Fall 2017 Projects

Project Index

View the fall 2017 UROC Coffee Hour lightening talks on these projects.

Click on a project title to link directly to the project description.

Project FA17f: Indian farmers’ perspectives on rural life and agricultural change

Project FA17g: Tracing Perceptions of GM Bananas in Uganda

position filled  Project FA17a: Integration of heterogeneous data for assessment of flood inundation boundaries during emergencies

position filled Project FA17b: Considering international food politics through India’s beef ban

position filled Project FA17c: Bilingual (Nepali-English) transcriptions of agriculture-related interviews

position filled  Project FA17d: Philippine call center industry data collection and coding

position filled Project FA17e: Global food system and sustainable agricultural futures

position filled Project FA17h: Crafting a Digital Timeline of Agricultural Extension in Uganda

position filled Project FA17i: Maps of Dry Zone Sri Lanka

position filled Project FA17j: Textual Analysis of Small-Scale Seed Producers as Political Actors

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Project FA17a: Integration of heterogeneous data for assessment of flood inundation boundaries during emergencies

Researcher: Elena Sava esava@psu.edu
Position type: GIS/data analysis
Scope:  This project will require 90 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 2 credits for the fall term.
Application deadline: position filled   
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description 

This research utilizes multiple data sources generated during emergencies to improve the identification of flood mapping. The goal is to augment remote sensing imagery with new open-source datasets to generate flood extend maps at higher temporal and spatial resolution. The student will be responsible for making maps, digitizing information, analyzing spatial data at different spatial and temporal resolutions. The student should be familiar with ESRI Software and RStudio and be comfortable performing varieties of image and photogrammetric processing.  Duties will also include creating simple instruction guides (documentation) as needed and organizing data.

Desired qualifications  

Successful completion of GEOG 361, 362, 363 with grade of B or higher; familiarity with ArcGIS, RStudio, image processing. Must be detail-oriented and have good organization skills.

Project and position description

The student will have the opportunity to learn to transcription and coding practices and learn about other qualitative research methods. This project involves transcribing 20 one hour-long interviews from Nepali into English and will also involve instruction in coding of the interviews. The interviews were conducted over the summer of 2017 in Jumla district and ask farmers about their participation and involvement with a seed project involving local crops.

Desired qualifications

• Nepali language fluency
• English language fluency
• Interest in sustainable agriculture

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Project FA17d:  Philippine call center industry data collection and coding

Researcher: Aparna Parikh aparna@psu.edu
Position type:  media analysis, qualitative data collection and coding
Scope: Candidates must be willing to contribute 45 hours of work toward data collection over the semester, resulting in 1 credit applied to the transcript. Data analysis would result in another credit, entailing 45 hours of further work, for a total of 2 credits in the fall term.
Application deadline: position filled  
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

Seeking a research assistant with an interest in international development. More specifically, this project involves collecting and analyzing media articles about outsourced call centers in the Philippines, an industry that has grown significantly in the last five years. This industry has been looked at as a tool for developing the Philippines, particularly in response to an increase in unemployment rates following the return of large numbers of Filipina guest workers after the 2008 recession. The RA will collect media articles focused on the growth of the call center industry in the Philippines, as well as state responses towards this development. The RA will then code this data inductively and deductively using qualitative coding software (which would also be an additional credit)

Desired qualifications

Applicants should be well organized, and have a knowledge or interest in qualitative coding. The student should have completed GEOG 20 and one other human geography course with a grade of B+ or higher.

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Project FA17e:  Global food system and sustainable agricultural futures

Researcher: Eden Kinkaid eck5162@psu.edu
Position type: Interview/lecture transcription (English), engaged reading
Scope: This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the fall term.
Application deadline: position filled  
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

Seeking a motivated undergraduate who is interested in learning about organic agriculture, the global food system, and social movements concerning sustainable farming and rural livelihoods. Position entails listening to and transcribing interviews and talks (in English) given by Dr. Vandana Shiva and other prominent environmental activists. Position may also include other reading tasks.

My research is based near Dehradun in Uttarakhand, India and focuses on themes of agricultural change, rural livelihoods, and farmers’ struggles to protect their agricultural livelihoods. I am associated with Navdanya, an NGO that works with farmers to support their transition to organic farming. I use qualitative methods (interviews, participant observation, etc.) to learn about farmers’ experiences and perspectives about rural change, urbanization, and modernization. From this experience, you will learn about a variety of topics relating to sustainable agriculture, the global food system, social movements, food sovereignty, and related subjects. I am also happy to talk with you about my research and the process of conducting fieldwork if that is of interest.

Desired qualifications

Motivation and interest in the subject matter; attention to detail. Depending on student’s skills, other tasks may arise over the course of the semester.

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Project FA17f:  Indian farmers’ perspectives on rural life and agricultural change

Researcher: Eden Kinkaid eck5162@psu.edu
Position type: Interview transcription (Hindi), possible translation (Hindi-English)
Scope: This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the fall term.
Application deadline: open until filled
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

I am looking for a motivated undergraduate who is fluent in Hindi who is interested in transcribing (in Hindi) and possibly translating (into English) interviews. I may also request other documents to be translated.

