For-Credit Research Assistantship

Academic field: American Literature
Research topic: The Letters of Carson McCullers

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Student research assistant will help Professor Carlos Dews with the research and editorial work on his edition of Carson McCullers’s letters for Harper Collins publishers.  The specific duties will include web-based database biographical and historical research on those with whom Carson McCullers corresponded and help in preparation of the manuscript of the letters of Carson McCullers for publication. This work will provide the student research assistant with valuable “hands on” experience with a major publishing project and allow the student to learn a great deal about the life and work of one of America’s major writers.

Sponsoring professor: Carlos Dews ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Student research assistant will help Professor Carlos Dews with the research and editorial work on his editions of Carson McCullers’s letters for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  The specific duties will include web-based database biographical and historical research on those with whom Carson McCullers corresponded and help in preparation of the manuscript of the letters of Carson McCullers for publication. This work will provide the student research assistant with valuable “hands on” experience with two major publishing projects and allow the student to learn a great deal about the life and work of one of America’s major writers. 

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The tangible outcomes of the project will include a compiled manuscript of the McCullers letters project and significant progress in the selection and editing of the McCullers letters destined for publication in the volume.  The student will keep a log of their work on both projects and account for the work done during the 45 hours on the two projects. Through weekly online meetings and guided research tasks, the student will learn significant research skills in dealing with manuscripts, letters, and other unpublished texts.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: By having to conduct significant biographical research in support of the publication of Carson McCullers's letters, using databases, internet research tools, and combing through archival collections, students will develop significant research skills that will be transferrable to other future research projects.

Academic field: Classical studies and Roman Archaeology
Research topic: the economy of the amphitheater plaza of Pompeii: crowd management and retail activities.

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The research would result in an article discussing the economy of the area of the amphitheater of Pompeii: this work will reconstruct how pedestrian movement was controlled and managed during game days, what type of economical activities were exploiting this type of crowd, and which activities were instead able to thrive during the off-days. The article will not only take into consideration the role of the amphitheater, but also of the so-called Palestra Grande ("the great gym"), the streets, the pedestrian passages, and the portals built to regulate access to this plaza. The assistant will work with the professor in the selection of the most appropriate journal(s) for publication, will provide editorial assistance, will use Zotero to annotate recent publications, and will help with the management of the images.

Sponsoring professor: Massimo Betello ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties:

1. Help in the selection of the proper journal(s) where to submit the article by the way of a document compiling deadlines, editorial guidelines, academic expectations, and journal ranking. This document will be created as a result of research on the internet, reading of sample articles from the selected journals, and communication with the editorial boards.
2. Editorial assistance in the elaboration and review of the text of the article: check for readability and clarity, footnote format, and final bibliography.
3. Identification and annotation of any academic works published in the last 5 years on topics relevant to article. In fact, bibliography older than 5 years has already been identified and evaluated by the professor. The assistant will need to use Zotero in order to synch the results and annotations with the Zotero database of the professor.
4. Assistance in securing the rights for the use of the images and maps to be included in the article. This will be accomplished by identifying the holders of the copyright, contacting them, insuring that their requirements are met, and acquiring images of publishable quality.
5. Assistance in organizing the professor's photo collection of streets, city-gates, and houses of Pompeii.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Creation of a dossier summarizing guidelines and deadlines of different classical and archeological journals. Review of the prose and footnotes of the article. Annotated bibliography of the most recent published works on the topic of the article which will need to be synched with the Zotero database used by the professor. An excel file containing a list of images to be used in the article, the respective copyright holders, the requirements to allow the publication of those images, and the status in the process of obtaining the right to publish. A folder containing the images for the publication: the images need to be of proper quality and--if necessary--modified to indicate their most relevant sections supporting the arguments of the article. A photo collection of street and traffic elements (e.g. sidewalks, stepping stones, city-gates) in the city of Pompeii organized by location.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: By the end of this research position a successful assistant will have become competent at assessing the needs of the different stake holders in academic publishing (those of the researcher, the publisher, and the copyright holders), quick at collecting and summarizing information helpful to the publication process, and confident in its ability to create and respect a working schedule. The assistant will have become very knowledgeable at researching the most recent academic works on the traffic and the economy of Roman cities, and quite familiar with the most recent archaeological research in Pompeii. The assistant will have become proficient at using the bibliographical software Zotero.

