Category: Research Assistant Opportunity

Professor Archana Khurana
Department: Mathematics
The Project
The transportation model, a sub class of linear programming problem, considers minimum-cost planning problems for shipping a product from some origins to other destinations, such as from factories to warehouses, or from warehouses to supermarkets, with the shipping cost from one location to another being a linear function of the number of units shipped. The amount to be sent from each origin, the amount to be received at each destination, and the cost per unit shipped from any origin to any destination are specified. In transportation problems, transhipment is not considered, that is, each point acts as shipper only or as a receiver only. We can extend this problem to permit transhipment with the additional feature that shipments may go via any sequence of points rather than being restricted to direct connections from one origin to one of the destination which would reduce the cost of transportation.
Both the transportation problem and the transhipment problem are also quite widely used for planning bulk distribution, especially in the USA where the (road) distances travelled are large. Transportation problem deals with distributing any commodity from any group of ‘sources’ to any group of destinations or ‘sinks’ in the most cost effective way with a given ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ constraints. There always exists an optimal solution to the balanced transportation problem.
In case of unbalanced transportation problem, the total availability is not equal of total demand, thus some of the source and/or destination constraints are satisfied as inequalities. For example, sometimes, one wishes to keep reserve stocks at the sources for emergencies thereby restricting the total transportation flow to a known specified level, it results in a transportation problem with impaired flow. For example, stockiest reserves the goods viz. medicines, food grains and other items at warehouses for emergencies. At this point of situation, some of the warehouses are forced to be closed down or are made to operate below their original operational level, while some still continue to maintain their original supplying behaviour which gives rise to transportation problem with restricted flow. Again sometimes, situations may arise when because of the extra demand in the market due to high storage cost at some sources or during festive /marriage seasons or during fire / military services, the total flow needs to be enhanced compelling some of the factories to increase their productions in order to meet this extra demand. This results in a transportation problem with enhanced flow. The optimal solution of such problems is of practical interest to the decision maker.
Moreover in literature, much effort has been concentrated on two-dimensional transportation problems as well as transhipment problems with equality constraints. However, when we have to transport heterogeneous commodities of products, then we need to formulate a solid transportation problem which involves three indices.
All the above scenarios of transportation and transhipment problem are of practical interest to decision maker. We shall be formulating and finding out the solution procedures for all such kinds of problems.
Research Assistant Tasks
You would be formulating and developing solution procedures for transportation and transhipment problems with restricted and enhanced flow and you would also be required to study solid transportation and transhipment problems. You would be learning GAMS (General algebraic modelling system) software which is very useful to solve such linear programming problems.
Time Commitment: 7-9 hours per week
Contact Email: akhurana@email.gwu.edu
Additional Instructions for Applying:
1. Student CV including his/her educational background, software knowledge, awards, research and teaching experience
2. Do you have any previous knowledge of any of the softwares like Matlab, GAMS or C++?
3. Have you ever studied any course on Linear programming problems?

Professor David Alan Grier
Department: Elliott School
The Project
This project explores the technological foundations of globalization and its impact on work and workers. The technological contributions to globalization have been evident form the start. The announcement in Geneva of one of the key institutions of global trade, the WTO, occurred one week before the announcement of the programable digital computer in Philadelphia.

At this stage, the project seeks to build a detailed chronology of globalization and technology with a supportive bibliography. It will involve the use of primary resources at the LOC and the WTO library in Geneva and a few other research libraries.

The GW faculty leading this project is the former Editor in Chief of the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. One of the non-GW faculty is a former representative to the WTO.
Research Assistant Tasks
Build a detailed chronology using secondary sources from research databases. Connect material to primary sources at the WTO library and other places. The time commitment can vary depending on the interests of the research assistant but we are looking for at least 6 hours a week.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Contact Email: grier@gwu.edu
Additional Instructions for Applying: A successful applicant will have skills in electronic research and have some experience with a research library. They should also know Microsoft Word and Excel. They should submit an email explaining their interest in the project, their qualifications, and what qualities that they would bring to the work.

