Interest in Making Things; Collaboration and Teamwork; Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving; Adaptability and Flexibility; Attention to Detail; Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication; Initiative and Drive; Technical Competency; Global PerspectiveArchitecture
Industrial Design
Graphic Design (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Computer Science (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Design, Arts
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Urban Planning
Business Administration (Supply Chain Management)
Environmental Design
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (for health-related research in space)
Materials Science
Sustainability Studies
International Studies (for global perspectives)
Electrical Engineering (for wearable technology design)
Physics (for space science and research applications)
Majors
Architecture
Industrial Design
Graphic Design (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Computer Science (for virtual simulations/technologies)
Design, Arts
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Urban Planning
Business Administration (Supply Chain Management)
Environmental Design
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (for health-related research in space)
Materials Science
Sustainability Studies
International Studies (for global perspectives)
Electrical Engineering (for wearable technology design)
Physics (for space science and research applications)
Years
First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025); 2nd Year Students; 3rd Year Students; 4th Year Students- Seniors; ASU Online; Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Engineering, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 146
Center name: DREAMS Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Mengya Xia
Project description
Our work focuses on understanding ways to promote individual positive development and optimal well-being in the family context, interpersonal settings, and broader ecological systems from the person-centered and transactional dynamic approaches, with an emphasis on fostering adolescent relationship health, social-emotional development, competence and character strengths, and flourishing as a whole.
Specifically, we are running a research study about college students' (age 18 or above) healthy transition and college life adjustment. This project is funded by ASU Institute for Social Science Reserach (ISSR) and led by Dr. Mengya Xia. We aim to learn more about social media use and relevant resources or mechanisms through which promote a healthy transition among college students. The ultimate goal of our research is to inform education practice and prevention/intervention to promote healthy transition to college life. We are willing to accept 2-3 students for this project!
Special skills needed
-Detail-oriented and organized
-Interpersonal and communication skills
-Experience in computer skills, including data analysis softwares (R, SPSS, etc.)
-Passionate about psychological research
Majors
-Psychology (specifically developmental, social, and positive)
-Education
-Social and Behavioral Science
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 147
Center name: School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences (SoMSS)
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Heyrim Cho
Project description
In many cancers, cellular heterogeneity plays a significant role in resistance to treatment and tumor recurrence. Thus, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of how a tumor’s growth dynamics and its response to treatment influence – and are influenced by – cellular heterogeneity and the interactions between different cell populations, in order to make more accurate predictions about treatment responses. In this project, we will develop and compare different experimental designs and data collection protocols to accurately infer and predict tumor interaction types and radiotherapy responses.
Special skills needed
ODE/Differential equation, Matlab coding, some concepts in probability and statistics Applied Math, Computational biology
Majors
Applied Math, Computational biology
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics
Project # 148
Center name: Ross Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Heather Ross
Project description
Up to one-quarter of clients in emergency and transitional shelters are older adults, and homeless services agencies are increasingly focusing shelter services for this highly vulnerable population. Unhoused older adults have a disproportionately high rate of dementia compared to their housed counterparts, and dementia is associated with longer duration of homelessness. Our previous research, including universal screening of older adult clients for dementia and mild cognitive impairment at a large urban emergency homeless shelter, demonstrated high rates of positive screens >90% using a traditional screening threshold and >70% positivity using a conservative screening threshold with ongoing work to determine the true rate of dementia in the population. Moreover, we have found that both congregate and non-congregate shelter settings may exert different stresses on older adult clients with impacts on cognitive performance. Therefore, the caregiving needs of older adults in different shelter settings may vary.
Although staff in emergency and transitional homeless shelter settings often serve in case management roles for shelter clients, they may not be considered as caregivers. However, many unhoused older adults have more extensive support needs than their younger counterparts. Moreover, given the long duration of stay in emergency and transitional shelter settings for older adult clients, often spanning several months, client-facing staff become de facto caregivers for older adults with dementia in shelter.
At present, little to nothing is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of shelter staff and case managers about their de facto role as caregivers of clients with dementia in different shelter settings. Therefore, we are engaged in a multi-method study to 1) build on existing findings regarding the impact of shelter environments on cognitive performance, and 2) understand knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of shelter staff regarding their role as caregiver for shelter clients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
Special skills needed
Required: Willingness to conduct research in homeless shelter settings. Desired: Survey administration. Participant observation. Interview research. Qualitative data analysis.
Majors
Nursing. Social work. Community health. Aging. Psychology. Public Health. Neuroscience. Population Health. Biology. Biomedical Sciences. Community Advocacy and Social Policy. Anthropology. Sociology.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Health and Wellness, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 149
Center name: Center for Biology and Society
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jane Maienschein
Project description
The Embryo Project involves carrying out research and learning to write for a general audience, producing a cluster of articles that are reviewed and (if accepted) published in the Embryo Project Encylopedia. Research participation begins with the Embryo Project Writing Seminar, which is a structured class as a writers workshop that meets Wednesdays 3:15-5:30. We can accept up to 10 students for the course total, including graduate students and undergraduates, and we typically have 1-3 as Barrett College Fellows in fall and spring.
Special skills needed
Interest in writing about scientific ideas for a general public, willingness to learn with and from others in a writers workshop, and interest in the broad field of embryos, development, reproduction, abortion, eugenics, and related topics, and the historical and social context. life sciences, health sciences, communication, journalism, history, philosophy, law, policy, and many others.
Majors
Majors: life sciences, health sciences, communication, journalism, history, philosophy, law, policy, and many others
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 150
Center name: Swetty Center for Environmental Biotechnology
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz
Project description
We are looking for a student with the ability to work with geospatial information. The student will work with geolocation information of palms and trees in permanent plots in a peatland in the Peruvian Amazon, collected from RTK (Real-time kinematic positioning) GNSS receivers (Emlid REACH 3 and REACH 2+). The positioning data will be used as a method of validation of a previous survey carried out by drones. The person in charge is expected to be able to learn post-processing of field information, and subsequently generate some classification models related to other biological and environmental variables.
Special skills needed
Have taken courses related to remote sensing, GIS, and knowing how projections work. - Knowledge of GPS principles. - Knowledge of a GIS environment (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, QGIS). - Have taken courses in statistics and data analysis involving classification methods. Know the principles of how to train and validate a model. - Be proficient in Python or R, or some programming language with which they can generate replicable classification models. computer science, spatial sciences, geology, biology, conservation majors
Majors
computer science, spatial sciences, geology, biology, conservation majors
Years
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Sustainability
Project # 151
Center name: Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Hinsby Cdaillo-Quiroz
Project description
This is a microbiology and engineering project in which, along with a PhD student, we test various combinations of microbial cultures to optimize the growth and activity of methanotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria. Fundamentally, this experiment will be built on physiological and genomic data, testing whether metabolic interactions can complement and provide mixed growth, alleviating the limitations of low methane levels through heterotrophs' co-metabolism.
This is a computationally assisted (engineering) and bench-driven (microbiology) project, in which complementary interactions will enable testing hundreds of permutations of microbial strains.
Special skills needed
Students who have completed Mic 220 and 205, or MIC 300 level classes, will be considered for students focusing on the Microbiology component; students who have completed Process or Bioreactor engineering classes (or equivalent) will be considered. Experience in microbiology labs, Arduino systems, or bioreactor systems will be highly considered.
Majors
Microbiology, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-2nd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering
Project # 152
Center name: STEMMA, University of Galway
Campus/Location: Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Erin McCarthy
Project description
STEMMA is an interdisciplinary project that develops and applies a data-driven approach in order to provide the first macro-level view of the circulation of early modern English poetry in manuscript. It focuses on English verse manuscripts written and used between the introduction of printing in England in 1475 and 1700, by which time the rapid changes in both literary taste and publishing norms ushered in by the Restoration had fully transformed literary culture. The project includes manuscripts circulating in England and anywhere else English was spoken and read, including Ireland, the North American colonies, and continental exile communities.
We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic honors student researchers to join the STEMMA project team. As part of this multidisciplinary project, you will be involved in computational research that seeks to uncover hidden connections between early modern texts, focusing on the movement of English poetry through manuscript miscellanies. This position provides an excellent opportunity for students with an interest in literature, history, digital humanities, data analytics, math, statistics, and/or network analysis. Students are welcome to build upon their work in their honors theses/projects. Although it is not required, we would be very happy for researchers to visit the team in Galway for an intensive period of work during Summer 2026.
Special skills needed
Background in English literature, history, digital humanities, data science, design, and/or statistics.
Strong analytical skills and a willingness to learn new computational methods.
Interest in early modern literature, manuscript studies, or network analysis.
Basic experience with data analysis tools or other relevant software is a plus.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Ability to manage time effectively and handle multiple tasks.
Majors
All majors will be considered upon application, but the opportunity may be of particular interest to students in the following areas: English; History; Multi-/interdisciplinary studies; Computer and information sciences; Mathematics
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 153
Center name: Marine Biochem Research Lab - Roger Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Liza Roger
Project description
My team focuses on understanding stress in corals and other symbiotic cnidarians (ie. sea anemones and upside-down jellyfish) from a cellular and biochemical point of view. We work on protein, symbiosis, metabolites, free radicals etc. to better understand environmental stress ahead of designing treatments such as nanomedicine for corals or chemical cues to improve coral health.
Special skills needed
Cleanliness, willingness to learn, can think on their feet, interested in marine research, knowledge in chemistry and biochemistry (some knowledge in marine science would be nice), the specific skill set here will be acquired during the Honors project (e.g. coral cell dissociation, coral culture, multiwell assays, fluorescence imaging, coral/anemone/jellyfish husbandry, protein extraction western blot, nanoparticle synthesis, cytotoxicity etc).Chemistry, biochemistry, (case dependent: conservation biology, cellular biology)
Majors
Chemistry, biochemistry, (case dependent: conservation biology, cellular biology)
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 154
Center name: Barrett
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Michael Ostling
Project description
The Database aims to record all surviving data about the trials of alleged witches in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth over a three-hundred year period. It further intends to make this information publicly available in a searchable, interactive form, allowing researchers and other interested parties to sort, trace, and explore the contours of a series of trials that took the lives of at least 1000 women and men.
Responsibilities: The Database is in a late state of development. Whereas in the past we have benefited from the skills of students with a broad range of abilities (from software coding to bibliography to cartography) at this point the project needs the help of a student with strong Polish-language abilities. The student would deepen the database by finding, sorting, and translating original historical materials, placing these in appropriate database cells, and ensuring quality control through rigorous proof-reading. Student must have reading ability in Polish at the advanced, fluent, or native-speaker level, and must have a willingness to work with difficult historical materials.
Special skills needed
web design, Excel, coding, proof-reading, archival and library research, translation, database management, bibliography
Majors
history, anthropology, women and gender studies, literature, religious studies, computer science, design
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 155
Center name: Active Schools & Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos
Project description
Join Dr. Allison Poulos in the College of Health Solutions and an interdisciplinary research team to support our local communities to make the streets safer for walking, riding, and rolling. We work with City partners to evaluate changes in safety and human behavior after changes to the built environment. Our team meets weekly on the Downtown Campus on Thursdays from 11-1 and includes a large group of students ranging from first-year undergrads to post-doctoral fellows from various programs throughout ASU. You would assist with data collection including conducting surveys and environmental assessments of street and neighborhood conditions, tallying pedestrian and vehicular traffic counts, data management, and dissemination of results. This research provides a great opportunity for hands-on, community-based research with community partners in government and non-profit spaces.
Special skills needed
Interest in health, sustainability, safety, design; Interest in community-based work; Availability on Thursdays between 11-1
Majors
Health Education, Health Promotion, Public Health, Population Health, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Design, Sustainability, Psychology, Education
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 156
Center name: Active Schools & Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos
Project description
Recess is a critical setting to support children's healthy growth and development. Across, the U.S., the number of states passing legislation mandating daily school recess continues to increase; however, we don't have a good understanding of actual practices in schools. Join Dr. Allison Poulos in the College of Health Solutions and an interdisciplinary student and faculty group at other universities across 14 states to measure the relationship between recess policies and practices in elementary schools. On this project, you would assist with administering a statewide survey to schools in Arizona, data management, data analysis, and dissemination of results. The goal of our project is to translate evidence from our survey directly to school administrators, champions, and policymakers to support children's health. Our team meets in person on the Downtown campus every Wednesday from 11-1.
Special skills needed
Availability to meet in person on Wednesdays from 11-1 on the Downtown Campus; interest in health promotion, community-based research, policy, education
Majors
Health, Education, Communication, Sustainability, Humanities, Social Work
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 157
Center name: Active Schools & Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos
Project description
Interested in supporting elementary schools to make informed decisions about supporting children's health and movement when it's hot? Join Dr. Allison Poulos and our interdisciplinary study team to learn about the strategies used and challenges schools face; and collect data to identify how adding shade and greenspace to schoolyards can decrease children's thermal exposure and improve health. Students would get hands-on experience collecting and analyzing data. Availability to meet in person on Wednesdays from 11-1 on the Downtown Campus required.
Special skills needed
Interest in health, sustainability, education, design; Availability on Wednesdays from 11-1
Majors
Health, Education, Sustainability, Design, Engineering, Data Analytics, Policy
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 158
Center name: CACTUS Music Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Lindsay Reymore
Project description
The qualities and characteristics of sounds—what sounds sound like—are fundamental to musical experience. These attributes constitute timbre, sometimes also referred to as “tone color.” The aim of the current project is to better understand cognitive representations of musical timbre through a study of timbre description run in parallel across multiple languages and locations using a single, unified protocol. Identification of cross-linguistic and cross-cultural consistencies and inconsistencies will provide insight into which dimensions of timbral meaning may be physiologically based, and which may be more strongly influenced by learning.
Special skills needed
a broad list of relevant (but not required) skills: research, data analysis, coding, familiarity in running/analyzing behavioral studies, fluency in a language other than English or study of one or more languages, interest or experience in music, audio engineering, experience building or using AI/LLMs
Majors
psychology, music, sound design, linguistics, any languages (eg French, Spanish, etc); other majors welcome to apply
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 159
Center name: EYEPlay
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Erin Rotheram-Fuller
Project description
This project uses drama during story time to increase communication, engagement and literacy skills for preschool aged children who are minimally verbal. We can support up to three students for the project, and Lauren Van Huisstede is the project lead.
Special skills needed
Good organizational skills, enjoy watching and playing with young children, interest in understanding disabilities and early education engagement strategies, and attention to detail! This would be ideal for students in the social sciences and education majors. We have several parts of the project that students can take part in, from play-based assessments in schools, to online coding of classroom videos. There is also an opportunity to build and use databases, and assist in analyses for those who are interested (but not required!). This is also an ideal match for students from any field who are interested in learning more about children with disabilities.
Majors
This would be ideal for students in the social sciences and education majors. We have several parts of the project that students can take part in, from play-based assessments in schools, to online coding of classroom videos. There is also an opportunity to build and use databases, and assist in analyses for those who are interested (but not required!). This is also an ideal match for students from any field who are interested in learning more about children with disabilities.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 160
Center name: The SOCIAL Neurobiology lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jessica Verpeut
Project description
This program investigates how cerebellar circuits develop, adapt, and become vulnerable across the lifespan. Although the cerebellum is essential for motor coordination, emerging evidence shows it also supports cognition, emotion, and learning, yet the mechanisms driving these functions remain unclear. We study how cerebellar-specific cell types mature and change during development and how age-related inflammation, synaptic loss, and circuit remodeling contribute to cognitive and motor decline. Using advanced imaging, behavioral assays, computational analysis, and molecular profiling, this project will study circuit-level changes to functional outcomes. Dr. Verpeut will lead this project with 2 undergraduate students.
Special skills needed
Coding in R or Python.
Majors
neuroscience, psychology, biology, chemistry, physics
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics
Project # 161
Center name: Dr. T's Research Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Gunes Murat Tezcur
Project description
The phrase "religious extremism" and its equivalents have been widely invoked in public discourse, media, and scholarly research since the Cold War. Journalists and politicians use it to describe everything from civil-war massacres to terror attacks, from lynchings to genocidal campaigns, yet the criteria for when violence counts as “religious” shift with context and audience and is often associated widespread and unquestioned assumptions about how certain groups are presumed prone to brutality. This project uncovers the underlying assumptions and power dynamics that influence when conflict is labeled “religious” and when it is not by mapping how such phrases are used across major languages including Arabic, English, Mandarin, Persian, Russian, and Spanish.
Terms like “religious extremism,” “religious war,” “sectarian violence,” “religious terrorism,” “sacred violence,” and “religious conflict” carry immense symbolic and emotional weight in public debate, in terms of justifying certain forms of condemnation and policy-action. They also trigger extraordinary measures: curfews, censorship, surveillance, military intervention, and the restriction of religious rights. Governments and dominant groups may frame dissent or opposition as “religious extremism” to delegitimize political demands, silence critical voices, or justify repression. Labeling some acts as religious while treating others as political reinforces unequal standards of legitimacy and blame. These asymmetries affect what demands are heard, protected, marginalized, or punished. It is therefore essential to scrutinize how language can be used to stigmatize religious faith, or concentrate power under the guise of public safety and national security.
Under the guidance of Dr. Tezcür and a doctoral student at SPGS, project participants will harvest media reports, political speeches, sermons, and academic texts keyed to translations of “religious extremism,” “holy war,” “sectarian conflict,” and related terms. This mapping exercise will inform critical perspective of how we make sense of the relationship between religion and violence.
Special skills needed
Curiosity about the role violence plays in human affairs, how religious faith may inspire violent as well as altruism, the ways in which states frame violence, how language is infused with power and often shapes popular perceptions.
Statistical skills, including the ability to run regressions and perform sleek visualizations of data, are not required but will come useful.
Linguistic skills, including proficiency in Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, are not required but will come useful.
