Nexus Scholars Program

As a College of Arts & Sciences Nexus Scholar, Blythe Wong ’25 has been “fishing for answers” to understand how genes and hormones shape the way organisms look and behave, working with thousands of tiny Poecilia parae fish swimming in the aquariums of assistant professor Ben Sandkam’s lab.

Overview

The Nexus Scholars Program in the College of Arts & Sciences provides undergraduate students with summer opportunities to be mentored with faculty from all across the college (humanities, social sciences, and STEM) on their research projects. Along with the summer research experience, the program offers professional development workshops, career exploration events, and the chance to be part of a cohort from throughout the college who are passionate about learning.

Recipients may conduct research in any discipline in the College of Arts & Sciences and will be compensated an hourly wage for their participation during the course of the program on the Cornell campus in Ithaca this summer. Nexus Scholars are selected based on their interest in research, their ability to work collaboratively, and their potential to contribute to the field. Students who are early in their academic careers and from a variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Nexus Scholars Program is intended to be an entry point into undergraduate research and we prioritize applicants who do not have significant experience in this area.

General Information

Students interested in learning more about the  2024 Nexus Scholars Program can view the virtual information session presented on Wednesday, November 29 at 4:30 pm at this link. 

For one one-on-one questions about the program and application, students can set up a 15-minute appointment with Sam Stafford, the Nexus Scholars Program Manager at this link. Office hours are set for the following time through January 10th:

  • Tuesdays: 2:00-3:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 10:30-12:00 pm
  • Thursdays: 2:30-4:00 pm

For questions regarding the program please email nexusscholars@cornell.edu.

Eligibility

The Nexus Scholars Program is available to Cornell A&S undergraduate first year, sophomore, or junior in the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027. Students who are planning to graduate in the spring or summer of 2024 are not eligible to apply. 

In order to qualify for the program, students must:  

  • Be enrolled full-time at Cornell University as a student through the end of the Fall 2024 semester  

  • Be an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences at the time of applying 

  • Be in good academic and judicial standing 

  • Be available in person in Ithaca during the course of the summer program from Thursday, May 31- Wednesday, July 31, 2024

  • Be able to work a full-time schedule (up to 40 hours a week) within traditional working hours  

  • Not be enrolled in classes over summer 2024 

  • Not be committed to work any other position at Cornell during the program dates 

  • Be 18 years old on or before May 30, 2024 

Program Terms and Timeline

Program Terms 

  • Approximately 85 Nexus Scholars will be supported during summer 2024. 

  • Students are expected to participate in research full-time (35 – 40 hours/week) with their mentor on the Cornell campus in Ithaca. There is no remote option for the program.  

  • Along with their research, students will participate in weekly professional development workshops covering topics such as graduate school search, public speaking, and more. 

  • Students will be compensated an hourly wage for their participation based on the student employment wages associated with the Classification Level of their project. In addition, up to $1,000 will be provided for travel to a research meeting after the program is over.  

  • Students can only participate in the program once during their time as an undergraduate in the College of Arts & Sciences. 

Program Timeline 

  • November 29: Applications open on the Experience Site  

  • December 7: Applications in Workday open  

  • January 10: Applications close in both systems

  • February: Interviews take place 

  • Early March: Students will be notified of their acceptance 

  • May 30: Program start date & Orientation  

  • July 31: Program end date & capstone presentations 

How to Apply

There are 2 parts of the application:

  1. Apply via Cornell Experience site
  2. Apply via Workday

Students, please read all the directions below before you apply in either system.  Failure to complete both applications will result in you not being considered.

Before you apply, download the application guide that will walk you through the process and what to expect and help you get all your application materials in order. To apply, you will need to be prepared to provide the following: 

  • Your resume 
  • Essay question responses 
  • Up to two projects you’d like to work on and your reasoning - see the full list of projects and faculty mentors below.

Tip: Our career advisors can help you prep your application materials. Schedule an appointment today! 

The application process requires you to apply in two locations. You can read more about what is required for each portion of the application process below. 

Step 1: Cornell Experience Site Application

Cornell Experience Site

Application sections and requirements: 

  • Academic and Personal Information 

  • Essay Questions – you will need to answer the following questions in under 1,500 characters (between 210-380 words) for each response: 

    • Why are you interested in doing research next summer at Cornell and what do you hope to gain?   

    • What ideas do you have for your future career?  

    • Tell us about a time you overcame an obstacle and what you learned through the process?  

    • Think about a time when you worked on a group project that went well.  What do you think was most important in achieving that success?  Please explain. 

  • Faculty/Project Selection & Explanation: Using the faculty project descriptions listed below, choose 1-2 projects that align with the research and experience you hope to gain this summer. You will need to explain why you selected that faculty member and their project.  
  • Resume Upload  

Step 2: Workday Application

Workday

  • You will need to apply to the Workday job posting that corresponds with the correct Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level classification level for the project(s) you wish to participate in.  

    • For example, if one project is classified as a Level 1 and the other as a Level 3, you should apply to the two positions separately. 

Template and Resume Upload - you can upload both the documents below on the 'resume and cover letter' upload section of the Workday application. 

  • Upload your completed application template as a PDF with your full name saved in the file name. 

    • Tip: If you have to apply to two Workday postings, you can delete the project description for the other level. If they are both the same level, please keep both responses on the template. 

  • Upload the same resume you uploaded on the experience site. 

Nexus Faculty Mentor and Project Descriptions for 2024

Name Departments
Image of Chloe Ahmann Chloe Ahmann Assistant Professor American Studies Program, Anthropology, Environment & Sustainability Program

Personal Introduction

I am an environmental anthropologist studying the long afterlife of American industry. Broadly, I follow industrialism’s enduring traces in toxified landscapes, patchy regulation, quotidian expressions of white supremacy, and particular orientations toward time. I am especially interested in what kinds of environmental futures take form amid these legacies.

Project Description

This project concerns the rising tide of ecofascist sentiments in the United States. Spectacular acts of ecofascist violence have been in the news given mass shootings by white men who propose that eliminating racialized people will ease environmental pressures, including in Christchurch and El Paso. But they are only the most spectacular face of a pervasive set of structures and beliefs about what, and whom, the environment is for – and whose being counts as existential threat – which this study aims to show are foundational to the United States.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The RAs for this project will collaborate on three main tasks: • to review and organize reporting on the rise of ecofascist sentiments in recent years, integrating blog posts, articles, podcasts, essays, and the like into this project's existing media library; • to review, organize, and analyze archival documents from the American Eugenics Society and the Sierra Club, tracking both organizations' concern with population control as a salve for environmental pressures; • to draft a report analyzing how eugenic solutions to environmental problems historically figured in the American environmental movementand how this has changed over time, based on both of the above. The RA should be reliable, communicative, and independent, and can expect to gain experience synthesizing historical documents, news media, and scholarly literature in the humanistic social sciences – as well as familiarity with this pressing topic.

Required Skills and Coursework

Some research experience is preferred, as is a demonstrated interest in the humanities and/or social sciences. Introductory coursework in American studies, anthropology, history, and the environmental humanities would all be beneficial.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Familiarity with research on scholarly databases; reliable and communicative; able to work independently; good sense of limitations and ability to ask for support; ability to synthesize scholarly arguments into key points; ability to note and analyze trends in historical documents; ability to note and analyze trends in popular media; personal commitment to working against ecofascism and other white supremacist environmentalisms

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Catherine M. Appert Catherine M. Appert Associate Professor Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, Music

Personal Introduction

I am an ethnomusicologist (an anthropologist of music) who has published significant research on gender and race in ethnographic methods. I am now shifting into critical disability studies with a dual focus 1) on the potential and limitations of qualitative methods in research on divergent neurotypes, especially autism, and 2) embodiment and language processing in neurodivergent populations.

