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Social and Behavioral Sciences

Explore the various projects below categorized under the general theme of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Be sure to return to the Barrett College Fellows Program main page and explore projects under the other 11 themes as well. You might be surprised at what you find and maybe you will discover the perfect research project for what you hope to study!

Please do not contact the research centers or faculty listed below directly (a formal application process is a required step to joining these research opportunities).

For questions about the Barrett College Fellows Program or specific research projects, please contact Dr. Sarah Graff at: [email protected].

Back to Barrett College Fellows main page

Research projects

Social Connection and Well-Being (SC&WB Study)

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

Barrett SAEE (Space Architecture & Extreme Environments) ARC 493 Honors Thesis

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

Social connection, Technology, Activity, and Resources for healthy Transition (S.T.A.R.T.) Project

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dementia in Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness

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

Embryo Project

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

Safe Routes to School/Safe Streets

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

Nationwide School Recess Project

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

HeatReady Schools

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

Cross-linguistic approaches to mapping cognitive representations of musical timbre

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

EYEPlay for Everyone

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

What makes violence religious? An inquiry into contemporary discourses of conflict

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:

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Relationships & Technology Lab

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Improving Archaeological Digital Repository Software

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Marketing Strategies for Archaeology Data Centers

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Utilizing Empirical Ethics to Conceptualize Religion-Based Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States

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:

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

New Carbon Economy Consortium (NCEC) Insights

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

Smart Walk

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Views of Aging, Health, & Well-Being Lab

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Public Health Ethics (PHE) Lab

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:

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Are dating apps responsible for sexually transmitted infections?

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

Investigating Intimate Partner Aggression (IPA)

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Measuring and Preventing AI-Enabled Online Crowdsourced Fraud

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:

Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences

What’s in a Name? Candidate Names in Brazilian Elections

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Views of Aging, Health, & Well-Being Lab

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mechanisms of self-affirmation and its applications

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

Neurofeedback and mindfulness on behavior change

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

Indigenous Law & Policy Research & Writing Project

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

THREAD Labs

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

Research Communication & Dissemination

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

Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W)

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Solution Theater: Citizen Assemblies and Decision Science

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

Health Impact

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

Local Community Analysis for strategic Engagement

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Child Development Data Management

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:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

How does human trafficking affect the homeland security of the United States?

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

Does the current approach to breach of the immigration legislation by ICE improve the security of the United States?

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

International Disaster Archive

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Exploring the Development of a Medical-Legal Partnership

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

Mapping Evidence-Informed Practice in Recreational Therapy: A Bibliometric Study (2005–2025)

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Storytelling Project: Take Care of YOU

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Do Disability Registries Reduce Negative Outcomes for Disabled People During Police Contact?

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

Exploring the role of parent-child play in children’s social development

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Relationships & Technology Lab

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Language Acquisition (L2 French) during study abroad

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:

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Governance of Distributed Energy Resources among households

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

Legislative Diversity in Asia

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:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Empowering Youth Climate Action (EYCA)

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:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

HELM Lab Design and Launch

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

Science and Imagination Lab

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

Exploring Signals, Trends and Future Scenarios of U.S. Research Universities

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:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Addressing social-ecological-technological systems (SETS) challenges

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

Urban green spaces as sites of care

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

SOGIQ2 Study: Identity and mental health in the transition to adulthood

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:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mapping and Measuring Urban Tree Health and Impact Under Extreme Heat

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

Fines, Fees and Economic Wellbeing: How Drivers’ License Suspension Affects the Financial Outcomes of Households

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

Redesigning Public Research in a Competitive Funding Environment

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

SmartStart: A Digitally Enhanced Self-Management Intervention for Low-Income Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes

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

Displaying 1 - 57 of 57
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