Students undertaking a for-credit research assistantship have an opportunity to deepen their research skills, while sustaining a more advanced research project in a specific disciplinary area. Research assistants may earn one unit of academic credit (on a P/NP basis) for the completion of at least 45 hours of work.
Faculty interested in recruiting research assistants for a specific semester must submit their call to the Faculty Support Office by the designated deadline. Once the call is approved, all JCU degree-seeking students are notified and invited to apply via the online Student Research Assistant Application Form, which requires a CV and a statement of interest.
The sponsoring faculty member reviews all applications and selects eligible candidates (multiple students may be chosen). All applicants are informed of the outcome of their application. Only the applications approved by the faculty member are forwarded to the relevant university offices for processing. Once appointments are finalized, both faculty and selected students receive confirmation from the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Note: Visiting students, students studying abroad, and graduates are not eligible for research assistantships.
If you’re interested in a for-credit research assistantship, check out the current calls posted at the bottom of this page.
To apply, submit the Student Research Assistant Application Form along with your CV and a one-page statement of interest by the specified deadline.
Spring 2026 Application Window for Fall 2026 Research Assistantships: March 23 – April 3.
If selected, you will receive a confirmation email from the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs within ten days of the application deadline. The Center for Career Services will then assist you with the necessary administrative steps. Upon fulfilling all requirements, your appointment will be finalized by the Registrar’s Office. You and your sponsoring professor will be kept informed throughout the process.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the Dean of Academic Affairs at [email protected].
Academic field: Art and Design
Research topic: Multimedia Practice within Art and Design
Position title: Research Assistantship in Multimedia and Experimental Artistic Practice
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research assistantship offers students the chance to engage closely with contemporary art and design research, with a focus on multimedia production and experimental artistic practices. Working under faculty guidance, the research assistant will support the production, documentation, and archiving of a range of artistic projects that explore the interplay between digital and analogue media. Responsibilities may include assisting in studio-based experimentation, conducting practice-led research, collecting visual and textual materials, video editing and contributing to the preparation of exhibitions, archives, or publications connected to the professor’s ongoing work. This position is suited for students who wish to deepen their research skills while taking part in hands-on and interdisciplinary artistic processes.
Sponsoring professor: Catherine Biocca
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Studio Support: Assist with multimedia and experimental art projects, preparing materials, setting up equipment and hands-on studio experiments. Research Tasks: Conduct research and gather visual, textual, and reference materials. Archiving: Organize and maintain digital archives of ongoing work using Nil database. Exhibitions: Help prepare works for display, organize materials for exhibitions and support the development of publications.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Archiving: Organize and maintain digital archives of past and ongoing work using Nil database. Editing: Organize and edit video material inherent to the documentation of the Talk series LAYERS from Fall 2025 to Fall 2026 Research: Actively research about specific topics in both visual and content related aspects Studio Support: Assist with multimedia and experimental art projects, preparing materials, setting up equipment and hands-on studio experiments.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: By working directly on the faculty member’s multimedia and experimental art projects, the student assistant will gain practical experience with research methods used in contemporary art and design. Through hands-on studio work, documentation and research gathering, the student will strengthen core skills such as critical observation, organization, and practice‑based inquiry. Participation in preparing exhibitions and archives further helps the student understand how artistic research develops from initial exploration to final presentation, including also the more professional side of the process.
Academic field: Art History, Art and Design
Research topic: Italian Art in Rome, 1960s-70s: Collection Archive and Artist Research
Position title: Research Assistant – Art Collection Archive
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This apprenticeship is connected to an ongoing curatorial project at Reception Rome, an artist-run exhibition venue in Rome. The project involves researching and archiving a private collection of over 150 works (paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture) by Italian artists active in Rome during the 1960s and 70s, with the longer-term goal of developing a curated exhibition from the collection. The research assistant will work both on-site at the gallery and independently, as much of the work involves desk research that can be carried out remotely or at public libraries and archives. Responsibilities will include cataloging works across different media, researching artist biographies and critical reception, and investigating the estimated value and market history of the works where possible. As the archive takes shape, there is also the possibility (depending on progress) of contributing to early-stage thinking around an exhibition concept, though the primary focus of the assistantship is the research and archival work itself. The position is open to students in Art and Design and Art History. No prior specialist knowledge of the period is required. Research skills, attention to detail, and genuine curiosity about Italian postwar art are what matter most. The student will gain direct hands-on experience in collection management, archival research, and the curatorial process.
