Project details
I am Learning Scientist who specializes in how undergraduate biology students learn - for the student unfamiliar with the Learning Sciences, think of me like a cognitive psychologist, but one who focuses more holistically on the student, their beliefs, and how students' thinking and learning differs across contexts. I focus specifically on how students learn to reason in neuroscience and physiology. The current project has an existing qualitative data set (i.e., ~50 students' written responses to 4 different writing prompts). The student who joins our group would start by "cleaning" the data set for analysis in a software called Orange (https://orangedatamining.com/). They would meet with me once a week to discuss progress and they would join semi-weekly lab meetings to learn more about the work of other students and projects. The successful student could pursue other aspects of research in the future that would include monetary compensation. Monetary compensation could occur as early as Summer 2022. Academic credit is also possible if it suits the student's needs.
Qualifications
Minimum: the student must manage their time well, work independently, use standard software (Word/Excel), and have a willingness to learn analytic software (Orange).
Beneficial (but not required): a background knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, physiology/neuroscience or some combination of these areas.
Desired (but not required): some knowledge of science education; linguistics, grammar, or rhetoric; computer science (programming); statistics; cognitive science (cognitive linguistics/psychology); assessment; or some combination of any of these fields/interests
Time Commitment
Minimum 5 hours (maximum 10 if the student has greater intellectual interest in the work)
Compensation
To be determined
Start Date
Immediate
Timeline
Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply by
May 1, 2022
How to apply
Email matthew-lira@uiowa.edu.