Majors
Political Science, Global Studies, International Relations, History, Sociology, Economics
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 162
Center name: Relationships & Technology Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Liesel Sharabi
Project description
The Relationships & Technology Lab in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication is seeking undergraduate research associates (RAs) for the 2026-2027 academic year. The lab conducts social scientific research at the intersection of interpersonal relationships and communication technologies. RAs will study modern romance in the context of dating apps, AI, and VR. RAs typically help with tasks such as lab management, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and/or research summaries. RAs are also expected to attend weekly lab meetings.
Special skills needed
This opportunity is most appropriate for students in the social sciences (e.g., Communication, Psychology, Sociology, Human Development & Family Studies).
Majors
This opportunity is most appropriate for students in the social sciences (e.g., Communication, Psychology, Sociology, Human Development & Family Studies).
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 163
Center name: Exomaterials lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Dan Shim
Project description
This research project will involve a series of high-pressure experiments and the synthesis of volatile storage within planetary materials. The student will receive training and conduct independent research utilizing both laser-heated diamond-anvil cells and multi-anvil presses. They will perform X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy studies on the synthesized materials.
The primary applications of this study lie in the fields of planetary science and materials chemistry. The student will be primarily mentored by Professor Dan Shim at the School of Earth and Space Exploration. They will also collaborate with postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students within his research group.
Special skills needed
laboratory experiences in chemistry, physics, materials science, Earth science, planetary science, or materials engineering.
Majors
chemistry, physics, materials science, Earth science, planetary science, materials engineering.
Years
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 164
Center name: Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tara Nkrumah
Project description
This grant focuses on STEM teacher leadership development and middle and high school students exploring STEM concepts in a hybrid STEM camp in San Antonio, Texas. STEM teachers will learn about culturally relevant pedagogy. Students will learn to apply STEM concepts to address community needs, work in collaborative learning teams, and explore STEM career pathways.
Special skills needed
1. Assisting with middle and high school student recruitment strategies
2. Contributing to program design and curriculum development
3. Managing and organizing program data
4. Conducting literature reviews on relevant STEM education topics
Majors
Science and Math
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 165
Center name: Renewable Energy Materials and Devices Laboratory
Campus/Location: ASU Research Park
Faculty lead: Nick Rolston
Project description
Our group's research goals are to develop next-generation energy and semiconductor technologies and to ensure that they are fit for manufacturability and durability. We study the connection between material degradation in printable thin-film energy and semiconductor materials and devices with the evolution of mechanical and environmental stress. We leverage scalable, open-air deposition methods to fabricate robust devices toward the goal of manufacturing. We use thin-film metrologies along with newly developed and custom-built equipment to characterize material properties and reliability on length scales from angstroms to meters. Our focus is to develop the next-generation of photovoltaics, battery, and semiconductor technology using the paradigm of design for reliability. Up to 5 student positions are available for these projects.
Special skills needed
Above all else, enthusiasm and a desire to get hands-on experience and learn more about designing the future of energy and semiconductor devices!
Majors
Any field of engineering, physics, chemistry, or computer science
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 166
Center name: Cosmology Initiative
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Simon Foreman
Project description
What are the fundamental laws that determine the birth, evolution, and contents of the universe? The field of “21cm cosmology” aims to help answer this question, by measuring faint radiation from distant clouds of hydrogen gas, relating the distribution of these clouds to the underlying “large-scale structure” of the universe, and using the statistical properties of this structure to learn about the universe and fundamental physics.
This project will investigate a specific topic in 21cm cosmology, involving a mixture of theoretical, computational, and/or data analysis work. The precise topic is to be determined, but possible topics include: forecasting the sensitivity of the upcoming CHORD telescope in measuring the cosmic large-scale structure (https://www.chord-observatory.ca); refining/extending theoretical models for clustering patterns of hydrogen gas; developing simulations that can be used to predict cross-correlation signals that can be measured with upcoming data; or contributing to data analysis infrastructure for CHORD or the currently-operating CHIME telescope (https://chime-experiment.ca/en).
Feel free to contact Prof. Foreman for further information.
Special skills needed
Experience with scientific computing in Python (at least one course in Python programming, or substantial experience outside of courses), and familiarity with Fourier transforms and statistics. Familarity with concepts in astronomy or cosmology is welcome, but not required.
Majors
Physics, Astrophysics, Computer Science, Mathematics
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 167
Center name: Center for Digital Antiquity
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person; Fully remote
Faculty lead: Christopher Nicholson
Project description
Project Description: The student working on this project will work with the Center Director and Lead Software Engineer on making software and coding enhancements to the tDAR repository (https://core.tdar.org/). We are seeking one student for the project.
Special skills needed
Computer programming. Java, Javascript, HTML, Ruby, SolrComputer
Majors
Computer Science
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 168
Center name: Center for Digital Antiquity
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Christopher Nicholson
Project description
As an archaeological data center, we regularly work with Federal and State agencies, Tribes, private firms, and academic institutions. Our business model relies on these groups submitting digital resources to our digital repository (tDAR), and we are seeking to expand our client base and explore philanthropic opportunities. We are looking for a business or marketing student to develop a marketing strategy that appeals both to our existing and potential clients, as well as to philanthropies that may wish to support our mission. We are particularly interested in strategies that extend beyond traditional social media outreach.
Special skills needed
Business, marketing
Majors
Business
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 169
Center name: Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The Center for Innovation in He…
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Abigail Gomez-Morales
Project description
The project consists of a 7-week skill-building intervention for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) who live alone delivered via Zoom. Participants learn about ADRD, the importance of family and friends, communication techniques, relaxation techniques, and self-care, among other topics. Dr. Gómez-Morales leads the project, and we are willing to accept a student.
Special skills needed
Data management (REDCap and SPSS), communication skills for screenings, and other interviews.
Extra skills but not mandatory- being knowledgeable in Spanish- able to speak and write.
Majors
Nursing and health care related majors
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 170
Center name: Public Health Ethics Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Rachel Gur-Arie
Project description
This project aims to provide a more ethics-forward, in-depth understanding of the influence of religion and spirituality on vaccine hesitancy as well as the tensions that may exist for religious healthcare workers. Our plan is to engage religious pre-health students and religious leaders–as gatekeepers to the religious public’s trust in public health–to better understand religious communities’ motivations, concerns, and perceptions of science and vaccines. We anticipate this work will produce preliminary findings that can inform future research focused on religious healthcare workers’ well-being, best practices, and trust in public health utilizing a mixed methods approach.
Special skills needed
Time management, punctual, engaging, fast learner, responsible, and communicative.
Majors
No specific major is necessary. Must have an interest in public health, bioethics, or qualitative research.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 171
Center name: New Carbon Economy Consortium (NCEC)
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Krista O'Brien
Project description
The New Carbon Economy Consortium (NCEC) is an alliance of universities, national labs, and NGOs working in partnership with industry leaders to build a carbon-conscious world. NCEC hosts members with carbon removal solutions in Engineered Solutions, Biological Solutions, and Hybrid Solutions as well as Finance, Governance, Policy, Business, and Entrepreneurship.
The NCEC Insights project intends to educate a broad audience on cutting edge solutions in carbon sequestration, use, and storage. These solutions range from technical solutions like mechanical carbon sequestration to natural solutions such as “blue carbon” which utilizes coastal ecosystems to capture and store carbon. The Barrett Fellows will be tasked with 1) conducting research into up-and-coming carbon solutions, 2) interviewing researchers and practitioners in fields of carbon capture, use, and storage, and 3) drafting written deliverables. This project will expand students' knowledge of carbon capture concepts and allow students to develop climate communication skills, as the insights will communicate complex topics to the general public.
The faculty lead for this project is Amanda Ellis, but Krista O'brien is the secretariat and primary manager of the New Carbon Economy Consortium. NCEC falls under the Global Partnerships department within the Global Futures Laboratory.
Special skills needed
Required:
Strong oral and written communication skills
Proficiency in email communication
Self-motivated to work independently and meet deadlines in a timely manner
An interest in climate action and carbon solutions
Experience working on a team
Preferred:
Understanding of various CO₂ concepts such as CO₂ sequestration, conversion, storage, and mineralization.
Experience conducting interviews English, Communications, Journalism, Sustainability, Engineering, Education (flexible on major if they fulfill the required & preferred skills through course work and professional experience)
Majors
English, Communications, Journalism, Sustainability, Engineering, Education (flexible on major if they fulfill the required & preferred skills through course work and professional experience)
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 172
Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person; Fully remote
Faculty lead: Beckett Sterner
Project description
This project studies viruses detected in North American rodents to advance understanding of reservoir hosts and improve risk modeling for zoonotic disease spread. We are completing the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of studies publishing virus detection results and experimental or statistical studies of factors that influence disease spread. Students with an interest in biology (no prior skills required) can join an ongoing team that extracts and analyzes virus detection studies. Students with some prior computational or statistics background can join a team working on data visualization and analytics. Both tracks can accommodate as many students as are interested and have the relevant background. We have had many prior honors fellows go on to do successful thesis projects based on the data they extract, and we encourage students to develop publishable journal articles from their work.
Special skills needed
Students with an interest in biology (no prior skills required) can join an ongoing team that extracts and analyzes virus detection studies. Students with some prior computational or statistics background can join a team working on data visualization and analytics.
Majors
Biology (or related fields), Computer Science, Math, Data Science, Statistics
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness
Project # 173
Center name: Physical Activity and Health Lab, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Preve…
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Rodney Joseph
Project description
Smart Walk is research study funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NIH/NHLBI). The study aims to to examine if a culturally tailored, smartphone-delivered physical activity intervention, entitled Smart Walk, is more effective for increasing physical activity and improving health outcomes among Black women than the commercially available Fitbit program. A total of 240 participants will be recruited and enrolled in the 12-month study. Results will provide meaningful information on the effectiveness of the Fitbit physical activity program and our Smart Walk physical activity program for increasing physical activity and improving health outcomes among Black women.
Special skills needed
Student applicants should have an interest in physical activity/exercise and health promotion. Students will have the opportunity to gain skills related to the design and implementation of a behavioral clinical trial, including recruitment and retention; data collection, entry and management; and intervention delivery. Community Health, Integrative Health, Nursing, Clinical Exercise Science, Applied Health Sciences, Applied Nutrition and Health, Health Education and Health Promotion, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Population Health, Public Health
Majors
Community Health, Integrative Health, Nursing, Clinical Exercise Science, Applied Health Sciences, Applied Nutrition and Health, Health Education and Health Promotion, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Population Health, Public Health
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 174
Center name: Department of Physics
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jingyue Liu
Project description
This project centers on the synthesis of novel nanostructured materials for energy and environmental applications. Nanoscale architectures exhibit unique physicochemical properties that can be leveraged to develop more efficient and sustainable technologies. Our work focuses on designing and optimizing chemical synthesis strategies to establish robust, scalable protocols suitable for practical implementation. The resulting nanostructured materials will serve as catalysts in processes such as hydrogen production and the conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals. A key emphasis of the project is the efficient utilization of rare earth metals to enhance catalytic performance.
Special skills needed
Knowledge and experiences in inorganic chemistry, especially synthesis of inorganic materials using chemistry methods. Inorganic Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering.
Majors
Inorganic Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 175
Center name: School of Earth & Space Exploration
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Rogier Windhorst
Project description
Students who are taking Prof. Windhorst's AST 322 Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology course (in Spring 2026 or have taken it earlier) can do an Honors project related to that course. See http://windhorst322.asu.edu for details. The Honors Project will include to evaluate the scale factor a(t) from the integral equation (5.83) --- the proper solution to the relativistic Friedmann equation --- in Ryden's book for a reasonable grid of (Omega_r, Omega_m, Omega_Lambda) values, and plot these a(t) [following Fig. 5.7] for a grid of (Omega_m, Omega_Lambda) values as suggested in Fig. 5.6. Sample Fig. 5.6 with a dense enough grid of (Omega_m, Omega_Lambda) values to provide examples of a(t) for all reasonable universes (see the *** in Fig. 5.6). Successful students will also be able to do research with Hubble and Webb in my cosmology group starting in the summer.
Special skills needed
see class URL above
Majors
see class URL above
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics
Project # 176
Center name: The Biomimicry Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Sara El-Sayed
Project description
Student will support existing activities related to lab to market for biomimetic innovations across campus, including developing an educational module on biomimicry to be used by Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The student will be involved in assessing the assessment tools used for the online platform/dashboard. The student will also maintain the social media page with periodic updates.
Special skills needed
Research methods, possibly grant writing experience, social medialife sciences, interdisciplinary, business, sustainability
Majors
life sciences, interdisciplinary, business, sustainability
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 177
Center name: Authentic online research on honey bee colonies
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Hong Lei
Project description
As an eusocial species, honeybee colonies are known to demonstrate age dependent behaviors. Young bees take care of the brood; older bees become forager. At any given time, different individuals are performing different behaviors in the hive. Recognizing and quantify these behaviors is important for understanding organizing principles of a society, but this task is challenging because of large number of bees. Could this work be automated by a computerized tracker powered by machine learning?
Special skills needed
Computer vision, AI, data science
Majors
CS
Years
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering
Project # 178
Center name: Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Joan McGregor
Project description
This project is aimed at research for our grant project designed to cultivate civic character and virtue among undergraduates at Arizona's public universities. I am looking for a student to develop a bibliography on the moral and epistemic virtues crucial for citizenship and flourishing democratic societies, particularly the virtues of civility, empathy, civic grace, humility, and openness to diverse perspectives. I would also like to have someone compile materials for our website on cultivating civic virtue.
Special skills needed
Strong research skills, interest in virtue theory
Majors
Philosophy, Poli Science, Religious Studies
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 179
Center name: Kusumi Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Kenro Kusumi
Project description
There are about 30,000 amniote vertebrate species, and nearly 10,000 of these species are reptiles. Reptiles display incredible diversity of morphological and physiological adaptations to their environments, compared with mammals and birds, but they have not been the focus on genomic or molecular studies. We have deciphered the genome of the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a hallmark species of the desert southwest that is threatened with habitat loss and disease. This recent work is described in this video. We have also completed the reference genome for the Sonoran desert tortoise (G. morafkai) and the Texas tortoise (G. berlandieri) and are using these data to study the effects of changes in the Colorado River and monsoon precipitation on the evolution of these species across the southwestern US. Students with interest or skills in computational biology or bioinformatics will work with researchers to further investigate the genetics of the desert tortoises.
Special skills needed
Scripting (R, Python) or coding skills preferred
Familiarity with command line platforms (UNIX, Linux, etc.)
Interest in applying computational approaches to conservation science
Majors
BS Biological Sciences
BS Data Science
BS Biochemistry
BS Neuroscience
BS Geography or GIS
BS Statistics
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 180
Center name: Views of Aging, Health, & Well-Being Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Hannah Giasson
Project description
Dr. Giasson’s lab examines the social and environmental contexts that shape views of aging and the impact of such views on people’s health and well-being. Students in the lab will have opportunities to collaborate on research projects investigating the emergence of attitudes and beliefs about aging and evaluating the cognitive, behavioral, social, emotional, and physiological implications of age stereotypes. Projects in the lab also explore potential ways to improve views of aging across the life span.
Special skills needed
Strong verbal & written communication, well-organized, willingness to learn & adapt, experience with data analysis welcomed
Majors
Psychology, Nursing, Community Health, Integrative Health, Social Work, Biological Sciences, Communications/Journalism, Pre-Medicine, Sociology, Health & Wellness, Public Health, Health Sciences & Medical Studies, Human Development
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 181
Center name: Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Qiyun Zhu
Project description
Dr. Qiyun Zhu is leading a DOE-funded project to enhance scikit-bio (https://scikit.bio/), a renowned open-source Python library for bioinformatics. Scikit-bio offers a range of algorithms and data structures extensively utilized in biological data analysis. Our goal is to augment its capabilities, particularly in handling and interpreting large-scale, multi-layered biological data (multi-omics), crucial for unraveling the intricate interactions among organisms and the environment. Specifically, we seek to recruite 1-3 students to add and refine functionalities for 1) efficient processing of diverse data types, 2) seamless integration of multi-omic datasets, and 3) characterization and labeling (annotation) of biological elements. This opportunity is a gateway for students to collaborate with leading bioinformatics experts and software engineers. Ideal candidates should have a keen interest in open-source scientific computing and a basic understanding of programming, preferably in Python. Students from diverse academic backgrounds who are enthusiastic about merging computing with biology are encouraged to apply. Participants will receive hands-on experience in contributing to high-quality software, valuable mentorship, and skill development that is highly desired in both academic and industry settings. This experience will be a significant stepping stone in your career in bioinformatics, software development, or data science.
Special skills needed
* Strong programming skills, preferably in Python, is essential for this position.
* Experience in open-source software development is highly preferable but not essential.
* Experience or interest in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or statistics is preferrable but not essential.
* Experience or interest in evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics, molecular biology, or any other biology fields is preferrable but not essential.
* The applicant may read the scikit-bio guideline for contribution: https://scikit.bio/contribute.html to assess their comfortableness with the development work.Any major is appropriate, as long as you have the right skillset. Some successful candidates were from majors such as Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Statistics, etc.
Majors
Any major is appropriate, as long as you have the right skillset. Some successful candidates were from majors such as Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Statistics, etc.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness
Project # 182
Center name: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Rachel Gur-Arie
Project description
At the Public Health Ethics (PHE) lab, our mission is to RESPOND to problems within public health and healthcare systems, REIMAGINE how to research them, and to REDEFINE what it means to build resilience in public health. We examine how religion and spirituality influence vaccine hesitancy and the tensions experienced by religious healthcare workers in the U.S. We also explore the ethical and health equity challenges at the intersection of genomic medicine and infectious disease research in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serving under-resourced communities. Using mixed methods, we collaborate with communities and providers to advance ethical research practices.
We can accept up to 6 students to join our lab group.
Special skills needed
Time management, initiative, communicative, organized, fast learning, collaborative, committed, open-minded.