Project Description

This is an early-stage and ultimately large-scale project that brings together research from neuroscience, linguistics, performance studies, music and sound studies, anthropology, and feminist and gender studies to offer new insights and interventions into autism studies. By bringing humanistic perspectives to the table and centering the voices and concerns of autistic people, this project positions autism as a form of human difference rather than pathology or disorder. Specifically, it raises questions of method (how do we study autism and other forms of neurodivergence and why) while exploring the ways in which forms of language development common among autistic individuals, i.e. gestalt language processing, correspond to embodied sensory experiences and expressive practices for which humanistic methods provide yet-unexplored analytic tools that speak directly to concerns of autistic advocates critical of the overbearingly"scientific" bent of the majority of extant autism research.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Student researchers involved in this project will conduct bibliographic and literature review work across a variety of disciplines. They will be responsible for locating, identifying, and evaluating relevant sources in both STEM and humanities fields. AS this is a large, long-term project, it will likely be possible to cater the specific tasks completed in Summer 2024 to the interests/expertise of the student.

Required Skills and Coursework

There is no necessary prerequisite coursework to participate in this research. Familiarity with the library catalog and major databases is a plus, but I can work with students to develop these skills.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

There is no specific prerequisite coursework, but familiarity with one of more of the involved disciplines (neuroscience, developmental psychology, linguistics, speech language pathology, music and sound studies, performance studies, anthropology, feminist and gender studies) will be helpful.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Youn Jue (Eunice) Bae Youn Jue (Eunice) Bae Assistant Professor Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Personal Introduction

My background and area of study involve ultrafast optical spectroscopy and low-dimensional magnetic materials to investigate spin dynamics and their intricate interactions with quasiparticles such as excitons, magnons and phonons.

Project Description

A student will be involved in building time and space-resolved ultrafast spectroscopy and microscopy tools to observe what spins are doing in magnets. The goal of this research is to identify spin interactions and use those interactions to drive non-equilibrium phase transitions and interconnect spins to superconducting qubits.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

A student will align laser, prepare samples that involve exfoliation of 2D materials, electron beam lithography and metal deposition, write software to control electronics, read textbooks and journal articles related to the project, and discuss interesting data with his/her mentors/colleagues.

Required Skills and Coursework

Required skills include coding with Labview program and/or python to control hardware and process large amounts of data.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Quantum mechanics, signal processing, solid state physics and coding classes would be helpful

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Andrew Bass Andrew Bass Horace White Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior Neurobiology and Behavior

Personal Introduction

The broad research focus of the lab is the behavioral neuroscience of social behavior. We use teleost fishes as model systems to identify how the brain drives and modulates social behavior.

Project Description

This project focuses on development of a neurogenomic model for aggressive behavior in the context of sound (acoustic) and visual communication. The study group are Danionella minnows, which are among the smallest fish that remains transparent throughout its lifetime. These traits offer a significant advantage for neuroimaging studies of brain circuitry underlying behavior.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students will assist in generating transgenic lines for studying the aggressive display behaviors of Danionella minnows. They will learn to label developing neurons with nuclear-localized GCaMP in Danionella fish larvae that are raised to adulthood. Larvae will be screened and phenotyped at 3-7 days post fertilization (dpf), and positive larvae raised in community tanks.

Required Skills and Coursework

Excellent manual dexterity, patience with repetitive tasks. Introductory courses in the biological sciences.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

laboratory courses in the biological sciences.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Kendra Bischoff Kendra Bischoff Associate Professor American Studies Program, Center for the Study of Inequality, Sociology

Personal Introduction

I am a sociologist who studies social inequality, education, and neighborhoods. My research has examined the patterns, causes, and consequences of racial and socioeconomic residential segregation, and more broadly, documents the consequences of spatial inequality.

Project Description

The summer research project will investigate responses to environmental vulnerability in California communities. The larger research project has used quantitative data to describe the relationship between multi-hazard environmental vulnerability and migration patterns in California neighborhoods over the past two decades, with a specific focus on differences by the racial and economic composition of neighborhoods. This summer, our interdisciplinary research team will explore local economic, social, policy, and planning factors that shape responses to environmental vulnerability.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The Nexus scholar will 1) conduct research on the typologies and outliers of communities that our quantitative and spatial mapping project has identified to determine what economic, social, policy, and planning characteristics in California may be associated with their environmental migration and mobility patterns; 2) develop case studies of selected communities and their experiences with significant environmental events and climate adaptation policies and projects, including potential causal factors influencing migration patterns; 3) help prepare for interviews with relevant stakeholders in these communities; 4) potentially travel to case study communities to conduct interviews, collect other archival information, and work with community partners; 5) transcribe interview data; 6) analyze archival and interview data.

Required Skills and Coursework

The RA should be self-motivated and able to work independently with guidance, have excellent written and oral communication skills, a strong attention to detail, and most importantly, an interest in learning more about social science research.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Prior coursework in sociology, public policy, migration, climate adaptation, environmental justice, and/or urban planning, as well as experience with qualitative research, is helpful but not necessary.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Alexandra Blackman Alexandra Blackman Assistant Professor Government, Near Eastern Studies

Personal Introduction

Alexandra Domike Blackman is an Assistant Professor in Cornell University’s Department of Government. Blackman’s work focuses on the development of and appeal to religious identities in the political sphere, the challenges facing female politicians, and political party development in the Middle East.

Project Description

This project examines the transformation and expansion of schooling in Tunisia under French colonial rule. We examine how the colonial government interacted with the existing education system, how it made decisions about new school construction, what students were enrolled, and the content of the colonial-era curriculum.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student will assist with research on the education system in colonial-era Tunisia. Tasks will include writing summaries about the expansion of schooling and challenges facing the education system based on colonial reports, data entry of education statistics, and translation of short quotes from the French colonial reports.

Required Skills and Coursework

The student must have French language proficiency, particularly in terms of reading ability. Thus, advanced French language courses are not required but welcome.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Advanced French language courses are not required but likely helpful. Coursework on Middle East Politics or History of the Modern Middle East would be helpful.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Jamie Budnick Jamie Budnick Assistant Professor Sociology

Personal Introduction

I am a sociologist specializing in gender, sexuality, and feminist science studies. My research focuses on the social construction of sexuality knowledge and the politics of population measurement.

Project Description

I am writing a book that shows--through an account of the "social lives of sexuality statistics"--how the norms of demography and contemporary understandings of LGBTQ people mutually (re)shaped one another as demography rose in prominence to become the authoritative language for making claims about sexuality. I argue that demographic sexuality knowledge and the sexual minority demographic were co-produced across the last three decades: that is, demographic definitions and statistics began to shape how people understood and described their sexuality, and simultaneously, activism by LGBTQ people shaped the way demographers defined and measured sexuality.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Scholars will help me collect and analyze data for this book project, especially newspaper articles, journal articles, and survey questionnaires. Together, we will collect these materials, develop coding schema, and analyze what we find using qualitative analysis software. This work will happen alongside meetings and literature reviews discussing topics like sexuality, LGBTQ politics, identity measurement, and social science expertise.

Required Skills and Coursework

None.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

A general background or interest in gender and sexuality would be helpful in orienting scholars to the topical area. Interest in the social sciences would be motivating as scholars gain skills that may be useful in future research positions, work, or graduate school.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Jean Bernard Cerin Jean Bernard Cerin Assistant Professor Music

Personal Introduction

I am an assistant professor in the department of Music and the Director of the Voice Program here at Cornell University. I'm also the founder of the Lisette Project, which is a performance and education platform specializing in Haitian classical music. I am also an assistant editor of the African Diaspora Music Project based at the University of Michigan.

Project Description

I will be revamping thelisetteproject.org next summer by adding several short articles about Haitian classical music composers and performers. I would like the help of a research assistant to both research music history and write/co-write short articles for the website. The student would also help me upload data to the African Diaspora Music Project website.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students would do research both online and in the music library. They would prepare notes for articles which they would either then write or cowrite with me. If the student is also a performer, I would also entertain the possibility of them learning repertoire. The student would also help me gather data to input entries into the African Diaspora Music Project website.

