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Archives for January 2020

, Filed Under: Research

Research Assistantships Available at the Daily Activity Lab

Daily Activity Lab: ‘Fitbit’ for Babies, Sensing Daily Activity in Development

The Daily Activity Lab is seeking undergraduate research assistants. Led by Kaya de Barbaro, Ph.D., the lab examines day-to-day activities and interactions between mothers and their infants in extended naturalistic home sessions (72 hours+) using a mobile sensor suite. The ultimate goal for this work is to access the basic mechanisms of early social-emotional development and to develop mobile interventions for cases of high risk, such as the transmission of risks for depression from mothers to infants. See more information below if interested!

Our lab uses wearable sensors to study how daily activities of mothers and their infants contribute to their development and well-being. We use various sensors (including some similar to a Fitbit) to access our participants’ activity “in the wild” –that is, in day-to-day, real-world settings. Whereas Fitbit helps people meet fitness goals by tracking steps, we are interested in learning about development by tracking activities that we believe matter for long-term outcomes. For example, we want to track caregivers’ mood and sleep patterns over the course a week, or playing, talking and soothing interactions infants have with their caregivers.

Interested students will have the opportunity to gain experience in community-based research, participant interaction, data collection, and/or analysis of mobile-sensor data streams.

We will work in an interdisciplinary team bridging developmental science, clinical psychology, computer science, human-computer interaction, and electrical engineering.

Qualifications:

We are looking for eager, motivated and detail-oriented undergraduate student standing with a strong GPA. Interest in the research process is essential, but prior research experience is not required.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project we welcome students from various disciplines including psychology, computer science, human development and family studies, and electrical engineering.

Fluent/native Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply!

Commitment:

Students must commit an average 10 hours per week for three semesters, or 15 hours per week for two semesters in order to be considered. Course credit is available.

Duties:

There are three ‘tracks’ for research assistants in our lab: Recruitment, Data Collection team and Analysis. Students will contribute to the project according to their skills and interests. In addition to their lab work, students are expected to attend and participate in weekly lab meetings with Dr. de Barbaro and graduate students.

1. Students interested in the Recruitment track will work with community centers (CommUnity Care Clinic, Head Start, Children’s Wellness Center, etc.) and interact directly with caregivers and infants to recruit them for the current project. Students on this team will gain hands-on experience in community-based research, engaging the Austin community in collaborative and reciprocal scholarship.

  1. Students interested in the Data Collection team will gain valuable research experience including running studies with infants and their caregivers, collecting and coding video and audio data, helping in study design or literature reviews, and other research related activities.
  2. Students interested in the Analysis team, computer science, engineering or iSchool students, can gain experience developing new algorithms for automated activity detection or writing user-friendly apps for data collection. Electrical engineering students can also gain experience working on new hardware and firmware developments relevant to the project.

Opportunities to work on analyses and contribute to peer-reviewed publications are available for interested students.

To apply:

Please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E9FsSa5oMb- ddAtuC44qORkDk1pVAkNtBw5orRVQHEI/edit

Send a copy of your CV/Resume and unofficial transcript (screenshots of online grade-viewer are fine) to mckenseyjohnson@gmail.com.

, Filed Under: Research

Research Assistantships Available with JUNTOS (TOGETHER)

JUNTOS (TOGETHER) is a study that looks at the effects of cultural stressors on Latinx adolescents and their parents in the Austin and surrounding areas. Data is collected through the use of focus groups with these participants as well as through interviews with school personnel at the schools where we are conducting the study. The purpose of our study is to collect these experiences with cultural stressors from the Austin community in order to use that data to implement a school-based program that will provide resources and teach adolescents & their families how to cope with cultural stressors in the future.

Role Responsibilities:

Research Assistant position responsibilities include: data management, observing & note-taking at focus groups, transcriptions, calling participants, scheduling focus group dates with the schools, assist with literature searches and management, and other relevant tasks. Spanish language fluency is desirable but not required.

Please fill out the following survey for more information and we will reach out for the next steps: https://forms.gle/nfiDfZyv75rM71xv8

, Filed Under: Internship

Spring 2020 Miracle Foundation Internships

The Miracle Foundation is currently accepting applications for internships in the areas of Office Administration, Development, Programs and Marketing due January 23.

Since their founding on Mother’s Day in 2000, the Miracle Foundation has taken a stand for orphaned children. Their “Child First” approach is multi-faceted, collaborative and community-based:

  • 80% of children living in institutions have a living relative. They make every effort to reunite these children with their birth family, if possible.
  • For abandoned children without family — their measurable, systematic method ensures that children are loved, educated, healthy and safe until they transition to a permanent family.
  • They actively collaborate with governments, other non-profits and local family-strengthening organizations to transform systems and give children a voice.

Interns gain an inside opportunity to learn how to run a nonprofit that makes an impact for the world’s orphaned children.

Responsibilities vary, but are generally in one of the following areas: Office Administration, Development, Programs and Marketing. They do their best to find work that suits your interests and develops your expertise.

  • The Office Administration Intern will work with their Office Manager to complete various administrative tasks, create process documents, track departmental progress, and more.
  • The Development Intern will work with their Development Coordinator to plan events, analyze fundraising data, develop fundraising campaigns, research funding prospects, and more.
  • The Programs Intern will work with their Director of Global Programs and Program Coordinator to input and analyze data, create and improve programs, and more.
  • The Marketing Intern will work with their Marketing Manager to do market research, assist with creative projects, maintain the website, analyze data, help with social media, and more.

Requirements: They offer both formal (for class credit) and informal internships. Interns are expected to donate at least 10 hours/week of their time and exemplify the following qualities:

  • Global perspective, belief in their mission, and a passion for making a difference
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • High level of computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Organized and detail-oriented, with effective time-management skills
  • Strong work ethic, the ability to follow through, and a willingness to do what needs to be done, no matter how large or small
  • Dependable, self-motivated, and conscientious
  • Outgoing and enthusiastic, with a positive attitude
  • Professional, prompt, and dresses appropriately
  • Must be older than 18 or in college.

If you would like to apply for one of Miracle Foundation’s internships, please email BDP advisor Rebecca Buckalew at rebecca.buckalew1@austin.utexas.edu for an application. 

Completed application and a copy of your resume must be emailed to Annen@MiracleFoundation.org by January 23.