Students undertaking a for-credit research assistantship have an opportunity to deepen their research skills, while sustaining a more advanced research project in a specific disciplinary area. Research assistants may earn one unit of academic credit (on a P/NP basis) for the completion of at least 45 hours of work.
Faculty interested in recruiting research assistants for a specific semester must submit their call to the Faculty Support Office by the designated deadline. Once the call is approved, all JCU degree-seeking students are notified and invited to apply via the online Student Research Assistant Application Form, which requires a CV and a statement of interest.
The sponsoring faculty member reviews all applications and selects eligible candidates (multiple students may be chosen). All applicants are informed of the outcome of their application. Only the applications approved by the faculty member are forwarded to the relevant university offices for processing. Once appointments are finalized, both faculty and selected students receive confirmation from the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Note: Visiting students are not eligible for research assistantships.
If you’re interested in a for-credit research assistantship, check out the current calls posted at the bottom of this page.
To apply, submit the Student Research Assistant Application Form along with your CV and a one-page statement of interest by the specified deadline.
Spring 2026 Application Window: October 20 – November 7
If selected, you will receive a confirmation email from the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs within ten days of the application deadline. The Center for Career Services will then assist you with the necessary administrative steps. Upon fulfilling all requirements, your appointment will be finalized by the Registrar’s Office. You and your sponsoring professor will be kept informed throughout the process.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the Dean of Academic Affairs at [email protected].
Academic field: Art history
Research topic: 1980s and 1990s art archival research
Position title: Curatorial Assistant
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Assess, scan and inventory archival materials (invitation cards, photos, letters, artwork) relating to art of the 1980s and 90s.
Sponsoring professor: Cornelia Lauf
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Weekly meeting as per student and professor's agreed-upon schedule, in which materials are collated in preparation of a guest seminar at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, and a publication to be designed by artist Dennis Balk. Publishers will be identified and publication pitches sent.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Excel inputting, critical and aesthetic assessment, scanning, pre-publication preparation.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Pre-professional preparation for curatorial or editorial work in contemporary art. Expansion of network, international framework, critical assessment, collaboration. Useful for students in fields ranging from art and journalism to art history.
Academic field: Combination of Management and Marketing
Research topic: Sustainability washing: brand risks and consequences for companies
Position title: Sustainability washing: brand risks and consequences for companies
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This study contributes to fighting sustainability washing practices (greenwashing and social washing), by providing a complete taxonomy of these practices, and the risks that companies face when they adopt these deceiving activities. The paper is already in a draft form, with a first taxonomy and investigation on brand and corporate consequences taking place when these practices go viral. The Research Assistant will support in updating the taxonomy of sustainability washing practices with the most recent literature, and complete the analysis of consequences, by severity of deceiving practices.
Sponsoring professor: Anna Fiorentino
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The RA will support on two fronts:
The RA will also collect emerging evidence on the new phenomena of green hushing - when companies deliberately downplay or stay silent about their sustainability efforts to avoid criticism or accusations of greenwashing.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The Research assistant will provide the following end products:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The professor will provide coaching on how to conduct a literature review and how to conduct research among external bodies; will support the RA in identifying the most relevant authorities and how to scout for key documents. Throughout the process, the professor will guide the RA to perform research and analyses effectively and successfully, and how to translate data into insights!
Academic field: Management/Finance
Research topic: Gender, Leadership, and Financial Decision-Making: How CFOs deal with Risk, Growth, and Long-Term Value Creation
Position title: Gender, Leadership, and Financial Decision-Making
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has evolved from that of a financial controller to a strategic leader influencing the direction, culture, and sustainability of the firm. Modern CFOs are responsible not only for financial accuracy but also for capital allocation, investment strategy, and long-term value creation. While research on gender in executive leadership has grown, the CFO function remains underexplored. Existing studies mainly provide quantitative evidence that firms with female CFOs tend to exhibit lower leverage, less aggressive financial reporting, or reduced acquisition activity. However, such studies tell us what differs, not why. This research seeks to understand how gender and leadership style interact to shape financial decision-making processes — particularly how male and female CFOs perceive and manage risk, growth, and strategic investment decisions, and how they define financial success and value creation over time.