Required Skills and Coursework

This would be an ideal position for a music major with an interest in under-represented composers. However, anyone with a mind for research and copywriting would be welcome. Ideally this student would be able to read music for the database work, but that is not a deal breaker.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Courses in music history and music notation would be ideal. A performer who would be interested in adding a performance element to their summer work might also find this gratifying.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Alexandra E. Cirone Alexandra E. Cirone Assistant Professor Government

Personal Introduction

I am a political economist who studies the design of democratic institutions, and I teach classes on quantitative methods and disinformation in politics. Right now, I'm focusing on the use of lottery-based procedures in politics.

Project Description

The project looks at citizens' assemblies and other deliberative mini-publics around the world. The research would involve doing case studies on these initiatives, synthesizing existing research, and collecting a large dataset on assemblies.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Detail oriented, clear writer, able to work with excel spreadsheets, the ability to read and code with accuracy

Required Skills and Coursework

None

Helpful Skills and Coursework

None

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Andrew G. Clark Andrew G. Clark Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Population Genetics Computational Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Personal Introduction

My background is in population/evolutionary genomics, and my lab group works on a range of projects in computational and functional genomics. WE are particularly interested in the ways that evolution resolves genomic conflicts, and approach these problems with a combination of population studies and computational modeling.

Project Description

We have PacBio DNA sequence reads from many lines and several species of Drosophila. The project entails the development of assemblies of these reads into genome sequences, with a specific focus on the Y chromosome. The Y is an interesting challenge because it is highly repetitive, so novel methods based on long kmers, assembly graphs, and pangenome assembly will be applied.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The project is much like assembling a puzzle, drawing from hints generated by several programs. The student would work as part of a team with graduate students and me, seeking to produce not only the best genome assembly, but the best annotation of variants among lines and differences among species in the genomes.

Required Skills and Coursework

The proposed project is computational and so some experience in basic bioinformatics skills, the Unix command-line, and working with cluster computers would be essential.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Ability to produce plots of results in R would be helpful. A course in the R language would be good.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Abigail Crites Abigail Crites Assistant Professor & Fred Young Faculty Fellow Astronomy, CCAPS, Physics

Personal Introduction

I study cosmology by building mm-wavelength instrumentation. I have a background in physics and astrophysics.

Project Description

Large mm-wavelength instruments are currently being built to probe cosmology, particularly the early universe with the CMB and the epoch of reionization. This project will entail working with mm-wavelength hardware and software to prepare for the next generation of experiments to probe the early universe. The student will learn Python programming and some C. Work will also be done with thermometry and detector readout for the instruments.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

CAD design, Python programming, hardware and electronics assembly and testing

Required Skills and Coursework

None.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Some proficency in programming especially in Python would be helpful but not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Milena Djourelova Milena Djourelova Assistant Professor Economics

Personal Introduction

I am an assistant professor at the Department of Economics. I study applied economics and political economy, with a focus on the effects of mass media on public policy views.

Project Description

In collaboration with researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, this project studies the effects of transparency on central bank communication, exploiting the introduction of FOMC press conferences as a natural experiment. We analyze patterns of communication and deliberation, applying machine learning techniques to large text corpora comprised of Federal Reserve meetings transcripts, press releases and conference transcripts.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The tasks will involve data collection and analysis, mostly working with unstructured text data.

Required Skills and Coursework

This project is best suited for students with computer science or economics background, ideally familiar with coding in Python.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Familiarity with natural language processing and machine learning techniques (e.g., topic models) is very helpful but not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz Nancy and Peter Meinig Family Investigator in the Life Sciences, Assistant Professor Neurobiology and Behavior

Personal Introduction

My lab investigates the neural circuit basis of learning and memory. We perform recordings and manipulations of neural activity in rodents during complex learning and social behaviors to understand their cellular mechanisms.

Project Description

This project is aimed at understanding how groups of mice interact and explore in a naturalistic environment. We will record neural activity and behavioral patterns while mice live for 2 weeks in a large outdoor enclosure. We aim to understand the neural and behavioral mechanisms of social and spatial learning.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The Scholars will conduct mouse behavioral experiments together with other lab members. They will assist in mouse training, surgical implant of brain electrodes and recordings, both inside the lab and in our outdoor enclosures. Scholars will be trained to perform these tasks by experienced lab members.

Required Skills and Coursework

There are no specific requirements in terms of skills or coursework.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Experience working with mice would be a plus but not mandatory. The main quality we are looking for is motivation, interest in research, good team work and commitment.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Carolyn Fornoff Carolyn Fornoff Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies Romance Studies

Personal Introduction

Professor Fornoff is a scholar of Latin American studies, with a particular focus on visual and literary culture.

Project Description

I plan to teach an advanced course on the relationship between the United States and Latin America in the nineteenth century. To prepare for this course, I would like help reviewing the archives of Andrew Dickson White, Cornell's cofounder and first president. We will focus on White's trip to the Dominican Republic in 1871 at the behest of President Ulysses Grant to determine whether the US should annex the Dominican Republic. Our goal is to identify aspects of White's archive that will be of interest to students and that will be of use for a course about US empire and the tumultuous early moment of Latin American independence.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student researcher will engage with Andrew Dickson White's archives held at Cornell. The primary task is to transcribe portions of White's handwritten diaries from his time in the Dominican Republic. The student will also perform research on White's "Report of the Commission of Inquiry to Santo Domingo" and background info on local debates about DR independence vs annexation. Finally, the student will provide recommendations about what aspects of White's archive and diary will be of most interest to fellow students for the future course on this topic.

Required Skills and Coursework

The most important skill for this project is the ability to read handwriting from the nineteenth century, or to persevere in the challenging task of deciphering handwriting in cursive. Students should have a background in the humanities, and an interest in Latin American and U.S. history.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

The ideal candidate will also be able to read in Spanish, but it is not necessary.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Carl Franck Carl Franck Associate Professor Physics

Personal Introduction

I am an experimental physicist pursuing projects in biological physics with an emphasis on the onset of cooperative behavior in microbial systems and in x-ray enabled atomic physics where I am investigating predicted but unobserved many photon radiation accompanying the ejection of an electron from an atom. My activities have been enabled through tremendous undergraduate research collaborators.

Project Description

In biological physics, we will be exploiting a new optical particle detection technology we have invented to explore the role of cell clusters as we have recently argued (I. Segota et al., Phys. Bio. 19, 026002 (2022)) are crucial to how microbes promote their own proliferation. In photon science, we will be searching for swarms of light that we expect will herald the ejection of a electron from an atom in order to try to resolve our recent surprising discovery: P. Jacobson et al. Phys. Rev. A 104, 042809 (2021).

Specific tasks associated with the project work

To assist in the design, operation and analysis of experiments in one of these two realms.

Required Skills and Coursework

Two strong semesters of science (in physics or biology as appropriate ) and mathematics.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Experience with MATLAB or the equivalent for either project. Bench biology experience for project one. Familiarity with electronics for the second project.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Michael H. Goldstein Michael H. Goldstein Professor Psychology

Personal Introduction

I study the evolution and development of vocal and social learning. My lab focuses on how babies learn to talk and how birds learn to sing.

Project Description

My lab seeks to understand the development of communication as part of a larger parent-infant system, which means that we study parental behavior as well as infant development, we connect prelinguistic social and vocal learning with the development of later linguistic skills (e.g. word learning), and we take a comparative approach to understanding the development and evolution of vocal learning. Current projects include studies of early vocal learning and parental responsiveness in human infants and songbirds.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Infant lab: running experiments, coding behaviors and vocalizations from video and audio recordings, recruiting and scheduling participants, participating in lab meetings. Bird lab: running experiments, coding behaviors and vocalizations from video and audio recordings, participating in lab meetings.

Required Skills and Coursework

No specific courses or skills are required.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Knowledge of R statistical software would be helpful but not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Dan Hirschman Dan Hirschman Associate Professor Sociology

Personal Introduction

I am a historical sociologist who studies the production and circulation of numbers, with a focus on economic and political life. Much of my past research focuses on the production of economic numbers (like GDP or inequality statistics like the gender wage gap) and how those numbers are used to shape debates over public policy.