Sponsoring professor: Ilaria Ortensi
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will be responsible for cataloging works in the collection across different media (paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture), entering data into a shared archive or database, and conducting biographical research on the artists represented. This will involve consulting online databases, library resources, auction records, and where possible Italian art historical sources. The assistant will also help investigate the estimated market value and critical reception of the works. Sessions at the venue will be used to examine works directly and cross-reference physical documentation with research findings. The assistant will meet regularly with the faculty supervisor to review progress, discuss findings, and orient the research toward the curatorial goals of the project.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the 45-hour assistantship, the student will have produced a structured archive of a significant portion of the collection, including basic catalog entries for each work (artist, title, medium, dimensions, date where known) and research notes on the artists documented. Where sufficient information is available, entries will also include a brief artist biography and an indication of market value based on available sources. The archive will be organized in a format that can serve as a working tool for ongoing curatorial research and future exhibition development.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This project will give the student direct experience of the full research process as it functions in a professional curatorial context: from primary object-based inquiry to archival and biographical research using a range of sources. Working with a collection of Italian art from the 1960s and 70s, a period that remains relatively underrepresented in English-language scholarship, will require the student to navigate Italian-language sources, develop strategies for researching artists with limited bibliographic visibility, and exercise critical judgment in evaluating partial or conflicting information. Regular supervision meetings will help the student structure their findings, contextualize individual works within broader art historical narratives, and understand how archival research feeds into curatorial decision-making. By the end of the assistantship the student will have developed practical skills in collection documentation and archival methodology, as well as a working familiarity with the Italian postwar art scene.
Academic field: Sociology, Psychology, Digital Media Production, Marketing and Communications, Film Studies, Social Work, Health Sciences
Research topic: Visual storytelling, trauma and resilience, and social impact: supporting the post-production and impact campaign of a feature documentary film
Position title: Research Assistant – Minding Shadows and Religion Stories Documentary Film Projects
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research assistantship supports the final post-production and impact campaign of the feature documentary Minding Shadows (https://www.mindingshadows.com/winning independent film developed over the past decade.
The film follows Olivier Biraro, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide who later became a mindfulness teacher. His work integrates four complementary approaches to healing and transformation: Buddhist mindfulness and meditation, African ubuntu philosophy, Chinese embodied practices (tai chi and qi gong), and Jungian-informed shadow work.
As the film approaches completion, the project is entering a critical phase focused on finishing post-production and building a robust impact and distribution strategy. Research Assistants will contribute to both creative and analytical aspects of this work, depending on their disciplinary background.
Students in sociology, psychology, social work, and health sciences will support research and writing related to trauma, resilience, migration, and contemplative practices, contributing to the development of educational and impact materials grounded in existing scholarship.
Students in communications, film, and media production will support editing, digital content creation, and outreach efforts, including developing promotional materials, assisting with distribution strategy, and building a digital library of video content to support the film’s release and long-term impact.
Additionally, students may assist with ongoing promotion of Religion Stories through social media content and audience engagement strategies.
Sponsoring professor: Dr. Jenn Lindsay
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Research assistants will be assigned tasks based on their skills and interests and will work both independently and collaboratively. Responsibilities may include:
Work is task-based rather than strictly hourly, with flexible scheduling and regular check-ins.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the term, students will have:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This project bridges academic research and real-world application by transforming scholarship on trauma, resilience, and social change into accessible media and educational materials.
Students will gain:
Students will work closely with Dr. Lindsay and gain direct exposure to the independent documentary filmmaking process, from final edit through distribution and impact design.
Past assistants have developed skills in creative production, critical analysis, communication, teamwork, and understanding the independent film and social impact ecosystem.