Sponsoring professor: Barbara Sveva Magnanelli
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Conduct interviews to CFOs, develop the transcripts and work on them through a qualitative analysis to gather qualitative data.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: A qualitative, exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews with male and female CFOs of for-profit companies.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Interacting with C-level will develop interpersonal skills; analyzing data will develop technical skills. Thus, the students at the end will have gained more skills and tools that will enhance their knowledge and preparation for the job-market.
Academic field: International Business, Business, Marketing, Management
Research topic: CSR in International franchise chains - The case of Italy
Position title: CSR in International franchise chains - The case of Italy
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The aim of the research project is to explore the implementation of CSR in franchise chains in France, UK, and Italy. More specifically, the research objectives are to explore how franchisors involve their franchisees in the global CSR activities and standardized/adapted implementation in host countries. Research assistants will be responsible for the conduction of 10-15 qualitative interviews (in total) with franchisors and franchisees in the fast-food sector in Italy. The tasks of the research assistants include among others contacting the Italian franchisees, organizing online interviewees, conduct the interviews, transcribe the interviews. For this project we are looking for 4-6 research assistants. Bi-lingual speakers (Italian, English) is an advantage.
Sponsoring professor: Maria Jell-Ojobor, Alessandro Feri
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The tasks of the research assistants include among others contacting the Italian franchisees, organizing online interviewees, conduct the interviews, transcribe the interviews, conduct literature review and analysis.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Knowledge about franchising; capstone thesis topic; contacts to franchise companies; knowledge about qualitative data collection; organizational skills; project management skills.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills:
Academic field: Business / Public Health Policy
Research topic: Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs), Marketing Strategies, and Public Health Outcomes
Position title: Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs), Marketing Strategies, and Public Health Outcomes
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The project will investigate the relationship between industrial food (commonly categorized as ultra-processed foods, UPFs), marketing strategies, and public health outcomes. The aim is to assess whether and to what extent there is a correlation between the diffusion of UPFs and health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. The research assistant will support literature review, data collection, and analysis of case studies, focusing on how food marketing practices influence consumer perceptions and behaviors. Duties will include:
Sponsoring professor: Pietro Paganini
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The student will dedicate time to weekly tasks, including: Reviewing and summarizing scientific and policy articles. Mapping key marketing strategies used by the food industry. Gathering statistical data on public health trends and food consumption. Comparing national and international case studies (EU, US, WHO reports). Supporting the preparation of a research memo with findings.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the assistantship, the student will deliver: An annotated bibliography of 20–25 relevant sources. A database/spreadsheet summarizing consumption and health indicators. A short analytical report (5–7 pages) outlining correlations between UPF marketing and public health outcomes. A short presentation (slides) summarizing findings for class or conference use.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The project will allow the student to strengthen essential research skills, including critical analysis of scientific literature, data collection and organization, and policy evaluation. They will gain experience working with both qualitative (marketing strategies, policy texts) and quantitative (health statistics, consumption data) sources. The student will also develop communication and synthesis skills by transforming raw data into a coherent analytical report. This assistantship will prepare the student for advanced academic research, as well as for careers in public policy, business, or health-related fields where evidence-based analysis is fundamental.
Academic field: Organization Management Theory (OMT); Entrepreneurship (ENT); Business Ethics (BE)
Research topic: Modern Slavery in Agriculture: The role of gang masters in labor exploitation in the agricultural supply chain
Position title: Organization Management Theory and Entrepreneurship
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Research Assistant position focused on building a qualitative database for an explorative research project. Tasks include collecting and organizing archival data, scanning and coding interviews, reports, and journal articles, and researching online videos and digital sources. The role supports systematic data management and analysis to advance the project’s objectives.
Sponsoring professor: Riccardo Maiolini
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The work will involve:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Mentorship and Skill Development This position offers opportunities for mentorship and advising, including guidance on research projects, theses, and independent studies. The role provides coaching in academic writing, methodological approaches, and career development, while fostering professional and ethical growth. Research Involvement Research assistants will gain hands-on experience in data collection, coding, literature reviews, and qualitative/quantitative analysis. Opportunities may also include presenting at academic conferences and contributing to co-authored publications, ensuring meaningful engagement with the broader research community.