Project Description

How much will climate change cost and how will we know? This project examines the production of different kinds of cost estimates related to climate change (such as projections of the costs of renewable energy, and projections of the aggregate damages caused by global warming) and how those costs circulate in political debates in order to understand how experts (including economists and engineers) have influenced climate change policy.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

1) Students will help to develop a codebook for analyzing newspaper articles and TV news transcripts around specific climate change-related events (such as the debate over carbon cap & trade policies in the 2000s). 2) Students will read and code newspaper articles following that codebook. 3) Students will assist in finding and analyzing related documents discussed in those newspaper articles (such as Congressional Hearings and academic journal articles). 4) Students will assist in analyzing the results of the coded newspaper corpus, including producing narrative interpretations of their findings.

Required Skills and Coursework

No specific required skills or coursework, but some exposure to historical research would be helpful.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

1. Coursework related to climate change (especially the history and politics of debates over climate change - only minimal natural scientific understanding of climate change is required). 2. Some familiarity with basic economics concepts. 3. Previous social science or historical research experience (such as conducting and analyzing interviews, reading and coding newspaper articles, or work in archives).

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Anna Y.Q. Ho Anna Y.Q. Ho Assistant Professor of Astronomy Astronomy, CCAPS

Personal Introduction

I am an astronomer who studies the most energetic explosions in the universe in order to learn about the lives and deaths of stars: how a star’s properties determine its manner of death and its corpse. To do this, I use telescopes across the Earth and in space, as well as analytical modeling.

Project Description

It is well known that newly formed stellar corpses can power a narrow jet and that the outflow encodes characteristics of both the corpse and the progenitor star. However, we have limited information about the earliest stages of the outflow due to a paucity of minute-timescale observations. The goal of the project is to analyze a dataset of early (minute- to hour-timescale) observations.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student would use an image-processing pipeline in the IDL language to measure the source brightness in each image, and put the measurements together into a table. The student would use Python to make plots summarizing their results and measurements.

Required Skills and Coursework

Skills with programming (Python) required. Quantitative skills---mathematics at the level of calculus (required). Strong organizational skills (from previous jobs, research projects) because the dataset involved is large and somewhat complex.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Some experience with astronomy (knowledge of magnitude system, etc) would be helpful.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Saida Hodžić Saida Hodžić Associate Professor Africana Studies and Research Center, Anthropology, Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies Program

Personal Introduction

I am a cultural anthropologist with specialties in political, medical, feminist, and public-facing anthropology. I study contemporary questions of pressing public concern (militarization, borders, toxicity, social justice activism, solidarity, human rights activism and humanitarianism) working at the crossroads of the humanities and qualitative social sciences.

Project Description

Refugees Know Things is a public-facing research project that includes my individual research (manuscripts in progress include "Affective Encounters: Humanitarian Afterlives of War and Violence" and "Seeing like a Refugee: Global Apartheid Inside Out"), collaborative research (an edited book in progress based on the Displaced, Detained. Deterred Symposium, see refugeesknowthings.org) and a public-facing podcast (to be released soon). In summer 2024, I will be organizing and analyzing data; writing and editing an article; producing podcast episodes; and working on public-facing communication through arts, text, and sound.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student would *not* be expected to work on all tasks associated with this project. The student would be offered a choice from the following tasks: 1) Assistance with organizing and analyzing data; 2) Assistance with Writing and editing an article; 3) Assistance with producing podcast episodes; 4) Assistance with public-facing research communication through arts, text, and sound.

Required Skills and Coursework

No specific course work is necessary. Regarding Task 1) Assistance with organizing and analyzing data: Good organizational skills required; since data is primarily digital or needs to be digitized, a penchant for computer-based approaches to data organization is required. Ability to work independently and confidently in a supportive environment. Regarding Task 2) Assistance with Writing and editing an article: The student would need to learn (with my assistance and assistance from a Cornell librarian) how to conduct literature research using Cornell library resources. The student would be required to have interest and skills in writing. Ability to work independently and confidently in a supportive environment. Regarding Task 3) Assistance with producing podcast episodes: facility with postproduction skills; background research skills. Ability to work independently and confidently in a supportive environment. Regarding Task 4) Assistance with public-facing research communication through arts, text, and sound: Creative, artistic background skill and interest to combine creativity and research for public education. Ability to work independently and confidently in a supportive environment.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

n/a

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Natasha Holmes Natasha Holmes Ann S. Bowers Associate Professor CDER, Physics

Personal Introduction

My research group studies physics education research - the teaching and learning of physics. We particularly focus on instructional physics labs, studying what students are learning, how they are experiencing labs, and how we can improve instruction to improve students' learning and experiences.

Project Description

The successful student will help develop and evaluate a new design for instructional physics labs that introduce students to experimental particle physics and support them in building a tabletop particle detector and using the detector to design and conduct their own investigation. The goals for the summer research are to design the instructional materials, evaluate the levels of inquiry in the instructional materials, prepare for data collection during the academic year, and analyze historical data sets of control groups from previous semesters.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student will work with postdocs and graduate students to design the instructional materials, use a rubric to evaluate the instructional materials, review existing assessments to identify key strategies for data collection, and analyze historical data sets of control groups from previous semesters (including scoring assessments and surveys, using rubrics to evaluate students' written work, and/or performing statistical analysis on the data).

Required Skills and Coursework

Coursework: Some introductory physics instruction, preferably Phys 1110.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Other previous coursework and skills will inform the particular tasks the student will carry out. For example, if the student has taken statistics coursework, the project can involve more data analysis. If computer science coursework, the project can involve exploring natural language processing possibilities. If particle physics coursework, the project can focus on designing the instructional materials and tabletop detector.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Jennifer Kuo Jennifer Kuo Assistant Professor Linguistics

Personal Introduction

I am a linguist whose research centers around how people learn and represent sound patterns. I address these issues using a combination of fieldwork, experiments, and quantitative modeling.

Project Description

The goal of the study is to better understand how speakers use different types of statistical information when learning sound patterns. To do this, we utilize an experimental paradigm called Artificial Grammar Learning, where participants are taught a made-up language and then tested on how well they learn this language. The student researcher will become versed in various aspects of running experiments, including experimental design, running web studies, and data analysis.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Designing stimuli, running web studies, data analysis

Required Skills and Coursework

Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology (LING 3302)

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Experience with one/some of the following would be helpful, but not required: Praat, basic programming (e.g. R, Python), basic statistics.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of William Lai William Lai Assistant Research Professor Molecular Biology and Genetics

Personal Introduction

My research program is a combined biochemical and bioinformatic laboratory that seeks to understand how cells respond to stress and what drives the immense variety of cell type in multicellular organisms. We use epigenomic assays to understand protein binding globally within the cell and AI approaches to leverage millions of datapoint simultaneously to make biological discoveries.

Project Description

The project in my laboratory would involve building a neural network using both published epigenomic data and data generated in my group to make biological predictions about gene expression. Using a basic convolutional neural network framework, the student would apply dozens of different epigenomic datasets sequentially to identify which epigenomic dataset provided the most predictive value for gene expression. The identity of the best performing datasets would then be cross-referenced in the literature and additional published data to understand the biological implications of prediction.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student would be responsible for operating in the UNIX-command line, parsing 'big' data, building python-based networks using a provided framework, and generating charts to communicate neural network performance.

Required Skills and Coursework

Basic understanding of computer programming (e.g., Java, Python, or C) Basic understanding of bash shell scripting Basic understanding of biology including DNA, RNA, and protein (i.e., central dogma)

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Advanced biology coursework Advanced CS coursework

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Bruce A Levitt Bruce A Levitt Professor Performing and Media Arts

Personal Introduction

I am a theatre director, who for fourteen years has employed theatre techniques within the criminal justice system, collaborating with both those who are currently incarcerated www.phoenixplayersatauburn.com and those who have come home from prison, to demonstrate the power of the arts in the process of human transformation. I also collaborate with a group of social justice organizations under the Arts, Justice, and Safety Coalition https://www.theconfinedarts.org/ creating programming for those who oversee the criminal justice system—prosecutors, judges, etc.—to spark conversations about alternatives to incarceration.

