research opportunities for undergraduate students psychology

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Gain experience in psychology lab research.

One of the best ways to know if a career in personality and social psychology is for you is to get first-hand experience in an active psychology research laboratory.

Below, we have compiled listings for research opportunities in psychology for undergraduate students.

Psychology Summer Research Opportunities

• Michigan Summer Program in Cognition & Early Development (MSPICED)  at the University of Michigan: June 3 – August 2, 2024; Deadline: February 16, 2024
• Cooperation Lab Summer Research Intern  at Boston College: 10-11 weeks, start date between May 31 – August 4, 2023; Deadline: March 15, 2023
• Yale Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program  – See specific lab pages
• Emotion, Health, and Psychophysiology Lab Internship  at UCSF: June 10 - August 4, 2024; Deadline: March 1, 2024
• Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) Summer Undergraduate Research Program  at Carnegie Mellon University: May 28 – August 2, 2024; Deadline: January 26, 2024
• Summer Research Internship  at Columbia Business School: June 3 – July 26, 2024 – Deadline: Rolling decisions; applications close once all positions are filled
• Science Writing Internship  at Princeton  University: Paid; Eight weeks  (approximately early June to early August); Applications open until the position is filled
• Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)  at NYU: Program on hold awaiting funding renewal
• Amgen Scholars Program  at UCLA: June 24 – August 30, 2024; Deadline: February 1, 2024
• PRIMO  at Harvard Business School: June 6 – August 8, 2024; Deadline: February 14, 2024
• The  University of Alabama Summer Research Programs  for Undergraduate Students Deadline: March 1, 2024

For Students from Underrepresented Backgrounds

These programs seek students from underrepresented backgrounds, such as ethnic minorities, low-income, and first-generation students (see specific program descriptions for details).

• Summer Research Institute  at the University of Arizona; Deadline: February 1, 2024
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship  at Boston University; Deadline:  April 1, 2024
• Summer Research Initiative  at the University of Maryland; Deadline: February 5, 2024
• Summer Research Opportunity Program  (SROP) at the University of Michigan; Deadline: February 5, 2024
• Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program  (MURAP) at the University of North Carolina; Deadline: February 1, 2024
• Summer Research Opportunity Program  (SROP) at Northwestern University; Deadline: February 10, 2024
• Summer Undergraduate Research Experience  (SURE) at the University of Texas at Austin; Applications open January 20, 2024; Deadline: March 31, 2024
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship  at Yale; Deadline: February 1, 2024
• Research Intensive Summer Experience at Rutgers University; Rolling admissions
• Pathways to Science Database

Student Members Share Their Experiences

A group of undergraduate research assistants and SPSP students share their own experiences in these summer programs in this two-part article series:

Part 1: Rice & Duke University   |   Part 2: Duke University

Other Sources

• Psychology Job & Internship Opportunities
• Psychology Job & Research Opportunities
• Job Opportunities  (hosted at Johns Hopkins Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences)
• Job Postings  (hosted at Social Psychology Network)
• EURO Scholars
• Research Experience for Undergraduate Students  (REU) National Site List

Other Opportunities

Planning to live near a major college or university this summer? Consider contacting psychology faculty to inquire about research positions. Even those who do not have posted summer research positions may allow you to participate in research on a volunteer basis for the summer.

Please  email us if you know of other funded opportunities for undergraduate research or research opportunities for recent graduates and those taking a gap year between undergrad and graduate school.

Additionally, check out this resource from an SPSP member for tips on finding post-baccalaureate research jobs in social psychology.

• Utility Menu

Psychology Undergraduate Program

• Department of Psychology
• Summer Opportunities

Below, we've compiled several of the research and funding opportunities Harvard has to offer for undergrads over the summer. We've also included a few non-Harvard opportunities that Psychology students might be interested in!  

Psych Department Research Opportunities - Summer 2024  

Some Psychology department labs may have space for undergraduate summer research assistants. Please reach out directly to any labs you are interested in working with to ask about summer research opportunities.

Harvard-Wide Research Opportunities - Summer 2024  

• Structural Racism and Risk for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Black and Latine Youth
• Improving Human-Computer Interaction with Real-time Brain Signals
• Honoring Dignity: Learning from Narratives to Dismantle Shame and Mitigate Mental Health Discrimination in Healthcare
• Gender Differences in Addiction: The Emerging Epidemic in Women and Girls
• You Had to Do It That Way: Constraints on Marital, Sexual, and Reproductive Self-Determination among New York's Charedi Jews
• Summer Research Programmer in the Harvard Lab for Youth Mental Health - Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.  The Harvard Lab for Youth Mental Health is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented student studying psychology and/or computer science to develop an interactive web application (using RShiny) for a Relational Database used for real-time querying and analyzing data related to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of youth psychotherapies. We are seeking a candidate who can devote 10-15 hrs/week to this project for the summer. Programming proficiency in R (and/or Python) and fundamental knowledge about web application and database creation is required, and basic knowledge of applied statistics is preferred (but not required). Preference will be given to candidates who are able to continue working in the Lab during the 2024-25 academic year for system maintenance and improvement. 
• BLISS - Behavioral Laboratory in the Social Sciences – Deadline extended to Monday, February 26, 2024, 12:00 PM EST. This is a 10-week program that provides room, partial board, and a small stipend to work in a social science laboratory on an established project. This program is NOT meant for independent projects or thesis research. It IS a great way for students to try out working in a lab for the first time or to try out a new lab topic. Several labs are from the psychology department or work on related topics in other schools or departments.
• KRANIUM - Kempner Research in Artificial and Natural Intelligence for Undergraduates with Mentorship  –  Deadline is February 14, 2024: A 10-week summer program sponsored by the Kempner Institute as part of the Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village (HSURV). Fellows will live in one of the Harvard College houses with other fellows in the Summer Undergraduate Research Village. As part of KRANIUM, fellows will participate in rich programming, including both social and academic activities, and become members of a vibrant intellectual and social summer community.
• PRIMO - Program for Research in Markets and Organizations – Deadline is February 14, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. A 10-week summer program that aims to build community and stimulate creativity among Harvard undergraduate researchers in business and related fields. To participate, you must apply and be selected to work in one of the research areas which span diverse topics (finance, organizational behavior, marketing, etc.), disciplines (Psychology, Economics, Sociology), as well as methods (quantitative or qualitative). Successful fellows will be placed with pre-designed faculty projects at Harvard Business School. PRIMO fellows are offered Harvard campus housing, a partial board plan, and modest research support.
• PRISE - Program for Research in Science and Engineering – Deadline is February 14, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. Provides Harvard College students conducting research in the sciences (including neuroscience) and engineering with housing, possible stipend, and earnings requirement. Do not need to have summer plans finalized by mid-Feb but must be in the process of finding a lab position.
• SHARP - Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program – Deadline is February 14, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. A 10-week immersive summer program that aims to build community and stimulate creativity among a small cohort of Harvard undergraduate researchers in the humanities and arts. SHARP fellows work on research projects with Harvard-affiliated faculty, researchers, and senior library and museum staff. Fellows live together in one of the Harvard College houses and participate in rich evening programming that includes both social and academic activities. To participate in SHARP, you must apply and be selected to work on one of the available SHARP research projects.
• SPUDS - Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science – Deadline is February 14, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. A 10-week summer program that aims provide a formative and substantive data science research experience and to promote community, creativity, and scholarship amongst Harvard College students. SPUDS will support Fellows who are interested in data science applications across the arts, humanities, sciences and more. Prospective fellows should seek a research collaboration with a Harvard faculty host, and apply to SPUDS directly through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. It is not necessary to have secured a research position by the SPUDS application deadline. Fellows will work with Harvard-affiliated researchers and live in one of the Harvard College houses with other fellows in the Summer Undergraduate Research Village.
• The Summer Program in Biostatistics and Computational Biology – Applications due February 16, 2024. The Summer Program in Biostatistics and Computational Biology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is hosting its program on campus this year! The program, intended for undergraduate students and recent grads that are underrepresented in graduate education, provides a unique opportunity to learn about the use of quantitative methods for biological, environmental, and medical research alongside Harvard faculty, researchers, and graduate students.
• SURGH - Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health Program – Deadline is February 4, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. SURGH offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to research critical issues in global health under the direction of a Harvard faculty or affiliate mentor. The program includes housing and a stipend.
• Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program   – Deadline is February 4, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. Supports undergraduates who are conducting a promising summer research project in mathematics, engineering, life, physical/natural or computer sciences. The project can be based anywhere in the world (including US), but must be affiliated with a university, lab or research enterprise and be highly substantive: at least 10-weeks in duration, full-time in commitment, and exhibiting some degree of autonomy and input by the applicant in its design and execution.
• McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program   –  Deadline is February 9, 2024, 11:59 PM EST.  MMHRSP is a 10-week neuroscience and clinical psychology research experience for individuals from underrepresented groups in mental health research careers. MMHRSP offers hands-on, mentored research at McLean Hospital -- Harvard Medical School’s primary psychiatric teaching hospital. MMHRSP aims to increase representation in mental health research and careers (including neuroscience, clinical psychology, and psychiatry) by providing paid research opportunities, committed long-term mentorship, academic networking, and community engagement.