Academic field: Gender Studies, Political Science, Digital Humanities, History
Research topic: The intersections of political violence and gender-based violence in Northern Ireland in times of peace
Position title: The intersections of political violence and gender-based violence in Northern Ireland in times of peace
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Student will update and maintain database that follows newspapers in Ireland and Northern Ireland to track intersections of gender-based violence and political violence contributing to a database, identifying threads and subtopics, track organizations doing work on restorative justice, transformative justice and transitional justice, student will work on mapping interactions of gender-based violence and political violence in post-conflict Northern Ireland using Tableau Public, a data visualization platform.
Sponsoring professor: Tara Keenan
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Student will:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Research paper on a subarea of student-based interest for the project, dataset for an interactive map of interaction between gender-based violence and political violence.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Student will learn historical and political science research methods, database management, digital humanities tools, and research and writing skills
Academic field: Communication and Media Studies/Environmental Studies
Research topic: Media and the Environment: Researching the relationship between media, environment, and climate change
Position title: Media and the Environment
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The purpose of this research is to gather and organize materials related to media and the environment and climate, and to organize them for a web resource.
Sponsoring professor: Antonio Lopez
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The student will perform a variety of tasks for the professor to assist him in researching and creating resources for an ecomedia literacy resource hub. In addition to basic research tasks, the student will learn bibliography management software and the digital humanities tool, Padlet. The student and professor will set fixed hours during the week, but most research may be done independently. The student is expected to work 3.5 hours a week on the tasks outlined below.
Research tasks:
Administrative tasks:
Skills to be acquired:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student is expected to keep a research diary throughout the semester. At the end of the semester the student will write a short summary (two pages) of tasks completed and what was learned during the assistantship.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will learn important academic research skills and will develop practical skills for how to manage complex bibliographies with database management tools. The professor will also direct the assistant to important background materials in order understand the nature of the research project.
Academic field: Gender Studies, Political and Social Sciences, Communication and Media Studies
Research topic: Feminist practices in Rome
Position title: Feminist practices in Rome
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Prof. Diamanti is working on a research project on feminist practices and the urban night in Rome that will include a book and an exhibit. The project is part of the wider Night Studies Network of which she is an active member, co-leading the Media & the Night research axis (see short project description). The research aims to map out feminist movements that engage with the urban night in Rome, from the 1970's to today. Particularly, students will work on compiling literature reviews and annotated bibliographies of academic works on nocturnal protests and demonstrations by feminist movements, archival research on press coverage and the movements' informational practices, video editing and preparation of material for an upcoming public exhibit to be held in Trastevere. Students will be assigned tasks according to their background in gender studies, communication and media studies, sociology and political science.
Sponsoring professor: Eleonora Diamanti
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026 and possibly Fall 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The professor will distribute assistantship roles to students in accordance to their background and interests. Meetings will be held regularly to supervise the students' work and update on the RA advancements.
RA regular duties:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Particularly, students will help with:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This work will provide the student research assistant(s) with valuable “hands on” experience with:
Academic field: Economics
Research topic: Population Change: Effects on the Environment, Society, and Economy
Position title: Migration and Demography
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Population change, driven by factors such as birth rates, death rates, migration, partnership relations, and aging, has profound implications for human societies and the environment. Over the past century, the world has witnessed unprecedented population growth, leading to global shifts in demographics and dominant urbanization, while influencing various facets of life. Understanding the effects of population change on the environment, society, and economy is crucial for sustainable development. Population aging is the most relevant demographic phenomenon of the 21st century in the developed world. The demographic transition to low mortality and low fertility, and the associated aging and shrinking of the working-age population, is one of the most dominant challenges for the prosperous future of many countries. The expected changes threaten the functioning of labor markets, the adaptability of societies, and the sustainability of pension and health care systems and public budgets. The old-age dependency ratio has already started to rise, while the working-age population has started to decline, processes that will continue into the next future. Therefore, methods and policies to mitigate the challenges of aging have become increasingly relevant for researchers and policy makers.