Academic field: Communications and Media Studies
Research topic: Gender Studies/Feminist studies/Social history of medicine

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: I seek a research assistant (preferably but not necessarily an Italian speaker) to help me with my upcoming book project which investigates the contemporary hormone industry in connection to gender-affirming therapy and assisted reproduction. The book draws upon an ethnography which I am conducting at the Niguarda public hospital in Milan, where there is a unit supervising both patients who undergo gender-affirming treatment and those who seek assistance with IVF procedures.

Sponsoring professor: Donatella Della Ratta ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: SP24

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The RA will help me go through my field notes (if Italian speaker) and cluster them into broader themes/tropes. They will also assist me in conducting visual analyses of the interfaces of platforms used for different purposes in connection to the hormone industry. They will produce a literature review and constantly keep it updated with the latest works in the field. They will compile a list of companies/organizations/sites/exhibitions/markets etc. that are relevant for the study of the global hormone industry, and contact potential subjects for interviews.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Cluster field notes into broader themes/tropes Conduct a literature review of the existing field (research investigating the structure of the hormone industry, its political economy, but also specific works on the use of hormones in gender-affirming therapies and assisted reproduction techniques) Assist with interviews with key subjects in the industry of hormones (pharmaceutical companies, business ventures dealing with genetic testing, gamete banks, etc.) Help with the visual analysis of the promotional material produced by selected players from the hormone industry (advertising campaigns, websites, etc.)

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: I will mentor the student and guide them through how to conduct an ethnographic work and integrate it with a broader political economy understanding of the industry. At the end of the research period, they should become fluent in integrating the micro and the macro level of the study, and dealing with a variety of critical research methods.

Academic field: Communication and Media Studies/Environmental Studies
Research topic: Media and the Environment: Researching the relationship between media, environment and climate change

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The purpose of this research is to gather and organize materials related to media and the environment and climate, and to organize them for a web resource.

Sponsoring professor: Antonio Lopez ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 24

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The student will perform a variety of tasks for the professor to assist him in researching and creating resources for an ecomedia literacy resource hub. In addition to basic research tasks, the student will learn bibliography management software and the digital humanities tool, Padlet. The student and professor will set fixed hours during the week, but most research may be done independently. The student is expected to work 3.5 hours a week on the tasks outlined below.

Research tasks:

• Organize media texts related to media and the environment
• Research ecological footprint of the technological gadget production process
• Research ecological footprint of social networks
• Track down journal articles and books, and make interlibrary loan requests identified by the professor
• Write short summaries of specific research tasks

Administrative tasks:

• Make entries into bibliographical management software
• Proofread and edit bibliographical entries
• Organize and catalog media resources
• Upload resources to Padlet and write brief descriptions
• Write short summaries of Web pages

Skills to be acquired:

• Learn how to research media and climate change using JCU databases
• Learn how to assess validity and credibility of sources
• Learn how to use Zotereo (bibliographical management software)
• Learn how to use Padlet

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student is expected to keep a research diary throughout the semester. At the end of the semester the student will write a short summary (two pages) of tasks completed and what was learned during the assistantship.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will learn important academic research skills and will develop practical skills for how to manage complex bibliographies with database management tools. The professor will also direct the assistant to important background materials in order understand the nature of the research project.

Academic field: Composition, digital tools, pedagogy
Research topic: Artificial Intelligence in Education

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research will contribute to a published Teaching Strengthening Guide generated by the AI and Pedagogy Research Committee at John Cabot University. This guide will be distributed across networks of international universities including Open Society University Network and the Liberal Arts and Science Collaborative. The Strengthening Guide will include emerging research on the use of AI tools in interdisciplinary writing courses and best practices on teaching composition in the age of AI in order to promote interdisciplinary approaches to the Liberal Arts.

Sponsoring professor: Tara Keenan ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Student will meet weekly to share research on emerging publications on AI in writing pedagogy.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the course, the student will be familiar with managing source material through Zotero, searching the library databases, and compiling research through newspaper searches.

Students will have produced the following:

• An annotated teaching resource list
• A literature review on emerging studies in the area of AI and university-level writing
• A background document on emerging trends/policies concerning the use of AI and academic integrity on campus

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: In meeting each week with the student, I will monitor student progress, coach the student through the research process and management of resources, tutor them in source assessment, and help them produce the documents the committee will need to provide the background to their own model teaching units. Successful students will emerge with enhanced research skills, a publication, and a strong understanding of the pertinent issues associated with artificial intelligence in academics.