My research is based near Dehradun in Uttarakhand, India and focuses on themes of agricultural change, rural livelihoods, and farmers’ struggles to protect their agricultural livelihoods. Interviews concern farmers’ practices, their shift to organic farming, and their perspectives about rural change, urbanization, and modernization. From this experience, you will learn about farmers’ experiences of agricultural change in north India over the last several decades and learn about village life. I am also happy to talk with you about my research and the process of conducting fieldwork if that is of interest.

Desired qualifications

Fluency in Hindi; attention to detail.

Other tasks may arise over the course of the semester depending on RA’s interests and skills, including making maps, reviewing documents/academic literature, etc.

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Project FA17g:  Tracing Perceptions of GM Bananas in Uganda

Researcher: Sara Cavallo sec271@psu.edu
Position type:  qualitative data collection and analysis
Scope: This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the fall term.
Application deadline: open until filled
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

Seeking a research assistant to help with collecting and analyzing news media documents on the introduction of genetically modified bananas in Uganda. This is a controversial issue with strong opinions on both sides being played in the media and the Ugandan parliament right now. At the moment, GMOs are banned in Uganda, yet it is argued that both proposed GM bananas could help farmers and consumers considerably. One variety, modified with a red pepper gene, is resistant to banana bacterial wilt, which has caused widespread losses for farmers across the country. The other, developed with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, follows in the footsteps of golden rice (http://www.goldenrice.org/) and is fortified with vitamin A to reduce vitamin deficiencies in children.

This project can be 1-3 credits depending on the student’s interests and time commitments. Ideally, the student will be responsible for help with all or some–depending on number of credits and interest–of the following: collecting news media sources from Ugandan and international sources, entering them into the qualitative coding software, and performing a preliminary analysis of key themes. This work will be a great way to learn more about evaluating source material, research with news media and periodicals, and qualitative textual coding.

Desired qualifications

Ideal applicants will have a demonstrated interest in international development, agriculture, and a desire to develop skills in news media data collection and qualitative coding. Interest and/or familiarity with plant/ag science not required, but would be a plus. Must have completed ENGL 15 or equivalent as well as either GEOG 20 or GEOG 30 with a grade of B or higher.

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Project FA17h:  Crafting a Digital Timeline of Agricultural Extension in Uganda

Researcher: Sara Cavallo sec271@psu.edu
Position type:    data collection and visualization
Scope: This project will require 45-135 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-3 credits for the fall term.
Application deadline: position filled
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

Seeking assistance with creating a digital timeline of agricultural extension programs run by the national government in Uganda. This work will support my dissertation which examines farmer and institutional responses to banana bacterial wilt in western Uganda. Specifically, over the past 30 years, Uganda has gone through some major transitions in agricultural development policy and in particular, agricultural research and extension policies. These changes have impacted the ability of farmers to respond to shocks like that of plant disease. The assistant would be responsible for producing a detailed, annotated, and properly cited and researched timeline using documents collected by me during my fieldwork in Uganda and additional internet and library sources to create a history of extension within Uganda. If the assistant is interested in visualization and graphics, an additional component of the project can be added to research information on digital humanities and visualization and create a digital timeline to present the work. This work will be a great way to learn more about evaluating source material, archival research, and digital humanities.

Desired qualifications

Candidates should be well organized and attentive to detail. Experience with archival research preferred, but not mandatory. Must have completed ENGL 15 or equivalent as well as either GEOG 20 or GEOG 30 with a grade of B or higher. If interested in the visualization component of the project, be sure to describe previous relevant experience and/or coursework in design and visualization.

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Project FA17i:  Maps of Dry Zone Sri Lanka

Researcher: Nari Senanayake nus192@psu.edu
Position type: Cartography/GIS
Scope: This project will require 45-90 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1-2 credits for the fall term.
Application deadline: position filled  
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

Seeking a research assistant with experience in geospatial data management and cartographic design. This project will contribute to my dissertation research which investigates how a mysterious new form of kidney disease is reconfiguring land use and livelihood practices in Sri Lanka’s dry zone. The project will involve creating a series of maps, including: several study area maps (point locations, insets, demarcations of agricultural lands, surveyed administrative districts, agro-ecological zones etc), as well as a flow map of land settlers’ origins.

Desired qualifications

The successful candidate should be well-versed in ArcGIS, with a sound grasp of cartographic design principles. Ideal applicants will have completed GEOG 361 and 363 with grade of B+ or higher.

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Project FA17j: Textual Analysis of Small-Scale Seed Producers as Political Actors

Researcher: Megan Baumann mpb5482@psu.edu
Position type: qualitative data analysis
Scope: This project will require 45 hours of work over the course of the semester, and the successful applicant may earn 1 credit for the fall term.
Application deadline: position filled
Application URL: http://www.geog.psu.edu/uroc-apply

Project and position description

This project on small-scale seed producers as political actors engages a feminist geopolitic analytic. The paper is drafted but more research is needed to bolster the methods section. The UROC position includes scanning social media and websites regularly to find small-scale producers’ visions for their work and any correlated political actions. Student will be scanning Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feeds as well as reading through websites and published material (primarily online). Collaboration on this project is a great opportunity for an undergraduate to gain experience and knowledge in the following:

– textual analysis methodology
– organization of textual data
– preparation of article for publishing
– preparation (with researcher) of paper for presentations at October conference
– learn more about geopolitics
– learn more about alternative food systems in the US

Desired qualifications

The successful applicant must be organized, disciplined, interested in the topic, and able to take initiative and work well independently.