Majors
We are open to any major so long as you have an interest in public health and bioethics.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 183
Center name: Simon A Lebin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Fabio Milner
Project description
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are very common, particularly among 18-to-24-year-olds. It has been observed that they are more common among dating app users than among non-users. If we want to study a possible causal relation or correlation between STI incidence and use of dating apps, we must first know the structure of the sexually active population, hopefully by age and sex. We also need to know the rate at which the various groups considered in the structure acquire new individuals (onset or restart of sexual activity) and the rate at which they lose them (cessation of sexual activity). Building a model for this population will be the first step in the project. The next step will be to build a model for the transmission of STIs across the groups in the sexually active population. This will involve the collection and preparation of data, parameter fitting, research question(s) formulation, experimental design to answer the question(s), and analysis of scenarios. This exciting project will be hands-on, not lecture style. Participants will be responsible for conducting literature reviews, selecting and summarizing articles, discussing and carrying out model formulation, formulating research question(s) and analyzing results that help answer them.
Special skills needed
Quantitative and analytical thinking
Understanding the meaning of and using derivatives and differentiation (calculus 1).
Majors
all
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 184
Center name: Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, Biodesign Institute
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Di Liu
Project description
This project explores the design and synthesis of complex DNA and RNA topological structures, including knots and links, to address fundamental questions in biology and medicine. By leveraging cutting-edge techniques in bionanotechnology, we aim to construct and characterize these intricate structures and to reveal novel insights into the biophysical properties of nucleic acids and their potential biomedical applications. Students will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology and nanotechnology techniques, including DNA and RNA handling, gel electrophoresis, and various characterization methods. Computational tools may be used for structural modeling and prediction.
Special skills needed
Basic experimental skills in biochemistry or molecular biology. Programming skills are also preferred.
Majors
Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Molecular biology, Physics
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Health and Wellness
Project # 185
Center name: The CHASE Lab
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Julia Hammett
Project description
The CHASE Lab investigates health disparities associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of interpersonal aggression. Our studies focus on examining sociocultural and economic risk factors of IPV and on developing interventions to reduce the risk of IPV among under-resourced couples.
2 students Lead: Julia Hammett
Special skills needed
Students should be professional, reliable, and detail-oriented, with strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote research environment. Comfort engaging diverse populations and sensitive topics, along with an interest in public health or research methods, is valued, and students with an interest in health equity, community-engaged research, and violence prevention are especially encouraged to apply.
Majors
All majors/levels welcome to apply.
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 186
Center name: SESE
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Sanchayeeta Borthakur
Project description
Multiple paid project positions are open for astronomy and astronomy+computer science /statistic majors to study galaxies and gas between galaxies.
Special skills needed
Statistics, data handling basics, probability, radio astronomy, plotting and data presentation, scientific writing, website creation and handling.
Majors
Statistics + computer science double major
Astronomy + computer science double major
Astronomy + statistics double major
are most preferred.
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 187
Center name: The Happy Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Jaron Mink
Project description
Online crowdwork platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), Prolific, and CloudResearch have massively cheapened and simplified the process of recruiting human-subjects research at scale; this data directly informed research in psychology, behavioral economics, public health, and computer science, among many others. Unfortunately, this increased accessibility has also made studies more susceptible to large-scale study fraud. This series of research projects seeks to advance defenses against AI-enabled deception, unify protections within a usable open framework for researchers, and gain an unparalleled view of online study fraud.
This project is interdisciplinary and lives at the intersection of computer science, computer networks, cybersecurity, social science, Human-Computer Interaction, and AI-focused research. The students will work alongside a PhD student in this area and help build towards publishable research findings. We prefer to bring students into the group early in their program so there’s a possibility of a long-term collaboration if the fit is right. These projects often take around 1–2 years from start to publication, so once you’ve had a chance to learn about the project and decide it’s the right match, we ask for a minimum commitment of about 6 months to ensure you can make a meaningful contribution.
Special skills needed
This project is extremely interdisciplinary and students can contribute from a number of possible skill sets, but a basic understanding of computer science and computer networks will be important.
Skills: Computer Science, Computer Networks, Cybersecurity, Social Science Methodology (Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods), Experimental Design, Statistics, Human-Computer Interaction.
Majors
Computer Science, Social Science/Psychology/Communications, Cybersecurity, AI
Years
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 188
Center name: School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Campus/Location: West; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Kendall Funk
Project description
Students will assist Dr. Funk in a research project examining the ways that political candidates present themselves on the ballot in Brazilian elections. In Brazil, candidates can list their name on the ballot however they choose. While many candidates use a version of their first and last names, others choose to use only their first name or a nickname. Some candidates use names that are meant to grab voters’ attention, like “Batman” or “The Good Bin Laden.” Other candidates mention their occupation or include a professional title like Doctor, Professor, Sergeant, or Reverend. Through their names, candidates can strategically stand out from the crowd or convey additional information about themselves to voters, such as their social identities, qualifications, or other characteristics. This project analyzes how candidates choose to present their names on the ballot, whether candidate names vary across offices and levels of government, and whether different types of candidates present their names in different ways by looking at candidate identities including gender, race, age, education, and marital status, and important intersections of these identities. The project also seeks to understand why and how candidates choose their “ballot name” and the broader consequences of these naming choices.
Special skills needed
-Ability to work independently
-Strong interest in research
-Previous coursework related to the project
-Interest in one or more of these subject areas: political science, social and behavioral sciences, linguistics, Brazilian or Latin American studies, sociology, communication
-Read and synthesize academic literature
-Portuguese and/or Spanish language skills are desired, but not required
-Quantitative data skills are useful, but not required
-Qualitative research skills are useful, but not required
Majors
-Political Science
-Social Justice and Human Rights
-Sociology
-Social and Behavioral Sciences
-Communication
-Linguistics/Languages
-Related Fields
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 189
Center name: N/A
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Yi Zheng
Project description
This project explores how large language model based instructional agents can be designed to support higher-quality cognitive engagement in online STEM courses. The project builds on an existing multi-agent instructional system developed in the lab of Professor Hua Wei in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at ASU. The new research aims to integrate the ICAP framework (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive) (Chi & Wylie, 2014) as a principled design lens for instructional decision-making.
The honors student will work on (1) translating ICAP principles into explicit agent behaviors, (2) applying these designs to selected modules from an online STEM course, (3) analyzing how different agent configurations promote different ICAP learning modes, and (4) evaluating artifacts (e.g., engagement coding schemes, alignment checks between learning objectives and agent outputs) and student learning outcomes.
This project is suitable for one honors student with interests in AI, education, and research methodology. The student will gain experience in human-centered AI design, learning science frameworks, and empirical research.
Special skills needed
Strong interest in education research, adept thinker and problem-solver, detail-oriented, organized, professional communication
Majors
Psychology, education, social sciences, computer science majors who are interested in education research
Years
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 190
Center name: Views of Aging, Health, & Well-Being Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Hannah Giasson
Project description
Dr. Giasson’s lab examines the social and environmental contexts that shape views of aging and the impact of such views on people’s health and well-being. Students in the lab will have opportunities to collaborate on research projects investigating the emergence of attitudes and beliefs about aging and evaluating the cognitive, behavioral, social, emotional, and physiological implications of age stereotypes. Projects in the lab also explore potential ways to improve views of aging across the life span.
Special skills needed
strong verbal & written communication, well-organized, willingness to learn & adapt, experience with data analysis especially welcomed
Majors
Psychology, Nursing, Community Health, Integrative Health, Social Work, Biological Sciences, Communications/Journalism, Pre-Medicine, Sociology, Health & Wellness, Public Health, Health Sciences & Medical Studies, Human Development
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 191
Center name: Strategic Partnerships & Networks, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Liz A. Dorn
Project description
The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is a global competition that recognizes, supports, and amplifies women entrepreneurs advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative, community‑driven business solutions. Co‑convened by Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Vital Voices Global Partnership, and the UN Foundation, the Challenge annually selects 25 outstanding women entrepreneurs from around the world, culminating in the selection of five Awardees who participate in high‑level engagements during UN Global Goals Week.
This Barrett Fellows project offers students a substantive, research‑driven opportunity to contribute to a global women’s leadership initiative at the intersection of sustainability, entrepreneurship, gender equity, and social innovation. Working approximately 10 hours per week, Fellows will support the program’s research, communications, and storytelling efforts. Fellows will engage in applied research and qualitative analysis that strengthens the program’s understanding and communication of women‑led innovation worldwide.
Core responsibilities may include:
*Conducting qualitative interviews with the Top 25 Finalists to gather insights on their entrepreneurial journeys, sustainability impacts, and community leadership.
* Synthesizing interview findings into research‑based written deliverables such as finalist profiles, feature stories, and short‑form content that translate complex global challenges into accessible, compelling narratives.
* Analyzing and refining the WE Empower Challenge's digital communications strategy, including research on best practices for elevating global social impact initiatives on LinkedIn and other platforms.
Through this work, Fellows will deepen their understanding of:
* Global sustainability challenges and the SDGs
* Women‑led entrepreneurship and social innovation
* Qualitative research methods and cross‑cultural interviewing
* Strategic communications and impact storytelling
These skills are highly relevant to careers in sustainability, international development, journalism, public policy, global studies, and social impact leadership.
The faculty lead for this project is Amanda Ellis, with Liz A. Dorn serving as the primary project manager for the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge. The Challenge is housed within the Strategic Partnerships & Networks portfolio of the Global Futures Laboratory.
Special skills needed
Required:
Strong oral and written communication skills
Proficiency in email communication
Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks
Interest in sustainability, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, or global development
Experience working collaboratively on a team
Preferred:
Prior interviewing experience (journalistic, academic, or qualitative research)
Familiarity with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Experience with social media strategy, especially LinkedIn
Coursework or experience in communications, journalism, sustainability, global studies, business, or gender studies
Majors
Communications, Journalism, Sustainability, Global Studies, Business/Entrepreneurship, Gender Studies, Public Policy
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Business and Entrepreneurship, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media
Project # 192
Center name: Health Neuroscience Collaborative
Campus/Location: Downtown; Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: YiYuan Tang
Project description
Professor YiYuan Tang will supervise this project. The first stage of this project was part of Honors thesis project done successfully by Sophia last year. We will continue to work on the project and explore its brain and body mechanisms and how to apply self-affirmation to education and health. Please feel free to contact Professor Tang for your questions.
Special skills needed
Open-minded attitude and self-learning
Majors
Any majors
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 193
Center name: Health neuroscience collaborative
Campus/Location: Downtown; Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: YiYuan Tang
Project description
This project is part of federally funded research and aims to support effective behavior change using mindfulness and neurofeedback.
Special skills needed
Open minded attitude and self-learning
Majors
Any majors
Years
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 194
Center name: American Indian Policy Institute
Campus/Location: Downtown; Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Brooke Curleyhair
Project description
This project is designed for students interested in the intersection of Indigenous law, public policy, and governance, particularly those considering law school or policy-oriented careers. Under the mentorship of faculty and staff at the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI), students will engage in a structured research and writing experience focused on a legal or policy issue impacting Indigenous peoples in the United States or internationally.
Students will develop a focused research question, examine the historical and legal foundations of the issue, and analyze contemporary federal, state, tribal, or international policy developments. As part of this work, students will contribute to AIPI’s ongoing policy analysis efforts by assisting with legislative and Federal Register tracking, maintaining and updating a shared policy spreadsheet, and drafting summaries of relevant policy developments in collaboration with AIPI researchers. These activities will support, rather than replace, their individual research project.
Students will produce a final written product, such as a policy brief, research article, or blog post, with opportunities for publication through AIPI’s policy blog and/or the Law Journal for Social Justice’s online platform. Year-long projects may support submission to a law or policy journal.
Special skills needed
This project is intended to facilitate learning opportunities in advanced research and academic writing techniques. While a specific set of qualifications is not required, we recommend students with some experience engaging in academic research and writing apply for this opportunity.
Majors
ANY major! Policies touching all facets of everyday life, from education to health to engineering, impact Indigenous peoples. The more research we do on these diverse issues, the more prepared and empowered Indigenous communities will be to develop quality of life-enhancing solutions!
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 195
Center name: THREADLab
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Tiffany Lemon
Project description
We are seeking motivated undergraduate students to support data-driven health services research focused on health care access, utilization, and costs, comorbidities among people with chronic conditions, including substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and HIV. Ideal candidates are self-directed, detail-oriented, and interested in causal or applied quantitative research. Students should be comfortable working independently, taking initiative and direction, and committing approximately 10 hours per week.
What We’re Looking For
Experience with at least one data analysis or statistical software package
Interest in causal or quantitative health research
Ability to work independently in a self-paced research environment
Preferred Qualifications
Programming skills in R (preferred), SAS, SQL, Python, SPSS, or Stata
Experience with healthcare claims or encounter data
Data visualization experience (e.g., Tableau or similar tools)
Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
What You’ll Gain
Hands-on experience with real-world healthcare data used in applied research
Exposure to causal research methods and health services research
Mentorship in data analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication
Opportunities to contribute to public health–focused research outputs (e.g., abstracts, posters, manuscripts, or reports)
Skill development relevant to graduate school, public health, data science, and healthcare careers
* You do not need to meet every preferred qualification to apply. We value curiosity, commitment, and willingness to learn. Many skills can be developed through mentorship and hands-on experience. Final selection will include an interview process and submission of prior work.
Special skills needed
Basic data cleaning and preparation
Working with structured data sets
Running descriptive analyses
Creating tables and figures for reporting
Experience with at least one statistical or data analysis tool (R preferred; SAS, Python, SQL, or SPSS)
Understanding of basic research concepts
Willingness to learn, take initiative, and problem-solve
Majors
Population Health
Health Education and Promotion
Health Sciences
Public Health
Health Care Administration and Policy
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
All students within the College of Health Solutions are encouraged to apply.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 196
Center name: Global Center for Applied Health Research
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Flavio Marsiglia
Project description
Research Communication and Dissemination Assistant will support the Global Center by enhancing its research dissemination and public health education strategy through research briefs, social media content strategy, marketing materials, website content and reports. Ideal for a student interested in research journalism, communications, marketing, public health education, health communication, social media marketing and/or public relations.
Special skills needed
social media, graphic design, report writing, journalism, communications, public health
Majors
Graphic design, journalism, communications, public health
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Health and Wellness, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 197
Center name: Global Center for Applied Health Research
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Stephen Kulis
Project description
Led by Dr. Stephen Kulis, the Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W) project addresses health disparities in urban American Indian/Alaska Native families. The research aims to identify if positive changes in parenting lead to improved youth health, providing crucial insights for community prevention interventions in urban AI communities. The student assistant will assist in data management, data analysis, literature reviews, and researching relevant areas of the project to increase dissemination and research impact.
Special skills needed
Detail-oriented, excellent communication skills, ability to work in a team environment, entry-level data entry skills, literature review or literature research , academic writing, meeting minutes , editing and graphic design Social work, Public Health, Global health, American Indian Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Public Policy. We are open to other majors as well.
Majors
Social work, Public Health, Global health, American Indian Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Public Policy. We are open to other majors as well.
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 198
Center name: Simulator Building
Campus/Location: Polytechnic
Faculty lead: Shiva Pooladvand
Project description
This project, conducted in partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), focuses on improving roadway safety for drivers across Arizona. The primary goal is to develop and evaluate innovative training programs that utilize a high-fidelity driving simulator to enhance the driving skills, hazard recognition, and decision-making abilities of inexperienced drivers. These simulator-based training modules will be designed to replicate real-world driving environments and challenging scenarios commonly encountered on Arizona roadways. The selected student will contribute to the development of different driving scenarios within the simulator. Applicants should have familiarity with programming and an interest in simulation, human factors, and transportation safety research. The student will work closely with the research team to design, implement, and test interactive training modules that promote safer driving behaviors and reduce crash risks among inexperienced drivers. This is a volunteer position.
Special skills needed
Proficiency in programming, data analysis, human subject study, and data collection
Majors
Human Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or other related Engineering majors
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 199
Center name: ASU Percussion Studio
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Michael Compitello
Project description
A Performer’s Guide to Learning examines how musicians and other performers achieve peak performance by cultivating powerful interdisciplinary learning practices drawn from a wide array of musical and non-musical domains, including history, cultural studies, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and motor learning. The project investigates the intricate relationship between learning, intuition, preparation, and reflection in expert artistic performance.
The Barrett College Fellow will contribute to a book-length research project that clarifies how learning processes—before, during, and beyond the practice room—shape high-level musical performance, helping to articulate a performer-centered framework that bridges research, artistic practice, and professional development.
This opportunity is open to students interested in the intersection of the art and science of learning. The Fellow will conduct a guided literature review in selected areas of the learning sciences, humanities, and creative arts aligned with the student’s interests, which may include:
Motor learning, skill acquisition, and memory
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Peak performance
• Reflection and metacognition
• Performer-centered pedagogy
• Historical models of learning among artists
In addition to gaining foundational experience in interdisciplinary research, synthesis, and scholarly communication, the Fellow will work with the faculty mentor to translate this research for public-facing and educational contexts.
Special skills needed
Interest in cognitive neurology, neuroscience, and/or motor learning
Interest in musical performance (no musical skills are necessary)
Ability to read, synthesize, and summarize academic research
Curiosity
Growth Mindset
Organizational ability
Initiative and proactivity
Majors
Educational Science
Interdisciplinary Studies
Behavioral Science
Psychology
Data Science
Music
History
Integrated Studies
International Letters and Cultures
Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance
Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Social and Behavioral Science
Years
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 200
Center name: ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Michael Compitello
Project description
A Performer’s Guide to Learning examines how musicians and other performers achieve peak performance by cultivating powerful interdisciplinary learning practices drawn from a wide array of musical and non-musical domains, including history, cultural studies, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and motor learning. The project investigates the intricate relationship between learning, intuition, preparation, and reflection in expert artistic performance.
The Barrett College Fellow will contribute to a book-length research project that clarifies how learning processes—before, during, and beyond the practice room—shape high-level musical performance, helping to articulate a performer-centered framework that bridges research, artistic practice, and professional development.