Academic field: Psychology and Sociology
Research topic: Objectification, Culture, Cognition, Clothing
Position title: Research Assistant - Cultural Foundations of Objectification
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This project aims to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon of objectification — perceiving and treating individuals as objects — by exploring its cultural and religious underpinnings. Previous research has predominantly focused on Western participants and targets, often in contexts emphasizing minimal clothing. This study proposes that objectification is not solely a bottom-up perceptual process but is also influenced by cultural beliefs surrounding women’s clothing choices. We hypothesize that cultural representations of women’s attire, such as the hijab (a Muslim head covering stereotypically associated in Western cultures with a lack of agency), can impact perceptions of agency (i.e., the extent to which a woman’s clothing is seen as a deliberate personal choice). Specifically, we aim to investigate how these representations facilitate objectification processes among Western participants. This research is expected to significantly enhance our understanding of objectification and its cultural dimensions. Furthermore, it will provide valuable insights into the challenges and societal costs associated with the acculturation of Muslim migrants, offering implications for immigration policy and social integration efforts. The research assistant will play a key role in this project, contributing to the design of questionnaires, collecting data, and reporting preliminary findings.
Sponsoring professor: Elisa Puvia
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will regularly engage in various tasks crucial to the project. They will contribute to the development and validation of research tools, such as surveys and questionnaires, ensuring these align with the study’s objectives. A significant part of their role will involve conducting literature reviews to synthesize existing research on objectification, cultural beliefs, and perceived agency, providing a strong theoretical foundation for the project. The assistant will also facilitate data collection by recruiting participants and administering surveys, adhering to the study's ethical and procedural guidelines. Additionally, they will assist with initial data analysis and interpretation, working closely with the faculty supervisor to identify emerging patterns. The assistant will participate in regular meetings to discuss project progress, troubleshoot challenges, and refine research strategies. Finally, they will support the preparation of progress reports and presentations, summarizing findings.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the conclusion of the 45-hour assistantship, the research assistant is expected to have achieved several key milestones. They will have prepared a finalized draft of the survey or questionnaire to be used in the study. Depending on the study’s progress, the assistant will have facilitated participant recruitment and ensured that a sufficient number of responses have been collected. They will have compiled and organized the raw data in preparation for more detailed analysis, ensuring its accuracy and consistency. To conclude their work, the assistant will prepare a concise presentation or summary document outlining their contributions and progress, which will be reviewed by the faculty supervisor.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This research assistantship provides the student with a valuable opportunity to enhance a wide range of research skills while working on a professional academic project. By participating in the design and validation of survey instruments, the student will develop expertise in creating robust research tools, a vital skill in both academic and applied research contexts. Through hands-on involvement in data collection and management, they will gain practical experience in organizing and handling data with precision. The project also offers the chance to engage with cross-cultural research, allowing the student to navigate and address the unique challenges inherent in studying diverse populations and cultural frameworks. Moreover, by conducting literature reviews, the assistant will refine their ability to critically evaluate existing research and integrate these insights into a coherent academic narrative. Collaboration with the faculty supervisor will further expose the student to the professional dynamics of research, potentially leading to co-authorship opportunities or the chance to present findings at academic conferences. These experiences will provide the student with a solid foundation for future academic or professional endeavors in the field.
Academic field: Political science, gender studies, social science, infographics
Research topic: Gender-based Political violence in Northern Ireland
Position title: Mapping gender-based political violence in Northern Ireland
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This project maps out instances of gender-based political violence through public records and newspaper accounts. If you are interested in doing research that could help address gender-based political violence from the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland to today and you are interested in either research or making infographics, this could be for you. We have already set up a database, we have a lot of data already, and we are looking to input more data from the research you conduct. There are two pathways that students could take for this student assistantship:
Students will meet with me once per week to check in and supervise the work.
Students will be helping me manage Zotero collections and helping assemble information for literature reviews on various subtopics.
Sponsoring professor: Tara Keenan
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills:
Students will learn the basics of social science research methodology. In particular, the students will learn how to collect and manage data, how to respond to challenges the data present, how to use infographics to illustrate and clarify trends in the data, how to attempt to quantify vaguely reported details and how to relate that data to frameworks for analysis.