Project Description

To work with the Phoenix Players archives to prepare material for a book publication and to assist the Arts, Justice, and Safety Coalition with researching our next projects. Finally, updating our databases of national organizations working with artistic solutions to the current state of the Criminal Legal System. The goals are to help create and sustain a new narrative about incarceration, its ineffectiveness and the alternatives that would benefit communities

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Researching organizations working at the intersection of the arts and the Criminal Legal System. Some interviews of leaders of such organizations. Writing narratives for grants. Updating existing databases. Creating a network newsletter and re-entry guide for Phoenix players members that have returned home.

Required Skills and Coursework

Some knowledge of spreadsheets and database programs such as Airtable and Notion. Familiarity with Squarespace website revisions. No specific required coursework. Good people skills.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Any coursework in the arts, sociology, psychology, law and society, etc. could be informative.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Jun Liu Jun Liu Professor Molecular Biology and Genetics

Personal Introduction

I am the first in my extended family to attend college, and I obtained my PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology at Cornell University. I believe that science is for everyone.

Project Description

The Liu lab uses the free-living nematode C. elegans as a model system for two areas of research: 1) to identify new players and define their functions in a highly conserved signaling pathway, the BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) pathway, and 2) to understand the regulatory logic of how pluripotent precursor cells divide to produce multiple differentiated cell types (details can be found at https://blogs.cornell.edu/liuwormlab/research/). Our research findings will contribute to the general understanding of developmental processes, stem cell biology and cellular reprogramming, and fundamental mechanisms involved in cell-cell signaling.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students joining the lab will learn various molecular genetic techniques at the bench, develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and work both independently and in a collaborative environment.

Required Skills and Coursework

BioG1500, BioMG1350.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

No prior research experience is necessary.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Xiaomeng Liu Xiaomeng Liu Assistant Professor Physics

Personal Introduction

I am an experimental condensed matter physicist in the process of setting up my lab at Cornell. My research focuses on discovering extraordinary properties of two-dimensional quantum materials through advanced quantum microscopy and ultra-low temperature electrical measurements.

Project Description

The project's overarching goal is to discover new quantum phenomena with fundamental importance and the potential to advance quantum technologies. One part of this project involves the creation of innovative quantum materials by assembling two-dimensional materials into heterostructures. The other part focuses on establishing a ultra-low temperature electrical measurement setup and conduct precise measurements on quantum materials.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The students will have the freedom to choose from the following tasks: exfoliating two-dimensional materials and identifying them using an optical microscope; assembling van der Waals heterostructures; fabricating devices at the nanoscale; utilizing an atomic force microscope (AFM) to examine and manipulate van der Waals heterostructures; setting up low-noise electrical measurements, including building circuit components such as filters; interfacing instruments with measurement programs.

Required Skills and Coursework

Introductory physics courses. Interest in hands-on experimental works.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Basic knowledge on quantum physics, thermal physics, and solid state (semiconductor) physics; Programming (Matlab and Labview); Nano-fabrication; Electric circuits and soldering; CAD drawing and machining.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Doug McKee Doug McKee Senior Lecturer CDER, Economics

Personal Introduction

Douglas McKee teaches in the Department of Economics where he works with other faculty to incorporate active learning methods into courses. His research is primarily in economic education, where he tries to identify new methods of teaching that work well for a diverse population of economics students.

Project Description

Math skills, study skills, and positive attitudes toward learning are critical to success in most introductory-level STEM courses, but the COVID-19 pandemic may have had a big impact on all three. In this project, we will analyze data collected at the beginning of economics courses before, during, and after the pandemic to see how students differ in their preparedness for college courses. We will also look into ways instructors can address potential gaps that have appeared to help these pandemic-affected students.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students will review theoretical and empirical literature related to the impact of the pandemic on educational outcomes. Students will organize data and set it up for analysis. Students will use statistical and econometric methods to analyze data. Students will write up their results and prepare presentations for a technical audience.

Required Skills and Coursework

Students must have taken at least two economics courses, and students should be clear thinkers and skilled communicators.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Courses in statistics and econometrics (including experience with Stata) would be very helpful.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 4

Image of Yuxin Mao Yuxin Mao Professor Molecular Biology and Genetics

Personal Introduction

My research interest is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between an intracellular bacterial pathogen and its hosts. We use molecular, cellular, biochemical, and structural approaches to how bacterial toxins hijack host cellular pathways.

Project Description

We have several options tailored for undergraduate summer interns. 1) How bacterial toxins hijack host ubiquitination pathways. In this project, we will use biochemical and mass spec approaches to identify specific host targets and will use cell biology approaches to study the physiological functions of these toxins. 2) How bacterial toxins posttranslationally modify host proteins. In this project, we will elucidate the enzymatic reactions catalyzed by the toxins using biochemical and structural approaches.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

DNA cloning, protein expression and purification, transfection, fluorescent confocal microscopy, etc.

Required Skills and Coursework

The candidate has taken intro biology courses.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

It is super if you have some wet lab experience but not necessary.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Vida Maralani Vida Maralani Associate Professor Center for the Study of Inequality, Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, Sociology

Personal Introduction

Hello! I'm a sociologist and I study social inequality in the areas of education, gender, and health. I'm especially interested in how different aspects of inequality are related to each other (e.g, education and health; or race, gender, and work) and how different groups come to have systematically advantaged/disadvantaged bundles or portfolios of resources.

Project Description

Our project examines experiences of sex discrimination and federal responses to claims of sex discrimination at 4-year universities from 1994-2014. With a team of undergraduate research assistants, we have been coding allegations of sex discrimination at the federal level under Title IX. We are constructing an original dataset to describe these experiences, how universities have responded, and how these experiences and responses differ by the race and gender of the complainant and the type of discrimination alleged. A Nexus scholar would help to code and analyze these data. Tasks include learning how to code text-based data, constructing variables and summarizing them, and coding open-ended questions. If RAs have quantitative skills using Stata or R, they can participate in cleaning, coding, and analyzing the quantitative data, but this is in no way required. Our previous summer research assistants have used this research experience to secure excellent jobs after graduation. I am also happy to have our RAs work on a mix of projects from other areas of my research portfolio as well.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students will 1) learn how to code and clean text-based data; 2) conduct literature reviews; 3) help make figures and graphs; 4) analyze data if they have experience using Stata or R.

Required Skills and Coursework

Required coursework: none Required skills: Our RAs need to have 1) excellent analytical skills so they can learn coding rules and apply them consistently; 2) be detail-oriented and meticulous at keeping records as they code; 3) have strong communication and collaboration skills (we work in teams!); and 4) have excellent facility with written English and the coding of text-based evidence. Our coding depends on being able to understand both the words written and the nuances of detailed coding rules described in our coding manual. For our quantitative RAs, we require an intermediate level of skills with Stata or R (Stata strongly preferred but not required)

Helpful Skills and Coursework

NA

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Phillip Milner Phillip Milner Assistant Professor Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Personal Introduction

My research combines organic and materials chemistry to design porous, spongelike materials to tackle challenges relevant to the synthesis of pharmaceutical molecules.

Project Description

We have designed porous materials that enable the storage and delivery of fluorinated gases for subsequent utilization in organic transformations. We are developing improved methods for the synthesis of fluorinated alkenes. This project will focus on the Pd-catalyzed defluorinative coupling of vinylidene fluoride with various nucleophiles.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, gas chromatography, silica gel chromatography

Required Skills and Coursework

Expertise in the techniques outlined above. Familiarity with Chemdraw, Scifinder, and related programs will be beneficial.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

See above

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Andrew Musser Andrew Musser Assistant Professor Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Personal Introduction

I am a physical chemist with a background spanning physics, materials science, nanoscience, and Russian. My research group studies how molecular materials can harness light to do useful work, from driving chemical reactions to providing clean electric power.