Sponsoring professor: Sergio Scicchitano
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Data entry, data analysis, assistance in writing policy briefs (under supervision).
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Brief reports about the findings that will be generated.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will be involved in data analysis for business, economics, and policy. The student will be involved in writing drafts of empirical academic paper and empirical policy brief.
Academic field: Economics
Research topic: The MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme
Position title: The MENA Countries
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Our research aims to examine competitiveness of MENA countries The MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme is the economic pillar of the wider MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development. Its activities are organized around six, mutually-reinforcing work streams:
Since 2005, more than thirty flagship reviews and hundreds of capacity-building events have translated these themes into concrete reforms, from updated FDI laws in Jordan to SME-finance diagnostics across North Africa. The Programme’s reliance on OECD evidence standards makes it an ideal playground for a capstone involving students of econometrics. The research will be developed in co-partnership with the OECD, in particular with the Dr. Raffaele Trapasso, Senior Advisor, MENA Competitiveness Programme - Middle East and Africa Division Global Relations and Co-operation at the OECD.
Sponsoring professor: Sergio Scicchitano
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Data entry, data analysis, assistance in writing policy briefs (under supervision).
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Brief reports about the findings that will be generated.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will be involved in data analysis for business, economics, and policy. The student will be involved in writing drafts of empirical academic paper and empirical policy brief.
Academic field: Philosophy
Research topic: Philosophers and the Market
Position title: Philosophers and the Market
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: My project consists in writing a book on the relationship some philosophers have established with economic contexts, by analyzing how economy shapes thinking and behavior. The book is still in the making and I need research on related publications.
Sponsoring professor: Brunella Antomarini
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The student should read and discuss scholarly articles I will provide, or I can ask him/her to provide, about the related materials. We can communicate by email, and we might meet in person or online once every one or two weeks. The first meeting would be an explanation of the topic and a general analysis of how the book means to address it. On each meeting we analyze selected pages and references, possibly adding new ones. By the end of the semester the student will have completed the reading and delivered her/his conclusion about each article analyzed and will have learned how to do scholarly research.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the semester, the student is expected to have analyzed the submitted articles and texts, the amount of which will be appropriate to the number of hours. This practice will give the student formal skills for writing academic texts as well as organizational skills of an academic.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Close reading and discussing the topics with me can develop skills for writing scholarly texts. The work undertaken by the research assistant will be acknowledged appropriately in the publication.
Academic field: Classical studies, Roman history, Roman Archaeology, Digital Humanities, Computer Science
Research topic: Advertising in Ancient Pompeii: Visual Marketing for Food and Drink Outlets.
Position title: Research Assistants on Ancient Roman Advertisement
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This project supports the research necessary to write an article on the visual advertising methods used by outlets selling ready-to-eat food and drinks in ancient Pompeii (e.g. snack bars, restaurants). Starting from a master list of all Pompeian bars, the RAs will collect images and plans of their facades and bar counters, gather scholarly references, and acquire or scans all the relevant data. The bibliographic references will be also saved in a Zotero group dedicated to this project. The RA team will help build, populate, and maintain a research database that organizes all this information. The RAs will also assist with drafting and revising sections of the article (figure lists, tables, captions, notes, bibliography).
