A Syracuse University professor received a $52,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the gig economy, Syracuse University reported. “While we know that gig-based jobs are growing in popularity for workers across the spectrum, we don’t have a great understanding of what it takes to be a worker in this kind of environment, especially among disadvantaged populations,” said Steve Sawyer, the professor handling the research. “Our goal is to understand, in greater depth, what will be needed to make this kind of work successful, and to identify the particular challenges and needs of workers who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as single parents or rural workers, for example.”