Project Description

In this project, we aim to study how we can use light as an ingredient to change the behavior of molecular materials and other semiconductors. Specifically, we will look into how optical microcavities - extremely small boxes made of mirrors - can be used to 'rewire' these materials to change how photoexcited molecules transport energy over long distances or undergo unique light-driven chemical reactions. The goal over the summer will be to explore whether specific material properties (e.g., crystallinity, polarity) have an impact on the physics within the microcavities.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student will gain experience in fabrication methods used in semiconductor devices (thermal evaporation & wet processing like spin-coating), the basic principles of optical spectroscopy, modelling of optical properties, analysis of spectroscopic data, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.

Required Skills and Coursework

Any chemistry (or equivalent) lab course that provides a foundation for safe laboratory practice. Attention to detail and curiosity are musts. Beyond sample fabrication, there are potential ways to contribute to the project from coding to data analysis to tinkering with the optical setups - we can tailor the project to meet the student's skillset.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Prior exposure to physical chemistry (especially quantum mechanics) and/or electromagnetism would help the student to understand the science of the project on a deeper level, but they are not essential.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Alexander G. Ophir Alexander G. Ophir Associate Professor Psychology

Personal Introduction

Our research interests rest at the interface between the brain and social behavior, where animals must react to internal and external forces to successfully navigate their social world. We are particularly interested in the individual differences in the neurobiology of social behavior and how that influences reproductive decision-making, with an eye toward examining how early-life social experiences shape alternative mating tactics within a socially monogamous mating system, and how animal cognition shapes the assessment of the social context to bias animals into making those reproductive decisions.

Project Description

Projects available range in topic, but will primarily focus on understanding how social stress and paternal care interact to shape adult social behavior. This project will use prairie voles, a small rodent native to central North America, reared with and without access to fathers and that are subjected to repeated social stress to determine if parental care influences social resilience or stress susceptibility.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

The student will likely spend time evaluating and collecting data from video recordings, sectioning brain tissue, performing procedures that enable the visualization of gene expression or protein content of brain tissue, and possibly working with animals directly to perform the experiments. The students will also be exposed to a supportive environment of colleagues within the lab that will expose the student to other procedures and techniques the lab performs regularly. Finally, the student will interact with lab members formally and informally to discuss and learn about the scientific questions and justification for this and other experiments underway in the lab through attending lab meetings, and informal discussion among lab members.

Required Skills and Coursework

none

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Although no formal course work or skills are required, students that have taken courses that focus on understanding non-human animal behavior, neuroscience and/or neuroendocrine mechanisms, or the like, will be at an advantage because they will likely have some familiarity with many aspects of the project. Similarly, any prior lab experience will be a plus. Because this work is with rodents, students with rodent allergies will be limited in their ability to perform some anticipated aspects of work on this project.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of George Orlov George Orlov Senior Lecturer CDER, Economics

Personal Introduction

George Orlov is a part of the Department of Economics, teaching core curriculum courses and working with other faculty to incorporate active learning methods into economics courses. His research is primarily in applied microeconomics and economic education, focused on measuring the effect that new teaching methods have on student learning and the role that peers play in the learning process.

Project Description

Reliable measures of learning are the foundation of research on what kinds of teaching are most effective, but because there is substantial variation in what is taught in macroeconomics courses in the U.S and around the world, standard assessments for macroeconomics do not currently exist. The goal of this project is to develop high quality standard assessments of introductory and intermediate-level macroeconomics courses. It will involve documenting the learning goals of a range of courses in different institutions, and creating assessment questions that test the skills that are common across a large set of courses.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students will communicate with macroeconomics instructors around the world to document the skills different courses teach. Students will draft new questions and evaluate questions developed by others. Students will write up what they’ve learned and developed and prepare presentations for a technical audience.

Required Skills and Coursework

Students must have taken at least one course in macroeconomics, and students should be clear thinkers and skilled communicators.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Some experience teaching or tutoring other students in economics would be helpful. Completion of an intermediate macroeconomics course would be helpful.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Frank Pugh Frank Pugh Greater Philadelphia Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics Molecular Biology and Genetics

Personal Introduction

I received my BS from Cornell, PhD from U. Wisconsin, Postdoc at UC-Berkeley, then have been a professor at Penn State until recently moving my professorship to Cornell. Our research aims to uncover the protein/DNA architecture of chromosomes that regulate genes.

Project Description

Students will learn molecular biology and genomic analysis skills by mapping sites of protein interactions along yeast chromosomes and using CRISPR to remove those interactions. This involves growing yeast cells, performing genomic assays, and analyzing genomic datasets. A comprehensive genome-wide map of protein-DNA interactions and function will reveal fundamental mechanisms by which genes are regulated.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Growing yeast and bacterial cells. Perform CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Molecular cloning.

Required Skills and Coursework

Laboratory course in genetics, molecular biology, or biochemistry.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Be conformable working at a lab bench pipetting liquids.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Rachel Beatty Riedl Rachel Beatty Riedl Professor, Director of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, the John S. Knight Professor of International Studies Government

Personal Introduction

Rachel Beatty Riedl is a political scientist in the Government Department, Brooks School of Public Policy, and director of the Einaudi Center for International Studies. Her research interests include institutional development in new democracies, local governance and decentralization policy, authoritarian regime legacies, and religion and politics, with a regional focus in Africa.

Project Description

In cases of democratic backsliding, how do we understand when and why opposition coalitions form and/or succeed around pro-democracy mobilization? The focus will be on how backsliding occurs from actors who are internal to the democratic process itself, and use such institutions and organizations to pursue undue advantage and power accumulation to limit future competition.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

This project will include a literature review, particularly focused on political parties and coalitions and how they function in relation to other institutions of horizontal and vertical accountability (legislatures, courts, electoral systems, watchdog agencies, etc). The project will then undertake original research on specific cases of successful formation and or election of pro-democracy opposition coalitions. The student will learn research design and analysis techniques, coding procedures, literature review summaries, and potentially text analysis.

Required Skills and Coursework

Required Skills and Coursework: Creativity and attention to detail are essential, a statistical background or empirical knowledge of a particular set of cases is not; the student will learn research analysis practices and how to work with qualitative and text data during the course of the project.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Recommended: Comparative Politics or Democracy and Autocracy

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Jeffrey S Rusten Jeffrey S Rusten Professor Emeritus Classics, Religious Studies Program

Personal Introduction

My research and publications (translations, commentaries, articles and monographs) center on the literature of Ancient Athens, during the age which saw the beginnings of tragedy, comedy, history, philosophy, and rhetoric. Current specialties are Thucydides, the historian of the War between Athens and Sparta, and Athenian political comedy.

Project Description

The Lexeis project (https://lexeis.org) rescues digitally the most valuable 19th century lexica of classical Greek authors, placing them online for literary and linguistic research, updated with links to the text, translations into English, classification into word–families and semantic groupings, and current bibliography. We have worked so far on Thucydides, Plato and (currently) Aristophanes, and our next project will be Aristotle.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

(depending on skills and aptitudes) –training OCR models using Transkribus AI, editing the transcripts, tagging with XML in Oxygen, loading into web databases with Docker. –assign key words to word–families and semantic categories. –translate definitions into English. –(For full-time Nexus students) Completion of a research project suitable for submission to a research conference.

Required Skills and Coursework

The different team-tasks in this project can take advantage of a variety of coursework, which will be enhanced on the job: – Greek and Latin (Greek 2101, Latin 2000-level or higher) We specialize in the vocabulary of philosophy and politics, and linguistic/literary analysis. – German (German Studies 2000-level or higher) (Same vocabulary as for Greek) – Python (CS 1133; even those without coding experience will receive an overview of Python methods to enable them to load and execute scripts and work with the results), web design (CS1300 and 2300)

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Most important is an interest in our goals; past student workers have studied Greek literature and history, Linguistics and Natural Language Processing, History of the humanities. Being organized and able to work with others is essential, as is openness to learning new computer tools and enhancing language knowledge.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Ben Sandkam Ben Sandkam Assistant Professor Neurobiology and Behavior

Personal Introduction

I love fish and spend most of my time chasing them either in nature, in aquariums, or in a test tube. My lab is focused on understanding how the processes of genome evolution shape reproductive behaviors.