Non-Harvard Opportunities - Summer 2024  

The American Psychological Association maintains a list of Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Internships ; check it out for additional non-Harvard summer research opportunities!  

• Summer Counselor Positions for the Summer Stars Program  - Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. T he Summer Stars program is an evidence-based summer camp program that aims to serve children with and without externalizing behavior problems, including those with ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, as well as learning problems and other related behavior problems. The Summer Stars program will run from Monday, July 8 to Friday, August 2nd, 2024, with training from June 28th to July 5th, 2024. The hours for this position are 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. Counselors will receive a salary of $2,700 for their service. Students who are currently studying Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or a related field and have experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, after-school programs, sports programs, daycare programs, and educational programs are encouraged to apply.
• Clinical Research Intern Positions in the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital  - Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.  The Massachusetts General Hospital Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation (DCBI) is seeking applicants for a Clinical Research Intern (CRI) position for Summer 2024. The aim of the DCBI is to evaluate psychiatric and psychosocial treatments for bipolar disorder, to learn more about the causes and general course of this disorder, and to investigate the pathophysiology of the condition with neuroimaging and other biological markers. Our clinic participates in large-scale, multi-site, NIMH, industry, and privately-sponsored initiatives.
• Summer Treatment Program with the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University -  Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.  The Center for Children and Families' Children's Summer Treatment Program (STP)   is an award winning, evidence-based program for children ages 3-12 with ADHD and related behaviors. Counselors are assigned to groups of 10-15 children, with 4-5 counselors per group and will receive  extensive clinical training . Counselors will provide feedback to children and parents and record behavioral data for children in their groups while also receiving daily performance feedback from experienced staff members who provide live supervision.
• Hastings Center Summer Bioethics Program for Underrepresented Undergraduates  - Applications due Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. Applications are now open for the 2024 Hastings Center Summer Bioethics Program for undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in bioethics. These groups include and are not limited to communities of color, Indigenous communities, rural residents, and students with disabilities. The five-day live online program will take place from June 3-7, 2024 (11am-5pm ET). Participants will have the opportunity to engage with distinguished scholars from around the country and learn about theoretical and applied issues in bioethics. Participants will develop skills in clarifying, explaining and justifying their views on topics in bioethics, and in listening with respect to divergent views. Students who complete all program requirements will receive a stipend of $500.
• APA Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowships - Applications due Friday, March 1, 2024.  Undergraduate students who are enrolled in the Fall 2024 term and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion are encouraged to apply for the APA SUPER Fellowship, which provides a $4,000 stipend to the student to conduct summer laboratory research and $1,000 to their faculty host. Projects must be student-driven and supervised by a faculty member with sufficient resources to support the proposed work, although collaboration with postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other research staff is encouraged. 
• MindCORE Summer Research Fellowship Progam - Applications due January 1, 2024. The MindCORE Summer Fellowship Program is a paid 10-week program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from June 2 - August 9, 2024. Summer Fellows are matched with select MindCORE faculty in interdisciplinary mind and brain studies based on student research interest and mentor preference. With their mentors, students embark on a research project shaped as much as possible by their interests.
• Summer of Translational Aging Research for Undergraduates (STAR U) Program  - Applications due January 17, 2024.  STAR U is a 2-month fully funded research training program at Columbia University that is designed to encourage undergraduate students from diverse and underrepresented communities to pursue further graduate studies and careers in aging and neuroscience-related research. Throughout the summer, in addition to carrying out an individualized research project alongside Columbia faculty, students engage in a range of learning and professional development opportunities and become part of a supportive learning community.
• Undergraduate Summer Brain Research Program - Applications due February 5, 2024. The Institute for Human Neuroscience at Boys Town National Research Hospital is inviting applications to the Undergraduate Summer Brain Research Program. The 10-week paid intensive research opportunity begins on May 20, 2024 and ends on July 26, 2024. Housing is provided for students from outside of the Omaha metro area. Students accepted to the program will be matched with experienced and well-funded faculty mentors to conduct in-depth research and data analysis in human neuroscience. Accepted students will also attend a variety of learning activities, including professional development workshops, journal clubs, lab meetings, and summer retreat presentations.

Harvard Summer School  

CERTAIN Psychology courses offered by the  Harvard Summer School  will automatically count for concentration or secondary field credit if you have not already taken the equivalent course during the academic year.    Please see the  "Certain Harvard Summer School Courses" section of our Departmental Advanced Courses page  for a list of these courses and for other important information regarding departmental credit.

• Finding a Research Lab
• Course Credit for Research
• Post-Graduate Research Jobs

Research Opportunities

Collaborating with faculty members conducting research in the Department can be a rich and rewarding experience for undergraduates interested in empirical psychology research, and for those seeking to apply to graduate programs in psychology or neuroscience. Graduate programs typically accept only applicants with extensive experience. Our Department offers several mechanisms by which students can take part in psychology research in the laboratory.

Research Opportunities, Reading and Research Tutorials, REBL

The Department of Psychology offers a variety of research opportunities including Reading and Research Tutorials. Reading tutorials ordinarily involve a review of professional literature on a subject agreed upon by the student and faculty member. Research tutorials involve either empirical or theoretical research of a more original nature. Students are also strongly encouraged to seek involvement in the Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program . The latter offers support for student research and has a competitive summer fellowship program.

Students are encouraged to join research labs and/or enroll in reading tutorials and independent research tutorials. Both reading and research tutorials taken under the guidance of a member of the Georgetown University Psychology Department faculty or under the collaborative guidance of a faculty member at another institution and a member of the Georgetown University Psychology Department faculty can be counted as elective courses toward the major or minor. In order to count as elective credits toward the Psychology major or minor (Research Tutorial or REBL), student research activities must be under the direct supervision of a faculty member in the Georgetown University Psychology Department.  No more than six (6) credits of Tutorials or REBL can be counted toward the Psychology major or minor.  However, neither reading nor research tutorials can be used to satisfy the distribution requirements of the major. Research tutorials and/or participation in research are particularly recommended for any student wishing to pursue graduate study in psychology. Research Tutorials typically involve a student conducting a small project as part of the larger, ongoing research program of a faculty member. In most cases, a faculty member is not able to accept more than a few students for tutorials each semester.

Students also have the option to enroll in PSYC 401 – 403 Research Experience-Based Learning (REBL) and conduct research for course credit, including course credit in the major/minor. The learning goals for the REBL course draw on all of the learning goals of the undergraduate psychology program. Much of the work will target Goal 2 – Epistemological Foundations – because students will learn firsthand about the methods psychologists use for generating knowledge. Each specific research experience will also impart Foundational Knowledge (Goal 1) about the area of scientific inquiry in which you are participating, the skills and perspectives necessary to apply the knowledge to everyday life (Goal 3), and the Values in Psychology (Goal 4) involved in the ethical practice of research. REBL is available in the Fall and Spring semesters as well as the Full Term Summer Session. For more detailed information on REBL and how to enroll, please  read the syllabus .

In planning an undergraduate program, majors should keep in mind that no more than fourteen (14) courses in psychology may be counted towards graduation. All courses are three (3) credits unless arrangements are made with the professor prior to registration. Permission of the instructor is required for all tutorials. Specific requirements are agreed upon between the student and faculty member, but typically, tutorials involve regular weekly meetings and require a paper due at the end of the semester. Tutorial registration forms may be obtained from the College Dean’s Office (108 White-Gravenor) and must be completed prior to registration.