This opportunity is open to students interested in the intersection of the art and science of learning. The Fellow will conduct a guided literature review in selected areas of the learning sciences, humanities, and creative arts aligned with the student’s interests, which may include:
Motor learning, skill acquisition, and memory
Cognitive neuroscience
Peak performance
Reflection and metacognition
Performer-centered pedagogy
Historical models of learning among artists
In addition to gaining foundational experience in interdisciplinary research, synthesis, and scholarly communication, the Fellow will work with the faculty mentor to translate this research for public-facing and educational contexts.
Special skills needed
Interest in cognitive neurology, neuroscience, and/or motor learning
Interest in musical performance (no musical skills are necessary)
Ability to read, synthesize, and summarize academic research
Curiosity
Growth Mindset
Organizational ability
Initiative and proactivity
Majors
Educational Science
Interdisciplinary Studies
Behavioral Science
Psycology
Data Science
Music
History
Integrated Studies
International Letters and Cultures
Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance
Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Social and Behavioral Science
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 201
Center name: Decision Theater
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Manfred Laubichler
Project description
The Decision Theater is developing innovative decision-support tools to address critical challenges in Arizona's energy and environmental landscape. In examining the future energy landscape, DT is developing a data-driven model that will guide stakeholders in evaluating novel energy sources, including nuclear options, to meet the state’s 20 GW demand from coal and oil closures and new growth, while balancing safety, security, and efficiency concerns. DT also aims to map ozone pollution and risks that may trigger EPA-imposed restrictions on development. Decision Theater will integrate these data streams and models into cohesive visualizations, ultimately, to support decision-making across industry, government, and communities through understanding complex financial, regulatory, environmental, and societal factors.
Special skills needed
This position will assist the Decision Theater staff with subject-matter research and analysis which may include:
Writing briefs
Briefing colleagues on background for topics
Researching through complex techniques and procedures, library research, structured
interviews or other project-specific methodology
Writing and editing material for publication and presentation
Maintaining research documentation and sources
Running models and tools for presentations to clients and visitors
Qualifications include:
Demonstrated public speaking experience
Strong qualitative research skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Detail-oriented
Ability to pick up things fast with a strong desire to learn
Demonstrated leadership experience
Previous knowledge or skill and/or equivalent experience in Outlook, MS Office Suite,
Word, and Excel, specifically macros and functions
Experience with collaborative platforms such as Google Docs
Ability to lift/move heavy furniture with the assistance of a dolly
Interest in learning how to utilize technology to support decision-making and public policy All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Majors
All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 202
Center name: Decision Theater
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Manfred Laubichler
Project description
Solution Theater is a framework within a Decision Theater environment designed to help citizens work together on complex societal challenges. It brings representative groups of 12 to 15 participants into a structured setting where they have shared access to data, models, and scenario tools that support informed discussion. The project responds to growing political polarization, media noise, and declining trust in institutions, science, and expertise. Rather than relying on voting, participants deliberate, build trust, and develop proposals through guided, bottom-up processes. The central hypothesis is that when trust-building is paired with neutral data-driven decision-support tools, diverse citizens can reach reasonable agreements at a small scale. Solution Theater serves as a test case for a functioning micro-democracy, offering evidence that collective decision-making is still possible. Insights from these experiments will inform how participatory systems might scale, how civic education must evolve, and how democratic institutions can develop resilience against misinformation and manipulation in a modern information environment.
Special skills needed
This position will assist the Decision Theater staff with subject-matter research and analysis which may include:
Writing briefs
Briefing colleagues on background for topics
Researching through complex techniques and procedures, library research, structured
interviews or other project-specific methodology
Writing and editing material for publication and presentation
Maintaining research documentation and sources
Running models and tools for presentations to clients and visitors
Qualifications include:
Demonstrated public speaking experience
Strong qualitative research skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Detail-oriented
Ability to pick up things fast with a strong desire to learn
Demonstrated leadership experience
Previous knowledge or skill and/or equivalent experience in Outlook, MS Office Suite,
Word, and Excel, specifically macros and functions
Experience with collaborative platforms such as Google Docs
Ability to lift/move heavy furniture with the assistance of a dolly
Interest in learning how to utilize technology to support decision-making and public policy
Majors
All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Data Analytics and Mathematics, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 203
Center name: Decision Theater
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Manfred Laubichler
Project description
This project focuses on developing an AI-powered tool that helps students clearly understand how their coursework connects to the job market. Using data from CGF courses and live job postings from Lightcast, the tool maps specific skills learned in each course to relevant job titles and current employment opportunities. Students can see how completed courses contribute to concrete, in-demand skills, as well as which additional courses could help close gaps for roles they are interested in pursuing. For each job, the tool displays the full set of required skills, allowing users to compare what they have already learned with what employers are seeking. This creates a transparent pathway between education and employment, grounded in real labor market data. By making skill development visible and actionable, the tool supports more informed academic planning, reduces uncertainty about career outcomes, and helps students align their learning choices with evolving workforce needs.
Special skills needed
This position will assist the Decision Theater staff with subject-matter research and analysis which may include:
Writing briefs
Briefing colleagues on background for topics
Researching through complex techniques and procedures, library research, structured
interviews or other project-specific methodology
Writing and editing material for publication and presentation
Maintaining research documentation and sources
Running models and tools for presentations to clients and visitors
Qualifications include:
Demonstrated public speaking experience
Strong qualitative research skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Detail-oriented
Ability to pick up things fast with a strong desire to learn
Demonstrated leadership experience
Previous knowledge or skill and/or equivalent experience in Outlook, MS Office Suite,
Word, and Excel, specifically macros and functions
Experience with collaborative platforms such as Google Docs
Ability to lift/move heavy furniture with the assistance of a dolly
Interest in learning how to utilize technology to support decision-making and public policy
Majors
All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 204
Center name: Decision Theater
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Manfred Laubichler
Project description
This project deploys a health care focused decision support tool to further shared understanding and informed decision-making around emerging health policy impacts in Arizona. The platform integrates geo-coded data on health outcomes, health care systems, access, demographics, infrastructure, and environmental factors into a single interactive environment. These data layers can be queried and visualized and serve as the basis for complex systems models, scenarios, and predictions. The platform also examines impacts on the future health workforce, including constraints on medical education financing. Decision Theater provides a testbed for evaluating mitigation strategies, helping stakeholders assess trade-offs, coordinate responses, and explore solutions before decisions are implemented.
Special skills needed
This position will assist the Decision Theater staff with subject-matter research and analysis which may include:
Writing briefs
Briefing colleagues on background for topics
Researching through complex techniques and procedures, library research, structured
interviews or other project-specific methodology
Writing and editing material for publication and presentation
Maintaining research documentation and sources
Running models and tools for presentations to clients and visitors
Qualifications include:
Demonstrated public speaking experience
Strong qualitative research skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Detail-oriented
Ability to pick up things fast with a strong desire to learn
Demonstrated leadership experience
Previous knowledge or skill and/or equivalent experience in Outlook, MS Office Suite,
Word, and Excel, specifically macros and functions
Experience with collaborative platforms such as Google Docs
Ability to lift/move heavy furniture with the assistance of a dolly
Interest in learning how to utilize technology to support decision-making and public policy
Majors
All majors are appropriate but may be best suited for those in Sustainability, Complex Adaptive Systems, Fulton Engineering, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, WP Carey (Business Analytics), Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 205
Center name: Children's Equity Project
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Shantel Meek
Project description
We're happy to accept as many students as are interested in assisting with data collection, cleaning, and research-related items.
Special skills needed
Interest in children, education, public policy, and/or DEI-related work
Majors
Public policy, education, and social work
Years
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 206
Center name: School of Applied Sciences and Arts
Campus/Location: Polytechnic
Faculty lead: Keith Hollinger
Project description
This project involves an interdisciplinary, longitudinal community analysis of East Valley communities, building on multiple semesters of applied research conducted through the IDS 401 Community Assessment initiative. The project focuses on synthesizing and extending existing community assessment reports for East Valley communities, integrating analyses of economic, social, political, and environmental conditions. Under faculty mentorship, the student researcher will contribute original analytical work and consolidate prior cohort research, conducting comparative and cross-community analysis, and refining stakeholder, policy, and capacities and vulnerabilities assessments into cohesive, professional-grade reports. The project emphasizes methodological rigor, interdisciplinary synthesis, and applied research skills, culminating in a series of community-specific analyses and an aggregated East Valley report designed to inform institutional community engagement strategies and support local economic and community development efforts.
Special skills needed
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information, identify patterns across multiple cases, and apply structured analytical frameworks to community level research.
Advanced writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, well organized, and professionally written analytical reports for academic and applied audiences.
Competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods, particularly document based research and secondary data analysis.
Ability to conduct interdisciplinary analysis integrating economic, social, political, and environmental perspectives.
Critical thinking skills, including the capacity to evaluate evidence, assess assumptions, and refine analytical conclusions.
Attention to detail and strong revision skills, including responsiveness to substantive feedback and iterative improvement of written work.
Organizational and project management skills sufficient to manage long term research tasks and multi stage deliverables.
Intellectual independence combined with the ability to work collaboratively under faculty mentorship.
Professional communication skills and the ability to engage with research outputs intended for institutional and community stakeholders.
Majors
s
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 207
Center name: Sanford Harmony Institute
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Dan Erickson
Project description
The Sanford Harmony Institute manages many large and small datasets that support our mission to help every child benefit from supportive and caring relationships. For this project, the Barrett Honors undergraduate student will work directly with the Institute's Data Manager to launch new data collection efforts, organize incoming data, and manage existing datasets. Examples of recent data collection efforts include evaluating a new app to help parents interact with their children in engaging ways in various settings, gathering perspectives of K-12 educators about how to implement our evidence-based curriculum to improve peer relationships in classrooms, and comparing outcomes of child development measures for head start children who do not have our harmony curriculum to those who receive the curriculum and have a new playground built for them for the purpose of encouraging stronger peer interactions outdoors. No prior experience is necessary, as this project will also include the necessary training and supervision to succeed in managing various elements of data collection. This position is ideal for students who are interested in child development and helping improve harmonious relationships in kids. As Mahatma Gandhi taught, "If we are to have real peace, we must begin with the children."
Special skills needed
Interest in child development, desire to learn new skills, aptitude for learning and iterating, adaptability (tasks evolve and change frequently), responsive to feedback, courage to ask questions, dependable and reliable, initiative and diligence.
Majors
Family and Human Development, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling and Applied Science, Applied Science (Early Childhood Studies), Educational Studies (Early Childhood Studies), Social Work, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Early Childhood Education
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 208
Center name: Collective Logic Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Bryan Daniels
Project description
Honey bees solve collective challenges on a daily basis. The aggregate work output of a colony is resilient and adaptive to environmental changes. Information exchange between bees is crucial to these collective outcomes. In this project, using existing honey bee tracking data, we will construct a classifier that predicts bee behavior based on where it is in the hive and which other bees it interacts with. This will eventually be developed into a computational model of bee decision-making. This project will involve data science techniques and coding in Python.
Special skills needed
Some degree of familiarity or desire to learn programming and data analysis in Python.I am open to a diversity of backgrounds. This project could be a good fit for students interested in applied math, computer engineering, data analytics, computer science, physics, or biology.
Majors
I am open to a diversity of backgrounds. This project could be a good fit for students interested in applied math, computer engineering, data analytics, computer science, physics, or biology.
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics
Project # 209
Center name: School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Neha Joshi
Project description
This project explores how core ideas from discrete mathematics, such as graphs, sets, logic, and algorithms, are used in modern data science applications. Students will work with real-world datasets (e.g., social networks, transportation systems, or interaction networks) and model them using discrete structures like graphs and trees. Using Python, students will analyze connectivity, paths, centrality measures, and patterns within the data, and create visualizations to communicate their findings.
The project emphasizes both mathematical reasoning and computational thinking. Students will gain hands-on experience using Python libraries such as pandas, networkx, and matplotlib, while strengthening their understanding of discrete math concepts covered in coursework. No prior data science experience is required, but comfort with basic programming is helpful. The project culminates in a written report and a reproducible Jupyter notebook that can serve as a portfolio piece.
Number of Students: 3–5
Faculty Lead: Neha Joshi, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Special skills needed
No prior programming or advanced math experience is required. We are looking for students who are curious, motivated, and interested in exploring discrete mathematics and data analysis. Familiarity with basic algebra, graph theory or willingness to learn Python is helpful but not required. Students should be comfortable working collaboratively and thinking critically about problems.
Majors
Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Economics, Physics, or any major with an interest in mathematical modeling, problem-solving, and data analysis.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering
Project # 210
Center name: Garth den Heyer
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Garth den Heyer
Project description
The project is exploratory research examining the main themes and issues pertaining to the trafficking of humans in context of homeland security and how they affect the security of the homeland.
Special skills needed
Good reading and writing skills
Able to complete a literature search and review
Majors
Criminal Justice
Public policy
Legal studies/Law
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 211
Center name: Garth den Heyer
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Garth den Heyer
Project description
The project is exploratory research examining the current approach of ICE to enforcing immigration and whether this approach is improving the security of the United States.
Special skills needed
Reading and writing
Able to complete a literature search and review
Majors
Criminal Justice
Public policy
Legal studies/Law
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 212
Center name: Institute for Social Science Research
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Amber Wutich
Project description
We are launching the International Disaster Archive for Narratives, Oral History, and Folklore. This project is under the direction of MacArthur Fellow and Regent's Professor Dr. Amber Wutich. We are recruiting a small cohort of ambitious ASU Honors undergraduates to be the first student research fellows on this project. Fellows will work directly with a team of professors and scientists to help build a global archive documenting how people experience, remember, and make meaning of disasters. Through this honors contract, you will gain high-impact research training—earning research certification, developing advanced interviewing and qualitative analysis skills, conducting and AI-transcribing original interviews, and producing a thematic, comparative analysis. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new international research initiative from the ground up while building credentials, mentorship, and experience that strongly position you for graduate school, fellowships, and research careers.
Special skills needed
None, we will train you; all training backgrounds are welcome.
Majors
All majors are welcome, but an interest in social science would be helpful.
Years
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 213
Center name: ASU SESE Cosmology Initiative (Goldwater 5th floor)
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Rogier Windhorst
Project description
Students are solicited to do research with the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes
in the Cosmology group of Regents' and Foundation Professor Windhorst at ASU.
Possible research topics can be done at the undergraduate, honors, 2nd-yr,
Masters, and/or PhD level by either SESE, Physics, and/or NASA Space Grant
undergraduate or graduate students, resp.
The student will do research with Hubble and the new Webb data to study current
hot topics in cosmology, the epoch of cosmic reionization, star-formation in a
cosmological context, galaxy formation and evolution, and the growth of
super-massive black holes in the centers of galaxies. The student will learn how
to reduce and analyze the Hubble and Webb data, and will get hands-on
experience with Hubble and Webb data. Recommended is some experience with Mac OS
and/or UNIX, and python image processing, although this is not essential for
undergraduate students, since they will be trained in Windhorst's cosmology
group. We have room for several new undergraduate students.
Special skills needed
Essential Skills: Recommended is some experience with Mac OS and/or UNIX,
and image processing using Python, etc. See above, although not essential for UGs
Animation: Beginner
Adobe Suite: None/No Preference
C: Beginner or better
CAD: None
Database: Beginner or better
GPS: None/No Preference
HTML: Beginner or better
Image Processing: Beginner or better
Java: Beginner or better
Linux: Beginner or better
Macs: Beginner or better
Statistics: Beginner or better
Windows: None/No Preference
Majors
AST, PHY, MAT, Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical)
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering
Project # 214
Center name: Center for AI and Data Analytics
Campus/Location: Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Xiyang Hu
Project description
This project studies large language models (LLMs) that perform reasoning and inter-agent communication directly in latent space rather than through explicit natural language tokens. The core idea is to represent intermediate thoughts, plans, and messages as continuous latent states that are learned end to end and exchanged among agents. The project will develop algorithms and model architectures that allow agents to generate, transform, and interpret latent representations for tasks that require long-horizon reasoning, coordination, and information sharing. Key goals include analyzing how latent-space interaction affects reasoning depth, sample efficiency, and robustness, and comparing these properties with token-level communication. The project will also provide empirical and theoretical analysis of when latent communication improves performance, how it can be aligned with external supervision, and how latent states can be decoded or constrained to support interpretability and control.
Special skills needed
✅ Strong in programming (Python/C++, with experience in deep learning frameworks like PyTorch)
✅ Solid in mathematical foundations (e.g., probability, statistics, linear algebra, optimization)
✅ Knowledgeable in AI/ML (machine learning, data mining, or AI fundamentals; has taken CSE 475/476 or equivalent)
✅ Passionate about research (publications in ML or interdisciplinary venues are a plus, but not required)
✅ Self-motivated, curious, and ready to take initiative – we encourage students to lead projects and publish at top venues!
Majors
Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electerical Engineering, etc.
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 215
Center name: Hong Guo
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Hong Guo
Project description
This study examines how AI coding assistants (e.g., Cursor and Claude Code) affect student learning, self-efficacy, and career orientation in business application development courses. By collecting survey data, interaction logs, and project outcomes, the research investigates how students engage with these tools, how instructional design influences performance, and whether AI-assisted learning encourages students to pursue more technical roles. The goal is to inform effective course design and support meaningful, AI-enabled learning pathways.