Sponsoring professor: Massimo Betello
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: This research assistantship supports a faculty project focused on visual advertising in ancient Pompeii, particularly in food and drink establishments such as snack bars and restaurants. Beginning with a master list of all known Pompeian bars, research assistants will help gather and organize visual and textual evidence related to their façades and bar counters. This includes collecting images, architectural plans, and scholarly references, and ensuring that all data is properly scanned, cataloged, and linked. They will also oversee a Zotero group library dedicated to the project, importing and cleaning citations, attaching PDFs or scans where permitted, and ensuring that bibliographic records are synchronized with the database. To manage this material, the RAs will contribute to the creation and maintenance of a research database, grounded in a “non-reinventing the wheel” approach. Rather than building a structure from scratch, research assistants will begin by scouting existing scholarly databases and digital humanities projects available online, identifying models that can be adapted to suit the specific needs of this study. Their task will involve evaluating the architecture, the ease of use, and metadata conventions used in comparable projects. Research assistants will support the writing process by helping revise selected sections of the article and contributing to its overall clarity and consistency. Regular biweekly check-ins with the professor will provide guidance, address challenges, and help set priorities throughout the semester.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: Complete collection of images, architectural plans, and scholarly references related to the façades and bar counters of Pompeian bars. These materials will be properly scanned and cataloged in a common drive. Bibliographic references will be imported, cleaned, and saved in a Zotero group library dedicated to the project. Creation of a research database using models adapted from existing digital humanities projects. The database will contain all the information collected about the Pompeian bars.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The RA will gain hands-on experience in finding, evaluating, and collecting research data about Pompeian bars from accessible archives and scholarly sources. The RA will learn how to use Zotero to manage citations and maintain clear, consistent bibliographic records. Through the process of building a database, the RA will develop skills in organizing complex information and adapting existing digital tools to new research needs. Participation in the drafting and revision of the article will offer practice in academic writing and collaborative editing. Regular meetings with the professor will help foster accountability and support the development of strong research habits.
Academic field: History
Research topic: The First World War
Position title: Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief, First World War Studies Journal
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: You will assist the editor-in-chief with promoting the journal First World War Studies through researching events, commemorations or current affairs which can be linked to articles previously published by the journal, as well as researching the journal's published record to identify suitable materials to promote via social media.
Sponsoring professor: Vanda Wilcox
Professor's e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant's regular duties: The research assistant will conduct independent research to identify core events, people and places relating to history, literature and culture which they will cross-reference with the journal First World War Studies's published record. Regular in-person or online meetings will provide guidance and feedback.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant's 45 hours of work: Complete a database comprising key events from the First World War as well as birth/death dates of key historical figures which will be used to develop ongoing social media strategies for the journal First World War Studies; compile weekly sample social media posts which highlight this research.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Student will acquire independent research and fact-checking skills; will learn about the organization and practice of academic journal publishing and about public-facing work in the humanities via social media. The student will also hone their skills in writing short, concise texts which communicate complex ideas.
Academic field: Contemporary History/Social Sciences
Research topic: History of Rome Since 1870
Position title: Editorial Assistant for Book Project
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The Research Assistant will help the two professors to complete the editing of a handbook on Modern Rome. Duties will include copy editing text, cross-referencing chapters and checking citations and bibliography.
Sponsoring professor: Vanda Wilcox and Isabella Clough Marinaro
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Read 3 draft chapters a week for typos and strange wording; check in-text citations and reference list; cross-reference to other chapters when appropriate. Meet the professors once every two weeks to discuss progress.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student will have helped to edit and finalize approximately 30 chapters.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The research assistant(s) will refine their academic writing and citation skills, while learning a wealth of information about the recent history of Rome. They will also learn insights into the process of academic publishing.