Any prospect applicant seeking information about working with this research team, might contact Honors Graduate Melissa Gedney, who worked with them last year.

Professor Melissa Keeley
Department: Geography
The Project
Green Building (you may know LEED) is a growing trend…but what are the environmental effects associated with these practices? Understanding this and the rationals behind the many public policies that promote and require green building are first steps in understanding if these building practices are cost-effective and having the desired impacts on their communities.
Research Assistant Tasks
I have several ongoing projects related to green building that you could choose to be involved with. Some projects are more technical–budding environmental engineers might be interested in reviewing the specs on green technologies included in some case study buildings.
Other work is more policy-oriented. Such students might help with literature reviews of the subject, help with basic data analysis, or follow up with green building administrators in cities across the country so we represent the work of their departments accurately.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Contact Email: keeley@gwu.edu
Additional Instructions for Applying:
You are welcome to contact me with questions or for more information. To apply, please send an email with a paragraph or so on why this topic interests you, and any relevant experiences you have had (in classes or out). Please include the name and contact information of one GW faculty member who will serve as your reference and attach your transcript (it can be an unofficial one through GWeb) and a writing sample (a paper your have written for a class will do).

Professors Melissa Keeley, Lisa Benton-Short
Department: Geography
The Project
In the US, the municipal-level is where the sustainability action is. Join us in a research project that uses municipal sustainability plans to understand how cities of different sizes and different region are approaching a variety of interconnected environmental, economic and social issues.
Although deliberately planning for sustainability takes place at different scales, there has been growing attention paid to the role of the city in this process. In recent years, and despite many hurdles, US cities have necessarily evolved as loci of sustainability efforts. This phenomena is seen in many ways, including the relatively recent development and implementation of urban sustainability plans.
In parallel, over a similar time period, there has been a shift in discussions of natural systems—here we call this green infrastructure—and the way that considered utilization of trees, parks, wetlands, etc. provide human benefits. Discussions of the role of green infrastructure similarly occur at different scales, but are perhaps most fraught in urban areas, where demand for green amenities is high yet density restricts implementation.
In this paper, we will first explore the rapidly growing and interdisciplinary literature on both urban sustainability and green infrastructure. We focus particularly on disconnects between the two practice areas, including the discourse framing current discussions and notions of open/green space and density in relation to sustainability at different scales. Yet, we also discuss areas of similarity and synergy, such as the holistic nature of sustainability and urban green space planning processes, and the demand for planning and implementation process that is regionally sensitive and which cross departmental and jurisdictional boundaries. We see green infrastructure as one important tool to achieve more sustainable urbanism, and seek through this analysis to contribute to synergies between these subjects.
Research Assistant Tasks
You will work on literature reviews on mutually-agreeable sustainability-planning related subjects (like climate change, transportation, land use planning or green building). Further, you will likely help in data collection (reviewing the sustainability plans of different cities and understanding how they approach and discuss different problems). We will meet as a group occasionally to discuss, but largely, this can be independent work occurring gradually over the semester or intensively over a break.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Contact Email: keeley@gwu.edu
Additional Instructions for Applying: You are welcome to contact me with questions or for more information. To apply, please send an email with a paragraph or so on why this topic interests you, and any relevant experiences you have had (in classes or out). Please include the name and contact information of one GW faculty member who will serve as your reference and attach your transcript (it can be an unofficial one through GWeb) and a writing sample (a paper your have written for a class will do).

