Social Sciences/Humanities Summer Research | Department of Anthropology

Students are invited to apply to the Social Sciences/Humanities Summer Research Program, designed to expand research opportunities for students in the Social Sciences and Humanities fields for summer 2026. Students can apply to each opportunity by including a resume and cover letter addressed to the faculty member listed in the job description. The application deadline is Sunday, April 12.  

Humanities/Social Sciences Summer Research Program | Department of Anthropology

Faculty Member: Professor Melissa Pashigian

Job Description 

The student will work to support faculty research on dizziness, migraine and concussion that explores how people identify with and mobilize around an invisible illness; and how the experience of dizziness shapes lives, relationships, treatment trajectories, and access to knowledge and care, among other things. 

There are several focal points for work this summer:

1) Collecting secondary source articles, statistics (including from published sources and government and non-government sources), and additional quantitative data on frequency and incidence of a variety of conditions related to dizziness including migraine, concussion, etc., funding levels for research and treatment development over time; and (in)active government bills that support investigation into these specific conditions, etc.

2) Collecting specific secondary sources on: 1) historical changes in definitions of dizziness, and institutions involved in these changes over the past century; 2) invisible illness and advocacy; 3) narrative development around illness testimonies and stories having to do with dizziness in multiple forms including, published and in online spaces; 4) Additional related topics.

3) Surveying and tabulating publicly available discussions about dizziness (and as related to comorbid conditions) online and in social media (including Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, and other sites to be determined); and a list of sites/pages that require permission to view. Depending on how long this takes, the student can also assist in designing the approach for sampling and coding, and begin reading and coding the discussions/narratives on these sites. The purpose will be to explore how narratives about dizziness compare, and the ways people discuss their conditions.

4) Develop a list of experts (within medicine and government, Veterans Administration, etc.) in North America and globally in related medical fields.

5) Develop a list of online sites and persons active online related to the project topics.

6) Assist in developing interview guides and research sites.

For the activities above, students will be producing regular written summaries of their finds and summaries of content that will be integrated into a database.

Students will be trained in Library Research Methods.

Skills or Training 

The student should have a strong interest in social science health research, and interest in chronic diseases, health research, disability, dizziness and its related conditions (such as migraine, concussion, vestibular dysfunction, and more) and demonstratable competency in scholarly secondary source library searches, general online searches, social media searches, institutional searches (online websites) and organizational abilities to tabulate search terms and findings. A willingness to learn to code transcripts, if they do not already have experience. The student should be familiar with standard Office software, especially Excel. Ability to work well independently. An ability to follow through on assigned tasks and initiatives, to communicate by email regularly with Professor and to meet regularly online and in person with the Professor regarding the project. Student must have access to their own computer and must attend training sessions (in person) with a reference librarian. Flexible hours outside of meetings.

Class Year Eligible: Current students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029.

Majors:  Majors and minors in the social sciences. Minors in Health Studies (regardless of major). STEM majors with an interest in dizziness, migraine and social consequences of chronic illness.

Length: This position is full-time (minimum of 240 hours, over 8 weeks).

Internship Format:  In person at Bryn Mawr College

Funding Award: This opportunity includes a funding award of $5,000 (minus 15-20% taxes). 

Questions about this opportunity? Please contact Katie Krimmel at kkrimmel@brynmawr.edu and Professor Melissa Pashigian  at mpashigi@brynmawr.edu.