Summary List of Offerings by UMB School
School of Law
Project 1: Working Down on the Farm: Human Resources Strategies for Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Operations
Paul Goeringer, JD, MS, Senior Faculty Specialist and Extension Legal Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 2: Legal and Policy Frameworks for Environmental Laws in Agriculture
Paul Goeringer, JD, MS, Senior Faculty Specialist and Extension Legal Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 3: Improving Students’ Historical Thinking Through a Research Practice Partnership
Susan De La Paz, PhD, Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 4: Landowner Survey on Wildlife Management
Luke Macaulay, PhD, Wildlife Management Specialist-Agent, University of Maryland Wye Research and Education Center, Queenstown
Project 5: Developing a Redemptive Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Post-Incarceration Resiliency
Amy Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
School of Medicine
Project 5: Developing a Redemptive Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Post-Incarceration Resiliency
Amy Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 6: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health
Jessica Fish, PhD, Assistant Professor, Family Science, Deputy Director for Research and Evaluation, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, Faculty Affiliate, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park
School of Nursing
Project 5: Developing a Redemptive Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Post-Incarceration Resiliency
Amy Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 6: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health
Jessica Fish, PhD, Assistant Professor, Family Science, Deputy Director for Research and Evaluation, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, Faculty Affiliate, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 7: Bullying, Discrimination, and Youth Mental Health
Cixin Wang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park
School of Pharmacy
Project 5: Developing a Redemptive Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Post-Incarceration Resiliency
Amy Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 6: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health
Jessica Fish, PhD, Assistant Professor, Family Science, Deputy Director for Research and Evaluation, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, Faculty Affiliate, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 7: Bullying, Discrimination, and Youth Mental Health
Cixin Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park
School of Social Work
Project 3: Improving Students’ Historical Thinking Through a Research Practice Partnership
Susan De La Paz, PhD, Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 5: Developing a Redemptive Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Post-Incarceration Resiliency
Amy Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 6: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health
Jessica Fish, PhD, Assistant Professor, Family Science, Deputy Director for Research and Evaluation, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, Faculty Affiliate, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 7: Bullying, Discrimination, and Youth Mental Health
Cixin Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park
Project 8: Preparing Human Trafficking Survivors to Lead Self-Sustaining Lives: Research that identifies best strategies for creating a Job Placement Pipeline and curating a database of targeted potential employers based on diverse labor market segments
Heidi Alvarez, Director of Economic Empowerment, at the University of Maryland SAFE Center, College Park
About the UM Scholars Program
Funded by the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State
Overview: The UM Scholars Program is a mentored, educational experience designed to inform and enrich students’ knowledge, above and beyond a set course of study. Through the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State(http://mpower.maryland.edu) – a formal collaboration between the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park – the UM Scholars program taps into the complementary curriculum strengths of UMB and UMCP and connects students from each campus with faculty mentors at the opposite campus. Students expand their awareness, enlighten perceived career choices and/or round out professional goals.
Terms: The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership provides the funding for the program.
- Multiple UMB student positions have been funded for Summer 2023.
- UMB students receive $6000 for a 400-hour project conducted over a 10-week period in Spring/Summer, mutually defined and agreed upon by the student and mentor. The default schedule is from May 30-August 4, 2023.
- At the end of the term, UMB students write and/or present a short white paper on their completed project to the MPower Joint Steering Council on/about September 1.
- All research is designed to be conducted at University of Maryland, College Park locations. This work may be offered via a remote capacity and may be conducted online, through email, by phone, by video conference, or, via a hybrid approach that involves both in-person and remote work. Each project specifies the intended location and delivery method.
Selection Process: UM Scholars involves a competitive selection process to gauge student capability, interests, and the potential to expand from the research experience. A matching process that includes student/mentor interviews ensures the best fit between mentors, students, and projects and as well as a quality experience for all parties. In addition, it establishes a defined project with clear expectations and deliverables. The faculty mentors who lead and mentor students also are selected based on the quality and relevance of their projects and how they envision the project will enhance the student experiences. Faculty mentors interview student applicants and make his/her selections on the best candidate match to the project and to the mentor.
For More Information: Contact: Adrianne Arthur, Assistant Vice Provost, University of Maryland Strategic Partnership, MPowering the State, 410-706-5279 or aarthur@umaryland.edu.
