Call for Applications: Undergraduate Research Opportunity – “Multimodal AI as a Tool to Augment Historical Research” – Spring and Summer 2024
Application Deadline: Wednesday April 10, 2024
The Humanities Division is excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for Humanities undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to conduct research led by Associate Professor of History Benjamin Breen .
Undergraduate research connects Humanities majors and minors to faculty-led research projects in the Division and it provides a valuable opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and develop skills to make an impactful intellectual or creative contribution to their field. Students gain practical experience and professional training that builds on their studies in the Humanities. At the same time, faculty benefit from students’ assistance and academic expertise.
About The Project
This project aims to train humanities undergraduates to use multimodal AI tools like Claude 3 and GPT-4 (ChatGPT) as tools for augmenting traditional historical research skills. Students will learn how to utilize generative AI for machine translation of historical sources, analysis of images in historical texts, and annotating, proof-reading, and "tagging" transcriptions of oral history interviews and other textual sources.
The project will focus on applying these AI-augmented research techniques to classify and analyze sources in the Psychedelic History Archive , an online database of primary sources currently under development with support from the Humanities Institute. As a research assistant, you will work closely with Professor Breen to develop your skills in using generative AI as a tool for conducting humanistic research. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Psychedelic History Archive and gain valuable experience in applying cutting-edge AI technologies to historical research.
Position Description: Research Assistant
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- AI-Augmented Research Training (40%) : Learn to use the generative AI tools Claude 3 and GPT-4 for historical research: apply AI technologies to machine translation, image analysis, and text annotation. Develop and refine AI-augmented research techniques through self-directed practice, training on sample historical sources, and consultation with Professor Breen.
- Contributing historical analysis (40%) : Following training, students will be given historical sources which are intended for incorporation in the Psychedelic History Archive. These can range from transcripts of oral history interviews to drug ads from 1950s magazines to newspaper articles. The goal is to use AI-assisted historical research methods in a “real world” setting of building an online database of historical sources. I’d also like some students to experiment with writing short biographies of scientists and patients involved in early psychedelic therapy, and to explore ways that generative AI could simplify that process (not doing the writing for you, but for instance by converting complex academic articles into bullet points which students might then summarize).
- Followup/surveys/consultations (20%) : A final goal of this project is to determine best practices for using AI in historical research, so I will also be asking student employees to fill out at least three surveys (one at the start of work, one mid-way through, and one at the end) and to communicate feedback and ideas for improvement.
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- You are a declared major or minor in a department in the Humanities Division, and you are in good academic standing. Or, you have proposed the major or minor and you are able to declare by the end of the academic year in June. [required]
Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- It is highly recommended that you have some existing experience using either ChatGPT or Claude (or Google’s Gemini), and (ideally) a monthly subscription for either. Use of these tools is a required part of the job, and although both have free versions, the paid versions are superior.
- I would also prefer students who have taken (and enjoyed!) at least one history class at UCSC, and/or who intend to take one. This job will involve self-directed and fairly intensive historical research so that is the main qualification I’m looking for.
- Bonus points if you’ve taken a class with me in the past! This will be helpful in terms of quickly familiarizing yourself with the historical methods and sources.
Internship Term: Spring and Summer 2024
Hours: 10 hours/week
Compensation: $18/hour
# Positions Available: 10
Location: Remote
Reports to: Associate Professor of History Benjamin Breen.
How To Apply
Apply by submitting your resume and a short cover letter (no more than one page) answering these questions: Why this job? Why you? Why now?
- COVER LETTER TIP: consider how this position will further your undergraduate studies as well as your professional career once you have completed your education.
- REVIEW these resume and cover letter resources to ensure that you are a strong candidate!
Once the application window closes on April 7, 2024, there will be a virtual interview process with top candidates.
Please contact Experiential Learning Coordinator Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.
This undergraduate internship is generously supported by The Mellon Foundation.
