11 graduate research consultants will work with spring classes

LAWRENCE — This spring, 11 graduate research consultants will pair with instructors in a wide variety of fields to challenge undergraduate students to further develop their research skills through classroom-based projects.

The Graduate Research Consultant (GRC) program, administered by the University of Kansas Center for Undergraduate Research, is one of many initiatives at KU to expand experiential learning opportunities to a larger number of students. It provides $500 to a graduate student who works with a particular course to help design a research or creative project, mentor students and evaluate student learning.  GRCs are expected to work 30 hours over the course of the semester to facilitate the students’ projects. The goal of the program is to enable the instructor to require more demanding research and creative projects while providing more support for the students.

 “Over the last few years, we have seen some really exciting projects through the Graduate Research Consultant program,” said John Augusto, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. “Undergraduates enrolled in these classes are digging through archives, gathering data, reflecting on their creative process and learning how to ask good research questions.”

Instructors and GRCs jointly applied for the awards in December, detailing the types of research and creative activities they wanted to pursue in their classes and the learning outcomes they hope to achieve through these projects. 

Applications for Fall 2016 GRCs will be due July 15. Learn more about the Center for Undergraduate Research or the Graduate Research Consultant Program.

GRC/instructor groups are listed below, along with course information:

Lauren Boddy, (GRC) master’s student in psychology; Tamara Baker and Marsha McCartney (instructors), psychology; a project with PSYC 200: Research Methods in Psychology.

Kaila Colyott (GRC), doctoral student ecology & evolutionary biology; and Jennifer Gleason (instructor), ecology & evolutionary biology; a project with BIOL 652: Comparative Animal Behavior.

Jenny Flinders (GRC), master’s student in education leadership & policy studies; and Kim Warren (instructor), women, gender, & sexuality studies/ history; a project with HIST 319: History, Women & Diversity in the United States.

Marwa Ghazali (GRC), doctoral student in anthropology; Kathryn Rhine and Sandra Grey (instructors), anthropology; a project with ANTH 501: Global Health.

Alexa Goers (GRC), master’s student in geology; and Leigh Stearns (instructor), geology; a project with Geology 351: Environmental Geology.

Caleb Lazaro Moreno (GRC), doctoral student in American studies; and Sherrie Tucker (instructor), American studies; a project with AMS 101: Introduction to American Studies.

Daphne Mayes (GRC), doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology; and Deborah Smith (instructor), ecology & evolutionary biology; a project with Biol 420: Topics: Research in Kansas Native Bees.

Claire Schaeperkoetter (GRC), doctoral student in health, sport, & exercise science; and Brian Gordon (instructor), health, sport, & exercise science; a project with HSES 486: Sport Marketing.

Samer Sarofim (GRC), doctoral student in marketing; and Frank Cabano (instructor), marketing; a project with MKTG 440: Global Marketing.

Simone Savannah (GRC), doctoral student in English; and Leslie Bennett (instructor), theatre; a project with THR 213: Movement I: The Acting Instrument.

Caitlin Zibers (GRC), master's student in urban planning; and Ali Brox (instructor), environmental studies; a project with EVRN 172: Kansas Landscapes Projects.