Majors are advised to consult with faculty members early if they wish to do a tutorial. Students who are unsure which faculty members to approach for a tutorial on a given subject should consult with their advisor. Information about individual faculty is located on our  Faculty page .

Other Research Resources:

    how to gain research experience (lab matching tool).

This  MATCHING TOOL  will help you through the process of finding a Georgetown Psychology lab that fits your interests. We will ask you a couple of questions to gauge where your interests lie, and then we will use that information to make some recommendations.  First, we want to address several misconceptions about research that are common amongst Georgetown students. These include students…

• thinking that they have to have their own research idea. 
• thinking that they work on a research project one-on-one with a professor. 
• feeling like they have to wait until they are junior or senior to be qualified.
• not knowing that in addition to joining a lab, they will also be a part of a larger research team and receive specialized training.

Even if the career you are interested in is not traditionally associated with research, participating in research can still be valuable! By becoming part of one of the Georgetown psychology labs you can develop skills required for data processing, critical thinking, critical analyses, communication, and much more. In addition, being part of a lab allows students to create strong connections with a specific professor and the other students in the lab.

    Getting Involved in Conducting Research

Many research laboratories in the Department conduct empirical research projects in which they welcome the participation of undergraduates who wish to assist in the collection or coding of data, screening and recruitment of participants, and other elements of laboratory research such as conducting literature searches and attending weekly laboratory meetings. Please visit our  Faculty pages to learn more about the research conducted by members of our Faculty.

    Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

The  Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program  (GUROP) offers highly motivated students the opportunity to learn more about research in a discipline of their choosing and experience the rewards of scholarly research by working with faculty on their research projects:

Students approved for GUROP must spend a minimum of 60 hours per semester/summer working with a faculty mentor on that faculty member’s research. Students receive a notation on their transcript for every semester of completed GUROP research.

In addition, GUROP provides competitive summer fellowships that support students working full time on research during the summer. To receive a summer fellowship, students must typically have already been engaged in GUROP research during the Spring and/or Fall.

    Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholarship Programme

The  Laidlaw Foundation  partners with world-leading universities, including Columbia University and University College London, to select up to 25 outstanding undergraduates at each institution annually for the Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholarship.

For more information on how to apply and what the program entails, see the page from the Center for Research and Fellowships .

    Research Tutorials

Students wishing to engage in in-depth research with a member of the Faculty can opt to do so by enrolling in a Research Tutorial.  Information on pursuing this option can be found in the Undergraduate Handbook .

    Research Experience-Based Learning

Students may enroll in PSYC 401 – 403 Research Experience-Based Learning (REBL) and conduct research for course credit, including course credit in the major/minor.  For more information, see the Undergraduate Handbook.

Download the REBL syllabus and form to enroll.

    Summer Research and Funding

Students considering applying for graduate training in psychology or applying to medical school may wish to be involved in more intensive research in a laboratory over the summer. Summer research can be done on a volunteer basis, or can be supported by a summer grant from  GUROP . For more research and funding opportunities, please see the following page .

In addition, a variety of other grants are available to support summer research for undergraduates. The Association for Psychological Science sponsors  undergraduate summer research  for members of Psi Chi, the International Honors Society in Psychology.

The Psi Chi website provides information on  a number of other funding opportunities  for undergraduate members of Psi Chi engaged in summer research (as well as research during the academic year).

The department also keeps a list of research opportunities for the upcoming summer: 2022 Summer Research Opportunities .

    Honors Thesis Research

The Department of Psychology’s Honors Program provides enriched research training for a small group of the most motivated and accomplished psychology majors.  Application procedure and criteria for acceptance can be found in the Undergraduate Handbook.

Download the Honors application form.

    Provost Undergraduate Research Presentation Awards

This award is for students engaged in significant research or scholarship that they will present or publish at a professional conference, publication or setting (including the arts). The Office of the Provost uses this program to provide funds for undergraduates who want to extend their undergraduate research efforts beyond the Georgetown campus in either traditional or innovative ways, in the form of conference presentations, publications, or performances. The Provost Undergraduate Research Presentation Awards (PURPAS) support students who want to bring the findings of their research to a professional or scholarly community, or to other venues. There are multiple mechanisms for supporting thesis and independent research on campus, such as tutorials, GUROP, Raines, Kalorama, and various research fellowships. However, limited funds are available for the creative and expansive dissemination of the results of research, through, for example, conference presentations, publications, and performances.

Students from all majors in all of Georgetown’s undergraduate schools are eligible for funding. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors who will be disseminating their work prior to graduation and in rare cases, immediately after graduation. Without exception, students must apply prior to graduation. Faculty sponsors must be Georgetown faculty, but can be from any school or discipline. For more information on the award and how to apply, please visit the  PURPAS web page .

    GU School of Medicine ARCHES Program

Visit the School of Medicine’s website for information on the Dean of Medical Education’s Academy for Research, Clinical, and Health Equity Scholarship (ARCHES) .

ARCHES is a six-week program for ten undergraduate students who are rising juniors and rising seniors interested in pursuing medical studies.This program engages selected participants in clinical experience, guided research, and immersive service at Georgetown University.

    Georgetown Office of Fellowships, Awards, and Resources

Visit the website for the Office of Fellowships, Awards, and Resources for information on fellowships available to Georgetown students.

    Research Opportunities Outside Georgetown

Students who wish to broaden their training may wish to apply to work in a laboratory at an institution other than Georgetown during the summer. The American Psychological Association supplies a list of  psychology programs seeking summer research assistants from outside institutions , and the Department often sends out announcements about such opportunities over its Majors and Minors ListServ. If you find you are missing from this ListServ please e-mail  Bonnie Ginsberg  to be added.

Outside research opportunities are also posted on the department’s  psychology job and research opportunities blog .

For students interested in health-related research, the National Cancer Institute offers research fellowships in which students can pursue placements in the Behavioral Research Program or other parts of the division.

Research Opportunities

Getting involved in research as an undergraduate paves the way for in-depth exploration into a variety of psychology topics. Students will acquire experience in scientific methodology in the realm of psychology and work with accomplished faculty members.

PSYCH 195 Special Laboratory Projects 

Stanford Psychology undergraduate students can arrange independent study with a professor to conduct research in their lab for course credit (PSYCH 195).

Learn more about Independent Research

Psych-Summer

The Psych-Summer Program offers Stanford Psychology majors the opportunity to spend the summer working on a research project supervised by a Stanford Psychology faculty member.

Learn more about Psych-Summer

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate research provides students with first-hand knowledge of research design and execution, the opportunity to be mentored by faculty and graduate students, and a way to apply and expand upon the knowledge gained in their foundation courses.

Research is academically challenging and lab spaces are limited. Therefore, it is ideal for students with a specific goal of applying to either graduate or professional programs. Undergraduate research is not a Psychology degree program requirement, and we cannot accommodate all requests for research assistant positions.

Applying for a position

Begin exploring options for undergraduate research early. It takes time to review faculty research and labs, so students should begin this process at least a semester before they plan to begin.

Review the department’s research labs (links below). Identify labs you have an interest in joining, and contact the faculty member directly. 

Interviewing for a position

Labs may request an interview with applicants, who should respond quickly and be prepared to discuss their specific interest in the lab’s research and how it connects to the students graduate or professional school and career plans. An interview invitation does not guarantee a position in a lab. Keep in mind that most faculty are looking for at least a one year commitment from students.

Earning academic credit

Student who have accepted a research assistant position in a lab have two opportunities to earn academic credit hours: the department’s PSYC 4800 or a CURO Research/Thesis Courses (e.g. PSYC 4960R, 4970R, 4980R, 4990R). PSYC 3980 and 3990 are pre-requisites for all these courses, and all are Permission of Department . Students should discuss which course option is appropriate with faculty mentor or research lab leadership. Note* Some faculty require a semester of volunteer hours in a lab before allowing course credit for their involvement.

PSYC 4850 Application Form  (Directed Readings in Psychology)

PSYC 4800 is appropriate when a student is involved in a narrow aspect of the research process (e.g. only data entry). PSYC 4800 is 1-3 credits, and credit hours are based on the number of hours a student commits to working in the lab. Each credit hour earned requires three weekly work hours. Only three credits can be completed per semester, but the course can be repeated for a total of nine hours overall. PSYC 4800 does not require a major assignment/written work and is, thus, graded S/U. 4800 satisfies the university’s Experiential Learning requirement. The PSYC 4800 online application can be accessed here .