Academic field: Entrepreneurship
Research topic: Writing a Teaching Case Study in the field of International Entrepreneurship

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The project consists of the writing of a Case Study complete with Teaching Notes with a view to submitting it for publication. If accepted, the participating students will appear as co-authors. The case involves the Italian startup MeeTravel and its plan to expand internationally. It will describe the history of the startup, provide information about the industry, the context, the value proposition, as well as historical data about the firm performance. Further, the case will present the options being contemplated by the entrepreneur as potential countries for expansion, together with all the elements needed to formulate a recommendation. The Teaching Note will describe the class plan, highlighting the learning opportunities for students, which include PEST analysis, SWOT analysis, Value Proposition analysis, and country analysis, as well as the factors to be contemplated in any recommendation.

Sponsoring professor: Silvia Carnini Pulino ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The RA(s) will conduct primary and secondary research to collect all the information needed to complete the case study and the teaching notes, under the guidance of the professor.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The final deliverable will be a polished draft of the Case, which will be finalized by the professor for submission to a publishing house.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The professor will meet with the RA(s) regularly to monitor progress, suggest sources and help assess the information collected.

Academic field: Entrepreneurship
Research topic: Writing a Teaching Case Study in the field of Entrepreneurship

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The project consists of the writing of a Case Study complete with Teaching Notes with a view to submitting it for publication. If accepted, the participating student(s) will appear as co-author(s). The case involves the Turkish serial entrepreneur Ege Balikaya, who has started several businesses in Turkey with varying degrees of success. It will describe the background of the entrepreneur, the path that led to the creation of each venture, and provide information about the country, the context, and the issues involved in the success or failure of the startups. Further, the case will present an opportunity to reflect on the characteristics of entrepreneurs, and strengths and weaknesses of different profiles. The Teaching Note will describe the class plan, highlighting the learning opportunities for students, which include PEST and country analysis, as well as the factors leading to success and the lessons to be learned from failure.

Sponsoring professor: Silvia Carnini Pulino ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The RA(s) will conduct primary and secondary research to collect all the information needed to complete the case study and the teaching notes, under the guidance of the professor.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The final deliverable will be a polished draft of the Case, which will be finalized by the professor for submission to a publishing house.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The professor will meet with the RA(s) regularly to monitor progress, suggest sources and help assess the information collected.

Academic field: Labor Economics/Applied Economics
Research topic: Working from Home and Structure of Cities after the Covid-19 Age

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The surge in the Working From Home (WFH) is changing the geography of work. In this study, we investigate how a permanent increase in WFH may affect the urban structure in Italy. We show that remote working has an asymmetric impact, with large cities more exposed to its possible adverse effects. Research Assistant duties: review of literature, looking for datasets, data analysis.

Sponsoring professor: Sergio Scicchitano ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Data entry, data analysis, assistance in writing policy briefs (under supervision).

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Research assistance for a paper based on data entry and simple data analysis.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will be involved in data analysis for business, economics, and policy. The student will be involved in writing drafts of empirical academic paper and empirical policy brief.

Academic field: Marketing
Research topic: Unveiling Consumer Insights: The Influence of Insight Resolution on Perceived Authenticity of Brand Purpose

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research explores the influence of insight resolution on the perceived authenticity of brand purpose. The research assistant will provide support in the data collection and data analysis stage.

Sponsoring professor: Alessandro Feri ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will conduct research activities examining the relationship between insight resolution and perceived brand authenticity. Their duties will include data collection efforts such as searching databases, running experiments, and data analysis. Regular meeting attendance is crucial and required to meet the research assistant’s objectives.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: A presentation will be created to evaluate the student's participation in this research project and their input in the data collection/analysis phases.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The faculty-researcher will mentor the student by providing essential guidance and feedback. This mentorship will enable the student to execute a rigorous methodology and successfully complete the data collection process, consequently enhancing their research skills and understanding of the topic.

Academic field: Marketing
Research topic: Exploring Brand Experiences of NGOs and Social Enterprises in the Metaverse

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research explores how NGOs and SEs brands can benefit from using the Metaverse to create meaningful brand experiences aimed at reducing food waste. The research assistant will provide support in the data collection and data analysis stage.