Academic field: Entrepreneurship
Research topic: Entrepreneurship Education
Position title: Research Assistant - Problem Exploration in Entrepreneurship Education
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research project contributes to the development of a book on entrepreneurship education, with a specific focus on problem exploration as a foundational stage of the entrepreneurial process. The project builds on a pedagogical framework developed through prior research and teaching experience, including the instructional program “Problems Worth Solving,” which aims to help students develop the ability to identify, analyze, and frame entrepreneurial problems before jumping to solutions.
A recurring challenge in entrepreneurship education is that students tend to move immediately to idea generation or business modeling without investing sufficient time in understanding the underlying problem. This tendency often leads to poorly framed opportunities and incomplete value propositions. The research project investigates how structured pedagogical approaches can help students develop stronger problem-identification and problem-exploration capabilities, which are essential to successful entrepreneurial practice.
The book will combine insights from entrepreneurship research, design thinking, engineering design processes, and experiential learning to propose a structured pedagogical model built around a series of modular learning units.
The undergraduate research assistant will contribute to several aspects of the research and writing process. By the end of the research period, the student research assistant will produce a structured literature review and analytical summary of the main theoretical and pedagogical approaches to problem exploration in entrepreneurship education. This work will contribute directly to the development of the book manuscript.
The project offers students the opportunity to gain experience in academic research, scholarly writing, and entrepreneurship pedagogy, while engaging with a topic that lies at the intersection of innovation, problem solving, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, education, or management research are particularly encouraged to apply. If the research leads to publication, the research assistant may be acknowledged or considered for co-authorship depending on the extent of their contribution.
Sponsoring professor: Silvia Pulino
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Research assistant duties may include:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student will conduct a structured literature review on entrepreneurship education, design thinking, and problem exploration methodologies, identifying and summarizing key academic articles and books.
The research assistant will prepare annotated summaries of the literature, assist in organizing references and research materials, and contribute to the preparation of research notes and analytical summaries that may be incorporated into the manuscript. The student may also assist in organizing teaching materials and exercises related to problem exploration frameworks used in entrepreneurship education.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The faculty supervisor will mentor the research assistant through regular meetings and iterative feedback throughout the project. During these meetings, the student will receive guidance on how to conduct academic research, identify relevant sources, and evaluate scholarly literature.
The student will learn how to perform database searches, synthesize academic arguments, structure literature reviews, and organize references. Feedback will also be provided on research organization, analytical thinking, and academic writing.
Through this process, the research assistant will gain practical experience in scholarly research methods, critical analysis of academic literature, and the preparation of research materials suitable for publication
Academic field: Economics, Data Analytics
Research topic: Economics of AI innovation
Position title: Economics of AI innovation
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The Research Assistant will support the professor in preparing an academic publication on the topic of "Economics of AI innovation." Research Assistant’s duties include providing support in researching and systematizing the relevant literature; identifying relevant research questions; collecting data and performing data analysis, providing feedback on preliminary versions of the manuscript; formalizing the manuscript (unifying citations, document formatting, proof-reading).
Sponsoring professor: Alina Sorgner
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant's duties include providing support in various steps of the research process, including researching the relevant academic literature and data sources, collecting data, preparing data for the empirical analysis, identifying an appropriate method of data analysis, interpreting the results of the empirical analysis, providing feedback on preliminary versions of the manuscript. Regular meetings and discussions with the professor are expected.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The final output will be a written report on the topic of the research project. Alternatively, several narrowly defined deliverables can be submitted.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Student research assistants will acquire in-depth knowledge of a highly relevant and timely topic in the field of economics of AI and data analytics. Formal skills for writing academic papers as well as organizational skills of an academic will be developed. Due to the reviewing of relevant literature, regular discussions with the professor, analysis of quantitative data, the analytic skills will be developed further.