PSYC 4800 Application Form  (Supervised Research)

PSYC 4960R-4980R is appropriate when a student is involved in research from multiple elements (e.g. data collection, data entry, and data analysis). These courses are 1-6 credits, and credit hours are based on the number of hours a student commits to working in the lab. Each credit hours earned requires three weekly work hours so that 1 credit would be earned for working 3 hrs/p/week , 2 credits for 6 hrs, 3 credits for 9 hrs/p/wk. These courses must be faculty-mentored and must require at least one significant written assignment, graded on an A-F scale. The student and faculty member will create a ”syllabi” outlining how these hours will be devoted and the syllabi will be submitted for departmental approval. 4960R-4980R satisfy the university’s Experiential Learning requirement. The Psychology Department's CURO Research Course application can be accessed here.

PSYC 4990R is appropriate only for students writing a thesis or producing other professional capstone products that are the culmination of the 4960R- 4980R sequence. CURO’s 4990R Research Course application can be accessed here.  This application will serve as the syllabi.

Click here for full list of research areas. 

Click here for list of active research labs. 

We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience.  Click here to learn more about giving .

Every dollar given has a direct impact upon our students and faculty.

Research Opportunities

The psychology department offers undergraduate students the unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the research lab of a distinguished faculty member. Research is a valuable addition to any student's academic program. Getting involved in research in psychology can help you:

• discover your strengths, explore your interests, and develop transferrable skills that can help build your résumé and secure future employment.
• gather the information that can help you make future decisions about graduate school and become more competitive for psychology graduate programs.
• gain firsthand experience and be part of a team whose goal is to make a contribution of knowledge to the field of psychology.
• connect with other members of the department for future networking.

Research for Credit (PSY 4/5993)

PSY 4/5993 is the most common way that psychology students engage in research. At least one semester of research lab experience for credit is required for psychology BS students and is highly recommended for all psychology majors.

Learn what to expect and how to register for PSY 4993/5993: Directed Research .

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

UROP supports research or creative projects undertaken in partnership with a faculty member. Financial awards of up to $1,700 are offered twice a year to full-time undergraduates. These grants allow students to design and carry out their own research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor.  Contact psychology advising for information about getting started.

Additional Research Opportunities

Sentience undergraduate research journal.

Sentience is the online academic journal for papers describing research in psychology written by undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota. Undergraduates have the opportunity to participate on the editorial board and gain first-hand experience in all phases of the scientific publication process. Contact Dr. Mark Stellmack for more details.

Professional Conferences

Attend or present your work at a professional psychology research conference! The Mortensen Travel & Research Award  (up to $500) is available for undergraduate psychology majors who are presenting a poster or paper at an undergraduate research conference or professional psychological conference.

• UMN Undergraduate Research Symposium : The Undergraduate Research Symposium is an annual research fair that gives all undergraduate researchers at all University of Minnesota campuses a chance to share their research, scholarly and creative projects with the University community.
• Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) Annual Meeting : Learn from and interact with psychologists from diverse backgrounds who all come to keep up on current developments in the field of psychology.
• MidBrains : The Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference for the Upper Midwest. 
• Minnesota Psychological Association Annual Convention : Engage in networking, share information, and present your work.
• Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference (MUPC) : Present your research and discover the different types of research topics being studied by students in other Minnesota colleges. The call for MUPC submissions happens in early spring.
• National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) : This annual conference promotes undergraduate research scholarship and creative activity from all academic disciplines.

Summer Research Opportunities

McNair Scholars Program Multicultural Summer Research Opportunities Program (MSROP) Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) National Site List

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Join a psychology research initiative.

In the Department of Psychology at ASU Tempe, you'll have the potential to work with renowned faculty on research projects in more than 40 high-tech laboratories geared toward solving society’s biggest challenges across an array of scientific study including addiction, neuroscience, adolescence, stress, canine behavior, embodied cognition, emotion regulation, and so much more.

Psychology's research labs are a great way to experience scientifically-based applications to your coursework that will help develop your critical thinking and analytical skills to position you to excel in future endeavors -- particularly if you're considering graduate school where research experience can give you a competitive edge.

@HEART; Healthy Experiences Across Relationships and Transitions lab (Ha)

Research area clinical psychology, developmental psychology.

Director Thao Ha, PhD. Lab

Actively Recruiting Undergraduates Yes

Actively Recruiting Graduate Students Yes

ADAPT (Gewirtz)

Director Abigail Gewirtz

Actively Recruiting Undergraduates Contact Us

Addiction Neuroscience Laboratory (Olive)

Research area behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology, neuroscience.

Director M. Foster Olive

Actively Recruiting Undergraduates No

Actively Recruiting Graduate Students No

Adolescent Stress and Emotion Lab (Doane)

Research area developmental psychology.

Director Leah Doane

Basic Behavioral Processes Lab (Sanabria)

Research area behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology.

Director Federico Sanabria

Behavioral Alcohol Research for Clinical Advancement (Corbin)

Research area clinical psychology.

Director William R. Corbin

Behavioral Neuroscience of Memory & Aging (Bimonte-Nelson)

Director Heather Bimonte-Nelson

Behavioral Neuroscience Research in Stress (Conrad)

Director Cheryl D. Conrad

Actively Recruiting Graduate Students Maybe

Body Image Research and Health Disparities (BIRHD) (Perez)

Director Dr. Marisol Perez

Brain, Epigenetics, & Altered States of Consciousness Research (Lewis)

Director Dr. Lewis

• Research & Discovery

Research Opportunities

Research refers to the process of conducting studies into different aspects of a determined subject, with the aim of developing a more in-depth knowledge of the topic and/or search for possible solutions or answers to determined issues. You do not need to be an expert in the topic that you are passionate about, just motivated enough to look for the right opportunities to enter the research world while at Cal. 

Psychology opportunities available to you during your academic journey:

• Honors Program The Psychology Honors Program offers an opportunity for declared students that meet all the requirements to create their own research program with staff mentorship. Students immerse themselves in a special curriculum that culminates with them submitting their thesis. Besides enriching their journey and opening doors for research careers, students can earn the title of ‘Highest Honors’ in their B.A degree.
• Research Assistant /Independent Study  (Specifically Psych 199) If selected for a research assistant position, you can earn units for your work.  This a great way to explore a career in research and immerse yourself in a Psychology lab.
• Research Participation Program  (RPP) If you are interested in participating in different research projects, the Research Participation Program allows qualifying students to take part and answer questions about Psychology. Many Psychology courses require that you participate in RPP as part of your grade, but you are welcome to join RPP studies even if not required for class participation.

Discover campus-wide opportunities:

• Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP)
• Underrepresented Researchers of Color (UROC)
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)
• Haas Scholars
• Undergraduate Laboratory at Berkeley (ULAB) - Psychology & Cognitive Science Division The Psych & CogSci Lab has a vision of offering an experience that benefits all undergraduates in the research community. Experienced researchers can attain leadership roles within this lab setting while facilitating the training and growth of aspiring researchers so that each group is primed for more advanced research opportunities.
• Research Experience Pathways in Psychology (REP) REP provides an early opportunities in research, hands-on experience, and one-on-one mentoring to UC Berkeley underrepresented undergraduate students to increase diversity and inclusion in research and academia. 

Discovery Psychology Opportunities to Enrich your Time at UC Berkeley

Besides research, there are other resources that you can utilize to learn, discover, and grow in diverse areas of your academic experience. Below are some of the many resources that you can apply to and continue to expand your knowledge:

• Study Abroad as a Psychology Major The Psychology department encourages its students to add an international dimension to their education by participating in Berkeley Study Abroad (BSA). Exposure to various cultures and diverse human experience prepare students for the complex challenges faced by professionals in the field of Psychology.
• Facilitate a DeCal (Psych 198) DeCals are a great opportunity to discover how much you want to learn and explore a topic while learning in a small group led by student-facilitator, all while earning units toward your degree!
• Internships and Field-Study (Psych 197) Students may volunteer or intern with an organization whose program relates to the discipline of Psychology. Students engaged in an internship may receive either Psychology 197 units, compensation if the agency is willing to do so out of their funds, or both.
• Weekly Opportunities Through the Weekly Opportunities, you can learn about research, internships, employment, and course information and how to get into any of them.