Sponsoring professor: Alessandro Feri ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will perform research activities within the context of non-profit organizations in the Metaverse. The research assistant will be asked to provide support in data collection and data analysis stage (e.g., searching databases, experiments, interviews, focus groups). Regular meeting attendance is crucial and required to meet the research assistant’s objectives.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: A presentation will be employed to assess the student’s involvement in this research project for their contribution to the data collection/analysis process.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The faculty-researcher will supervise the student providing guidance and feedback necessary to design a robust methodology and accomplish the data collection process aimed at addressing the research questions.

Academic field: Marketing
Research topic: Greenwashing: reputational, civil and criminal risks for brands

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The research aims to provide a taxonomy of greenwashing practices and then investigate the reputational risks associated with it (e.g., brand equity dilution), the civil responsibilities (e.g., administrative sanctions) as well as criminal responsibilities for infringing the rules of fair competition. It will include a collection of case studies

Sponsoring professor: Anna Fiorentino ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Mainly synthesizing existing literature and developing frameworks/models. Core area of literature research are definitions of greenwashing, brand equity dilution as an effect of greenwashing; civil and criminal norms applicable to greenwashing and elaboration of why they are infringed by greenwashing; collection of case examples

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Collection and synthesis of literature for key definitions of greenwashing across sectors; generation of a "general taxonomy" for greenwashing. Collection and synthesis of literature and cases on brand reputational damage as a consequence of greenwashing practices; Collection and synthesis of literature and norms on civil and criminal responsibility for greenwashing, example cases and relative sanctions

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: In the first phase, the assistant will be guided on how to collect existing literature on definitions of greenwashing and will closely work with faculty to develop a taxonomy for greenwashing practices In the second phase, the research assistant will be mentored on how to research brand equity dilution effects due to reputational damage as a consequence of greenwashing. In the third phase, the assistant will receive mentoring and supervisory support on what is "civil responsibility" associated with greenwashing and how to research for existing regulations, administrative sanctions and case collection In the last phase, the assistant will be guided on understanding and researching "criminal responsibility" for greenwashing: research and collect rules and regulations on fair competition; why greenwashing infringes them; the assistant will be mentoring on how to collect case studies on civil and criminal infringement of laws.

Academic field: Psychology
Research topic: Science of Creativity

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The RA will help with different projects aimed at investigating the cognitive and neural bases of creative cognition. The RA might work on different aspects of the research process, from programming experiments to data collection and writing. Each RA will be assigned to a project, and it will be the RA responsibility to achieve some specific goals established with the professor to gain the final credit. RAs are required to meet with the professor for weekly lab meetings where they will learn different aspects of conducting research in cognitive science. RA will need to attend lab meetings to gain the final credit. Lab meetings will last 1h and will be on Mon\Wed mornings OR Tue\Thur (depending on Room availability).

Sponsoring professor: Carola Salvi ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Going to lab meetings, reading bibliography, data collection, running experiments, and data cleaning.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The RA will set up goals at the beginning of the semester with the professor. To gain the final credit the RA needs to achieve those goals, and have attended lab meetings and worked for a total of 45 h. RA's hours of work will be tracked.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The faculty-scientist will mentor the student by providing essential guidance and feedback. This mentorship will enable the student to execute a rigorous methodology and successfully complete the data collection process, consequently enhancing their research skills and understanding of the topic.

Academic field: Psychology / Artificial Intelligence
Research topic: Representational Similarity in Monolingual and Bilingual Language Models

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The student will support an analysis of differences in natural language processing models' representations of text, contingent on what they are trained to do with that text: i.e., comparing 'monolingual models', trained to predict the missing words in text, to 'bilingual models', trained to translate that text into other languages.