Academic field: Economics and Finance
Research topic: Artificial Intelligence and Banking Stability
Position title: Research Assistant in Finance and Banking Innovation
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The aims of the research is to investigate the impact of banks’ investments in artificial intelligence (AI) on their financial stability. As financial institutions increasingly adopt AI-driven technologies to improve risk management, operational efficiency, and credit allocation processes, understanding their implications for bank resilience has become increasingly important. The empirical analysis relies on a panel dataset of banks constructed using key financial and technological indicators retrieved from Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace. Using panel regression techniques, the study examines whether higher levels of AI-related investment are associated with improved stability or whether they may introduce new operational and technological risks.
Sponsoring professor: Andrea Delle Foglie
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will support the project through several activities related to empirical research in banking and financial innovation. The main duties include conducting a comprehensive review of the academic literature on artificial intelligence in banking and financial stability, collecting relevant bank-level data from databases such as Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace, and constructing a structured panel dataset. The research assistant will also perform econometric analyses using Stata, including the estimation of panel regression models and robustness checks. Finally, the assistant will contribute to the organization and presentation of the empirical results and assist in preparing tables, figures, and preliminary outputs for the draft of an academic research paper.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the 45 hours of work, the research assistant is expected to complete a preliminary literature review on the relationship between artificial intelligence adoption and bank stability, collect and organize relevant bank-level data from databases such as Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace, and construct a preliminary panel dataset suitable for empirical analysis. The research assistant will also perform initial econometric estimations using Stata and produce preliminary regression results. The expected output includes a cleaned dataset, a set of descriptive statistics and regression tables, and organized empirical results that will contribute to the preparation of a first draft of the research paper.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This research project will provide the student assistant with valuable training in empirical research in finance and banking. Through participation in the literature review process, the student will develop the ability to identify and critically assess relevant academic studies. The data collection and dataset construction phases will strengthen the student’s skills in handling financial databases and preparing structured datasets for empirical analysis. By conducting econometric estimations using Stata and assisting in the interpretation and presentation of results, the student will gain practical experience in applied econometric methods commonly used in financial research. Overall, the project will allow the student to develop key research skills, including data management, empirical analysis, and the preparation of academic research outputs.
Academic field: Finance/Management
Research topic: Family Firm Succession Plan
Position title: Research Assistant – Family Business Succession and Gender Dynamics
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Family firms represent one of the most widespread organizational forms worldwide, yet the process of generational succession remains one of their most critical and complex phases. Succession decisions not only determine the continuity and long-term performance of the firm, but also reflect broader social and cultural dynamics within families and organizations. Despite the growing attention to diversity and inclusion in leadership, gender differences in succession outcomes within family firms remain insufficiently explored.
This research project aims to investigate how gender influences succession planning and outcomes (both financial and economic aspects) in family businesses. In particular, the study will focus on cases in which the potential successors differ by gender (e.g., son versus daughter, or male versus female relatives) and analyze how these differences affect the selection process, leadership transition, and subsequent firm strategies.
The project will combine qualitative and exploratory methods, including case study analysis of family firms that have undergone or are currently planning a generational transition. Particular attention will be devoted to identifying the formal and informal factors that shape succession decisions, such as family expectations, governance structures, cultural norms, and perceived leadership competencies. The research assistant will contribute to several stages of the project, including the collection of academic literature, identification of relevant case studies, data organization, and preliminary qualitative analysis. The project offers an opportunity to engage with themes at the intersection of family business studies, corporate governance, and gender in leadership.
The ultimate goal of the research is to contribute to the understanding of how gender dynamics shape succession processes in family firms and to provide insights that may support more inclusive and effective succession planning practices.
Sponsoring professor: Barbara Sveva Magnanelli
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will support the project through several activities, including conducting literature searches on family firm succession and gender dynamics, identifying and collecting relevant case studies, organizing and systematizing data, and assisting with preliminary qualitative analysis. The assistant may also help summarize academic articles, prepare short research memos, and contribute to building a structured database of cases relevant to the study.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the 45 hours, the research assistant is expected to produce a structured literature overview on family firm succession and gender differences, compile and organize a set of relevant case studies involving gender differences in generational transitions, and prepare a preliminary dataset or summary document that categorizes the identified cases and highlights key variables useful for further qualitative analysis.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Participation in this project will allow the student assistant to develop key research skills, including conducting academic literature reviews, identifying and analyzing case studies, organizing research data, and preparing structured research summaries. Through these activities, the student will gain practical experience with the early stages of academic research and develop analytical and critical thinking skills relevant to studies in family business, financial analysis, corporate governance, and gender in leadership.