Academic field: Philosophy
Research topic: Ethics, Aesthetics, Politics, Culture and Transhumanism
Position title: Philosophical Project on Beauty and Power
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Research Assistant to support a philosophical research project examining the intricate relationship between beauty and power. This project explores historical, cultural, and theoretical perspectives on aesthetics, political influence, and social dynamics. The successful candidate will play a key role in collecting, organizing, and analyzing relevant sources, contributing to a rigorous and comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Sponsoring professor: Stefan Lorenz Sorgner
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The mentoring plan supports the RA in developing research, analytical, and interdisciplinary skills for a project on beauty and power. Initial training covers project objectives, key philosophical debates, research methods, source evaluation, and citation practices. Weekly meetings provide guidance, feedback, and discussion of findings, fostering critical thinking and independent analysis. The RA will engage with texts, synthesize ideas, and explore interdisciplinary perspectives, gradually taking on more responsibility, including bibliographic organization and summaries. Periodic reviews assess progress, skill growth, and contributions, ensuring the RA gains confidence, academic experience, and a deeper understanding of philosophical inquiry.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the semester, the Research Assistant will have gained substantial experience in researching, analyzing, and synthesizing philosophical texts on beauty and power, including interdisciplinary perspectives. The RA will have contributed to comprehensive literature reviews, organized research materials, and prepared summaries and conceptual notes, supporting the project’s broader goals. The work completed this semester provides a foundation for the professor’s next step: developing a book-length manuscript aimed at public outreach. The manuscript will translate complex philosophical ideas into accessible insights, bridging academic scholarship and broader audiences, with the RA’s contributions informing both structure and content.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The assistantship provides the Research Assistant with hands-on experience in conducting philosophical research, enhancing critical reading, source evaluation, and synthesis skills. By collecting and organizing primary and secondary texts on beauty and power, the RA develops precision, attention to detail, and effective knowledge management. Engagement with interdisciplinary perspectives — such as art history, political theory, and cultural studies — builds analytical flexibility and conceptual integration. Regular feedback and discussions with the principal researcher foster independent thinking, argument assessment, and clear written communication. Gradually taking responsibility for research tasks strengthens project management, problem-solving abilities, and professional experience, forming a solid foundation for future scholarship.
Academic field: Computer Science
Research topic: Mobile/web app development, inclusive education, AI-agents (LLMs), Natural language processing
Position title: Tech for Inclusion: A Mobile App for Communication in Education
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: For many children with speech or language difficulties (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder), everyday communication can be frustrating. They may understand the world around them but struggle to express their thoughts and feelings. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools help bridge this gap, offering new ways to connect through images and symbols. AAC is a great tool for educators and families supporting children with language difficulties. This project aims to design and prototype a mobile app that turns spoken or written sentences into interactive AAC stories, displayed on a phone or tablet. These stories will help young children communicate more naturally with parents, teachers, and peers. By working on this project, you’ll combine creativity, empathy, and technology to make communication more inclusive. Depending on your interests, you may also experiment with modern Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance the app’s language understanding and storytelling features. It’s a chance to apply your coding skills to something that can genuinely make a difference in people’s lives.
Sponsoring professor: Marco Pascucci
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The student will work on designing, coding, and testing the mobile app prototype, focusing on user-friendly interfaces and effective visual storytelling for communication. They will explore ways to integrate AAC, and, if interested, use AI or LLMs to enhance the app’s language capabilities. Throughout the project, the student will refine their programming skills while gaining insight into inclusive education and assistive technology.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student shall develop a Proof of Concept app. As a final project, the student may be asked to present the results to other students and faculty members.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Prof. Marco Pascucci will assist the student throughout the development process, providing guidance on setup and understanding of the framework, and discussing the development process during scheduled checkpoints.
Academic field: Computer Science
Research topic: Web application development, music, maths, scientific communication, data visualization
Position title: Code the Music of Mathematics
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: Have you ever wondered how mathematics can create music? In this project, you’ll design and build an interactive web app inspired by the recent work of Prof. Sara Munday (John Cabot University) on “Generating Musical Scales with Number Theory.” Your goal is to bring this fascinating connection between music theory and mathematics to life through an engaging, multimedia web experience. Using the power of modern web technologies, you’ll create a graphical interface that both visualizes and plays the mathematical patterns behind musical scales. As part of this project, you will: - Generate sounds and visuals that illustrate how math shapes music - Develop real coding skills, including hands-on experience with AI-assisted programming tools - Explore the intersection of number theory, music theory, and creative technology This is a great opportunity for students interested in web development, creative coding, math, or digital art to work on a project that’s both technically challenging and artistically rewarding.
Sponsoring professor: Marco Pascucci and Sara Munday
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The student will design, code, and test features for the desired web app. They will be given tasks to solve and will regularly update the code base and report on the state of the art of the development in regular check-points.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student shall develop a well-formatted and fully functional web app. As a final project, the student may be asked to present the results to other students and faculty members.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Prof. Marco Pascucci will assist the student throughout the development process, providing guidance on setup and understanding of the framework, and discussing the development process during scheduled checkpoints. The student may refer to Prof. Sara Munday for specific questions related to her research work.
