Research, Teaching, & Service
Here you can see a summary of my research, teaching, and service activities. To receive a copy of my Research Statement and Teaching Philosophy Statement, kindly email me at edaluzscherf@crimson.ua.edu
Research experience
Sep. 2023 – Present Graduate Research Assistant
(https://she-research.ua.edu/)
Rest and Resilience (R&R) Research Lab
The University of Alabama, School of Social Work
Principal Investigator (PI): Luciana Giorgio, PhD
Funders: UA
Sep. 2023 – Present Graduate Student Affiliate
(https://forcedmigration.wustl.edu/)
The Initiative on Social Work & Forced Migration
Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis
PI: Mitra Naseh, PhD
Funders: RSF and WashU, among others
Summer 2025 Graduate Research Assistant (https://socialwork.ua.edu/)
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
PI: Dr. Luciana C. Giorgio (0.50 FTE)
Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 Graduate Research Assistant (https://socialwork.ua.edu/)
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
PIs: Dr. Brian Bride and Dr. Luciana C. Giorgio (0.50 FTE)
Summer 2024 Graduate Research Assistant (https://socialwork.ua.edu/)
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
PIs: Dr. Hee Yun Lee (0.25 FTE) and
Dr. Nicole Ruggiano (0.25 FTE).
Funders: UA, NSF, and NIH, among others
Oct. 2023 – Dec. 2024 Student Co-Principal Investigator
Project title: Experiences of Racism and Discrimination
Among Latinx Patients in Primary Healthcare Settings
In collaboration with Thomas Jefferson University
PI: Dr. Shane Gill
Funders: Unfunded Research Project
Jan. 2022 – Dec. 2023 Affiliated Researcher
(https://www.humanrightsnudge.com/)
ERC Human Rights Nudge
University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Law
PI: Dr.Veronika Fikfak
Funders: ERC, UKRI, and others
Mar. 2018 – Feb. 2021 Undergraduate Research Assistant
Human Rights & Citizenship Research Group
The University of Vale do Itajaí, Brazil
PI: Malu Zanatta, PhD
Funders: Unfunded Research Project
Teaching
Fall 2025
Adjunct Instructor (Instructor of Record)
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
Course: SW 101 Orientation to Social Work
Fall 2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
Course: SW 410 Human Behavior and Social Environment
Instructor of Record: Hyunjune Lee, PhD
Teaching Practicum. In-person.
November 2024
Guest Lecturer
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
Course: SW 410 Human Behavior and Social Environment
Topic: Immigration and the Life Course
Instructor of Record: Hyunjune Lee, PhD
Mode of delivery: In-person.
October 2024
Guest Lecturer
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
Course: SW 212 Death, Dying, Bereavement
Topic: Cultural Manifestations of Grief in Latin America
Instructor of Record: Haelim Jeong, LMSW
Mode of delivery: In-person.
September 2024
Guest Lecturer
Middle Tennessee State University
Course: SW 4690 Integrative Seminar in Social Work
Topic: Human Rights and Social Work Practice in Brazil
Instructor of Record: Andrea Bell, LCSW
Mode of delivery: Online (via Zoom).
April 2024
Guest Lecturer
The University of Vale do Itajaí (Brazil)
Course: Human Rights (International Program)
Topic: Global Migration and Human Rights
Instructor of Record: Ricardo Boff, MSc.
Mode of delivery: Online.
Service
Journal editor roles
April 2024 – May 2025 Frontiers in Political Science
International Studies section.
Role: Editorial Board Member / Review Editor.
Committee work
April 2024 – Present Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
Doctoral Student Committee (DSC), Mentoring Sub-Committee.
Role: Committee Member.
Peer-review (Ad hoc)
2025 Frontiers in Public Health, section Public Health Policy
2025 Frontiers in Sociology
2024 Discover Social Science and Health (Springer Nature)
2024 Frontiers in Political Science
2024 BMC Global and Public Health (Springer Nature),
2024 Biodemography and Social Biology (Taylor & Francis)
2024 Discover Global Society (Springer Nature)
2024 Council on Social Work Education APM/Conference proposals reviewer
2023 Social Work in Public Health (Taylor & Francis)
2023 Advances in Social Work (Indiana University)
2023 Critical and Radical Social Work (Bristol University Press)
2023 European Social Work Research (Bristol University Press)
2023 International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
(Emerald Group Publishing)
2022 Springer Book Series in International Social Work
Book proposal reviewer
2022 International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
(Emerald Group Publishing)
2022 Globalizations (Taylor & Francis)
2020 Asian Journal of Education and Social Sciences (SCIENCEDOMAIN International)
Mentoring
August 2023 – April 2024
Tide Together Graduate Mentor Program
Purpose: The Tide Together Graduate Mentor Program helps traditionally underrepresented students in graduate programs reach personal and professional success as they navigate the higher education journey.
Role: Mentee.
Fall 2023 Brazilian Student Association (BRASA)
Purpose: To help and guide Brazilian students throughout their application process to graduate school in the United States, providing them with tips, advice, and guidance regarding admissions to various degree programs.
Role: Mentor/Grad. School Admissions Consultant (Volunteer).
Volunteering and Civic Engagement
March 07, 2024, Advocacy Day, The University of Alabama and NASW-AL Montgomery, AL (In person).
Role: Participant.
We spent the day advocating for Criminal Justice Reform, Social Work Reinvestment, and Medicaid Expansion.
Jul. 2021 – Aug. 2021
Curitiba, Brazil (Remote).
Role: Writing contributor.
I helped the Institute strengthen its mission by providing short articles for its online blog platform.
May 2021 – July 2021
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Remote).
Role: Project proposal and grant writing volunteer.
I was responsible for identifying potential donor organizations and for revising funding proposals.