Sponsoring professor: Thomas Hope ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The department has a new Electroencephalography (EEG) rig: a cap covered in electrodes, that can be used to measure brain activity during tasks. The goal of this project is to develop a series of experiments for this equipment, of escalating complexity, beginning with a short demonstration of the technology, suitable for the classroom or other public events. The student will aid in all areas of the work, including conducting research of the relevant literature, design of the stimuli and the experiments as a whole, and data analysis. Modern psychology experiments are essentially computer programmes, which govern what and when stimuli will be shown, and record both behavioral responses and EEG data. As such, some programming experience will be useful. That said, experimental implementation will operate primarily via graphical user interfaces, and point-and-click interfaces are also available for EEG data analysis, so programming experience is not required.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Recent results suggest that, as Large Language Models (LLMs) get better (at predicting the missing words in text), they also employ processing strategies that are more 'brain-like'. The common currency for this comparison is the 'representational similarity matrix', which captures differences between a model's (or a brain's) internal states when processing different stimuli (sentences). The goal of this project is to: (a) acquire a set of publicly accessible monolingual LLMs; (b) acquire a set of publicly accessible bilingual LLMs; (c) define a sensible, minimal set of sentences with which to test the two; and (d) calculate representational similarity matrices for all models, relative to that set of sentences. The goal of the project is to measure any differences between the two types of models' representational similarity matrices, with a particular focus on differences that generalize across different models of the same class. The student will conduct both the initial research (to identify suitable models and stimuli), and the subsequent analysis (with support from the supervisor). This is a technically demanding project, for which some programming skills will be very useful. Highly motivated students without them will be considered, in which case the relevant training will be provided. But applicants with some programming experience will be preferred.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will learn how to conduct and report literature searches, focusing both on peer reviewed publications and on publicly available software. These research skills will be useful in most areas of work. The student will further learn how to analyze Large Language Models' internal states, and conduct statistical analyses on those states. These skills could be useful in most technical areas of work, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence itself.

Academic field: Psychology / Neuroscience
Research topic: Brain imaging

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The student will support the development and deployment of psychology demonstrators and experimental tasks for Electroencephalography (EEG), using the department's EMOTIV EEG rig.

Sponsoring professor: Thomas Hope ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The department has a new Electroencephalography (EEG) rig: a cap covered in electrodes, that can be used to measure brain activity during tasks. The goal of this project is to develop a series of experiments for this equipment, of escalating complexity, beginning with a short demonstration of the technology, suitable for the classroom or other public events. The student will aid in all areas of the work, including conducting research of the relevant literature, design of the stimuli and the experiments as a whole, and data analysis. Modern psychology experiments are essentially computer programmes, which govern what and when stimuli will be shown, and record both behavioral responses and EEG data. As such, some programming experience will be useful. That said, experimental implementation will operate primarily via graphical user interfaces, and point-and-click interfaces are also available for EEG data analysis, so programming experience is not required.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student will need to complete: (a) a review of relevant, publicly accessible experiments deployed for the EMOTIV EEG rig; (b) a review of EEG experiments in the area of language; and (c) a Wiki-style instruction manual to guide others through the process of setting up the system and running an experiment with it (including analyzing the results). There will also be opportunities to support more advanced work, if we get to it during the Spring semester.

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will learn how to conduct and report literature searches, focusing both on peer reviewed publications and on publicly available software. The student will further learn how to set up and use an EEG brain imaging rig, how to design EEG experiments and record their results, and how to analyse and interpret those results. The literature review experience is invaluable in most fields of work, including those beyond academia. But practical brain imaging experience will be especially useful for any student considering further study, and / or a career in psychology research.

Academic field: Statistics
Research topic: Statistics book editing

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The goal of this project is to complete and refine the writing of a book that will hopefully be adopted as a textbook for Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 courses at JCU. The text is already in an advanced stage of development; however, it lacks some essential parts and requires a general revision before proceeding with publication. In the world of publishing (as well as in the scientific world), various specific softwares are used, the understanding and effective use of which is not always intuitive. LaTeX is certainly a prime example of this. In this project, the editing part has been implemented with the aforementioned software, although knowledge of this programming language is not a prerequisite for application since an introductory course on LaTeX programming will be provided.

Sponsoring professor: Marco Forti ([email protected])
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Writing over selected topics

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Full editing of some specific part of the book

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The winning student of the Research Assistantship can look forward to improving their knowledge in the field of statistics, expanding it, and potentially delving into topics of their interest and related practical aspects. From a statistical perspective, the text will cover all the topics taught in Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 courses at JCU. However, the deeper exploration of some mathematical aspects, the treatment of more advanced statistical themes, and the editorial nature of the work make the project suitable and appealing to a wide variety of students.