Academic field: International law
Research topic: Contemporary forms of slavery
Position title: Contemporary Forms of Slavery
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The research assistant will provide support in the editorial work connected with the publication of an edited collection and with the organization of a conference.
Sponsoring professor: Silvia Scarpa
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026 Semester
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The research assistant will help with various tasks related to the editorial process for an edited collection in the field of contemporary slavery, human trafficking and forced labor and with the organization of an event connected with it. Main tasks will include: research aimed at identifying relevant scholars and strands of research in this field; help in the selection of conference abstracts; support in the review of conference papers; work on a specific topic for consideration and eventual inclusion in the conference program. Students who already attended the courses PL/LAW 325, PL/LAW 325H or PL/LAW 420 will receive special consideration.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the research assistantship, the student assistant will have worked on a specific topic of their choice for the purpose of writing a paper that could eventually be presented at the academic conference on contemporary slavery, human trafficking and forced labor that will be held in the Spring 2026 or Summer I semester, will have helped with the organization of the conference, and will have supported the editorial process for the collection of chapters of the edited collection of papers that will be presented at the above-mentioned event.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The research process will allow the research assistant to refine their critical thinking skills and to acquire a solid and in-depth knowledge in the field of international law and contemporary forms of slavery, with specific support being provided in conducting research work and in the drafting of a research paper.
Academic field: Psychology
Research topic: HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination among People Living with HIV
Position title: HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination among People Living with HIV
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This research project investigates resilience and internalized stigma among individuals with vertically acquired HIV in Brazil, using data from two waves (2019-2024) of the People Living with HIV Stigma Index. The study combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to (1) compare resilience and stigma across age groups, (2) examine the association between resilience and internalized stigma, and (3) contextualize findings through thematic analysis of narratives. The research assistant will contribute to: Performing statistical analyses (e.g., ANOVA, correlations) on resilience and stigma measures.Supporting qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Conducting bibliographic searches and assisting in writing scientific articles in collaboration with graduate students from a national research network.
Sponsoring professor: Angelo Brandelli Costa
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The assistant will actively participate in mixed-methods data analysis, including quantitative statistical tests and qualitative coding. Additional responsibilities include literature review and drafting sections of a scientific article, working closely with master’s and doctoral students in Psychology from partner universities across Brazil.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the assistantship, the student will have: Conducted statistical analyses comparing resilience and stigma across age groups. Contributed to thematic coding of qualitative data. Participated in bibliographic searches and co-authored the initial draft of a scientific article.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This project offers a unique opportunity to develop advanced research skills in mixed-methods design, statistical software and qualitative analysis tools. The assistant will gain experience in academic writing and collaborative research, strengthening their ability to conduct interdisciplinary studies and prepare for future publications or graduate-level research.
Academic field: Criminology
Research topic: Mapping contemporary Italian criminology
Position title: Mapping contemporary Italian criminology
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The research assistant will do bibliographical searches in English and Italian and, if necessary, visit libraries and archives in Rome. They will meet with the professor every two weeks to discuss their findings and will add to an existing database to store the key information. A working knowledge of Italian and good IT skills would be a huge advantage.
Sponsoring professor: Isabella Clough Marinaro
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Locate and read 4-5 journal articles per week and update the database with key findings. Meet the professor for an hour once every two weeks to discuss developments.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The student will have done at least 2 hours of bibliographical searches per week and updated the database with their findings, as well as meeting with the professor every two weeks to discuss the emerging patterns in the literature.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: The student will refine their research, citation and organization skills as well as learning to think critically about scholarly debates in sociology/criminology.
Academic field: Psychology
Research topic: Compassion, Compassion focused Interventions, Heart rate Variability
Position title: Psychophysiology & Compassion Studies
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: My research examines the connection between compassion, motivational systems, and psychophysiology, including a meta-analysis on compassion and psychedelics, physiological activations of motivational systems, and psychophysiological outcomes of Compassion-Focused Therapy and CF-EMDR.
