Project Boilermaker Food Experiences Program Margo Katherine Wilke Undergraduate Research Internship Program Term Fall 2025 Status Accepted Research Area Anthropology, Ethnography Description Student food experiences on college campuses are complex, shaped by both struggles and joy. While food insecurity remains a pressing issue, affecting college students at rates higher than the national average, students also develop meaningful relationships with food that reflect creativity, cultural identity, social connections, nostalgia, and comfort. This internship focuses on holistically exploring the spectrums of food experiences at Purdue's West Lafayette campus. Interns will work alongside the faculty mentor and the ACE Food Pantry to gather and analyze data on campus food insecurity, while also investigating students' foodways, or the everyday ways students engage with food emotionally, socially, and culturally. Through this work, the intern will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of student food experiences and support efforts to create a more inclusive and food-secure campus. Supervisor Sarah R Renkert Mentor Type of work required PhotoVoice: Interns will recruit for and conduct PhotoVoice interviews with students.
Survey: Students will conduct a survey with ACE food pantry clients and other students. Websites Qualifications -Major or minor in Anthropology -Basic experience in ethnographic methods and research Credit Hours 0 Weekly Hours 3 (estimated)