Academic field: Supply Chain Management
Research topic: Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience: An Analysis of Countermeasures Adopted in Response to Recent Global Disruptions
Position title: Supply Chain Resilience and Global Disruptions
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: In recent years, global supply chains have been exposed to a series of severe and consecutive shocks — including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the Israel–Hamas war, and the resurgence of protectionist trade policies and tariffs. These events have profoundly tested the capacity of organizations to anticipate, absorb, and recover from disruptions, emphasizing the need for greater resilience across supply networks. The objective of this research internship is to analyze the countermeasures adopted by supply chains from 2018 to the present, assess their relative effectiveness, and identify the key drivers of successful adaptation. The study aims to contribute to the development of a conceptual framework and educational material to support companies in strengthening supply chain resilience against future disruptions. Specific thematic focuses — such as technological innovation (digitalization, AI, data analytics) or sustainability-oriented strategies (circularity, low-carbon sourcing, social responsibility) — may be explored according to the candidate’s interests and background. The research assistant will support the project by engaging in selected research activities as needed, including conducting systematic literature reviews on supply chain resilience, disruption management, and adaptive capabilities; reviewing professional and institutional reports from research centers, consultancy firms, and international organizations (e.g., OECD, WEF, McKinsey, Accenture); extracting and synthesizing key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate resilience strategies; and performing comparative analyses of measures implemented across different industries and disruption types. The assistant will focus on specific tasks relevant to their skills and interests, contributing to the broader faculty-led research effort.
Sponsoring professor: Maria Elena Nenni
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will support the project by engaging in selected research activities as needed, including conducting systematic literature reviews on supply chain resilience, disruption management, and adaptive capabilities; reviewing professional and institutional reports from research centers, consultancy firms, and international organizations (e.g., OECD, WEF, McKinsey, Accenture); extracting and synthesizing key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate resilience strategies; and performing comparative analyses of measures implemented across different industries and disruption types. The assistant will focus on specific tasks relevant to their skills and interests, contributing to the broader faculty-led research effort.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Contribution in developing:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Through this research internship, the student will develop advanced research skills under faculty guidance by conducting literature reviews, analyzing professional and institutional reports, and synthesizing key performance indicators. The work will strengthen analytical, comparative, and critical thinking abilities, while contributing to the creation of a conceptual framework for evaluating supply chain resilience. Exposure to emerging themes such as digitalization, AI, and sustainability will further enhance the student’s capacity to integrate theory and practice, providing a solid foundation for independent research or professional work in supply chain management.
Academic field: English Literature and Digital Humanities
Research topic: Field research and planning of a digital project on the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome
Position title: Digital Humanities project design and implementation
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Assist the professor in collecting and classifying data for a project on the Non-Catholic Cemetery (Protestant Cemetery) in Rome. The research assistant will work with the professor to build a relational database and investigate methods of information visualization. The assistantship would be of interest to majors across the Humanities and Computer Science.
Sponsoring professor: Alessandra Grego
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: RA will meet with the professor once a week and work independently for 2 or 3 hours a week on different aspects of the project which may include, collecting and organizing data, studying visualization tools in comparable projects, visiting archives, building bibliographies of relevant texts.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The intern will be required to work with the professor and independently on tasks assigned to collect, organize and archive relevant data for a digital project. Activities include onsite work in the cemetery; collecting and archiving relevant data; interacting with the directors of the Cemetery; identifying potential partners and grants.
The RA will also collaborate in the identification and evaluation of existing comparable DH projects, assessing the methodology and their applicability. The student will have a portfolio of work completed in a field of growing relevance in the Humanities and Computer Science.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: RAs will learn the basics of how to design a digital humanities project, how to conduct on site research, how to retrieve and catalog data in the field of the humanities, how to visualize data, how to establish partnerships and collaborations with inter-institutional partners.