Project Description

Work this summer will focus on identifying the genes that are differentially expressed between alternative male reproductive morphs in the species Poecilia parae. This species of fish has five male morphs that differ in size, color, and reproductive behavior. We know the Y chromosome determines the differences between morphs; now we want to know specifically what genes on the Y do this.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Molecular: DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR to measure gene expression, in situ hybridization to find where genes are expressed. Working with fish: feeding fish and cleaning tanks (all lab members share in this).

Required Skills and Coursework

Having had a course in either genetics, evolution, or introduction to animal behavior is preferred but not required.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Having had a course in either genetics, evolution, or introduction to animal behavior is preferred but not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Daniel R. Schwarz Daniel R. Schwarz Frederic J. Whiton Professor of English Literature & Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow Jewish Studies Program, Literatures in English

Personal Introduction

For 56 years,I have been privileged to teach and work with students and to have won teaching recognition here and beyond. As to research, I work on many topics and have written 18 books and half of two others, edited many others, and contributed many articles and chapters; my books' subjects include James Joyce's Ulysses, Wallace Stevens, the NY Times, the relationship between Modern Art and Modern Literature, the European Novel (2 volumes), NYC culture between the world wars, literary theory with a focus on narrative, the changes in universities and literary study, undergraduate education, Conrad, Disraeli, Woolf and more. See, please, my web page: Web Page: http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/drs6

Project Description

I have 3 projects: 1)a monograph entitled the Power of Narrative: The Story in Fiction and Film of French Complicity in the Holocaust. 2)a wide-ranging monograph on the Nature of Narrative--my lifetime subject-- with examples from literature (The Divine Comedy, George Eliot's novels, etc.) film, TV series with major historical impact (A French Village, Babylon Berlin, The War is Over) and major painting. 3)Continuing my work on Ekphrasis--art/lit connectionx--which is the subject of my very well-reviewed book Reconfiguring Modernism and other chapters and articles.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

independent research and editorial work

Required Skills and Coursework

Required Skills Enthusiasm, diligence, curiosity, joy in learning

Helpful Skills and Coursework

For the Holocaust project, some historical awareness. For the narrative project, some literary or film background. For the art/lit project, some background in art history but not essential.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Kerry L Shaw Kerry L Shaw Professor Neurobiology and Behavior

Personal Introduction

I am a professor of the study of behavioral evolution. My lab members and myself study the evolution of reproductive behavior and how this evolution can cause the origin of new species.

Project Description

Our laboratory studies natural populations of Hawaiian crickets brought into the laboratory for observational study and experiments. The student will be engaged in measuring variation in reproductive behaviors of males and females used in courtship communication. Potential questions to be addressed include documenting the mating preference behaviors of males and females and the molecular genetic control of these preferences.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Daily tasks can range from observational data collection in specific mating experiments, to chemical work to extract signaling molecules from the crickets, to DNA or RNA extractions to test hypotheses about the molecular variation underlying animal behavior.

Required Skills and Coursework

Classification level for the student is flexible depending on their own prior experience. Although we can provide appropriate training no matter the student's background, it would help to have taken a course in a basic laboratory course such as Bio 1500 or equivalent in high school.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Academic exposure to evolutionary biology would be helpful to the student. Introductory coursework in an evolutionary biology class such as BioEE 1780 or BioNB 2210 would be helpful orientation to our research. However these classes are not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Michelle Smith Michelle Smith Ann S. Bowers Professor Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, College of Arts and Sciences CDER, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Personal Introduction

My research focuses on biology education at the undergraduate level and many members of my lab have a background in the biological sciences. Broadly, my lab studies how undergraduate students learn, what emotions and attitudes they have about their courses, and how instructors can help students during this critical time.

Project Description

We are looking for undergraduate researchers to join an exciting opportunity that will help shape the future of undergraduate biology education. The research project will focus on synthesizing data from peer-reviewed biology education resources and studying how students’ questions and concerns influence their introductory STEM course experiences.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

This research will involve close reading of texts, extracting and synthesizing information from a large number of education resources, and analyzing student survey and interview data.

Required Skills and Coursework

No introductory coursework is required. Because this research involves human subjects, all members of the lab take a brief online course on ethical and responsible conduct related to human subjects research before they are permitted to work with data. A significant portion of this project will involve reading of primary literature and extracting data.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

The most important skills for this project include an interest in participating in an education research community, teamwork, attention to detail, and organization. Familiarity and interest in teaching and learning, basic statistics, and/or qualitative analysis can be helpful. Previous coursework in the life sciences would be helpful, as the material we will be reading ranges from introductory life sciences to various sub disciplines such as microbiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and physiology.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Jed P. Sparks Jed P. Sparks Professor Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Personal Introduction

My name is Jed Sparks and my lab uses stable isotopes and other techniques to study the ecology and evolution of a variety of organisms and ecosystems. We do this to explore things like past environmental conditions, response to global changes and interactions among organisms.

Project Description

This summer we will be using the collections in the Cornell Museum of Vertebrates to explore questions in birds and fishes. These include the effect of hybrid zones of birds in the Midwest United States and exploring the past ecology of fish communities in New York State under environmental stress and climate change. We will approach these questions with a combination of stable isotope and morphological measurements.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Students will sample specimen organisms in the museum for stable isotope analysis. This will include removing fins and feathers from fish. Once collected, students will transition to the Cornell Isotope Laboratory and prepare the samples for measurement on a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. In addition, students will make morphological measurements of organisms using a variety of technologies including CT scanning and assessment of feather color and morphology. Finally, we will work together to analyze the data using specific statistical and modeling techniques. There will be opportunities for students to present their results at a scientific meeting and to continue on beyond the summer to publish their results.

Required Skills and Coursework

The number one requirement is to love to ask questions, have a great attitude and like to work with other people. Being interested in organisms and willing to learn new skills is a must. However, we are will to train anyone on the job and you don't have to have taken any specialized courses or have any prior technical skills.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

It would be helpful to be interested in ecology and environmental biology. This could come from previous courses or through personal interest. If you have a basic understanding of statistics that is super helpful, but not a must.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Samuel Tilsen Samuel Tilsen Professor Linguistics

Personal Introduction

Sam Tilsen is a linguist who specializes in speech production and experimental phonetics; the goal of his research is to understand how language is represented in the mind and how linguistic representations are translated into speech. Helena Aparicio is the director of the Linguistic Meaning (LiMe) Lab in the department of linguistics; her research focuses on understanding what aspects of linguistic meaning are hard-coded as opposed to derived during linguistic interactions.

Project Description

The goal of the study is to better understand how speakers plan and produce sentences when describing dynamic visual scenes. Dr. Aparicio and Dr. Tilsen will jointly train the Nexus scholars in conducting experiments which combine eye tracking and audio recording of speech. Students will learn how to use a research-grade eye tracking system and specialized software for acoustic analysis of speech.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Tasks and duties that students will perform include contributing to the design of stimuli, testing of experiments, conducting experiments, and analyzing audio recordings of speech.

Required Skills and Coursework

Students must have good communication skills and the ability to attend carefully to detail. No specific coursework is required.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Familiarity with computer programming is a plus but not required. Introduction to Linguistics (Ling 1101) is helpful but not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 1

Image of Marten van Schijndel Marten van Schijndel Assistant Professor Cognitive Science Program, Linguistics

Personal Introduction

I work at the intersection of language, psychology, and computer science. I study the understanding of people and AI systems during language processing, especially when they have only received part of a sentence and need to make rapid decisions about what that partial sentence means.