Academic field: Video Production, Business, Marketing, Communications, Studio Art/Photography 
Research topic: Interdisciplinary project assistance in context of film production, financing and promotions  

Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The leading professor, Jenn Lindsay, is a social scientist and a documentary filmmaker teaching in Communications and Social Sciences. Presently she is in various stages of production and post-production of several different documentary film projects. Research Assistants will contribute research and writing input to publications and media projects headed by Professor Lindsay. Students in digital video production, studio design, marketing, and business administration fields are invited to assist with various dimensions of this film initiative. Production assistants will help with filming, editing, writing, and designing content; marketing assistants will help with research, writing articles on the indie film industry and diversity in media, and creating content for Learning Guides about documentary films on various social diversity topics; and business strategy assistants will help with research tasks related to business operations. All Research Assistant tasks will conform to the standards and scope of work specific to the Research Assistant position as defined by the university.

Sponsoring professor: Jenn Lindsay ([email protected]) 
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2024 

Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Research assistants will be assigned tasks according to their goals and strengths and work collaboratively with other team members on a regular basis. They will learn a wide range of information about the independent film and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) industries. After an initial orientation period, assistant(s) shall meet with the professor and in teams at least two times weekly to discuss assignments and work progress. Assistants in every field will deliver one presentation during the semester on topics relevant to the indie film and diversity industry. Past topics have been fair use of copyrighted materials, the power of storytelling, film financing, co-working spaces in Rome, how to do a competitor analysis, etc. Research assistants specializing in production will be assigned to some of the following tasks: development, production and post-production on e-courses about indie film and social diversity issues; the writer’s team for blog writing; participating in feedback sessions for your own and other people’s edited work; and assisting in the writing and design of Learning Guides to accompany several documentary films. Marketing research assistants will be assigned to some of the following tasks: writing articles on indie film and social diversity for the film initiative’s website; social media content creation and management; assistance with grant writing; website updates; SEO of website content; market research on competition and potential audiences; design of marketing materials; and more. 
Business research assistants will be assigned to some of the following tasks: the finance team; assistance with grant writing; developing pitch decks for the film initiative; weekly reporting on film industry affairs; project management, CRM, and file sharing structures; researching investment scenarios; assisting with sales and distribution strategy. Deadlines will be assigned according to task.

Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work:

• Assistant Editor(s) will be asked to read some texts relevant to this work. (5+ hours), such as: Documentary Storytelling by Sheila Curran Bernard, Screenwriting by Ray Morton; or Producer to Producer by Maureen Ryan
• View current cuts of film projects, writing details viewing notes/reactions, and implementing revisions to help bring projects closer to a final cut. (15 hours)
• Participate in workshops to develop narrative structure for current storytelling projects. (10-15 hours)
• Preparing interview transcripts, researching press lists, and writing website content.
• Researching competitor production companies and diversity trainers  
• Researching donor and investor prospects and writing short profiles for tailored introductions
• Copyediting teammate writing
• Development of promotional materials such as a film poster and social media presence. 

Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Professor Jenn Lindsay has been working in documentary, feature and narrative film and TV production for over 15 years, contributing to projects at MTV, the Sundance Channel, Swede Films, and various independent post-production facilities. She has completed 7 feature-length or short documentaries with her own production company So Fare Films and served as the Staff Documentarian at the Center for Mind and Culture for five years. She has received two grants to produce and direct Ikhaya, a documentary film about the South African artists Giggs Kgole and his upcoming art exhibition in Monte Carlo. She previously received filmmaking grants funding the production of The Modeling Religion Project, Simulating Religious Violence and Minding Shadows. Assistants for the film initiative will engage a broad array of production, marketing and business skills in order to bring these projects closer to a new cut. Not only will the opportunity offer school credit and a substantial professional credit on a curriculum vitae, but the student will be trained in a rigorous workflow toward a clear deliverable: launching a number of professional-grade documentary projects to the film festival circuit. This opportunity equates to a professional internship, and, given the proximity assistant(s) will have with the filmmaker, also a mentorship and deeper glimpse into the world of professional documentary filmmaking. Contact with the mentoring professor will be on a weekly basis, sometimes multiple times weekly. Past assistants have reported skill development in the following areas: presentations skills, creativity and time management, communication and teamwork skills, problem-solving, organizational skills, research, and seeing how the indie film business really works.