Special skills needed
Python
Majors
Computer Science, Software Engineering
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 216
Center name: Center for Biological Physics
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Steve Pressé
Project description
Neural networks excel when trained on massive, high-quality datasets, allowing them to fit new data. In the Natural Sciences, however, data are inherently noisy, sparse, and expensive to acquire, fundamentally limiting the amount and quality of training data available. While the community has achieved notable successes with AI in cases involving exceptionally large and well-curated datasets–most famously protein structure prediction, recognized with a Nobel Prize–these high-visibility examples are exceptions rather than the rule. By contrast, the performance of AI on scientific imaging data–our primary window into biological processes and early disease detection–has been inconsistent. In one illustrative example from our own work currently under review at PNAS with am undergraduate as first author, we demonstrate that an entire class of widely used methods, many heavily reliant on AI, systematically reinforce incorrect models of motion. More broadly, it is understood in our community that many high-profile AI-based image reconstruction tools fail to generalize beyond the specific datasets provided by their authors, despite publication in flagship journals. At the root of this problem lies a fundamental property of microscopy data: it is noisy and sparse. Crucially, however, noise is not just a nuisance: it encodes valuable physical information. Our proposed approach will leverage known physical laws to generate probabilistic realizations of the data. This will then enable AI models to infer, with quantified uncertainty, the probable underlying “noise-free” image by a method known as simulation-based inference. This Physics-informed strategy departs sharply from prevailing Physics-free paradigms that rely on reassigning intensities in images pixel to pixel based on what was gathered from training datasets alone. As a result, the proposed project will offer a principled foundation for robust image reconstruction with the potential to underpin early disease diagnostics, for example by detecting subtle signatures of neurological disorders from retinal optical coherence tomography images.
Special skills needed
Programming, and calculus (I-III) are pre-reqs.
Majors
Physics, Computer Science, Math
Years
-2nd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 217
Center name: Exoteric Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Luis Welbanks
Project description
This research project explores how scientists determine the composition and climate of planets outside our solar system by analyzing light from distant stars and planets. The student will work with real astronomical data and computational models to investigate the atmospheres of exoplanets, learning how temperature, chemistry, and clouds shape the signals we observe.
The primary applications of this research are in exoplanet science, planetary atmospheres, and data-driven discovery. The student will be primarily mentored by Professor Luis Welbanks in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and will collaborate with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers within the Exoteric Lab.
Special skills needed
Programming experience (Python preferred)
Comfort working with data, graphs, and numerical results
Introductory coursework in physics, astronomy, chemistry, or mathematics (or concurrent enrollment)
Willingness to learn statistical and computational modeling techniques
Ability to work independently and as part of a research team
Clear written and verbal communication skills
Majors
Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering (computational or physical sciences focus)
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics
Project # 218
Center name: nsadada.com
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Nsa Dada
Project description
Mosquitoes harbor microbes (or their microbiome) that significantly impact their biology and research on mosquito-microbe interactions is still emerging. In my lab, we aim to understand what factors shape the mosquito microbiome and how these microbes together with the mosquito host (i.e. mosquito holobiont) respond and adapt to evolutionary pressures such as long-term insecticide use. Our ultimate goal is to leverage our knowledge of these mosquito-microbe interactions to develop effective tools for mitigating the spread of mosquito borne diseases. We ask our research questions using laboratory mosquito strains as well as wild mosquito populations or their progeny in laboratory settings. We employ a combination of molecular, omics, bioinformatics, and classical entomology and microbial ecology tools to address our research questions.
We have established the first of its kind long-term mosquito holobiont evolutionary system using a laboratory strain of the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. Fellows who join our team will be able to address specific research questions using this study system. Some of the questions that we are currently tackling include:
- How does the mosquito microbiome change over generations of insecticide pressure?
- Do these microbiome changes contribute to host insecticide resistance traits?
- Are there specific components of the microbiome that can reliably predict the onset of insecticide resistance?
- Do our laboratory observations reflect dynamics in field mosquito populations?
Special skills needed
- Ingenuity: Can devise practical solutions and simple tests
- Attention to detail: Can label, record, and document with precision.
- Learning agility: Can rapidly learn new methods and tools.
- Resilience: Can troubleshoot setbacks and sustain quality.
- Protocol adherence (BSL-2/ACL-2+): Can follow SOPs and safety rules precisely.
- Handle live organisms: Can handle live organisms safely and humanely (pet-care experience a plus).
- Basic wet laboratory skills or knowledge of
Majors
Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Genomics, Biochemistry, Genetics
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 219
Center name: Physical Activity and Healthy and Active School Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Pamela Kulinna
Project description
This project grounded in whole-of-school health models is taking place in five local schools. Different models of the intervention are taking place in different schools with one school implementing a youth participatory action research project. The goal of this project is to document the outcomes, successes and challenges of students being trained and leading physical activities and games at recess in elementary schools to support use of this model and expanded recess opportunities for students. This project can offer Barrett students may different research opportunities which could include training student leaders, using systematic observation instruments, conducting interviews, data entry and management, data analyses and writing/grant writing with the research team.
Special skills needed
Students will have opportunities to develop research skills during the project.
Majors
Health, Wellness, Physical Activity and Physical Education
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Education, Health and Wellness
Project # 220
Center name: Physical Activity and Healthy and Active School Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Pamela Kulinna
Project description
This is a longitudinal project (year 7) grounded in ecological theories studying the adoption of a recess law in Arizona (ARS§15-118) requiring 2 recess sessions per day. The goal of this project is to track physical activity opportunities for students at schools. This data will be used in school partnerships to expand physical activity opportunities for students. This longitudinal project can offer Barrett students many different research opportunities which could include data collection, school visits, data entry and management, conducting interviews, data analyses, and writing/grant writing with the research team.
Special skills needed
Students can develop research skills while working on the project.
Majors
Health, Exercise, Wellness, Kinesiology, Physical Activity and Physical Education
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Health and Wellness
Project # 221
Center name: Physical Activity and Healthy and Active School Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Pamela Kulinna
Project description
The “Play and learning activities for Youth--ground” project grounded in ecological theories will be taking place in local elementary schools. The project was inspired by the PlayOn! curriculum that focuses on developing social skills through physical activities. The project aims to increase social skills as well as increase physical activity patterns of students in afterschool programs. A second phase of the project, is to train students in the afterschool program who are interested to be recess leaders to provide the PlayOn! activities during recess at their schools. This project can offer Barrett students many different opportunities which could include tutoring, data collection, data entry and management, data analyses and writing/grant writing with the research team.
Special skills needed
The students will have opportunities to gain research skills with the project.
Majors
Exercise, wellness, Kinesiology, health, physical activity, Physical Education
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 222
Center name: Civil Litigation Clinic, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Campus/Location: Downtown; Fully remote
Faculty lead: Tracy Ortega
Project description
I am presently exploring the development of a medical-legal partnership in the Phoenix metro area on behalf of my Civil Litigation Clinic. Medical-legal partnerships work to combat social-determinants of health by addressing legal needs. I have been meeting with local medical providers who may serve as partner(s). Building a medical-legal partnership is a comprehensive process that requires understanding the legal needs of the community, the present resources within hospitals and legal service offices, and so on. This specific project will consist of conducting research and interviews so that my Clinic can better understand where the legal needs are in the community and available networks. The individual fellow will utilize tools on the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership website to help assess the project as a whole. This is a great opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary work as it is a meaningful cross-section of medical and legal. Faculty Lead: Tracy Ortega (Director of the Civil Litigation Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor of Law)
Special skills needed
An interest in helping the community; an interest in medicine and/or law; strong research skills; a willingness to meet with and conduct interviews as appropriate; and a self-starter, able to work independently.
Majors
As this interdisciplinary work can touch on various majors, I would not limit it and I would consider across disciplines.
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Health and Wellness, Humanities, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 223
Center name: Christina Coleman
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Christina Coleman
Project description
This project examines how recreational therapy (RT) research has evolved over the past 20 years through a large-scale bibliometric and science-mapping analysis. Bibliometric studies use publication data (e.g., articles, keywords, citations, authorship networks) to identify research trends, collaboration patterns, and gaps in knowledge. The findings from this project will help clarify how evidence-informed practice in recreational therapy has developed over time and where future research and practice innovation are needed.
This project uses a hybrid format, with work conducted both online and in person, depending on task and availability. Students will collaborate with multiple research teams across several universities, gaining exposure to interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research environments. Fellows will participate in team-based research meetings and contribute to shared datasets and publications. This experience is well-suited for students interested in collaborative scholarship, graduate study, or research careers. Opportunities may be available for conference presentations or co-authorship, depending on level of involvement and duration of participation.
Special skills needed
Desired Student Skills:
Strong attention to detail and ability to follow structured research protocols
Ability to read, summarize, and organize peer-reviewed research articles
Reliable time management and commitment to weekly research responsibilities
Clear written and verbal communication skills
Willingness to learn new research methods and tools
Preferred (Not Required):
Familiarity with Excel or Google Sheets
Interest in research methods, health, disability studies, or social sciences
Curiosity about evidence-informed practice and applied research
Majors
Recreational Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Sociology, Health Sciences, Community Health, Parks, Recreation, and Sports Management etc.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 224
Center name: School of Molecular Sciences
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Alberto Rascón
Project description
Proteases play essential roles in many important biological processes. Specifically, in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, proteases are important in the midgut (for blood meal protein digestion), the salivary gland (possible enhancement in viral infectivity and dissemination), and for egg/embryo survival (eggshell formation and melanization). However, the exact roles of Ae. aegypti proteases in these processes are either limited or still relatively unknown, which reveal vulnerabilities that can be exploited for the development of novel vector control strategies and to attenuate transmission of human viral pathogens. The work in the Rascón lab lies at the interface of both Chemistry and mosquito Biology, especially in the development of small molecule mosquito-specific inhibitors. However, to study these proteases, we first need to clone and express them in bacteria for in vitro studies.
Special skills needed
Communication, writing, and motivated students are really important because research skills are things we can teach in the lab.
Majors
Chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or even students in the sciences who are interested in biochemistry research.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 225
Center name: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Alyssa Robillard
Project description
The Storytelling Project: Take Care of YOU
Faculty Lead: Alyssa Robillard, PhD, MCHES
This study is exploring the feasibility of a storytelling social-media driven intervention to promote HIV testing and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) in Black women in the Southern U.S.
Summary
Black women in the U.S. are disproportionately overrepresented in HIV incidence among women; the greatest burden is in the Southern U.S. HIV testing is fundamental to end the HIV epidemic and can ideally serve as a gateway to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Storytelling interventions informed by the culture-centric model of health promotion may drive HIV prevention behavior in this population. This study will involve a pilot test of the “Take Care of YOU” intervention which centers a serial “community-built” story with additional health communication content delivered over 14 days through a private Facebook group.
Students will have the opportunity to be involved in various aspects of the study that might include: literature review/background research, intervention development/refinement, implementation, data collection, and data analysis. Opportunities for student presentations and/or writing for dissemination are anticipated.
Special skills needed
I am looking for students with a strong work ethic who are enthusiastic about research (regardless of their level of experience with it). I appreciate students willing to think critically and innovatively to solve problems. Strong writing and communication skills would be helpful. Technical experience with social media is necessary.
Majors
Open to any major with an interest in health-related outcomes.
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 226
Center name: Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Danielle Wallace
Project description
Many states and local jurisdictions have created disability registries (a.k.a. special needs or vulnerable persons registries), or lists managed by police departments that capture individuals’ disability and other related information that is useful to officers during encounters. Once individuals register, these databases inform officers of individuals’ disability and accommodation needs during an encounter. However, registries are not universally accepted. Common critiques of registries include concerns about registry data being outdated/inaccurate or not private, insufficient in the absence of police training, and stigmatizing. Even with these critiques, registries are being widely used nationally without any causal evidence to suggest they work. We ask: what effect do disability registries have on reducing the frequency and amount of force used in police-citizen encounters during discretionary stops? Undergraduate researchers will help to buildout the registry database by collecting information from police departments and double-checking the information in the database. Additional data collection about disability services in the area may be needed. There may be opportunities to present and write reports and other publications for students who are interested. The faculty lead on this project is Dr. Danielle Wallace in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Special skills needed
data entry, emailing (and emailing etiquette), timeliness, work in teams, detail oriented, willing to ask questions
Majors
Any major in the social sciences or health sciences
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Health and Wellness, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 227
Center name: Sanford Harmony Institute
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Sun-Kyung Lee
Project description
The Sanford Harmony Institute focuses on research that helps strengthen children’s social relationships and development. For this project, a Barrett Honors undergraduate will work closely with a faculty mentor on a systematic or meta-analytic literature review exploring how parent-child play influences children’s relationship development. A literature review is a core research activity that involves searching, evaluating, and synthesizing existing scientific studies to answer a focused research question. Through this project, students will learn how to conduct effective literature searches using academic databases, practice organizing and summarizing research findings, and gain a deeper understanding of how evidence is built in developmental science. No prior research experience is required, as training and supervision will be provided. This position is ideal for students interested in child development, psychology, education, or family relationships, as well as those who want to strengthen their research skills and gain hands-on experience with scholarly research.
Special skills needed
Interest in child development, psychology, education, or family relationships;
Willingness to learn literature searching and review;
Basic familiarity with reading and summarizing academic articles (training provided);
Strong attention to detail and ability to organize information;
Meeting regular deadlines;
Openness to feedback and collaboration;
Basic writing and communication skills
Majors
Family Studies; Psychology; Education; Sociology
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 228
Center name: Simon A. Levin Center of Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Cent…
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully Remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Jimmie Adriazola
Project description
Faculty Lead:
Jimmie Adriazola, Ph. D.
Incoming tenure-track assistant professor (August, 2026) and current National Science Foundation/Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Project Description:
The central question of this project is simple yet deep: how can small, carefully designed inputs guide a dynamical system toward a desired state?
The dynamics we will wrestle with come from dispersive waves in optics, fluids, and quantum materials. These systems are visually striking and mathematically subtle since wave dynamics are known to spread, interact, and reorganize over time in complex ways. Using optimal control theory, we then seek to work *with* the natural evolution of the system, exploiting structure to achieve precise goals.
Students will learn how optimal control problems are formulated, how forward and backward equations interact through adjoint methods, and how numerical algorithms turn theory into computation. Advanced modeling techniques will be used to make large-scale systems tractable, allowing students to experiment, visualize, and test ideas efficiently, even on a standard laptop.
The project emphasizes intuition, modeling, and hands-on computation, showing how different branches of mathematics come together to address a single, well-posed challenge. It is well suited for students interested in applied mathematics, scientific computing, or mathematically driven physics, and it provides a strong foundation for more advanced topics such as optimal transport, generative modeling, and scientific machine learning.
Special skills needed
Students should be comfortable with multivariable calculus and linear algebra, including basic matrix computations. Prior exposure to differential equations is expected, at the level of an introductory ODE course.
Some programming experience is required, ideally in MATLAB or Python, though students do not need prior experience with numerical PDEs or optimization. Curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn mathematical ideas that connect theory and computation are more important than advanced background. Prior experience with control theory or partial differential equations is **not** required.
Majors
Mathematics, Computational Science, Physics
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 229
Center name: School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Zhaoyang Fan
Project description
Modern AI usually runs on power-hungry digital hardware. Nature does better. In this project, you’ll explore a radically different approach: nano-oscillators—tiny electronic devices whose rhythms can compute. When driven properly, these oscillators naturally synchronize, drift, and respond to time-varying signals, making them ideal for voice and speech recognition, image identification, and many other applications.
Students will work with emerging devices (such as phase-change nano-oscillators), simple circuits, and data-driven learning methods inspired by the brain. Over two semesters, you will (1) build intuition through modeling and experiments, (2) encode audio signals into oscillator dynamics, and (3) demonstrate a small-scale AI task such as spoken-digit recognition—using physics, not massive neural networks.
This project is hands-on, interdisciplinary, and research-focused, blending electronics, materials, signal processing, and machine learning. It is well suited for students curious about neuromorphic computing, sustainable AI hardware, or graduate research. No prior AI experience is required—just curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn how matter itself can compute.
Special skills needed
Basic Circuits
Majors
Engineering
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 230
Center name: Relationships & Technology Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Liesel Sharabi
Project description
The Relationships & Technology Lab in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication is seeking research associates for the 2025-2026 academic year. The lab conducts social scientific research at the intersection of interpersonal relationships and communication technologies (e.g., dating apps, artificial intelligence, social media, virtual reality).
Special skills needed
N/A
Majors
Social science students (e.g., communication, psychology, sociology)
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 231
Center name: School of International Letters and Cultures
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Kristen Kennedy Terry
Project description
Many second language (L2) learners participate in study abroad programs with the goal of improving their language skills; however, past and current research demonstrates conflicting results regarding the linguistic benefits of study abroad. Additionally, while thousands of students around the world participate in study abroad programs each year, nearly two-thirds of these spend less than one semester in the target-language environment. Therefore, it is crucial that we continue to gather evidence on language learning during both short-term (less than 8 weeks) and long-term study abroad in order to truly understand how these programs may benefit our students.
In this project, the student research fellow will assist me in transcribing and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative spoken and written data gathered from L2 French learners who have studied abroad in France. I have multiple in-progress analyses involving both short- and long-term study abroad learners, so the work can be tailored to the interests of the research fellow. The primary requirements for the research fellow are an advanced level of competence in spoken French and an interest in linguistic analysis.
Special skills needed
Advanced competence in spoken French (either through 400-level coursework in French, study abroad, or family background, or a combination of these); an interest in working with language data (i.e., data transcription and analysis); experience with excel spreadsheets/data gathered through Google forms; detail oriented.
Majors
French, Linguistics
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 232
Center name: Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Alex Ma
Project description
The instructor has a contract with Taylor and Francis to write a monograph on Creative Producing, which is also intended to be used as a textbook. Participating students may research additional materials, create figures and illustrations, and review and provide feedback to support the instructor’s writing. While it may be less academically challenging, it presents a valuable opportunity for someone interested in the intersection of filmmaking practice, film studies, and the entertainment industry.
