Research and Design Internships are awarded each semester to provide an opportunity for students to assist faculty with their scholarly and creative work. Research and Design Interns (RIs) are paid an hourly rate of $15.50/hour.
While all graduate students are eligible for program-sponsored RIships, we prioritize the awarding of RIships to academically qualified students who are not already assigned research or teaching assistantships. Teaching assistants who apply for an RIship are considered on a case by case basis to help ensure the integrity and quality of the RI program. It is strongly recommended students enroll in no more than 13 credits while assigned a Research Intern position.
Please find below, the descriptions and requirements of the potential Spring 2025 Research Internship assignments. You will be asked to rank your preferences on the application.
| Faculty Member | Project Description |
| 1. Junho Chun |
The ongoing research project aims to develop a surrogate model for computationally expensive architectural and structural analysis procedures, including thermal performance, lateral displacement under loads, and daylight analysis of small spaces, with the long-term goal of extending these methods to building-scale or larger applications. Initially, as a proof of concept, the project focused on generating numerical data related to daylight and thermal analysis of a building. This data will be used as input to construct a surrogate model this semester.
Surrogate models are designed to approximate complex systems based on available datasets, reducing the computational burden of detailed analyses. These models can replace resource-intensive simulations while delivering accurate results.
The research intern will be responsible for generating initial datasets that are not studied in the previous phase of the project, such as thermal performance and comfort level using available software and tools. The PI and research intern will work together to construct surrogate models using established algorithms and methods. Weekly meetings will be held to discuss progress.
Time commitment: 8 hours/week for 12 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Library/Database research Image research Design/Design Research
Computer Skills — Excellent skills necessary: Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Grasshopper
Computer Skills — Average skills necessary: 3D Printing AutoCAD CNC Fabrication Spreadsheets Word Processing
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| 2. Lawrence Davis |
Primary Qualifications: Seeking qualified graduate research intern for assistance on book project, Ethical Narratives: Essays by Richard Ingersoll (1949-2021). Book is under contract with ACTAR Press and modest funding from Graham Foundation. Job requirements include exceptional at copy editing (in English), also able to handle written correspondence (in English) with various editorial team members, and other entities to secure copyrights. Skills in Italian language and/or Spanish are desirable but not required Software familiarity with MS Word, Excel, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator,) Google Drive organization. Collegiately with team members also necessary.
Familiarity with work of Richard Ingersoll and the recent landscape and discourse of architectural theory are assets to the job. In addition, familiarity with architectural interests of younger readers as it pertains to the content, organization and design of the book are also assets.
Time commitment: 20 hours/week for 15 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Library/Database research Writing Text editing/formatting Text/Image scanning Image research Surveys/Data Collection Design/Design research Grant Administration Assistance Copy editing
Computer Skills — Excellent skills necessary: Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop PowerPoint/Keynote Spreadsheets Word Processing
Computer Skills — Average skills necessary: AutoCAD HTML/CSS Rhino Sketchup |
| 3. Roger Hubeli |
The position supports a research project for a folded concrete solar canopy that we are developing and constructing in collaboration with the Cemex Research Group in Biel, Switzerland.
The project combines sustainable building practices with advanced technology, potentially integrating solar panels and sensors to optimize energy collection and shading.
The ideal candidate should possess a keen interest in sustainable architecture and innovative construction techniques. They must be able to work with complex geometries, as folded concrete structures require precise calculations and modeling.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an advanced research project in sustainable architecture, working at the intersection of innovative design, materials science, and environmental technology.