Tuberculosis and the Use of Social Distancing in the United States
Professor Rebecca Katz
The Project: Globalization, changing human behaviors and the emergence of new pathogens create an ongoing vulnerability to disease threats. In the early days of communicable disease outbreaks or pandemics, social distancing tools may be the only interventions available to public health officials to mitigate the spread of disease. State and local public health officials’ use of social distancing tools in infection control varies widely, even when these measures may limit morbidity and mortality. Instituting social distancing requires legal authorities and financial resources, and may also be impacted by evidentiary standards, risk assessments, political will, and community and individual support. It is unclear exactly how these factors influence public health officials when making decisions to use social distancing tools or if any of these factors can be predicted. Yet, this knowledge is essential to understanding what actions are most likely to be instituted during a public health emergency and to target interventions to better prepare health departments to enact social distancing measures when necessary. The specific aims of the proposed research are: (1) to conduct case studies of health department experiences with tuberculosis (TB) isolation, (2) to assess the decision making process associated with social distancing, and (3) to determine predictive factors associated with decision making for social distancing.
Research Assistant Tasks: 
– Check accuracy of previously-collected tuberculosis counts and case rates in local health jurisdictions in the U.S.
– Assist in the compilation of contextual information for a database of factors that may be important in local and state social distancing – this includes state and local demographic information, laws, and regulations
– Assist in the transcription and coding of case study interviews with local health department officials
– Assist in project-related administrative tasks
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 2
Application Instructions: Please attach your resume and include a cover letter in the body of your email detailing your interest in the position and the project, your relevant skills and coursework, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Contact Email: avaught@gwu.edu

Genes, environment and the development of childhood temperament
Professor Jody M. Ganiban
The Project: This study focuses on the impact of genes and environment on children’s development of temperament (personality) during the preschool years. In particular, we are interested in understanding how much parents influence their children’s negativity, fearfulness, positivity, and activity levels vs. how much children’s genetic makeup affect their parents’ behaviors. This study is also designed to examine the degree to which children’s genes and parenting predict early symptoms of behavioral and emotional problems and school readiness. 
Research Assistant Tasks: Research assistants will primarily help us rate the quality of parent-child interactions when the participants are 3, 4, and 5 years of age. Parents and children will be observed as they work together on specific tasks or play together.
There is also the opportunity to become involved in writing manuscripts for publication. 
Time Commitment: 7-9 hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 3
Application Instructions: Send me the following information:
1. Major field of study, year (i.e., freshman, sophomore, etc)
2. Previous research experience
3. Ability to commit for 1 semester versus 2 semesters (we prefer a 2 semester commitment).
Contact Email: ganiban@gwu.edu

Brokering Cooperation
Professor Eric Grynaviski
The Project: Who matters in International Politics? Most accounts of decision making in American Foreign Policy emphasize a thin number of agents, from Secretaries of State to Presidents. This project asks about how “ordinary people,” such as traders, missionaries, or low-level government officials, have affected American Foreign Policy, especially cooperation with militias.
This is very fun research.
Research Assistant Tasks: The primary task will be archival research at three sites in Washington, DC. Two are right on the metro. The third has a short shuttle bus. All are free. I will walk the RA through the process to explain how to do archival research. It is preferred that the RA have a camera with good resolution (not an Iphone).
The specific research can be geared to student interest, including Native Americans in the Civil War or the wars in the American West, the Philippines, or partisans in the Second World War.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Credit Hours Option: Consult with your adviser.
Application Instructions: Please send a transcript, brief statement of your interests, and why you would want to work on the project (one page or less is fine).
This project may be useful for students interested in political science, international affairs, sociology, history, or related fields.
Contact Email: ericgryn@gwu.edu