Special skills needed
Knowledge or strong interest in:
Filmmaking practice, film producing, film studies, and the entertainment industry
Majors
Filmmaking, film studies, communication, business and other related disciplines
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media
Project # 233
Center name: Jones Lab of Mammalian Evolution and Paleobiology
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Connor Dolan
Project description
Humans display poor regenerative capabilities and typically respond to traumatic injury with fibrotic wound healing rather than regeneration. However, and although limited, humans are capable of successfully regenerating the distal tip of their digit/finger following amputation. Work over the last several decades has demonstrated that mammals—ranging from mice to primates—are similarly capable of regeneration post-digit amputation, suggesting that this may be a conserved trait. However, given the diversity of mammals, considerable efforts remain before we can truly understand this diversity of regenerative responses in mammals.
To that end, marine mammals, including whales and dolphins (cetaceans), seals and sea lions (pinnipeds), and manatees (sirenians), have digits, but it is currently unknown whether they regenerate. Monitoring efforts, rehabilitation and natural history collections present an opportunity to assess whether multiple orders of marine mammals exhibit regeneration.
Typical methods of long-term monitoring in marine mammal populations allow for a unique opportunity to investigate digit regeneration in marine mammals. Right whales and West Indian manatees are generally monitored by photo-identification efforts, a type of mark-recapture in which photos of distinctive traits on an individual, like dorsal fins, are taken and cataloged to track individuals over time. These species are also slow-moving and spend a majority of their time close to the surface, making them particularly vulnerable to ship collisions, propeller strikes, and entanglement, which can result in injury to fins and flippers. This provides us with an opportunity to assess how injuries to fins heal over time. In this research project, the honors student will search through entanglement reports and photo catalogs for evidence of fin injuries and assess changes in the injury over time. There may be opportunities to connect with and visit the museums or institutions where some of these animals ended up after death to get a better look at the bones in question to assess whether digits regenerated or not.
Seals and sea lions are mostly coastal species, and there are efforts across the West Coast of the U.S. to rehabilitate sick and injured seals and sea lions that strand on beaches. Rehabilitation centers retain records of injuries, treatments, and imaging (x-rays) taken during the animals’ stay. Often if the animal dies, the rehabilitation center will donate the remains to a natural history collection, where the skeletal remains may be available for research use. This project will involve the honors student connecting with rehabilitation centers in California, Oregon and Washington to collect records of flipper injuries, determine if the animals’ remains were vouchered, and if so, where, and possibly visit collections to better assess the bone injury that occurred.
Special skills needed
Independence, confidence reaching out to different institutions/researchers, attention to detail, time management
Majors
Biological Sciences, Conservation Biology and Ecology, Biology, Biology and Society, and majors of similar disciplines
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 234
Center name: Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Alex Ma
Project description
In this animation/filmmaking hybrid project incorporating generative AI, students will collaborate with faculty members from different schools within the Herberger Institute to experiment with various AI-integrated workflows and document and evaluate the reliability of outcomes. Given the rapidly evolving nature of generative AI, the project's aims and scope may adapt over time. This project is particularly suitable for students with an interest in generative AI and filmmaking who also possess an exploratory mindset.
Special skills needed
Knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
Animation, filmmaking, and media production
Generative AI tools (e.g., text-to-video)
Creative coding
Majors
Animation, Film, Media Arts and Sciences, Computer Science, and other related disciplines
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Engineering, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media
Project # 235
Center name: Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Marco Janssen
Project description
Residential houses are increasingly integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER), including rooftop solar, batteries, EVs, and smart thermostats, which allow households to generate a large amount of their electricity. However, it has also made electricity generation and consumption increasingly less predictable from the utility company’s perspective. Although residential DER management is technically possible, it is not happening at scale due to behavioral issues. We are developing a stylized model of residential home energy to simulate how households can manage their DER and include human responses (e.g., overriding thermostat settings, timing of charging and discharging batteries). The next step will be a community of households that can exchange electricity via governance protocols. Such a utilization of electricity storage and electricity generation could increase the energy security of households, but it could also lead to new vulnerabilities. This model aims to help identify vulnerabilities at the community level of DER systems.
This work is done in collaboration with the Agile Electrification initiative at UC San Diego, a collaboration between businesses and academics.
The Faculty Lead is Dr. Marco Janssen, who is a Professor in the School of Sustainability and has formal training in Operations Research. He also has extensive expertise in social science and translates social science expertise into simulation models relevant to sustainability questions.
Special skills needed
Programming experience (for example Python), data analytics, statistical analysis, proficiency with Excel
Majors
Sustainability, Sustainable Energy Systems, Mathematics, Data Science, Economics, Industrial Engineering
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 236
Center name: School of Politics and Global Studies
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Keith Chew
Project description
What explains legislative diversity -- both in terms of gender and ethnicity? Research on diversification strategies across states tend to focus on electoral or social explanations of underrepresented groups in legislatures. However, existing explanations fail to (1) outline a strategic dynamic as to how voters or political parties choose a double-minority, ethnicity-only minority, or gender-only minority when increasing representation, and (2) explain how existing explanations for diversification of legislators apply to autocratic regimes. This project develops a novel dataset on Asian legislatures from 1947 - 2025 to tackle the issues listed above. This is the first dataset of its type. The project is seeking 3-4 students to support the building of this dataset and to develop a theory for authoritarian legislative diversity in Asia. The project will be led by Dr. Keith Chew.
Special skills needed
Basic Microsoft Excel skills or Google Sheets skills
Majors
Political Science, Global Studies, International Relations, Politics and the Economy
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 237
Center name: Mary Lou Fulton College of Teaching and Learning Innovation
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Andrea Weinberg
Project description
The Empowering Youth Climate Action (EYCA) project responds to the urgent need for effective, justice-centered climate education. This research explores gaps in current climate learning efforts and strengthens the use of digital resources through three interconnected areas of work: (1) participatory mapping and analysis of existing climate education resources in collaboration with educators and youth, (2) the development and refinement of an open-access online repository to increase access to high-quality climate learning materials, and (3) research connected to yearlong professional development programs that support climate educators and their students.
The EYCA team will work with a cohort of 2-4 Barrett Fellows who will collaborate closely with each other and the research team, which is led by PI Andrea Weinberg, and Co-PIs Michelle Jordan and Iveta Silova. Students will not work independently or be assigned to isolated roles. Instead, responsibilities will be shaped collectively based on students’ interests, strengths, and developing expertise, which may include quantitative analysis, qualitative coding, synthesis and meaning-making, and collaborative interpretation of findings. Fellows will engage in shared inquiry, regular team meetings, and collective reflection as integral members of an ongoing, interdisciplinary research effort. This collaboration model was successfully used with a previous cohort of Barrett Fellows.
Special skills needed
The EYCA team looks forward to working with undergraduate students who are committed to sustainability and climate action and are eager to engage in collaborative research. Undergraduate researchers will become integral members of the research team throughout their participation in the Barrett College Fellows Undergraduate Research Program. In addition to being punctual, communicative, and self-driven, the following skills and dispositions would serve students well in this research:
- Interest in climate change, sustainability, and education
- Openness to collaborative, team-based research and learning alongside peers and faculty mentors
- Willingness to work with different types of data, including quantitative data, qualitative data (e.g., interviews, open-ended responses), and digital artifacts
- Interest in learning to use and contribute to data management and data analysis platforms (prior experience not required)
- Curiosity and comfort with making sense of complex information, patterns, and perspectives
- Willingness to complete required Human Subjects Research Training (IRB/CITI) and to engage in ethical research practices
- Thoughtfulness, reflexivity, and respect for diverse perspectives
- Reliability in meeting commitments and communicating progress and questions with the research team.
Majors
The climate crisis requires transdisciplinary responses. As such, students from all majors are encouraged to apply if their interests are well-aligned with EYCA’s research.
Still, because the EYCA project sits at an intersection of education and sustainability, students in related degree programs will find clear connections between its research and their academic work. Such majors include, but are not limited to:
- Early Childhood Education (BAE)
- Educational Studies (BAE)
- Elementary Education (BAE)
- English (Secondary Education) (BA)
- History (Secondary Education) (BA)
- Media Arts and Sciences (Education) (BA)
- Middle Grades Education (BAE)
- Secondary Education (BAE)
- Special Education (BAE)
- Applied Biological Sciences (BS)
- Culture, Technology, and Environment (BA)
- Earth and Environmental Sciences (BS)
- Environmental Engineering (BSE)
- Environmental Science (BA / BS)
- Sustainability (BA / BS)
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 238
Center name: HELM Lab
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Joseph Daniels
Project description
The HELM lab is a new venture led by Dr. Daniels, Associate Professor in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. HELM is Harnessing Evidence to Lift Men’s Health. There are four projects associated with HELM:
1) HELM lab design and launch: Develop mission, objectives and branding including website and social media that leverages previous, current and future research led by Dr. Daniels. Additionally, write two white papers based on current evidence, community activities and research that will position HELM as a leader in men's health globally. This may involve assessing the current men's health landscape at US institutions to position HELM appropriately.
2) Assist in Research I: Learn, participate and lead components of a community engaged project focused on prostate cancer in Phoenix.
3) Assist in Research II: Learn, participate and lead components of a study to assess the feasibility of an intervention to improve care engagement by men in Phoenix.
4) Assist in Research III: Learn, participate and lead components of a study to assess the feasibility of an intervention to improve care engagement by men and women in South Africa.
For Projects 3 and 4, this work will focus on activities related to data collection, analysis, and study coordination, and these projects are funded by the National Institutes of Health. There will be opportunities to be an author on conference presentations and manuscripts, and potentially lead these dissemination activities.
Special skills needed
IT
MS Office
Ability to learn study related programs (REDCap, Dedoose)
Able to complete CITI certification if don't have it already
Innovative thinking
Ideally, experience with any kind of research and literature review
Highly organized
Can commit to completing action items and projects
Majors
Any
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 239
Center name: The Sustainability Consortium (TSC)
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Christy Slay
Project description
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a global ASU consortium that brings together retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, NGOs, and academic experts to address complex sustainability challenges through pre-competitive collaboration. This Barrett College Fellow project will support TSC’s Collective Action initiatives, which convene industry stakeholders to develop shared solutions, tools, and guidance that no single organization could create alone.
Fellows will work closely with TSC staff and member companies to conduct background research, synthesize emerging insights, and support stakeholder-facing materials across one or more of the following initiatives:
- Aerosol Propellants: An emerging working group focused on identifying and scaling lower-emissions aerosol propellants
- Agricultural Metrics: Navigating evolving metrics and definitions for regenerative agriculture and responsible pest management
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Developing Return-On-Investment (ROI) tools to inform packaging decisions under EPR regulation
- Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Tracking changes in guidance, surfacing best practices, and facilitating peer learning on Scope 3 reporting
- Small Appliance Energy Efficiency: Improving GHG emissions data and recognition of energy efficiency for small appliances (e.g., hairdryers)
Students will gain hands-on experience in applied sustainability research, cross-sector collaboration, and translating complex sustainability topics for diverse audiences. Work will be conducted in a professional, remote, team-based environment that mirrors real-world sustainability practices.
Special skills needed
- Strong professional skills, including communication, research synthesis, time management, and teamwork
- Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
- Interest in sustainability and systems-level challenges
- Experience working collaboratively in a team environment
- Willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic project setting
Majors
Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Business, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Public Policy, Engineering, Communications, Journalism
(Open to other majors with relevant coursework or experience)
Years
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 240
Center name: Center for Science and the Imagination
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ruth Wylie
Project description
The CSI Lab is a new undergraduate research and experiential learning program at the Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI). The program offers selected undergraduates the opportunity to work closely with CSI faculty and staff on applied projects that translate speculative thinking, futures methods, and science fiction into real-world public engagement and community impact. Students in the CSI Lab will contribute meaningfully to ongoing CSI initiatives while developing skills in research, creative production, collaboration, and futures-oriented problem solving.
The CSI Lab is designed as a mentored research experience, emphasizing hands-on work, iterative experimentation, and public-facing outputs. Projects will culminate in tangible deliverables such as curricula, media products, reports, toolkits, or public presentations.
Each CSI Lab cohort will pursue projects in one of two primary categories:
1. Public Engagement for Imagination and Futures Thinking
Students will adapt prior CSI work—such as science fiction stories from CSI anthologies, research reports, or speculative design projects—into new formats for education and public engagement. Working with CSI staff, students may:
* Develop classroom-ready curriculum modules or lesson plans
* Produce short-form social media videos or digital storytelling content
* Create informal learning materials for museums, libraries, or community organizations
* Translate speculative narratives into workshops, games, or interactive experiences
These projects emphasize accessibility, storytelling, and the translation of complex ideas into engaging formats for broad audiences.
2. Futures Clinics with Community Partners
Students will participate in a “futures clinic” model, providing consulting-style futures services to external partners such as nonprofits, government teams, or civic organizations. Under CSI staff supervision, students may:
* Conduct horizon scanning and trend research
* Facilitate futures workshops or scenario exercises
* Co-create speculative artifacts that help partners explore long-term possibilities
* Produce written or visual reports that synthesize insights and recommendations
Futures clinic projects prioritize ethical engagement, mutual learning, and practical value for partner organizations.
Special skills needed
Required: Collaboration, communication, creativity, reliability, and a sense of adventure
Interest in community-based work, futures foresight
Majors
All majors are encouraged to apply
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 241
Center name: Drylands Ecosystem Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Heather Throop
Project description
Dryland ecosystems are uniquely vulnerable to climate change but also offer promise for helping to mitigate the consequences of climate change. This project will use image analysis to explore research questions related to how drylands interact with environmental change. Research questions will include: how do desert plants respond to wildfires over long time scales? How does plant canopy cover differ along different rainfall regions? How do inputs to desert soils differ through time and space? Barret students will work together in teams with researcher in the Dryland Ecosystem Research Team to define research questions, refine methods, and explore the data.
Special skills needed
Successful students working on this research project will be willing to work hard and think creatively to solve new challenges, will work well in a team-based research environment, and will be enthusiastic about learning how desert ecosystems respond to a changing environment. Good organization, ability to write clearly, and basic computer skills are needed.
Majors
Conservation Biology and Ecology, Earth and Environmental Science, Astrobiology and Biogeoscience, Biology
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Sustainability
Project # 242
Center name: School of Molecular Sciences -- Experimental Quantum BioSensing (EQuBS) Laborat…
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Mouzhe Xie
Project description
Our overarching research calls for a multidisciplinary endeavor to develop spin-based quantum sensing technologies and their applications to biological and molecular systems.
We are particularly interested in the nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond crystal as a solid-state quantum sensor. Surrounding this general topic, we offer flexible project opportunities mindfully curated for enthusiastic undergraduate researchers. For example, in the past, Barrett fellows have successfully contributed to projects at various levels of independence, such as (1) analytical/numerical simulations of diffusing spins; (2) software control of robotic system for applying vector magnetic fields; (3) design, fabrication, and test of microwave PCB board for spin control; (4) design and machining of customized magnet mounts; (5) design and 3D-printing of polarizer mounts.
Special skills needed
Enthusiasm in quantum information science and engineering (QISE). We have a very multidisciplinary research team. Please refer to our website for details. https://sites.google.com/view/equbs-lab/opportunities
Majors
Any STEM majors. Past/current Barrett fellows are from physics, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 243
Center name: Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Bea Rodriguez-Fransen
Project description
Futurists and foresight practitioners use certain methodologies to research the future. This project invites students to explore how U.S. research universities might change by researching weak signals of change and larger trends that are beginning to reshape universities. Students will learn how to distinguish “signals” from “trends,” conduct environmental scans across news, policy reports, think-tank publications, and higher ed/ed-tech media, and record their findings in a shared database. Working together, they will cluster these signals and trends into themed groups and use them to help create “guiding images” or short scenarios for the futures of higher education, culminating in a polished synthesis report or slide deck for wider audiences. This project is ideal for students who would like to learn the basic building blocks of futures research, and for those who enjoy pattern-finding and imagining how today’s changes might shape tomorrow’s universities.
Faculty Lead: Bea Rodriguez-Fransen
# of Students: Up to 5
Special skills needed
One or more of the following:
-Critical thinking, qualitative data analysis, synthesis skills
-Project management/organization skills
-Storytelling
-Willingness to learn and apply foresight research methods
Majors
Any major interested in learning and applying foresight research methods
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 244
Center name: School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Bartu Bingol
Project description
Fellows will work on a hands-on sports analytics research project using college football game data. Our big question is simple and fun: what actually wins games, and how can we measure it in a careful, honest way? Students will build the dataset themselves, including data collection, cleaning, and clear documentation of variables. We will create interpretable features such as turnover margin, yards per play, and penalties, and then develop two complementary regression models: a linear regression model for point differential and a logistic regression model for win probability. Along the way, Fellows will learn how to interpret coefficients in plain English, check model assumptions, and evaluate models using train/test splits and basic validation tools. The final products will include a polished written report (RMarkdown is recommended), a short presentation or poster, and a fully reproducible code pipeline.
Faculty lead: Bartu Bingol. Capacity: 4 Fellows.
Special skills needed
1. Familiarity with basic statistics concepts such as mean, median, standard deviation, distributions, and interpreting plots (histograms, scatterplots)
2. Comfort working with data in a structured way (tables/spreadsheets), including careful attention to units, missing values, and consistency checks
3. Some programming experience is helpful, preferably in R (Python is also fine), or a clear willingness to learn
4. Familiarity with regression is a big plus (linear regression and/or logistic regression), including interpreting coefficients at a basic level
5. Ability to communicate reasoning clearly in writing, with full sentences and well-labeled figures
6. Strong work habits and collaboration skills (meeting deadlines, responding to feedback, and contributing to a shared code and writing workflow)
Majors
Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, Business Data Analytics, Economics, Industrial Engineering, Sports Business or Sports Journalism students with strong quantitative interest
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 245
Center name: Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Elizaveta Litvak
Project description
Plants in cities experience unique environmental conditions that may be very different from their natural habitats (even for native plants). In the US Southwest, plants are often exposed to a combination of hot, dry air and wet, irrigated soils, which is very unusual in natural ecosystems. The water use of plants under these conditions is not well understood and its quantification currently requires labor-intensive on-site measurements. However, it is well established that water use of irrigated urban lawns is highly sensitive to the intensity of solar radiation. This project will explore the application of a sky view factor, a metric of sunlight availability, as a predictor of landscape water use in residential yards. In addition to the image and data analysis, this project will provide opportunities to participate in laboratory and field research activities in the Phoenix area. I will accept up to two students to work on this project. Faculty lead: Elizaveta Litvak.