Project Description

Project 1: Multilingual speakers often produce "code-switched language" where a single sentence contains multiple languages, but we understand relatively little about how these multilingual sentences are generated. Using a large collection of code-switched sentences, this project will compare the features of those code-switched sentences to alternative translations that only contain one language to better understand the triggers that lead to code-switching behavior (e.g., changes in information load, ease of expressing certain concepts, etc). Project 2: Humans and modern AI systems are very good at reading a large amount of information and summarizing it, but we understand relatively little about the process by which humans generate summaries and even less about what they consider to be a good summary, and AI systems are simply trained to mimic the style of observed human summaries. This project will study the properties of source and summary document pairs to investigate what makes a summary good or bad to both humans and machines (e.g., emphasizing certain features in exchange for reducing others).

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Project 1: Students will translate code-switched text involving two languages into monolingual versions of both relevant languages. For example, a sentence containing both English and Spanish will need to be translated into a sentence that only contains English and another version that only contains Spanish. Students may also be asked to identify actual monolingual sentences that exhibit similar patterns to code-switch sentences in our dataset. Once we have compiled enough data, students will be trained to perform computational and statistical analyses of the data to identify the features of the sentences that influence code-switching. Project 2: Students will read source and summary document pairs to help align parts of the summary with the source text. For example, given a summary "A man traveled around the world with his dog", the student would need to identify which parts of the source text refer to the man (John, the sailor, he), which to the dog (Fido, he, dog), and which relate to traveling. After the alignment phase, students would help run online studies where online participants would annotate aspects of meaning of the source and summary documents. Finally, students would be trained to conduct computational analyses to detect what features are prioritized over others in good vs bad summaries. Interested students could also run analyses on computational systems to determine what features they prioritize.

Required Skills and Coursework

Project 1: Students will need to be fluent in English and at least one of the following languages: Spanish, Hindi, or Mandarin Chinese. Code-switching tends to occur between highly fluent multilinguals and often co-occurs with slang and jargon, so applicants will need to be highly fluent in the relevant languages to perform the needed translations. No explicit coursework is required. Project 2: Students will need to be highly fluent in English as the project will involve a lot of English reading and relatively subtle judgments of aspects of meaning.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Project 1: Linguistics 1101 or other linguistics courses would be helpful for explaining translation decisions. Students who are able to program in python or R would be able to take part in more of the computational analysis and modeling aspects of the research. For the non-English languages, a native speaker or someone who has lived for multiple years in a country where the non-English language is dominant is preferred. Project 2: Linguistics 1101 or other linguistic courses would be very helpful for identifying and explaining patterns in the data. Students with python programming experience could be more involved in the computational analysis and modeling parts of the research.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 3

Image of Parisa Vaziri Parisa Vaziri Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature & Near Eastern Studies Comparative Literature, Near Eastern Studies, Performing and Media Arts, Society for the Humanities

Personal Introduction

In my work, I draw upon film and media as critical objects through which to think through philosophical questions. In particular, I am interested in how film, as a technology and cultural resource, offers us ways to address philosophical incoherences pertaining to the concepts of history, subjectivity, and racial difference.

Project Description

I am working on a second book project that explores the legacies of trans-Saharan slavery through North African cinema. This project focuses on postcolonial films from Morocco,Egypt,Tunisia, and Algeria that thematize spirit rituals associated with enslaved Africans. The goal of the project is to draw conclusions about forms of popular consciousness about trans-Saharan slavery in the North African postcolonial imagination.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

1- Researching and cataloguing films across Moroccan, Egyptian, Tunisian and Algerian contexts. 2- Watching, subtitling, and translating film titles. 3- Analogizing representations of slavery and enslavement in North African cinema.

Required Skills and Coursework

Students are required to be fluent in at least one dialect of Arabic and have knowledge of formal (Fusha) Arabic (whether through formal training or as a heritage speaker of Arabic).

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Coursework related to translation and/or film analysis would be useful, but not required. Coursework related to language training in Arabic would be useful, but not required.

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of April (Xinzhu) Wei April (Xinzhu) Wei Assistant Professor Computational Biology

Personal Introduction

My research focuses on developing accurate and scalable methods in population and statistical genetics.

Project Description

Problems we currently work on in the lab are 1) continuous space population genetics model 2) new data structure and algorithm suitable for studying millions of genomes, 3) understanding the genetic and phenotypic impact of Neanderthal introgression, 4) understanding the origin and evolution of overlapping genes, and 5) inferring gene conversion events in admixed populations. The project a new undergraduate student will work on would depend on their background and interests, as well as our specific needs next summer.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

1) coding in R/Python or C/C++, bash scripting 2) reading literature 3) interpreting results 4) attending group meetings and presenting at group meetings at the end of summer.

Required Skills and Coursework

CS2110, Knowledge in Genetics through either taking the genetics class or textbook reading, A good understanding of probability distributions, and linear algebra

Helpful Skills and Coursework

C++ (if the student wants to take on an algorithm dev project). Numeric analysis (if the student is interested in theory).

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 4

Image of Michael L Weiss Michael L Weiss Professor Classics, Linguistics, Medieval Studies Program

Personal Introduction

I am a historical linguist working on the Indo-European languages, especially Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Old Irish Tocharian, and Hittite. I am interested particularly in the historical morphology of the IE languages and connections between linguistics and prehistory.

Project Description

The student would help me collect, evaluate, and catalogue bibliography for a project on the prehistory of Ancient Greek.The goal of the research project is to produce a Greek companion to my 2020 book, Outline of the Historical and Comparative Grammar of Latin

Specific tasks associated with the project work

Reading secondary literature, meeting with me on a weekly basis to discuss and evaluate, managing a Zotero bibliography

Required Skills and Coursework

Knowledge of Ancient Greek

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Ling 1101, Ling 3314 or equivalent

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Image of Mariana Federica Wolfner Mariana Federica Wolfner Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow Molecular Biology and Genetics

Personal Introduction

My lab and I use genetic, molecular, and evolutionary methods to understand how eggs begin to develop once fertilized and (separately) how male proteins that accompany sperm trigger changes in females. Most of our experiments are done with fruit flies, but the results are relevant to fertility in all animals, including people, because the processes we study (and many of the molecules) are conserved.

Project Description

We have several project options, that can be tailored to our Nexus Scholar's interests and background. Examples are: using CRISPR to construct a mutation in fruitfly or mosquito genes that are important in their reproduction, using fluorescence or confocal microscopy to determine how such a mutation affects egg and embryo development, testing mutations in male fruitfly proteins for their effects on sperm or on reproduction, analyzing the evolutionary changes in the sequences of some of these genes. We can offer projects that give students experience with genetics, with molecular biology, or with evolutionary analyses - and a project on our egg/embryo studies or in our male-protein studies.

Specific tasks associated with the project work

It depends on the project, but tasks could include performing fruit fly crosses and testing reproductive phenotypes of mutant flies, examining fly eggs or fly-tissues by microscopy, carrying out DNA manipulations to generate plasmids for CRISPR, using molecular biology methods to examine fly proteins, and doing sequence analysis using online tools. Students would also read some relevant scientific papers, attend labmeetings (and present at one at the end of the summer), and interact with others in the lab.

Required Skills and Coursework

Most important: enthusiasm about the science, curiosity, and dedication. Being organized and able to work with others are also essential. If a student has laboratory experience beyond BioG 1500, or with fruit flies (Drosophila), that'd be great but it is not necessary. We can teach them the techniques that they need.

Helpful Skills and Coursework

Some biology background is necessary. At minimum, BioMG1350 and BioMG1500 (and BioEE 1780, for students who want an evolutionary biology project). Further biology coursework, such as genetics or molecular biology, would be great (but that would only be expected for students in their latter years at Cornell).

Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level
Level 2

Support the Nexus Scholars Program

Making a gift to support the Nexus Scholars Program will help to ensure that research opportunities are available to all students, regardless of their financial situation.

If you would like to discuss other opportunities to support undergraduate students in the College, please contact the A&S Development Team.