Election Alliances in India
Professor Adam Ziegfeld
The Project: Before almost every election in India, parties bargain with one another to form what are known as pre-election alliances or seat-sharing agreements, which determine how and in which seats a party will field candidates. These agreements have a huge impact in determining how many seats each party wins and who ultimately comes to power after the election. I am currently in the early stages of a new book project that explores election alliances in India. It asks questions such as: Why do parties sometimes form alliances but not at other times? With whom do parties ally? Do these alliances last after the election? 
Research Assistant Tasks: I am looking for a research assistant to help me with data collection for this project. Data collection will involve locating Indian newspaper sources at the library, conducting searches of online journal databases, and then using these resources to collect and record information on election alliances. The project could also involve, depending on the project’s progress and student interest, writing up short memos on the history of electoral cooperation in a particular election or state. The project requires a student familiar with navigating online library resources. Preferred qualifications also include a student with some knowledge of Indian politics and experience using the library’s archival resources (such as microfilm). 
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 2
Application Instructions: Please send me a CV/resume along with a short statement indicating your GPA (if not on your resume), courses taken, and any relevant skills or experience. Also, please indicate how many hours you would like to work, as I am flexible about the weekly time commitment. 
Contact Email: awz@gwu.edu

Shaping Kids’ Diets: Home and Neighborhood
Professor Uriyoan Colon-Ramos
The Project: We seek a self-driven, motivated undergraduate to assist in data collection and analysis in the participatory research ‘Shaping Kids’ diets: Home and Neighborhood”. The project, funded by the GW Center for Civic Engagement, seeks to identify strategies that support healthy food acquisition at home in Washington DC. The assistant must demonstrate scholar interest in qualitative data analysis and participatory research methods. S/he will work closely with the research team collect tha data through interviews and to analyze the data qualitatively.  
Research Assistant Tasks: 
1) Conduct Photovoice interviews (the assistant will be trained by Dr. Colon-Ramos).
2) Analyze data from the interviews (the assistant will receive training to do this).
3) Conduct literature reviews related to the topic.
4) Aid in logistics of meetings related to this project.
The assistant will report directly to Dr. Colon-Ramos. The position is based at GWU in Washington DC; some meetings may take place in Ward 7 in DC or Langley Park, MD. Spanish-speaking is a plus!
Qualified applicants must demonstrate careful attention to detail, and ability to break a goal into achievable and timely milestones. Applicants must also be willing to work in a team, learn, and manage multiple tasks in a timely fashion. Experience living or working with low-income urban families is a plus. We will meet weekly or bi-weekly as a research team to assess progress in the project, and the student chosen will play a key role in these meetings. Prior to starting work, we will require CITI training for responsible conduct of research from the chosen student.
Time Commitment: 10 or more hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 3
Application Instructions: Send me your Resume, Cover Letter, Transcript, and Letter of reference.

Contact Email: uriyoan@gwu.edu

The Rhetoric of Entry-level Job Postings: An Analysis of Writing Skills and Tasks
Professor Jessica McCaughey
The Project: This project examines the rhetoric of entry-level position postings with an eye toward the ways in which employers state, define, and emphasize the required or desired writing skills of job applicants. Questions central to the project include: What kinds of writing skills do employers say they want? How do they categorize and define communication tasks? How much value do they place on writing and communication skills? In what ways do posted qualifications align (or not) with the writing skills students learn in college? Are differences substantial or mostly a matter of semantic differences in two different contexts? Ultimately this research will build toward a larger body of scholarly work examining the ways in which universities (both writing programs and major disciplines) can better prepare students for their professional writing lives.
Research Assistant Tasks: The research assistant will primarily help to code these job postings (looking at how the employers describe writing-related tasks and skills), but they will also have the opportunity to work closely with me in analyzing the data and considering implications. Additionally, they will seek out and compile existing research that will contribute to the work. No coding experience is necessary; I will train and work closely with the research assistant, and I will provide background reading to help situation him or her prior to beginning the work. Skills that are key to the position include extreme attention to detail, strong critical thinking skills, and patience for occasionally repetitive work. The student will gain insight into how such a study is conducted in terms of data collection and analysis, and they will also have the opportunity to take on a more creative role in determining how data is delineated.
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 2
Application Instructions: Students should submit a resume and brief letter of introduction explaining their interest in the research and examples of how they meet the general qualifications of the position.
Contact Email: jessmcc@gwu.edu