Special skills needed
Required:
- Love for mathematics, calculations, and graphs
- Interest and attention to detail
- Ability to use Excel
Desired:
- Experience with basic statistical analysis
- Basic knowledge of plant physiology and physics of evaporation
- Strong writing and communication skills
Majors
Biological Science, Conservation Biology & Ecology, or any other major related to quantitative data analysis and image processing
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 246
Center name: Grimm's Urban and Stream Ecosystems (USE) Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote/Remote considered
Faculty lead: Nancy Grimm
Project description
In the USE lab, we work at the intersection of social, ecological, and technological (SET) challenges. Our research group is interested in exploring human-nature connections, especially in urban and human-dominated systems. We have several ongoing research projects that explore a variety of prescient topics, including collaborative governance of nature with a particular focus on rivers and coastal zones, challenges and opportunities for implementing nature-based solutions addressing issues such as climate change and public health, and human values of and relationships with nature. We use mixed-methods and diverse approaches from life and social sciences to address our research questions, including qualitative analysis of interviews and text, participatory research, spatial mapping and modeling, and literature review. If you are interested in gaining hands-on research experience on topics related to water, conservation, public health, or environmental justice, we would love to hear from you. Undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to contact us and explore opportunities to work with the lab.
Special skills needed
No skills are specifically required.
Skills that students will potentially acquire in this position:
- Qualitative coding & analysis
- Interviewing skills
- Assisting in workshop facilitation
- Literature review
- Organizing meetings
- Spatial analysis / GIS
- Modeling
- Coding - Python and/or R
Majors
Anthropology,
Biological Sciences,
Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology and Ecology),
Environmental Sciences,
Environmental Social Science,
Geography,
Landscape Architecture and Design,
Sustainability,
Urban Planning
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 247
Center name: FORCE: Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment
Campus/Location: N/A
Faculty lead: Sibo Chen
Project description
This project focuses on understanding how planets evolve deep beneath their surfaces. Students will investigate how planet-forming materials behave under the high pressures and temperatures found inside the Earth and other planetary bodies.
Students will gain hands on experience with large volume presses and ultrasonic measurement systems at FORCE (https://force.asu.edu/). They will also perform X ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, inferred spectroscopy, and electron microscopy experiments. The research will address key scientific questions, including how elements are stored in planetary materials, how these elements influence the physical and chemical properties of planetary materials, and how these properties help interpret geophysical observations.
The primary applications of this study lie in the fields of materials chemistry, geosciences, and planetary sciences. Students will be primarily mentored by Dr. Sibo Chen (https://search.asu.edu/profile/4609680) and will collaborate with postdoctoral researchers and PhD students within the research group.
Special skills needed
Laboratory experiences
Majors
Chemistry, Geosciences, Planetary Sciences, Physics, Material Engineering
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 248
Center name: Center for Mechanisms of Evolution
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Kerry Geiler-Samerotte
Project description
Have you ever wondered why misfolded proteins make us sick? Or why some people get sicker from the same disease than others? This project will research the basic cell biology of how misfolded proteins impact single cells in yeast, our model organism. We will explore why different mutations that result in the same degree of protein misfolding in cells can have different effects on fitness.
We are looking for one student who is interested in working in the wet lab as well as doing computational data analysis. Must be able to commit to at least a year (preferably two) for this project. Potential to complete your Barrett Honors Thesis in our lab. For more information, visit https://kgslab.org.
Special skills needed
Interest in learning cellular research techniques. Previous coding experience or willingness to learn.
Majors
Biochemistry, biological sciences, microbiology, neuroscience, or other related STEM degrees.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 249
Center name: Jessica Quinton
Campus/Location: Downtown; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Jessica Quinton
Project description
Care is defined as “a species activity that includes everything we do to maintain, continue, and repair our “world” so that we can live in it as well as possible.” Throughout our lives, we are all recipients and providers of care.
This research is interested in private and public urban green spaces (e.g., yards and parks) as sites of care. Fellows can get involved in this research by 1) analyzing social media data to identify how parenting influencers portray the role of green spaces in their care work; 2) observing park users to identify patterns in where and how pet and/or childcare takes place; 3) surveying park users about their care routines; and/or 4) conducting interviews with caregivers about their green space use. Depending on what Fellows wish to be involved in, they can gain skills in collecting and analyzing social media, observational, survey, or interview data. They can also gain skills in literature reviews and writing if they wish to co-author an academic journal manuscript.
Special skills needed
Dependent on the research question and level of involvement chosen:
- Attention to detail
- Comfort in outdoor settings
- Familiarity with social media platforms
- Strong written and oral communication skills
Majors
Any social science major
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 250
Center name: SOGI Health and Rights Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Russell
Project description
The SOGI-Q 2.0 Study follows up with participants from a longitudinal study conducted between 2012-2015 of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth ages 15-21 (participants will now be ages 28-34). The study will be guided by the following aims:
AIM 1: To examine trajectories of the formation, expression, and experience of sexual and gender minority identities over nearly 10 years of follow up.
AIM 2: To identify LGBT-specific protective factors associated with lower risk for multiple indicators of compromised mental health in young adulthood.
AIM 3: To examine identity variability across time in association with mental health in young adulthood for people who identified as LGBT during adolescence.
We would accept up to 2 students; faculty lead is Stephen Russell in the School of Social and Family Dynamics, and the research team includes one postdoctoral researcher and several PhD students.
Special skills needed
We are open to students new to research.
Majors
Open to any major - particularly relevant for Family & Human Development; Sociology; Psychology
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 251
Center name: School of Life Sciences
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Pratt
Project description
In ant colonies, the size of the nest entrance shapes exposure to predators and competitors, while also influencing the microclimate inside the nest and affecting traffic flow. Experiments with cavity-nesting ants of the genus Temnothorax have shown a strong preference for artificial nests with a narrow entrance. However, recent experiments with Temnothorax rugatulus ants have shown that they further modify the nest entrance to potentially reduce exposure to predators. In this experiment, we will further explore this by providing ant colonies with multiple nest entrances to observe whether they modify and continue to use all entrances, or decide to close all but one. In that case, we will test whether other factors, such as distance to food or a light source, can explain which entrance will be used. Using a combination of controlled behavioral assays, calibrated imaging, and statistical model-based inference, the researcher will connect decision-making and nest architecture in ant colonies.
Special skills needed
No specific skills
Majors
Any biological science major, or psychology
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 252
Center name: School of Life Sciences
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Pratt
Project description
Collective decisions in social insects integrate individual experiences into colony-level outcomes, and environmental stressors often play an important role in influencing those outcomes. One such stressor, the temperature inside ant colonies' nests, is a core component of nest quality because colony function depends on staying within permissive ranges. Everything else being equal, colonies of Temnothorax rugatulus have shown they would preferentially inhibit warmer nests compared to colder ones. This project will test whether thermal variance experienced by ant colonies will alter their collective nest site selection. Thermal biology models predict that temperature variance shifts average performance even when the mean temperature experienced stays unchanged. This prediction will be tested by exposing ant colonies to temperature cycles with different variances but the same mean, and then estimating their likelihood of emigrating out of the occupied nest. The results of this experiment will allow us to better understand collective responses and colony persistence across variable thermal landscapes, especially under increasing climate volatility.
Special skills needed
No specific skills required.
Majors
Any biological sciences major; psychology
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 253
Center name: School of Life Sciences
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Pratt
Project description
Chill coma is a reversible, cold-induced state in insects where they lose neuromuscular function and become effectively paralyzed. The time required to regain coordinated movement after a defined period in a chill coma is called the chill coma recovery time. In contrast to experimental measurement of chill coma recovery time in response to a single, defined period, in nature, cold stress rarely occurs as a single uniform event. Natural cold exposure often occurs as variable-length episodes repeated across days, with intermittent warming. Thus, exposing a montane ant species, Temnothorax rugatulus, to variable exposure time in chill coma and repeated cold shock will allow us to align laboratory assays with the structure of real cold snaps and winter transitions.
Special skills needed
No specific skills required.
Majors
Any biological sciences major; psychology
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 254
Center name: Human Biometeorology Lab/ HeatReady Initiatives
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jennifer Vanos
Project description
This project focuses on measuring, monitoring, and evaluating trees planted across the Phoenix Metro area. Overall, the project aims to yield insights into how trees perform in extreme heat environments, and how community-based tree planting contributes to urban cooling and heat resilience. Students will assist in collecting field data for hundreds of trees, including indicators of tree health, growth, and survivability, and will help analyze these data as part of a larger database to assess the effectiveness of urban tree planting efforts. Students will be advised by Dr. Jennifer Vanos, Associate Professor in the School of Sustainability and the team at the HeatReady initiatives at ASU, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Trees Matter. Findings will support evidence-based decision-making for future urban forestry efforts, tree maintenance strategies, and heat mitigation efforts. Students will gain hands-on experience in field data collection, applied environmental research, and community-engaged science. Students will also be part of communication efforts with our partners at the Sustainability Teachers Academy to bolster ongoing collaboration on tree education.
Special skills needed
Looking for students who are eager to engage in outdoor fieldwork as part of a larger, collaborative effort, learning hands-on techniques related to urban forestry and desert tree health, being part of a collaborative team, and have an interest in urban ecology, GIS, and/or urban climate.
Majors
Environmental Science, Conservation Sciences, Sustainability, Geography/GIS, Ecology, Public Health, Education, or related fields.
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 255
Center name: Akheil Singla
Campus/Location: Downtown; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Akheil Singla
Project description
American state and local governments often levy fines on individuals who break traffic laws (e.g., traffic citations). But those fees are often not paid in full. Some estimates put the uncollected court debt at $27.6 billion, or about $83 per capita. To incentivize payment, governments often issue to failure-to-pay (FTP) penalties like license suspension. But FTP penalties may also trap individuals in a cycle of debt and disadvantage. In addition to harming the person, the FTP penalty may even reduce the likelihood that initial fines are paid. This project studies FTP penalties in multiple settings: a field experiment with a local municipal court, a systematic literature review on the subject, and related work conducting quasi-experimental policy analysis on these penalties.
We would welcome 1-2 intellectually curious, driven students to join our team and help us advance our research. We will tailor the specific responsibilities of any student who joins our team to their strengths, interests, and availability.
Special skills needed
-General knowledge/interest in the structure of American government
-General knowledge/interest in the American criminal justice system
-Intellectual curiosity
-Written & oral communication
-Microsoft Excel
Majors
All
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 256
Center name: Global Futures Office of Research Development and Strategy
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ann Marie Hess
Project description
Public universities are navigating a period of rapid change in federal research funding, priorities, and regulatory expectations. As competition increases and safeguards vary across programs, institutions face complex decisions about how to balance innovation, responsibility, and public trust. This project treats the university itself as a research subject, examining emerging models of public-interest academic research that integrate discovery, implementation, and accountability. Barrett Fellows will analyze funding programs, research structures, and institutional responses to identify design options that allow universities to support diverse research pathways while remaining competitive and publicly accountable.
Special skills needed
Analytical thinking, qualitative research, policy or market analysis, synthesis writing, comfort working with complex systems
Majors
Business (Strategy, Entrepreneurship),
Public Policy,
Political Science,
Economics,
Sustainability,
Global Studies,
Sociology,
Journalism or Communication
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
Project # 257
Center name: Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Eleanor Hennessy
Project description
As electric vehicles are growing in popularity, understanding barriers to access to charging infrastructure is increasingly important. In this project, we will assess access to home, workplace, and public charging infrastructure and identify "charging deserts", where access is limited. Using a variety of public datasets, we will explore how access to each type of charging infrastructure varies geographically and across different socioeconomic and demographic groups. We will identify disparities in access and identify potential solutions to improve access in areas lacking charging infrastructure.
I will accept 1-2 students to work on this project.
Faculty lead: Eleanor Hennessy
Special skills needed
Required Qualifications:
Interest in electric vehicles, equity, and just transitions
Excitement and motivation
Experience using Microsoft Excel
Desired Qualifications:
Scientific programming experience (e.g., R, Python)
Background in GIS
Data analysis experience
Majors
Sustainability; engineering; geography; urban planning; data science
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 258
Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski
Project description
This project aims to develop materials and technologies for thermochemical hydrogen production. The project is entirely lab-based, and students can choose between different project aspects: chemical synthesis of redox-active Ca-Ce-Ti-Mn-O-Based perovskite ceramics (CCTM), CCTM ceramics extrusion and reactor element fabrication, mechanical reactor engineering, and electrical/software sensors/controls/diagnostics.
Special skills needed
Knowledge of chemistry, mechanical reactor engineering, and/or electrical diagnostics. This project is lab-based and involves physical sciences and engineering (STEM) but also sustainability.
Majors
Biological sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, engineering, sustainability
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability
Project # 259
Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski
Project description
This project aims to demonstrate a novel two-step thermal-electrical hybrid cycle for hydrogen production. The project is entirely lab-based, with experiments focusing on the fabrication and testing of multilayer oxygen and proton-conducting ceramic cells.
Special skills needed
Students need experience in STEM to perform experiments and tests of multilayer oxygen and proton-conducting ceramic cells
Majors
Biology, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability
Project # 260
Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jim Miller
Project description
This project is working to develop a renewable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, necessary for the vast majority of global food production. The project is entirely lab-based and includes chemical synthesis of redox-active mixed metal nitrides, and ammonia synthesis reactor operation (mechanical, electrical/software sensors/controls/diagnostics).
Special skills needed
Knowledge of chemistry, mechanical or electrical engineering
Majors
Biology, chemistry, engineering, physical sciences
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability
Project # 261
Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski
Project description
The goal of this project is to decrease land and water use and overall biosphere appropriations in food production by >100x compared to present. As part of the project, students study the growth of edible mushroom mycelium on sustainably produced abiotic substrates, as a sustainable complement to our currently solely photosynthetic and unsustainable food system. The project is entirely lab-based and includes mycelium cultivation (in petri dishes, shaker flasks, and bioreactors), and growth rate, efficiency, and nutrient content characterization.
Special skills needed
Interest in sustainable food systems, attention to detail
Majors
Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems, Agriculture, Nutrition, Biology, Plant Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability
Project # 262
Center name: ASU LightWorks
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski
Project description
The aim of this project is to synthesize recorded discussions with leading experts in the data center and adjacent fields into a final report that would be helpful to Arizona communities in navigating the benefits and challenges of new data center siting. This project is entirely remote (open in-person and online students), with the team expected to meet weekly with projects supervisors for questions and project updates.
Special skills needed
Interest in data centers, Arizona communities, sustainability, and policy
Majors
Engineering, Sustainability, Political Science, Social Science, Anthropology
Years
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-3rd Year Students
-2nd Year Students
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 263
Center name: SmartStart for Type 2 Diabetes Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Eyitayo Owolabi
Project description
Diabetes management is complex and requires daily self-care, which can be overwhelming for many individuals. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is an evidence-based program designed to provide the education and skills needed to manage diabetes; however, engagement and retention in these programs remain low, particularly among low-income populations. The SmartStart project seeks to identify barriers and facilitators to engagement and to co-create and pilot test a digitally enhanced DSMES program tailored for low-income individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Special skills needed
Interest in diabetes prevention and management and/or health disparities; desire to gain experience in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research; ability to participate in in-person activities when needed.
Majors
Health Sciences, Social Sciences
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project # 264
Center name: Fossil Plant Collections, a part of the Natural History Collections, Biocollect…
Campus/Location: Tempe; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Kathleen Pigg
Project description
The Fossil Plant Collection is a unique component of the Natural History Collections, which together with the NEON biorepository comprise the ASU Biocollections. We are housed 2 miles off campus in the Alameda Building, 734 W Alameda Drive in Tempe. The collection includes fossil plant remains from numerous significant worldwide localities as well as extensive live plant anatomical sections (wood anatomy, pollen) and fruits, seeds and pine cones. The collection is organized and has been partially digitized as part of SEINeT https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/index.php and the Pteridoportal https://www.pteridoportal.org/portal/index.php. The goal of this research is to continue to develop the organization, digitization and online presence of this collection in order to make the resource available to the larger community. A secondary goal is to develop collections based research, science education and outreach. Barrett College Fellows would be involved in a variety of curatorial work including organization, documentation, digitization and online database presentation. In addition of curatorial and museum skills Barrett Fellows will learn about plant evolution, systematics, anatomical structure and the role of fossils in understanding broader aspects of evolution and ecology. Several individual projects focused on fossils and/or living plant tissues of particular plant taxonomic groups, fossils of specific localities and preservation and material types will be available and can be tailored to individual student interests. Work will be primarily within the collections at Alameda with some remote work also possible.
Special skills needed
Careful detail-oriented, reliable individuals with organizational and observational skills, background and/or interest in collections-based research, plant systematics, evolution, and structure. Digitization and bioinformatics skills are helpful but can be trained. Our work is highly visual and individuals interested in science/art connections, outreach, and science education a plus.
Majors
Biology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Earth Sciences, Plant-related areas of interest, potentially artistic and science education areas
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 265
Center name: Center for Biology and Society
Campus/Location: Tempe; Fully remote; Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Beckett Sterner
Project description
This project studies viruses detected in North American rodents to advance understanding of reservoir hosts and improve risk modeling for zoonotic disease spread. It will be the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of studies publishing virus detection results and experimental or statistical studies of factors that influence disease spread. Students with an interest in biology (no prior skills required) can join an ongoing team that extracts and analyzes virus detection studies. Students with some prior computational or statistics background can join a team working on data visualization and analytics. Both tracks can accommodate as many students as are interested and have the relevant background. We have had many prior honors fellows go on to do successful thesis projects based on the data they extract, and we encourage students to develop publishable journal articles from their work.