Time commitment: 20 hours/week for 10 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Writing Image research Design/Design research
Computer Skills — Excellent skills necessary: 3DS 3D Printing Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop AutoCAD Grasshopper Powerpoint/Keynote\Rhino Spreadsheets Vray Word Processing
Computer Skills — Average skills necessary: Adobe Premier Adobe AfterEffects Revit Sketchup Virtual and/or Augmented Reality |
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4. Jess Myers
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The RI will be working on my podcast project Here There Be Dragons for the upcoming season about Odesa, Ukraine. The narrative documentary podcast, Here There Be Dragons, breaks down the question of urban security to the scale of daily life. After seasons on New York, Paris, and Stockholm, season four turns to the Black Sea to focus on the diasporic and residential communities of Odesa, Ukraine, and how they navigate the question of safety. The podcast’s title is inspired by medieval cartographer’s depiction of sea monsters and demons hovering over unexplored land or dangerous territories accompanied by the phrase hic sunt dracones, “here be dragons”. Each season explores contemporary urban territories and engages with residents on the concept of security narratives, and the “dragons” that perpetuate them. Resident experiences reveal the impact that urban policy, design decisions, and cultural histories have over time. The podcast demonstrates the accessible post occupancy studies that lurk in mundane encounters with city life.
There are many different roles to play depending on the student’s interests. One is developing and maintaining a sound map for the podcast website, collecting sound from film, news, television, field recordings, music, and radio for a sound bank, developing the podcast newsletter, voice acting, designing episode specific collages, and more. Excellent communication and logistics skills are required. Experience in audio software would be wonderful but is not required. Familiarity with Ukrainian and Russian would be also be nice but is not required.
Time commitment: 20 hours/week for 15 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Library/Database research Writing Image research Design/Design research
Computer Skills — Excellent skills necessary: Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Word Processing |
| 5. Hannibal Newsom |
This semester I will be working with the Syracuse Housing Authority to design and build an outdoor sun shelter/gathering space for the James Geddes Housing Development. This project is part of funded research through the Lender Center.
Time commitment: 20 hours/week for 15 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Design/Design research Tasks related to design, drawing, presentation - model making, rendering, construction documentation etc.
Computer Skills — Excellent skills necessary: Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Rhino
Computer Skills — Average skills necessary: 3D Printing AutoCAD Powerpoint/Keynote Revit Spreadsheets |
| 6. Daekwon Park |
Garden to Table Home
The roof of the home has a delicate matrix of aquaponic and/or hydroponic planting systems where produce can easily be grown for the family’s consumption year round. In this house, it is easy for a family to integrate sustainability into their lives. Further, the greenhouse makes the home highly energy efficient. It is heated it in the winter and air is circulated in the summer. These effects are controlled passively by a delicate system of openings. Additionally, the fireplace, ovens, and cooktop are integrated into a single thermal mass, which becomes a feature of the living space. As the appliances are used, their heat is stored in the mass and slowly released to heat the home.
Throughout the semester, the RI will work together with the faculty on developing a Garden to Table Home prototype. As a research driven design project, the RI will be able to experience the process including initial research (case-study and technology review); concept design (similar to studio work - designing a micro home combined with a greenhouse); and detailing/ evaluation (physical prototyping and testing). The evaluation (e.g. simulation and physical testing) will be conducted by the faculty so the RI is not required to have the expertise in this area. Students with a strong capacity/ interest in architectural design, modular micro-housing, and urban farming will be an ideal candidate for this research.
Time commitment: 10 hours/week for 15 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Image research Design/Design research
Computer Skills — Average skills necessary: 3D Priting Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop CNC Fabrication Grasshopper Rhino |
| 7. Nina Wilson |
The Research Intern is requested for an Embodied Carbon study as a continuation of the recently completed Deep Energy Retrofit projects completed on South Campus. Working with a large interdisciplinary team including SU faculty and students from multiple departments as well as Argonne National Lab and the Department of Energy, the RI will participate in analyzing design strategies and understanding their comparative impacts on Global Warming Potential, operational and embodied energy use, and daylighting metrics. The RI will look at actual project data taken from the past two years, and work with engineering graduate students to construct compelling data-supported narratives that characterize retrofit design approaches and options with respect to important building energy codes, decarbonization policy priorities, and client and occupant health. The RI will also participate in generating visualizations and drawings for a manuscript to be submitted for peer review to a high impact factor journal at the semester’s end.
Time commitment: 20 hours/week for 15 weeks
Research and Administrative Skills Required: Library/Database research Design/Design research Illustrator Life Cycle Analysis (using any tool — all work similarly)
Computer Skills — Excellent skills necessary: Adobe Illustrator Rhino Word Processing
Computer Skills — Average skills necessary: Adobe InDesign
Spreadsheets |