Academic field: American Literature
Research topic: Carson McCullers
Position title: Editorial Research Assistant – Carson McCullers Projects
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The research assistant will help with the research needed for compiling a Handbook on Carson McCullers for Oxford University Press AND a collection of interviews with Carson McCullers for the University Press of Mississippi.
Sponsoring professor: Carlos Dews
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Research significant scholarly articles related to the life and work of the American novelist Carson McCullers and research reprint permissions for interviews with Carson McCullers.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Help the directing professor identify the scholarly articles that will be considered for the Oxford Handbook on Carson McCullers and to help the directing professor determine who owns the rights to and what the costs would be for reprinting interviews with Carson McCullers. Students will be required to maintain a research log and a journal tracking their work.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Students participating in this research will learn valuable research skills in all available scholarly databases and learn a great deal about academic publishing.
Academic field: Roman Archaeology, Classical studies, Roman history, Digital Humanities, Computer Science
Research topic: Advertisement in the city of Pompeii
Position title: Research Assistants on Ancient Roman Advertisement (data collection, database creation, article drafting)
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This project supports the research necessary to write an article on the visual advertising methods used by outlets selling ready-to-eat food and drinks in ancient Pompeii (e.g. snack bars, restaurants.) Using a master list of all Pompeian bars (started in the Spring 2026), the RAs will continue collect images, data on decoration, and plans of their facades and counters. The RAs will continue to gather scholarly references about the bar selected for analysis, and acquire or scans all the relevant sources. These bibliographic references will be also saved in a Zotero group dedicated to this project. The RA team will help build, populate, and maintain a research database that organizes all this information. The RAs will also assist with drafting and revising sections of the article (figure lists, tables, captions, notes, bibliography).
Sponsoring professor: Massimo Betello
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: This research assistantship supports a faculty project focused on visual advertising in ancient Pompeii, particularly in food and drink establishments such as snack bars and restaurants. Based on a master list of all known Pompeian bars, research assistants will help gather and organize visual and textual evidence related to their façades and bar counters. This includes collecting images, architectural plans, and scholarly references, and ensuring that all data is properly scanned, cataloged, and linked.
They will also oversee a Zotero group library dedicated to the project, importing and cleaning citations, attaching PDFs or scans where permitted, and ensuring that bibliographic records are synchronized with the database.
To manage this material, the RAs will contribute to the creation and maintenance of a research database, grounded in a “non-reinventing the wheel” approach. Rather than building a structure from scratch, research assistants will begin by scouting existing scholarly databases and digital humanities projects available online, identifying models that can be adapted to suit the specific needs of this study. Their task will involve evaluating the architecture, the ease of use, and metadata conventions used in comparable projects.
Research assistants will support the writing process of an article about this topic by helping revise selected sections and contributing to its overall clarity and consistency.
Regular biweekly check-ins with the professor will provide guidance, address challenges, and help set priorities throughout the semester.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Complete the collection of images, architectural plans, and scholarly references related to the façades and counters of Pompeian bars that was started in the Spring 2026. These materials will be properly scanned and cataloged in a common drive.
Bibliographic references about ancient and modern advertising will be read, annotated, imported, cleaned, and saved in the Zotero group library dedicated to the project. These information constitute the scholarly and methodological base of the article.
Continue with the creation of a research database using models adapted from existing digital humanities projects. The database will contain all the information collected about the Pompeian bars. It would be great if a student of Computer Science would be interested in tackling this part of the project. Draft of an article about advertising approaches in Pompeian bars.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The RA will gain hands-on experience in finding, evaluating, and collecting research data about Pompeian bars from accessible archives and scholarly sources. The RA will learn how to use Zotero to manage citations and maintain clear, consistent bibliographic records. Through the process of building a database, the RA will develop skills in organizing complex information and adapting existing digital tools to new research needs.
Participation in the drafting and revision of the article will offer practice in academic writing and collaborative editing. Regular meetings with the professor will help foster accountability and support the development of strong research habits.