Special skills needed
Students with an interest in biology (no prior skills required) can join an ongoing team that extracts and analyzes virus detection studies. Students with some prior computational or statistics background (e.g. ability to program or analyze data to produce statistical summaries and trends) can join a team working on data visualization and analytics.
Majors
Biology, Computer Science, Math, Data Science, Statistics, Physics
Years
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness
Project # 266
Center name: Desert Botanical Garden - The Hernandez Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tania Hernandez
Project description
The Hernandez Lab at the Desert Botanical Garden is a collaborative team of researchers, students, interns, and volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of desert plant biodiversity, with a particular focus on cacti and agaves, two of the plant groups under the highest threat of extinction. We integrate cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses with innovative conservation tools, an international network of collaborators, and a strong local community of committed volunteers to generate knowledge that guides the protection and long-term persistence of species. We believe plant conservation is both a scientific imperative and a shared responsibility, and our work centers on understanding genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in desert plants; especially in the face of climate change. Through mentorship, research, and hands-on programs such as the Saguaro Initiatives, we connect science, community, and action to safeguard desert ecosystems for future generations.
To learn more about our work, visit https://www.hernandezlab-dbg.com/
Project Location: Desert Botanical Garden and remote work
Special skills needed
More than ever, genomic data is transforming how we understand how plants function, evolve, and respond to environmental change. These data are also key to predicting how plant species will be affected by climate change and to designing better conservation strategies.
At the Hernández Lab, we work across the full spectrum of genomic analyses. Opportunities range from foundational tasks such as data curation, organization, and quality control, to advanced analyses including population genomics, landscape genetics, and genomic vulnerability assessments.
We welcome students, interns, and collaborators at all levels of expertise who have computing skills and a strong interest in the study and conservation of wild plants. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with real genomic datasets while contributing to meaningful conservation research.
** Plant Conservation Bioinformatics Specialist Honors Student, Intern or Collaborator **
Minimum requisites:
- proficient in unix/linux
- general knowledge in genetics, population genetics, evolution, phylogenetics
- basic coding skills and shell scripting
- be able to self-learn with guidance of senior students
- available 5-10 hours a week (more if desired)
- must have a personal computer and access to good internet
- participate in a weekly advisory meeting and a quarter whole team meeting
Benefits
- Professional mentoring from researchers and conservation scientists at Desert Botanical Garden
- Training in the use of High-Performance Computing Cluster and access to all ASU computing services
- Training in the implementation of novel methods in bioinformatics and genomics (genome assembly and annotation, phylogenomics, population genomics)
- Participation and interaction with an international group of students and collaborators
- If desired, development of a project with publishable results.
- Working from home at self-pace
Students who successfully participate in and complete bioinformatics projects at the Hernández Lab are included as coauthors on resulting scientific publications, in accordance with their contributions. Committed students may also have opportunities to participate in scientific conferences and present their work (for example, Botany 2026).
Majors
Data Science, Computational Mathematical Sciences, Biotechnology and Bioenterprise, Biology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and related
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics
Project # 267
Center name: Desert Botanical Garden - The Hernandez Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tania Hernandez
Project description
The Hernandez Lab at the Desert Botanical Garden is a collaborative team of researchers, students, interns, and volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of desert plant biodiversity, with a particular focus on cacti and agaves, two of the plant groups under the highest threat of extinction. We integrate cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses with innovative conservation tools, an international network of collaborators, and a strong local community of committed volunteers to generate knowledge that guides the protection and long-term persistence of species. We believe plant conservation is both a scientific imperative and a shared responsibility, and our work centers on understanding genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in desert plants; especially in the face of climate change. Through mentorship, research, and hands-on programs such as the Saguaro Initiatives, we connect science, community, and action to safeguard desert ecosystems for future generations.
To learn more about our work, visit https://www.hernandezlab-dbg.com/
Project Location: Desert Botanical Garden and remote work
Special skills needed
Saguaros are more than symbols of the Sonoran Desert, they are living neighbors in our cities. From backyards and schoolyards to street medians and parks, thousands of saguaros live in urban landscapes. These urban saguaros tell a powerful story about how wildlife and people share space in a rapidly changing desert.
The Saguaro Initiatives at Desert Botanical Garden are a coordinated, community-driven effort to understand, protect, and secure the future of saguaros in urban environments, where climate change, extreme heat, and development are placing unprecedented stress on this iconic species.
** Saguaro Census Community Engagement Coordinator, Honors Student or Intern **
The Saguaro Census in the Phoenix Valley is a community-building, citizen-science program that brings people together to care for one of our most iconic desert plants. By encouraging residents to observe, record, and learn about saguaros in their neighborhoods, the program builds a strong network of support while raising awareness about the growing vulnerability of desert plants. Through this simple act of paying attention, participants help improve and preserve our urban landscapes and reconnect with nature—even in the heart of the city.
Requisites
- Strong interest in community engagement, conservation, or environmental education
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Enjoys coordinating activities, working with people, and supporting community science
- Comfortable interacting with volunteers and the public
- Availability of approximately 5–10 hours per week (with some seasonal flexibility)
- Ability to participate in a bi-weekly advisory meeting and a quarterly full-team meeting
Benefits
- Hands-on experience in community-based conservation and citizen science
- Leadership and coordination skills through managing volunteers and outreach activities
- Training in science communication and public engagement
- Mentorship from conservation scientists and staff at Desert Botanical Garden
- Networking opportunities with volunteers, students, and community partners
- Resume-building experience with a visible, high-impact conservation program
Majors
Biology, Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology and Ecology), Biology (Environmental Justice), Communication, Organizational Leadership, Education, Innovation in Society, Project Management, Community Advocacy, Sustainability
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Sustainability
Project # 268
Center name: Desert Botanical Garden - The Hernandez Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tania Hernandez
Project description
The Hernandez Lab at the Desert Botanical Garden is a collaborative team of researchers, students, interns, and volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of desert plant biodiversity, with a particular focus on cacti and agaves, two of the plant groups under the highest threat of extinction. We integrate cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses with innovative conservation tools, an international network of collaborators, and a strong local community of committed volunteers to generate knowledge that guides the protection and long-term persistence of species. We believe plant conservation is both a scientific imperative and a shared responsibility, and our work centers on understanding genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in desert plants; especially in the face of climate change. Through mentorship, research, and hands-on programs such as the Saguaro Initiatives, we connect science, community, and action to safeguard desert ecosystems for future generations.
To learn more about our work, visit https://www.hernandezlab-dbg.com/
Project Location: Desert Botanical Garden and remote work
Special skills needed
Saguaros are more than symbols of the Sonoran Desert, they are living neighbors in our cities. From backyards and schoolyards to street medians and parks, thousands of saguaros live in urban landscapes. These urban saguaros tell a powerful story about how wildlife and people share space in a rapidly changing desert.
The Saguaro Initiatives at Desert Botanical Garden are a coordinated, community-driven effort to understand, protect, and secure the future of saguaros in urban environments, where climate change, extreme heat, and development are placing unprecedented stress on this iconic species.
** Saguaro Census Scientist Lead, Honors Student or Intern **
Each year, the Saguaro Census generates thousands of observations on saguaros and their health across the Phoenix Valley. Analysis of these data has already revealed critical patterns. For example, that saguaros in urban landscapes are declining rapidly due to development and increasing physiological stress. As a dynamic, growing program, the Saguaro Census continually evolves and requires ongoing data analysis and refinement. The information generated through this work is essential for developing science-based strategies to support the recovery and conservation of urban saguaros, and for understanding how they are affected by the urban heat island effect and climate change.
The Saguaro Census Scientist Lead conducts statistical analyses of census data, integrates climatic and weather datasets relevant to urban environments, prepares reports, and works closely with the Saguaro Census team to propose and implement improvements to the program.
Requisites:
- Background or strong interest in biology, ecology, environmental science, data science, or a related field
- Basic experience with data analysis, statistics, or programming (e.g., R, Python, Excel, or similar)
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research team
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Access to a personal computer and reliable internet connection
- Availability of approximately 5–10 hours per week (with some seasonal flexibility)
- Ability to participate in a bi-weekly advisory meeting and a quarterly full-team meeting
Benefits:
- Hands-on experience analyzing real conservation and urban ecology data
- Training in statistical analysis and integration of climate and environmental datasets
- Mentorship from conservation scientists at Desert Botanical Garden
- Flexibility to work remotely / from home, with a schedule that can adapt to academic commitments
- Experience contributing to science-based conservation strategies for an iconic desert species
- Opportunities for authorship on scientific publications and presentation at conferences (based on contribution and commitment)
- Strong resume-building experience in conservation science, data analysis, and applied research
Majors
Biological Sciences, Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology and Ecology), Sustainability, Data Science, Computational Mathematical Sciences, Biology, Mathematics (Statistics) and related
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Sustainability
Project # 269
Center name: Desert Botanical Garden - The Hernandez Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tania Hernandez
Project description
The Hernandez Lab at the Desert Botanical Garden is a collaborative team of researchers, students, interns, and volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of desert plant biodiversity, with a particular focus on cacti and agaves, two of the plant groups under the highest threat of extinction. We integrate cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses with innovative conservation tools, an international network of collaborators, and a strong local community of committed volunteers to generate knowledge that guides the protection and long-term persistence of species. We believe plant conservation is both a scientific imperative and a shared responsibility, and our work centers on understanding genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in desert plants; especially in the face of climate change. Through mentorship, research, and hands-on programs such as the Saguaro Initiatives, we connect science, community, and action to safeguard desert ecosystems for future generations.
To learn more about our work, visit https://www.hernandezlab-dbg.com/
Project Location: Desert Botanical Garden
Special skills needed
CryoBank @ Desert Botanical Garden Opportunities
The CryoBank at Desert Botanical Garden is a growing conservation initiative dedicated to safeguarding the genetic diversity of desert plants for the long term. At DBG, we use state-of-the-art cryopreservation technologies to preserve plant species at ultra-low temperatures, allowing their genetic material to be protected for centuries for future generations. By combining ex situ conservation, tissue culture, cryopreservation, and genomics, the CryoBank supports research, restoration, and conservation efforts, with a special focus on cacti and agaves that are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss.
In vitro Conservation Honors Student/Intern (open also to MSc students)
The In Vitro Conservation student or intern will support the development of the CryoBank/CryoBiorepository at Desert Botanical Garden by assisting with plant tissue culture and in vitro conservation activities. This role focuses on the application of laboratory techniques used to conserve threatened and climate-vulnerable desert plant species, particularly cacti and agaves.
Working closely with the CryoBank team, the student or intern will receive hands-on training in sterile techniques, media preparation, culture maintenance, and the early stages of cryopreservation workflows. This position offers the opportunity to learn how in vitro conservation supports ex situ conservation, research, restoration, and the long-term safeguarding of plant genetic diversity.
Requisites
- Background or strong interest in plant biology, botany, biotechnology, conservation, or a related field
- Interest in laboratory work and willingness to follow detailed protocols
- Ability to work carefully, patiently, and with strong attention to detail
- Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team
- Availability of approximately 5–10 hours per week (with some seasonal flexibility)
- Ability to participate in weekly advisory meetings and quarterly full-team meetings
Benefits
- Hands-on experience in plant tissue culture and in vitro conservation techniques
- Training in cryopreservation workflows within a conservation context
- Mentorship from conservation scientists and technical staff at Desert Botanical Garden
- Exposure to ex situ conservation strategies and how they support research and restoration
- Resume-building laboratory experience in a growing, high-impact conservation program
- Opportunities to contribute to protocol development, reports, and publications, depending on contribution and commitment
Majors
Biology, Biological Sciences, Applied Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioenterprise, Chemistry, Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology, and related
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 270
Center name: Desert Botanical Garden - The Hernandez Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tania Hernandez
Project description
The Hernandez Lab at the Desert Botanical Garden is a collaborative team of researchers, students, interns, and volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of desert plant biodiversity, with a particular focus on cacti and agaves, two of the plant groups under the highest threat of extinction. We integrate cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses with innovative conservation tools, an international network of collaborators, and a strong local community of committed volunteers to generate knowledge that guides the protection and long-term persistence of species. We believe plant conservation is both a scientific imperative and a shared responsibility, and our work centers on understanding genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in desert plants; especially in the face of climate change. Through mentorship, research, and hands-on programs such as the Saguaro Initiatives, we connect science, community, and action to safeguard desert ecosystems for future generations.
To learn more about our work, visit https://www.hernandezlab-dbg.com/
Project Location: Desert Botanical Garden
Special skills needed
** Plant Genomics DNA Laboratory Specialist Honors Student, Intern, or Collaborator **
Genomic research is central to understanding the evolutionary history, genetic diversity, and adaptive capacity of desert plants. High-quality DNA and RNA are the foundation of all downstream genomic analyses, from genome sequencing to population genomics and conservation planning.
The Plant Genomics DNA Laboratory Specialist will support the Hernández Lab’s Genomics for Conservation program by assisting in the development, optimization, and implementation of laboratory protocols for extracting high-quality genomic DNA and RNA from cacti and agaves. This role is critical for enabling current and future projects focused on phylogenomics, population genomics, and genomic vulnerability assessments of threatened desert plant species.
The specialist will work closely with senior lab members to standardize workflows, document protocols, and help build a reliable, reproducible pipeline for plant genomics research at Desert Botanical Garden.
Requisites
• Background or strong interest in molecular biology, plant biology, genetics, genomics, or biotechnology
• Interest in laboratory work and molecular techniques
• Willingness to carefully follow and document detailed protocols
• Strong attention to detail, patience, and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently with guidance from senior lab members
• Availability of approximately 5–10 hours per week (more if desired)
• Ability to participate in weekly advisory meetings and quarterly full-team meetings
Benefits
• Hands-on experience in plant genomic DNA and RNA extraction techniques
• Training in protocol development and optimization for challenging plant tissues
• Exposure to real-world conservation genomics research workflows
• Mentorship from researchers working at the intersection of genomics and conservation
• Opportunity to contribute directly to high-impact genomics projects on cacti and agaves
• Potential for coauthorship on scientific publications, based on contribution and commitment
• Strong resume-building laboratory experience in a cutting-edge conservation genomics program
Majors
Biology, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biosciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioenterprise, Genetics, Plant Sciences, Applied Biological Sciences, or related
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Project # 271
Center name: Desert Botanical Garden - The Hernandez Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tania Hernandez
Project description
The Hernandez Lab at the Desert Botanical Garden is a collaborative team of researchers, students, interns, and volunteers dedicated to the study and conservation of desert plant biodiversity, with a particular focus on cacti and agaves, two of the plant groups under the highest threat of extinction. We integrate cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses with innovative conservation tools, an international network of collaborators, and a strong local community of committed volunteers to generate knowledge that guides the protection and long-term persistence of species. We believe plant conservation is both a scientific imperative and a shared responsibility, and our work centers on understanding genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in desert plants; especially in the face of climate change. Through mentorship, research, and hands-on programs such as the Saguaro Initiatives, we connect science, community, and action to safeguard desert ecosystems for future generations.
To learn more about our work, visit https://www.hernandezlab-dbg.com/
Project Location: Desert Botanical Garden and remote work
Special skills needed
** Science Communication & Digital Content Coordinator Honors Student, Intern, or Collaborator **
Effective conservation depends not only on strong science, but on our ability to communicate that science clearly, creatively, and responsibly to diverse audiences. The Hernández Lab places a high value on transparent, engaging, and accessible science communication that connects research, community, and action.
The Science Communication & Digital Content Coordinator will be responsible for helping shape and maintain the public-facing voice of the Hernández Lab. This role focuses on website content, newsletters, blog posts, and digital storytelling related to Sonoran Desert plant conservation, lab research, student projects, the Saguaro Initiatives, and CryoBank activities. The coordinator will work closely with the Hernández Lab team and Desert Botanical Garden’s Marketing and Communications staff to ensure all content is accurate, engaging, and aligned with DBG standards and messaging.
This is an excellent opportunity for a student or early-career professional interested in science communication, conservation storytelling, and digital outreach within a research and museum setting.
Requisites
• Strong interest in science communication, conservation, or environmental storytelling
• Excellent written communication skills (English required; Spanish a plus)
• Interest or experience in website content management, newsletters, blogging, or digital media
• Ability to work collaboratively with scientists, students, and communications professionals
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Availability of approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Ability to participate in a bi-weekly advisory meeting and a quarterly full-team meeting
• Access to a personal computer and reliable internet
Benefits
• Hands-on experience in conservation science communication within a major botanical institution
• Training in translating scientific research into public-facing content
• Experience working with DBG Marketing to develop institutionally approved media content
• Portfolio-building opportunities (website pages, newsletters, blog posts, outreach materials)
• Mentorship from conservation scientists and science communicators
• Networking opportunities across research, conservation, and communications teams
• Resume-building experience in a visible, high-impact conservation program
Majors
Biology, Biological Sciences (Biology & Society), Conservation Biology, Communication, Journalism, Digital Media, Marketing, Sustainability, Innovation in Society, Environmental Studies, or related
Years
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
-ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes:
Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Sustainability
Project # 272
Center name: Balmer Lab, SOLS
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tim Balmer
Project description
Tinnitus is a common hearing problem in which a phantom perception of sound occurs, often described as ringing or buzzing. Current animal models of tinnitus are lacking, which is a major roadblock for studying its underlying causes and potential treatments. Various behavioral paradigms have been developed for rodents, but the apparatuses are typically not commercially available and must be built and tested. In this project we will build one or more apparatuses to test tinnitus in mice. The approaches may include active avoidance, gap-induced pre-pulse inhibition of acoustic startle, or others.
Special skills needed
Basic construction skills, computer and engineering skills to develop a computer controlled apparatus with various inputs and outputs.
Majors
Engineering, Biology, Neuroscience
Years
-2nd Year Students
-3rd Year Students
-4th Year Students- Seniors
Themes
Cross-listed with the following themes: