On Campus Research Opportunities

Description: Have you ever met someone (you!) who had a marathon “Star Wars” session that lasted until ALL episodes were done? Perhaps, “Game of Thrones?” Or,maybe 24 hours of “24” in a row? “Media-bingeing” is not as rare as one might think. I am interested in studying the antecedents and outcomes of media-bingeing and am seeking a student research collaborator that finds this area interesting. 

This project will build your skills in thoughtfully and critically gathering, organizing, analyzing, evaluating, and communicating theoretical and empirical information that forms the building blocks of marketing decisions. It will also build your awareness of ethical and social responsibilities, and concerns that marketing professional must respect and practice.

Student Qualifications:   Year in school and your major is not a limitation, you must be willing to work hard and engage with the research. I expect this research to take up about 5 hours per week of your time during the semester and about four times as much during the summer. You need not be on campus during summer to complete the research requirements and are free to take on other employments/internships. If interested, please email me a letter of interest highlighting your abilities and strengths, and attach a copy of your resume. All applications received by Friday, February 22, 2013 will merit consideration. Questions? Drop me an email at raj@siena.edu

SOCIOLOGY

Catholics Fighting for Civil Rights 

Faculty Mentor: Paul Murray, Ph.D. (murray@siena.edu), Professor of Sociology

Description:  Catholics Fighting for Civil Rights is the title of a book examining the contributions of Catholic activists involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. This summer’s work will focus on the career of Father Theodore Hesburgh, president of the University of Notre Dame, who was one of the most influential and highly respected American Catholics in the mid-twentieth century. As a member, and later chairman, of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 1957 to 1972, he was an advocate for enlightened civil rights policies at the highest levels of government. It was largely through Father Hesburgh’s leadership that the Civil Rights Commission acted as “the conscience of the nation” regarding race relations during these years.

The Summer Scholar will assist Dr. Murray in researching, writing, and preparing this chapter for publication. Responsibilities of the Summer Scholar will include: searching for and reviewing secondary sources relevant to Father Hesburgh’s career; locating relevant archival sources; contacting surviving associates of Father Hesburgh and making arrangements for oral history interviews; assisting with oral history interviews, transcribing these interviews, and editing the transcripts; organizing data from published sources, archival materials, and oral history transcripts; and assisting with writing, editing, and fact checking of the chapter.

Student Qualifications: Sophomore or junior standing, history or sociology major preferred, with demonstrated research and writing skills. (Faculty recommendation required.) Must be available for 20 hours per week on campus for 8-10 weeks between mid-June and August.