Research Assistant Duties:
Sponsoring professor: Nicola Petrocchi
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Fall 2025
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The Research Assistant will support the success of ongoing and future research projects by contributing to literature review, data collection, analysis, and project coordination.
Core Duties
Literature & Documentation: Conduct literature reviews, synthesize findings, and maintain organized reference databases. Contribute to reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the 45-hour period, the Research Assistant is expected to:
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: I am committed to creating a supportive environment to help the student develop strong research skills through:
Academic field: Sociology, Digital Media Production, Creative Writing, Studio Art, Marketing and Communications
Research topic: Visual storytelling and religious diversity: producing a short documentary film about how religious diversity and dialogue in today’s world.
Position title: Religion Stories Short Documentary Film Project
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: This project expands Religion Stories, a six-part web series about young adults and religion, into a 15–20-minute short documentary designed for international film festival submission (Religion Today Film Festival, Northern Italy, April 2026). The short will creatively weave together six existing episodes (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Atheism) using an original three-act transformation framework and experimental visual storytelling techniques such as stop motion, collage, and mixed media.
Research Assistants will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team to log footage, analyze visual motifs, draft text intertitles, design visuals, and participate in the creative editing and outreach process. Work will integrate sociological insight, creative writing, digital production, studio art, and marketing to produce a polished festival-ready film and promotional materials.
Sponsoring professor: Dr. Jenn Lindsay
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: Research assistants will be assigned tasks according to their goals and strengths, and work collaboratively with other team members on a regular basis. Altogether, the Research Assistants will:
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: By the end of the term, students will have:
Deliverables will culminate in a festival-ready final cut and a press kit draft (synopsis, visuals, team bios).
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: This project bridges academic research and public scholarship by transforming sociological and religious insights into accessible visual narratives. Students will gain:
By contributing to the film’s creation, students will learn to translate research findings and human stories into engaging, socially conscious media with real-world impact.
Contact with the mentoring professor will be on a weekly basis, sometimes multiple times weekly.
Past assistants have reported skill development in the following areas: presentations skills, creativity and time management, communication and teamwork skills, problem-solving, organizational skills, research, and seeing how the indie film business really works.
Academic field: Neuropsychology
Research topic: Acute brain injury
Position title: Acute brain injury
Brief description of project and research assistant duties: The project concerns patients' experiences in hospital consequent to acute brain injury (stroke). We have access to hundreds of sets of notes, describing patients' symptoms and treatment during their initial stay in hospital, plus a range of clinical brain images for the same patients. The data are complex and difficult to interpret, as well as being identifiable: i.e., they include personal information that could be used to identify individual patients. The project aims to process these data into a fully and irrevocably anonymized dataset, then use it to explain patients' experiences in hospital to where and how much brain damage they have suffered.
Sponsoring professor: Thomas Hope
Professor’s e-mail address: [email protected], [email protected]
Semester of assistantship: Spring 2026
Full description of research assistant’s regular duties: The regular duty will be verifying details extracted from clinical notes, and from the meta-data associated with the brain images. The research assistant will also assist in conducting statistical analyses relating the brain data to variables extracted from the notes. Other duties will depend on the student's interests.
Description of the work to be completed by the end of the research assistant’s 45 hours of work: The core of the work is to curate the clinical dataset, balancing variables retained against their utility and the potential for re-identification. This is a core feature of data collection and curation in this area, so will be useful experience for those interested in the field. If we can get to a properly validated and curated dataset, the research assistant(s) will also engage in statistical analyses relating the variables together - and in writing up any interesting/publishable results.
Statement addressing how the faculty research will help the student research assistant develop their research skills: Interpreting medical records is no simple task on its own, and requires some understanding of the underlying condition(s) being treated, which the professor will provide. Additionally, it requires some grasp of what might be done with the extracted information, and why, which will also be taught as part of the project. The crucial skill, here, is the interpretation of qualitative, inconsistent data in consistent, quantitative terms: this skill is consistently significant in most areas of psychology. Additionally, the student(s) will gain some understanding / experience of the use of statistics and machine learning in clinical research.
