We seek an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer undergraduate research assistant to assist with a cutting-edge research project focused on revolutionizing pain assessment in healthcare settings. Traditional methods of evaluating pain rely on subjective patient reports, which can be limited by language barriers, age, and speech impairments. To address this gap, our project aims to develop and assess a groundbreaking algorithm that utilizes bioacoustic markers to accurately distinguish between various pain levels.
Specifically, in this project, we aim to develop and evaluate a proof-of-concept trustworthy algorithm capable of distinguishing between different pain levels based on bioacoustics markers. This study will induce temporary and moderate pain in healthy individuals using the cold pressor test (CPT). This pain induction technique was selected because it is well-established and known to be safe. During the CPT, participants will be audio-recorded while speaking a series of neutral sentences. Based on the recordings, we will then train an autonomous system to capture pain levels.
Students will have the opportunity to work on an innovative project with interdisciplinary researchers (e.g., data science, health sciences, and information science) from the US (UT Austin) and UK (University of Nottingham and Univerisity of Southampton). The student will be supervised by Arya Farahi and John Robert Bautista. We will accept CVs (send to jrbautista@utexas.edu) until August 14, 2023.
We are seeking a motivated undergraduate student with the following qualifications:
- Currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in a relevant field of study, such as Psychology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Nursing, Informatics, or a related discipline.
- Interest in pain assessment, bioacoustic markers, and innovative research methodologies.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, especially in adhering to ethical guidelines and protocols.Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to work effectively within a collaborative research team.
- Preferred but not required: First aid training and/or BLS-CPR training
Fall 2023 (and potentially Spring 2024)
As an undergraduate research assistant, you will play a pivotal role in the project's success by contributing to key aspects of the research process. Your responsibilities will include:
- Ethics Requirements Review: Collaborate with the research team to review and ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and protocols for conducting research involving human participants. Assist in preparing and submitting necessary documentation for ethics board approval at the University of Texas at Austin.
- Literature Review: Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature on pain assessment, bioacoustic markers, and innovative approaches to pain management. Summarize relevant findings and assist in identifying gaps and opportunities for the project.
- Data Collection: Participate in data collection sessions at UT Austin (US). This will involve assisting in administering the cold pressor test (CPT) to induce temporary and moderate pain in healthy participants. Ensure audio recordings of participants' neutral sentences are captured accurately.
- Administrative Tasks: Participate in team meetings, create meeting notes, and coordinate activities among team members.
