Participating Faculty Researchers
Students interested in pursuing research may contact a participating faculty member to inquire about this option and if available should submit an electronic Honors Credit Learning Agreement (eHCLA). The eHCLA is an agreement between the James Scholar student and the cooperating faculty member that outlines the expectations for the James Scholar project. The list below provides a short summary of faculty members' research interests. You can click on their name for more information about their research, publications, and contact information.
When contacting a faculty member, remember that they are not obligated to allow you to collaborate on their project and/or they may not have availability within a given semester. Below is an example of an e-mail you might send if you want to participate in a faculty members research:
Dear Professor X,
My name is X and I am a James Scholar in the College of Education. I found information regarding the X research project you are currently conducting on the James Scholar website. This research interests me because (…). Is this project open to James Scholars this semester? If so, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss my participation in further detail. I am available (dates), by e-mail and/or meeting virtually. Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to further conversation regarding your research!
Karin Jensen
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Affiliate, Educational Psychology
Karin Jensen focuses her research in engineering education, particularly around undergraduate student mental health and mentorship of engineering faculty in engineering education research.
Jensen invites scholars to assist with NSF Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER). This project seeks to study the mentorship relationships of engineering faculty and engineering education researchers who are participating in the NSF RIEF program. The project strives to identify best practices for these mentoring relationships, as well as develop resources and events to facilitate growth of scholars in engineering education. Scholars would work with the research team to review interview transcripts and code these transcripts to identify emerging themes. Scholars would review the literature on mentorship, particularly to learn about the cognitive apprenticeship model. Scholars would also contribute to drafting conference papers and journal articles. Estimated scholar time commitment is 5-10 hours per week, including regular meetings with the research team.
Ali Lewis
Director, University Primary School
pedagogy, risk-taking, play, social emotional well being, and inquiry work.
James Scholars work with the staff, children, and possibly even families at University Primary School, the Preschool-5th Grade Lab School for the College of Education located at The Children's Research Center here on campus. Projects will be co-developed alongside school faculty and children, using observation, artifacts, and interviews to develop understandings and provisional theories. James Scholars who work well by taking initiative and receiving guidance rather than directives are more successful in research projects. Time spent in reflective discussions with intellectual puzzling and debate, resulting in small actions to better the educational experience for the community, is the desired result of research work.