Project # 1:
Working Down on the Farm: Human Resource Strategies for
Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Operations
DESCRIPTION: Mid-Atlantic agricultural operations often hire labor to assist in the operations. This could be full-time labor, seasonal labor, and migrant labor. Many operations are often small and lack access to full-time human resource departments, and struggle with human resources basics. The proposed project would bridge that gap by researching and developing strategies for common missteps in the employment process (from hiring to termination). The proposed project would end with an Extension publication that would be utilized by Maryland and Delaware agricultural operations.
Being on the team for this project would include working with an undergraduate student interested in attending grad school and attending virtual meetings with agricultural economists, Extension faculty, and other experts with a background in agriculture. The proposed project would include trips to agricultural operations to better understand their common labor issues. Working on this project will also allow for future inclusion as an author on conference presentations, journal articles, and Extension publications developed from the research.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Individuals with a background in agriculture or environmental law.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Paul Goeringer, JD, MS, Senior Faculty Specialist and Extension Legal Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park
BIO: https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/paul-goeringer
EMAIL: lgoering@umd.edu
Project #2:
Legal and Policy Frameworks for Environmental Laws in Agriculture
DESCRIPTION: Mid-Atlantic agricultural operations face different environmental pressures than similar operations in other states. This proposed project would investigate current pushes to regulate air quality from existing operations under existing legal frameworks (Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and other federal and state laws). The ideal candidate would work with an undergraduate student interested in grad school by researching these existing laws. At the same time, the UM Scholar would review case law to determine potential issues producers would need to be aware of related to regulating air quality.
Being on the team for this project would include working with an undergraduate student interested in attending grad school and attending virtual meetings with agricultural economists, Extension faculty, and other experts with a background in agriculture and the environment. The proposed project would include trips to agricultural operations to understand their common agricultural law issues. Working on this project will also allow for future inclusion as an author on conference presentations, journal articles, and Extension publications developed from the research.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Individuals with a background in Agriculture or Environmental law.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Paul Goeringer, JD, MS, Senior Faculty Specialist and Extension Legal Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park
BIO: https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/paul-goeringer
EMAIL: lgoering@umd.edu
Project # 3:
Improving Students’ Historical Thinking Through a Research Practice Partnership
DESCRIPTION: Professor Susan De La Paz, a faculty member in the University of Maryland College of Education seeks a motivated graduate student who is interested in studying a research partnership with a large local school district.
Mentoring will be provided for the selected student to participate in the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from a yearlong project involving the University of Maryland, College Park and a local school district. Our partnership began during the pandemic, and together we created new support for teachers and students when virtual learning was needed. Our partnership has also gradually shifted from collaborating with district to local high school leaders, which may ultimately be a more successful approach to implementation of our historical thinking curriculum.
This school year is the final year of the partnership. Building on past work on academic literacy, Dr. De La Paz and her team developed six historical investigations, available online or on paper, (each to be completed in 3 days) for the entire 9th grade student population in a large suburban-rural-urban Maryland school district, and professional development for social studies teachers at two target schools. The two primary research questions for this year are (1) Are teachers able to provide meaningful feedback to students and modify their instruction based on ongoing analysis of student performance? (2) To what extent do students from different academic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds improve their reading and writing skills?
Work on this research project includes attending remote and in person meetings with research team, working with a doctoral student coding teacher data, and scoring student responses to argumentative writing tasks using a historical analysis rubric and a holistic writing rubric. Students who contribute substantively will be included as contributing authors on conference presentations and academic journal articles.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Individuals from the School of Social Work or School of Law and those with a background in historical writing or who are considering teaching careers in social studies.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Susan De La Paz, PhD, Professor, Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland
BIO: https://education.umd.edu/directory/susan-de-la-paz
EMAIL: sdelapaz@umd.edu
Project # 4:
Landowner Survey on Wildlife Management
DESCRIPTION: The Macaulay Lab with the University of Maryland Extension is seeking a UM Scholar to assist in conducting research of private landowner knowledge and actions related to wildlife and habitat conservation. The purpose of this project is to inform future educational and extension initiatives related to wildlife conservation. Because 92% of Maryland’s land area is under private ownership, wildlife and habitat conservation in the state relies heavily on the actions of private landowners. The UM Scholar will work with the principal investigator, Dr. Luke Macaulay, and a postdoctoral researcher in implementing the project.
The UM Scholar will be focused on the implementation of the survey, analysis, and publishing results. A significant amount of preparation and design work for the survey has been completed, including conducting focus group meetings, establishing a state-wide sample of landowners with both addresses and emails, and pre-testing and piloting the questionnaire. The student will be able to draw on this work in making final adjustments to the survey. The survey will consist of both written and electronic delivery of the survey to maximize response and minimize bias.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: In collaboration with the PI and a postdoctoral researcher with experience in surveys, the UM Scholar will be able to:
- Assist in design and implementation of both email and paper versions of survey.
- Experiment with various approaches in survey design and administration to maximize participation and response rate.
- Supervise digitization of data (for paper surveys) drawing upon a team of undergraduate research assistants.
- Monitor survey responses to identify problems in survey and correct them.
- Contribute as a co-author in writing a scientific journal article for submission to a peer reviewed journal.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Ability to work independently and research best practices to improve survey design, administration, and analysis, and bring findings to team for discussion.
- Knowledge of approaches to increasing response rate, reducing survey error and bias, and controlling for other methodological issues that could affect landowner interest and participation in a study focused on wildlife and conservation.
- Knowledge and experience in quantitative data analysis methods, preferably in R or Python.
- Strong writing skills for drafting materials to be published in peer-reviewed literature and other publications. Co-authorship is welcome and encouraged.
- Experience with creative data visualization.
- Ability to engage with landowners regardless of demographics, identity, or political leanings, and the prioritization of neutrality in the data gathering process.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Individuals with a background in agriculture or environmental law. This is an interdisciplinary project with skills and knowledge in survey design, implementation, and quantitative analysis skills paramount. A formal or informal working knowledge of land management, agriculture, forestry and/or wildlife in Maryland would be helpful.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person (Wye Research and Education Center, Queenstown)
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Luke Macaulay, PhD, Wildlife Management Specialist-Agent, Wye Research and Education Center, Queenstown
BIO: https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/luke-macaulay
EMAIL: lukemac@umd.edu
Project # 5:
Developing a Redemptive Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study
Exploring Post-Incarceration Resiliency
DESCRIPTION: Although the majority (i.e., 95%) of incarcerated individuals will re-enter society, rates of recidivism (i.e., 68-77%) remain alarmingly high (Durose et al., 2014). Research examining predictors of recidivism continues to develop as prevention remains a priority across researchers and policymakers alike. Yet, far less is known about mechanisms of resilience for the approximately 17% (Alper & Durose, 2018) who successfully desist. The long-term goal of this resilience research agenda is two-fold: (1) develop a systemic (i.e., relational, social, community) intervention that fosters resilience and supports reintegration for individuals reacclimating into society; and (2) conduct longitudinal research that tests such an intervention and examines resilience processes over time. An important first step in this research is identifying factors that build resilience and promote desistance among formerly incarcerated individuals. Specifically, we will conduct a mixed-methods pilot study employing (1) a survey to quantitatively identify internal and external resilience factors; and (2) qualitative interviews to explore resilience development in formerly incarcerated individuals’ own words. This pilot study will serve as an important focal point for future intervention development focused on fostering resilience, individually and relationally, for those finding their way home after incarceration.
At present, data is collected (n = 150 survey responses; n = 20 qualitative interviews) and ready to be analyzed. The UM scholar will assist in data analysis, dissemination of findings (i.e., writing publications), and preparing additional grant proposals to build on this body of research.
- Status: data is collected, ready to be analyzed.
- Proposed UM Scholar Work: data analysis and writing for publication; preparing for further grant proposal writing (i.e., literature reviews).
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Individuals from the Schools of Law, Social Work, Medicine, Nursing, or with a background and/or interest in family science, mental health, psychology, criminal justice and/or sociology. An interest in families and relationships is critical.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Amy Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park
BIO: https://sph.umd.edu/people/amy-morgan
EMAIL: aamorgan@umd.edu
Project #6:
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health
DESCRIPTION: The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health (SOGI Health) Lab is affiliated with the Department of Family Science and the University of Maryland Prevention Research Center at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Directed by Dr. Jessica Fish the research group convenes faculty, students, and community partners in an effort to better understand and support the positive development and health of LGBTQ young people. Students will get hands-on experience conducting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method studies on LGBTQ people and their families.
In this experience, students can expect to gain skills in reading and synthesizing scientific research in the area of LGBTQ youth development, families, and health, including methods for how to conduct LGBTQ-related research. The project will involve research project coordination, including administrative tasks related to research project development and management (e.g., human subjects research, institutional review board applications, participant recruitment strategies). Students will also be expected to design research surveys for data collection and analysis, quantitative and qualitative data cleaning and data management. This research project will also offer students the opportunity to build and maintain community partnerships for research and program development in the area of LGBTQ health. Research communication and writing (e.g., research publications, research briefs, conference-style presentations, website stories, and social media) will also be a part of this project.
Students will work directly with Dr. Fish and in a team environment with other undergraduate and graduate student researchers to help develop these skills. Students are expected to identify a specific project area of interest from our ongoing project list (see website).
IDEAL CANDIDATE: We are ideally looking for students from social work, nursing, and medicine, but are willing to take on any students who are interested in learning more about conducting research in the area of LGBTQ people and health.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Jessica Fish, PhD, Assistant Professor, Family Science, Deputy Director for Research and Evaluation, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, Faculty Affiliate, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park
BIO: https://sph.umd.edu/people/jessica-fish
EMAIL: jnfish@umd.edu
For more information and for a list of our ongoing projects, please visit our website at https://sph.umd.edu/laboratory-resources/sogi-health-lab.
Project #7:
Bullying, Discrimination, and Youth Mental Health
DESCRIPTION: The Bullying Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Lab studies bullying, discrimination, and youth mental health. Funded by agencies such as National Science Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation, this lab collects data from youth and college students on their experience with bullying, discrimination, school adjustment, and mental health, and what they are doing (e.g., civic engagement) to support their community.
The UM Scholar will participate in the quantitative data analysis and report writing of the projects. The UM Scholar will also help us code interview data to examine the relations among ethnic racial socialization (the parental messages concerning children’s race and ethnicity), civic engagement, and youth adjustment.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: Optimal candidate’s education background or interests: students should have training in social sciences (psychology, social work, family sciences, human development) or education, and are interested in bullying prevention, youth mental health, and/or Asian American mental health.
LOCATION: Hybrid – Remote & In-person
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Cixin Wang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, University of Maryland, College Park
BIO: https://education.umd.edu/directory/cixin-wang
EMAIL: cxwang@umd.edu
Project # 8:
Preparing Human Trafficking Survivors to Lead Self-Sustaining Lives:
Research that identifies best strategies for creating a Job Placement Pipeline and curating a database of targeted potential employers based on diverse labor market segments
BACKGROUND: The University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment (SAFE) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors is the first university-based center that combines service, research, and advocacy to address the issue of human trafficking. It is an initiative of the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, through its formal partnership called MPower program.
Through in-house services and collaborative partnerships, the SAFE Center provides direct social, legal, primary medical, mental health, and economic empowerment services to human trafficking survivors. We serve U.S. and foreign-born adult and child survivors of sex and labor trafficking. The SAFE Center is initially focused on Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, with a longer-term focus on the state of Maryland.
DESCRIPTION: Survivors of human trafficking need economic security and work to sustain long-term freedom. This proposed project, led by the SAFE Center’s Economic Empowerment team, seeks to develop a job pipeline for targeted employers for sustainable jobs for human trafficking survivors. With direction from the SAFE Center’s Director of Economic Empowerment, Heidi Alvarez, the UM Scholar will research best practices for developing a network of targeted employers, investigate current labor market trends including key occupational areas in demand, job growth outlook, and wages/salaries expectations.
This research project will design, conduct, and evaluate client surveys to request feedback from clients on current employment status, wage, and future interested areas of employment. The work on this project will also identify potential businesses for employer network development, including key personnel at each business location, and provide support to craft marketing materials for SAFE Center employer outreach.
The UM Scholar will draft research reports, incorporating results from participant feedback surveys, research information on best practices and on pertinent labor market trends, and recommendations for moving forward with projects, presenting a summary of the research findings to the SAFE Center team at the culmination of the project.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: This would be a project appropriate for a student from the Schools of Social Work
LOCATION: Remote
PROJECT LEAD/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Heidi Alvarez, Director of Economic Empowerment, University of Maryland SAFE Center, College Park
BIO: umdsafecenter.org/team/