In addition to all the previous resources, UC Berkeley offers multiple programs and opportunities to students to provide support, growth, and academic enrichment during their time at Cal. The UC Berkeley Discovery initiative can help you explore and connect with whatever area you may be looking for. Here are just some of the centers on campus that can help you to connect, explore, and immerse yourself in self-discovery during your time at Cal.

• Public Service Center The Public Service Center works with students, faculty, and the community to ensure society’s educational, economic, and social resources are accessible to all.
• BEGIN BEGIN features Berkeley innovation and entrepreneurship resources, opportunities, events, and news to help you connect with the Berkeley ecosystem and take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey.
• LEAD Center The LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Advising, & Development) Center is UC Berkeley’s hub for student involvement, leadership development, and co-curricular advising as they explore their interests and pursue their passions at Cal.
• Career Center The Career Center works to advance equity and access to career resources for every Cal student, current and recent alumnus.  This is a great place to get connected to internships, externships, and other opportunities to prepare for your transition to the career world. 
• Berkeley Connect Berkeley Connect is a mentoring program that matches graduate student mentors with a small group of peers who share academic interests.
• STEM Resources UC Berkeley offers multiple academic, employment, and course STEM opportunities to students wanting to expand their curriculums and experiences.
• Data Science Discovery The Data Science Discovery Program connects undergraduates with hands-on, team-based opportunities in data research projects at UC Berkeley, government agencies, community groups, and entrepreneurial ventures.
• Transfer Student Center The Transfer Student Center provides services to current Cal transfer students from other colleges and universities with navigating the academic and cultural landscape of one of the top research universities in the world.

UC Berkeley's LEAD Center offers multiple student-led organizations for students to immerse themselves in different communities and personal and professional, and academic enrichment during their time at Cal. Here are just some of the organizations on campus that can help you to connect with the fellow Cal psych community.

• ASUC Mental Health Commission ASUC MHC is the university's student government initiative to provide accessible mental health support for the UCB student population. They work to advocate and provide resources. They also partner with some of the orgs below.
• Lean On Me Lean On Me strengthens communities by providing peer-to-peer text lines that allow for easy access to confidential non-crisis support. They envision a world where anyone can seek and receive emotional support.
• Paws for Mental Health PMH is is a student-led organization at UC Berkeley that advocates for mental health awareness and aims to remove the stigma surrounding it through their wonderful canine companions. They usually table around Sproul with their furry pals and have fun events and fundraisers such as Puppy Polaroids, Barktober Fest and Dog Art Therapy, all in efforts to aid Cal students with the stresses of academic life.
• Student to Student Peer Counseling SSPC provides free, anonymous services from fellow trained student counselors to other UC Berkeley students. As non-professional counselors, they are able to communicate to students as peers while creating a healing environment through active listening and empathy. This is a great hands-on opportunity for direct counseling experience. They provide appointments and drop-in services for students to take advantage of.
• You Mean More YMM is an organization that aims to promote awareness regarding mental health issues, to strengthen the prevention of suicide and self-harm amongst university students, and to reduce the stigma surrounding these topics. They also organize events and fundraisers. Each year, their main event is the UC Berkeley Suicide Prevention Walk, which raises funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
• Independent Study
• Research Participation Program
• Study Abroad
• Academic Overview
• Academic Advising
• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
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• Weekly Opportunities
• Career Paths

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Research Opportunities

Please note that this is not a complete list; you may also want to review the list of Faculty Research Interests and contact faculty whose interests correspond with yours.

NOTE: These ads are for undergraduate research assistants; compensation is research experience credit or work-study pay based on a financial aid award. These positions are not available to graduate students seeking stipend support.

You can either scroll through the entire list, or click below to go directly to the area in which you are most interested:

Table of Contents

Non-department opportunities.

(good experience, elective (not PSYCH) credit available) 

World Campus 

Opportunities in this section are open  only to World Campus students.

Online Social Perception Laboratory

Faculty Adviser :  Dr. Anthony Nelson ( [email protected] )

Lab duties:  The Online Social Perception Laboratory is seeking students interested in gaining research experience to serve as research assistants. This experience is especially geared toward preparing students for research in graduate school. Instead of assisting on an existing project, students are encouraged to pursue their own research projects (or group research projects) under the guidance of Dr. Nelson. To get the most out of this experience, students should be prepared to participate across multiple semesters. In the first semester, students will be expected to conduct a comprehensive literature review on a topic of their choice to develop an understanding of the existing literature in the field. Additionally, students are expected to learn a new statistical program (JASP, SPSS, or R).

After the first semester, students are encouraged to develop their own studies once they have demonstrated that they have enough background knowledge in their topic of choice to develop a novel hypothesis. This experience would allow the student to learn all aspects of the research process from start to finish, including submitting an IRB, preregistering hypotheses, programming study materials, recruiting participants, analyzing the data, and preparing the results for dissemination, either via conference presentation and/or journal submission.

In addition to the above-mentioned duties, students are expected to participate in weekly discussions where one member of the lab will provide a research article to be read and discussed. Each member of the lab will be expected to assign the weekly reading at least once each semester.

Who should apply:  Students who are interested in pursuing graduate education in psychology, especially PhD programs, where research will be a major component of the program. Generally, students should have already taken (or are currently taking) PSYCH 301, however this is not a strict requirement. Students with PSYCH 301 experience will be given priority if there are more applicants than there are available positions.

Students who apply to the lab must be self-motivated. This is NOT a typical course where students will be graded on frequent assignment submissions. Students must take the initiative to do the work, and to reach out to Dr. Nelson when they need guidance. Dr. Nelson will be checking in occasionally and offering feedback, but the students are ultimately responsible for their own progress. Students who have the most success in this lab are not afraid to reach out to Dr. Nelson frequently.

How we meet:  The lab is asynchronous, meaning that there are currently no set meeting times. We use Canvas for all lab correspondence. If a live meeting is desired with Dr. Nelson, this can be scheduled.

Credits : Students are expected to sign up for 3 credits of PSYCH 494, which consists of 9 hours of work per week. Exceptions will be made for lower amounts of credits on a case-by-case basis. Students may also volunteer for this experience. Please note that PSYCH 494 credits can be earned each semester, however, only the first 3 credits will count toward your 400-level course requirements.

Other benefits : In addition to earning credits and learning valuable research skills, students can request a letter of recommendation from Dr. Nelson. Getting letters of recommendation from faculty members you have worked on research with outside of a classroom is essential for getting into research-oriented graduate programs.

Peter Arnett

Neuropsychology of Multiple Sclerosis Research Lab (Not accepting applications)

Contact information :

Garrett Thomas ( [email protected] ) or Megan Bradson ( [email protected] )

Description of Research :  Our research looks at changes in cognitive, affective, and behavioral functioning that result from brain injury or disease. Specifically, we investigate the effects of multiple sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease. Undergraduate research assistants will be trained to score standardized measurements, enter data, and use statistical software. They will also attend lab meetings and, depending upon interest and ability, participate in other lab projects. Experience in a research lab exposes students to research design and implementation, allows students to understand the clinical applications of such research, and provides students with advice and training that enhance their applications to graduate and medical school programs.

Requirements/Qualifications :  We are looking for motivated, conscientious, and responsible undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are interested in research experience in clinical psychology. Interested students must be able to commit a minimum of 2 semesters to the lab, 6-9 hours per week during the semester. Preference is given to students with interests in pursuing graduate training in the mental health field or medical school.

Methods of Compensation :  Undergraduate research assistants receive 1 Research Project (Psy 494) credit for every 3 hours worked. Students can earn up to 3 course credits for 9 hours of work per week. Opportunities to continue work in the lab may be available over summers and beyond the current academic year. Honors options for Psy 496 Independent Studies or Senior Thesis Research projects may be available after 2 semesters of participation and satisfactory performance in the lab.

Please contact the Program Coordinator, Garrett Thomas ( [email protected] ) or Megan Bradson ( [email protected] )  for further information on applying.

Sports Concussion Research Lab (Not accepting applications)

Garrett Thomas ( [email protected] ) or Megan Bradson ( [email protected] )

Description of Research :  Our research looks at changes in cognitive, affective, and behavioral functioning that result from brain injury or disease. We investigate brain injury in college athletes who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) due to concussion. Undergraduate research assistants will be trained to score standardized measurements, enter data, and use statistical software. They will also attend lab meetings and, depending upon interest and ability, participate in other lab projects. Experience in a research lab exposes students to research design and implementation, allows students to understand the clinical applications of such research, and provides students with advice and training that enhance their applications to graduate and medical school programs.

Methods of Compensation :  Undergraduate research assistants receive 1 Research Project (Psy 494) credit for every 3 hours worked. Students can earn up to 3 course credits for 9 hours of work per week. Opportunities to continue work in the lab may be available over summers and beyond the current academic year. Honors options for Psy 496 Independent Studies or Senior Thesis Research projects may be available after 2 semesters of participation and satisfactory performance in the lab. Please contact the Concussion Program Coordinator, Garrett Thomas ([email protected]) or Megan Bradson ([email protected]) for more details and to schedule an interview. In your email, include your current year of schooling, your major or academic interests, your GPA, and any prior research experience.

Please complete and submit the Research Assistant Application.

Pamela Cole (Not accepting applications)

We have opportunities in all projects in the Cole Emotion Regulation lab.  In each study we try to understand the early development of emotional competence and mental health risk and the role of parents in their children’s development. If you are interested in a project (described below), please contact Tawni Stoop email:  [email protected].  You can find our applications and more information on line at https://sites.psu.edu/coleerlab/

Who are we?

• A team—devoted to understanding how young children develop the ability to perceive and manage emotions
• A team—we are a team of faculty, post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, full time research staff, & undergraduate research assistants
• A team—and a place to learn about research with children, to gain research skills, & receive support for planning for work and/or graduate school after college

What are we doing?

Processing of the Emotional Environment Project (PEEP II) is currently recruiting 7- and 8-year-old children and their families.  PEEP II uses a number of innovative methods, including functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to:

• examine how children process affective prosody (non-semantic features of speech that convey emotion)
• examine if neural activation differs when children hear unfamiliar and familiar emotional voices
• examine relations between children’s everyday emotional environment and their neural processing

Undergraduate Research Assistants on this project are trained to assist in recruitment efforts, collecting data from young school age children, obtaining assent to participate from children, administering standardized tests, preparing children for a neuroimaging visit, and processing collected data

The Development of Self-Regulation Dynamics is collecting data from children between the ages of 2 ½ to 5 years and from their parents.  This innovative methods in this study are its generation of data that can be used to understand self-regulation as a process of change and not a static, trait.  We:

• investigate how very young children handle feeling apprehensive or frustrated
• examine how children shift from relying on their parents to handle those feelings and become more self-reliant

Undergraduate Research Assistants on this project are trained to assist in recruitment efforts, collecting data from very young children and their parents, administering and recording standardized observational procedures, and processing collected data, including learning to code emotion

The Development of Toddlers Study (D.O.T.S.) has finished data collection and now focuses on what we can learn from the data.  This work examines:

• characteristics of very young children and their parenting that contribute to the development of emotion regulation by kindergarten age, e.g., child language, child temperament, and parents’ use of emotion talk, of conversations, and of structuring child self-regulation

Undergraduate Research Assistants on this project are trained to score and code data collected in the lab and at families’ homes.  This includes processing how young children use their language, both when they are coping on their own and when they are interacting with their parents, and how parents talk to their children.

What’s required of undergraduate RAs?

• Minimum of 10 hours a week
• Minimum of 2 semesters commitment
• Completion of the PSU required clearances and certifications needed to work with children
• Reliable and on time attendance at all meetings and family visits
• A love of children and a deep interest in how they develop and the careers aimed at helping them!

Chardée Galán

Research Assistant Positions in the Dismantling Racial inEquities Around Mental health (DREAM) Lab

Description of Lab:  The Dismantling Racial inEquities Around Mental Health (DREAM) Lab at Penn State is recruiting volunteer research assistants! The DREAM Lab is directed by Dr. Chardée Galán, an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Child Clinical Area ( https://galanlab.org/ ). Our lab aims to: 1) advance research on the mental health effects of racism on youth and families of color, including work on racial trauma; 2) develop and test interventions that leverage cultural strengths to promote resilience and mitigate the detrimental effects of racism on youth and families of color; and 3) address key drivers of racial inequities in mental health, including the lack of culturally humble mental health providers and the perpetration of racism by dominant racial groups.  

This position would be an excellent fit for applicants interested in pursuing graduate study in clinical psychology, developmental psychology, or related disciplines or interested in attending medical school. However, our lab is highly interdisciplinary, and we have also had students from other fields in our lab, including students with training in graphic design, computer science, and statistics (e.g., students with graphic design background have assisted with creating promotional materials for our research studies; students with statistics training have assisted with data management).

Start Date:  The position would begin at the start of the Fall 2023 semester.

Responsibilities:  Research assistants will assist with an exciting new project in which we are piloting a novel intervention (One Talk at a Time – AntiRacism) that seeks to equip White parents with the knowledge and skills to promote anti-racism in their children. Responsibilities will include:

–       Recruiting and screening families 

–       Conducting study assessments

–       Administering survey, observational, and interview assessments

–       Managing data collection

–       Transcribing and coding interviews and parent-child interaction tasks

There are select opportunities to take on more of a leadership role on this project for exceptional applicants

Requirements:  We are looking for students who share our commitment to social justice and demonstrate strong organizational, leadership, and time-management skills with an exceptional attention to detail.

Essential for this role is the adeptness to work independently as well as part of a team with a collaborative approach to problem solving. Other requirements include:  

–       Minimum 3.2 GPA

–       Commit a minimum of 10 hours a week of volunteer work

–       Commit to two consecutive semesters of service

–       Attend weekly lab meetings

–       With the exception of religious observances, we expect volunteers to commit to assisting with weekend assessments

Method of Compensation:  Research assistants will receive Research Project (PSY 294/494) credits. Generally, one hour of credit is given for every three hours of work per week, although actual hours worked may vary. Work study positions are available for qualified students. Volunteers are also welcome.

  How To Apply:  If you are interested in this research internship, please complete the application found  here  and email it, along with any requested materials (e.g., your transcript, resume), to Dr. Galàn ( [email protected] ). Preference will be given to students who apply by  August 25 th .  Select applicants will be invited for an interview. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.

Cynthia Huang-Pollock 

Description of Research:  We are currently conducting two research projects.  The first is exploring the neuropsychological and emotional processes related to learning problems in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  The second is studying the cognitive effects of nicotine withdrawal in regular smokers ages 18-45, with and without ADHD.  Research assistants working in the lab will receive training in the use of common statistical programs (such as SPSS) as well as the use and scoring of diagnostic behavior rating scales.  Exceptional undergraduate RAs will have the opportunity to work directly with child and adult participants in administering intellectual, academic achievement, and neuropsychological tests.

Our weekly lab meetings provide a forum to discuss theory and clinical application of the research, address any questions that arise from work in the lab, and receive career guidance.  This includes applying to graduate schools, formatting vitas, how to write a competitive personal statement, and career options for psychology majors.

Finally, Dr. Huang-Pollock has extensive experience in supervising undergraduate level theses and research projects.  Students graduating in Spring 2017 or later can complete a project for credit.

Method of Compensation:  You can receive 3 credits of PSYCH 294, 493, or 494 for 9 hours of work per week.  You will also be required to attend lab meeting each week (fall and spring semesters only).

Requirements/Qualifications :  We require a minimum GPA of 3.5 .  Preference is given to underclassmen with interests in pursuing graduate training in mental health.

Contact Information :   Please click here to complete the online application.  If you have any questions, please contact our Project Coordinator, Marissa Reynolds, at [email protected]

Kenneth Levy

Laboratory for Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy Research

Description of Research : Developmental psychopathology, attachment theory and research, emotion regulation, personality and personality disorders, and psychotherapy process and outcome research.

Requirements/Qualifications : I am looking for people who are bright, highly motivated, responsible, are seriously interested in pursuing doctoral level studies, and have sufficient time to commit to a project. Students must have a 3.5 GPA and be able to commit to a minimum of at least 9 hours per week during the semester and/or 12-20 hours per week during the summer, for at least two semesters.  Good computer skills and prior office experience are helpful.  In addition, students must be able to attend a weekly lab meeting.  I am particularly interested in freshman and sophomore research assistants, though qualified juniors are also encouraged to apply.

Method of Compensation : Research assistants will receive Research Project (PSY 294 or 494) credits or Work Study opportunities. Generally, one hour of credit is given for every three hours of work per week, although actual hours worked may vary. There are opportunities for work study if you are eligible, and paid positions are possible after a semester of participation. Honors options are available that can become PSY 496 Independent Studies or Senior Thesis Research (PSY 493).

Benefits:  Advanced students may have the opportunity to be involved in the writing of journal articles and presentations for conferences. Research assistants will gain valuable research skills, bolster their applications for doctoral level clinical or counseling psychology graduate programs, and have the opportunity to develop their interests within the field. Students will gain knowledge about relationships, attachment theory and assessment, personality disorders, and psychotherapy research from a developmental psychopathology framework.  Research assistants will also gain familiarity with experimental psychopathological methods used in current studies, such as cortisol, neurocognitive, smartphone technology, psychophysiological, and genetics (e.g., telomeres, candidate genes). In addition, research assistants will have the opportunity to conduct clinical interviews and assessments. This is an excellent set of experiences for anyone interested in preparation for doctoral studies in clinical psychology or related fields. Additionally, working on research with a faculty member gives faculty an opportunity to get to know you well enough to write an effective letter of recommendation. Finally, several students from our laboratory have received internal and external laboratory fellowships for school and have received clinical and research experiences beyond Penn State.  A large number of students in the lab have been accepted into prestigious and competitive doctoral programs.

Contact Info : If you are interested in a position please visit the laboratory website at:  https://levylab.la.psu.edu/ to complete the application for prospective undergraduate students listed under the “Apply” section.

Amy D. Marshall

Relationships and Stress Research Lab 

Description of Research : The mission of the research program in the Relationships and Stress Research Lab is to understand how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interacts with social information processing (e.g., attention to threat, recognition of emotions) to lead to relationship dysfunction and aggression. This model includes the study of interpersonal processes (e.g., reciprocal and multiplicative communication patterns) and contextual factors (e.g., emotional arousal) that may contribute to changes in information processing skills that are particularly important to the maintenance of adaptive close relationships. Additional foci of the lab include the study of hormones (e.g., estrogen, oxytocin, arginine vasopressin) that may explain the sex difference in PTSD prevalence, as well as explaining the link between PTSD and relationship dysfunction. We also study predictors of the co-occurrence and within-incident spillover of intimate partner violence and child abuse. Undergraduate research assistants may be trained to code couples’ and families’ videotaped interactions, run participants through study protocols, conduct recruitment interviews, search relevant literature, manage databases, and generally use your skills and creativity to assist in the development of new studies. In addition, lab meetings provide a forum to learn more about the topic under study and future opportunities in the field.

Method of Compensation : It is preferred that undergraduate research assistants earn independent research credit. Research assistants will gain valuable research experience and mentoring, especially helpful for those interested in pursuing graduate education.

Requirements/Qualifications : Highly motivated and responsible undergraduate students with an interest in clinical research are encouraged to apply. Students must have a 3.2 GPA. Preference is given to technologically competent students who are able to commit at least six hours per week to the lab (three hours of work for each hour of credit), as well as those who may be interested in continuing in the lab beyond the current semester.

Contact Information : Interested students should contact Angie Morrison for more information and to schedule an interview.

Aaron Pincus (accepting applications)

Aaron Pincus: [email protected] , 863-1723 Lab Website: http://psupersonalitylab.weebly.com

Description of Research: Research conducted in the Personality Psychology Laboratory broadly integrates personality and clinical psychological science. Current work focuses on:

• Interpersonal processes in personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy
• Pathological narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Conceptualization, etiology, assessment, and treatment.
• Classification, assessment, and treatment of personality disorders.
• Integrating personality structure and personality dynamics.
• Personality assessment and personality disorders in Chinese culture.

Methods of Compensation: Research assistants will receive Research Project (PSY 294/494) credits. Generally, one hour of credit is given for every three hours of work per week, although actual hours worked may vary. Workstudy positions are available for qualified students.

Requirements/Qualifications : Motivated, conscientious, and responsible students in their junior, sophomore, or freshman years (sorry, no seniors) with a minimum GPA of 3.2. Interest in personality preferred. A minimum time commitment of at least 9 hours per week for at least two semesters is required. Students must be able to conduct research sessions in the early evening hours and attend a weekly lab meeting. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in learning more about personality, clinical psychology, and quantitative methods in preparation for graduate school.

José A. Soto

Contact Information :

615 Moore Building [email protected]

Please send an email to [email protected] to request an application or for additional information. You may also complete the application here .

Description of Research Project : Members of our lab will study how, why and under what circumstances culture exerts an influence on the emotion system. We will study emotion using various methods including self-report, coding of behavioral data, and collection of psychophysiological data. We will also study different aspects of the emotion system such as emotional reactivity or expressivity, emotion regulation, empathic understanding of other’s emotions, and emotion language. Finally, we will study how the interaction of culture with these processes affects the psychological and physical well being of the individual.

Compensation : Research assistants can work on a volunteer basis or can earn independent research credit (PSY 494). Those eligible for work-study may be paid for their work. Research assistants will also gain valuable research experience for those interested in pursuing graduate school.

Qualifications : We are looking for motivated, detail-oriented undergraduates. Duties may include any or all of the following: attend weekly lab meetings, develop stimulus materials, conduct literature searches, assist with study implementation, train to use psychophysiological equipment, run subjects through psychophysiological protocol, and enter data. Students with computer savvy and a love for technology are especially encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to students who can work 2 consecutive semesters for at least 6 hours/week.

Sandra Testa Michelson (not accepting applications)

The Penn State Psychological Clinic is looking for Research Assistants!

The Pennsylvania State University Psychological Clinic is a community mental health clinic (CMHC) that also serves as a Practice Research Network (PRN) that fully and seamlessly integrates research and clinical practice.  We are currently looking to expand our team of motivated, conscientious, and responsible individuals, and this position is especially well-suited for undergraduates who would like to pursue graduate training in clinical psychology since it will help to gain valuable experience with clinical research that is being conducted within a large-scale CMHC.

As an RA, you will

• Learn data entry and management techniques for large-scale, longitudinal data
• Gain experience with how to structure, clean, and work with cross-sectional as well as longitudinal data
• Gain experience with reviewing project proposals and assisting with the oversight of research projects that are being conducted within PSU’s Psych Clinic
• Gain exposure to Electronic Health Records systems, common assessment batteries, and routine outcome monitoring techniques

Research assistants will receive Research Project (PSY 294/494) credits. Generally, one hour of credit is given for every three hours of work per week, although actual hours worked may vary from week to week though never exceed the agreed upon amount. Work hours contain both data management and didactic components. This is currently a remote position.

Contact : Sandra Testa Michelson, PhD ( [email protected] ) to apply.

Martha Wadsworth (not accepting applications)

Coping and Regulation of Environmental Stress Lab

Description of Research: The CaRES lab focuses on environmental stress and how children and families adapt to it. We are particularly interested in discovering sources of resiliency in children and their families and using this information to build programs to strengthen children and families who face stress. We focus on coping, self-regulation, and family support in our basic and applied research studies. The lab’s current project, Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) is an innovative intervention program for low-income youth which seeks to foster the development of a positive identity through social justice education and strengthen coping skills to buffer against the negative effects of stress.

Responsibilities: Include behavioral video coding, data entry, preparing assessment materials, assisting with data collection, and conducting literature searches.

Requirements/Qualifications: We are looking for highly motivated, detail-oriented, and responsible undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are interested in research experience in clinical psychology. Interested students must be able to commit a minimum of 2 semesters to the lab, 10 hours per week during the semester.  Opportunities for summer are also available. Preference is given to students with interests in pursuing graduate training in mental health or other careers working with children. Spanish speaking ability is also a plus, but not required.

Compensation: Students can receive 3 course credits for 10 hours of work in the lab and attending weekly lab meetings. Volunteers are also welcome.

Contact info: E-mail the Lab Coordinator, Allison Pequet, [email protected] for more information and applications. Chardée Galán

Nancy Dennis 

Now Recruiting

Description of Research : The Cognitive Aging & Neuroimaging (CAN) Lab, in the Department of Psychology at Penn State, examines the effects of aging on learning and memory processes using both behavioral and functional neuroimaging (fMRI) methods. Our lab focuses on several cognitive processes associated with learning and memory including the study of true memories, false memories, relational memories, implicit learning and cognitive control of both remembering and forgetting. With respect to cognitive aging, our research concentrates on the examination of age-related neural markers of cognitive decline, as well as mechanisms for neural compensation.

Description of Position : 2-3 positions available. Undergraduate students in the laboratory will help with general lab organization, participant recruitment, designing and planning experiments, data collection and analysis, and participate in a weekly lab meeting. Great experience if you are considering graduate school in psychology or neuroscience.

Requirements : Rising Sophomores or Juniors preferred – at least 9 hours per week during the semester – preference will be given to those students who can commit for multiple semesters. General computer skills necessary. Students may receive PSY 494 research project credits or work study funds

If interested please email Dr. Nancy Dennis. Please include your year of schooling, your academic interests, GPA, relevant classes taken, times you are available to work, computer skills, career goals.. Possibilities exist to enroll in Psych 496 Independent Studies or Senior Thesis Research in future semesters.

Michele Diaz 

Language and Aging Lab/Michele Diaz

Not accepting applications

Description of Research : We investigate age-related differences in language processing using behavioral methods, electrophysiology, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our research questions examine the relations between behavior, functional brain activity, and the neural structures that underlie these phenomena.

Description of Position : We are currently recruiting 2-4 undergraduate students. Research assistants are involved in a variety of lab activities including analyzing behavioral data, conducting experimental sessions, and developing experimental stimuli. Students are expected to complete 10 hours per week over the course of 2 consecutive semesters.

Method of Compensation : Research assistants will receive 3 credits for Psy 296/496 (Independent Study) or Psy 294/494 (Research Project).

Requirements/Qualifications : We are looking for highly motivated, responsible students with a minimum GPA of 3.4. Previous research experience is preferred, but not required. Interested students should complete and submit an application ( http://sites.psu.edu/mdiazlab/prospectivestudents/ ) to [email protected] . Questions can also be directed to the same email address.

Janet van Hell 

Bilingualism and Language Development Lab

Now recruiting

414 Moore Building

Description of Research : Our lab studies the cognitive and neurocognitive processes related to language development, second language learning, and bilinguals’ use of two languages. We combine behavioral, neuropsychological (ERPs), and linguistic techniques to study patterns of cross-language interaction and transfer in child and adult second language learners at different levels of proficiency. We also study the neural and cognitive mechanisms involved in code-switching and in the comprehension of foreign accented speech. A second research theme in our lab focuses on language development in school-aged children with typical or atypical development.

Description of Position: Undergraduate students receive extensive training in research and actively participate in lab activities, including recruitment of participants, development of experimental materials, conducting behavioral and electrophysiological testing, and scoring and analyzing data. This is ideal research experience if you are considering applying to graduate school in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, or related fields. We also engage in community outreach and science education events, including Brain in Action demonstrations at local elementary and secondary schools and activities related to Bilingualism Matters and the Center for Language Science.

Method of Compensation: Research assistants will receive Research Project (PSY494 or LING494) credits or Work Study opportunities. Summer opportunities are also available.

Requirements/qualifications . We are looking for motivated and responsible undergraduate students. A 2-semester commitment (minimum) is preferred, for 6-9 hours per week (2-3 credits a semester).

Contact Information:  For more information, please visit the laboratory website at: https://bild.la.psu.edu/ . If you are interested, you can email me ( [email protected] ) for more information. In your email please include: your year at Penn State, your major or academic interests, your training goals, and any prior research experience you may have.

Developmental

Rina d. eiden.

Accepting applications for Fall 2021

Description of Research: At the Development, Risk & Resilience Lab, we are trying to understand when and under what circumstances developmental trajectories of children begin to diverge from normative trajectories among families who are struggling with substance abuse and related issues (e.g., mental health symptoms; caregiving unpredictability). We are interested in how prenatal and early adversities shape the development of children’s self-regulation; how these associations may be mediated or moderated by parenting quality; and in applying this understanding to prevention. We are also working to understand protective factors that promote resilience in children in the face of early adversities.

Description of Position:   Potential duties include video coding, conducting literature reviews, and recruitment and data collection involving study participants. Various tasks related to project start up may also be assigned.

Method of Compensation: Research Credit (Psych 494 or other). Volunteer opportunities exist as well. Opportunities to use data for thesis and capstone projects available.

Requirements: Students must be able to work out a schedule with our lab staff and be consistent in their work hours and must be available for 3-9 hours per week. Students who can commit at least two consecutive semesters will be given first priority acceptance.

Interested Students: Please email [email protected] your availability for the upcoming term, desired number of credits/hours, and a copy of your resume.

Koraly Pérez-Edgar

Description of Research:  Our research focuses on the ways in which emotion and attention interact to shape how individuals navigate their social world. We do this through biological measures, self-report questionnaires, and observations of behavior in our laboratory. Our main focus is on the interaction between temperament, early appearing biases in emotion, and attention in infants and children.

Description of Position: Potential responsibilities include assisting with behavioral, eye-tracking, EEG and RSA data collection and assisting with behavioral coding and processing of physiological data. We may also develop tools for data collection and data processing.

Method of Compensation:  We offer research credit (e.g. Psych 494, other disciplines) as well as volunteer opportunities.

Requirements: We are recruiting responsible students who can commit 6-10 hours per week to the lab. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students interested in assisting in the development of tools for data collection and data processing must be proficient in Python.

To Apply: Please complete our application . Feel free to contact us with any questions, [email protected] .

Erika Lunkenheimer

Now Accepting Applications

Parent-Child Dynamics Lab

Research Assistant Position(s)

Title of position:  Undergraduate Research Assistant, Parent-Child Dynamics Lab

Summary of position:  In Dr. Erika Lunkenheimer’s Parent-Child Dynamics Lab, we study the ways that parenting and parent-child interaction patterns influence child development. We use dynamic time series analysis to examine how parents and children coordinate their emotions, behaviors, and physiology, and how this coordination is related to the development of children’s self-regulation and behavior problems. We also examine how parent-child interaction patterns relate to resilience and risk in the family, such as risk for child maltreatment, and how a better understanding of these patterns can inform the development and improvement of preventive interventions for stressed and overburdened families. Undergraduate Research Assistants will work both independently and as a team to support a broad range of research efforts, such as data collection with families and data processing of videos, biological data, and questionnaires.

Website URL:  www.pcd.la.psu.edu

Number of opportunities:  1-2

Start posting date:  Immediate – to start Fall 2022

End posting date:  Ongoing – until positions filled

Responsibilities:  Potential responsibilities include project preparation, recruiting families for research involvement, conducting study visits with families on Zoom or in the lab, recruiting families, coding behavior and affect in videotaped parent-child interaction tasks, entering questionnaire data, and/or processing physiological (breathing and heart rate) data. Training is provided. Undergraduate Research Assistants attend a regular group meeting which includes professional development topics, presentation of lab research, and discussion of relevant literature.

Qualifications:  Strong candidates will be enthusiastic, committed to the project, communicative, detail-oriented, and responsible.  Comfort with learning and utilizing computer software and/or lab equipment is required.  Prior experience in research is desired but not required.  Prior experience working with children and/or families is also desired.

Position Type : Course credit

Work setting : In-person research lab in Moore Building on UP campus

Application procedure : Email your CV or Resume to Alexa Nordine at [email protected] or  fill out our online application form: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9V9HeL4aafaUp86sVB45gecUnhxPabxj4EwiN6jzHhBMw2g/viewform

Suzy Scherf, PhD 

Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience 2017

Description of Research: Our research focuses on understanding how we become so good at recognizing faces and facial expressions from childhood through adulthood. It turns out that this is a very difficult task for the visual system to accomplish and takes many years to develop. Our lab conducts research with children, adolescents and adults to understand these developmental changes in face processing abilities, biases in processing faces of different ages, the ability to detect socially complex expressions, and whether face recognition ability is related to individual differences in neural activation. We examine these developmental trajectories by utilizing behavioral testing methods with computerized tasks as well as eye-tracking and neuroimaging (fMRI and DTI) methods. We have also just started a big project that aims to use gaming technology to help adolescents with autism process important social cues from faces.

Description of Position: Potential duties include: attending lab meetings, recruiting participants, developing study materials, conducting behavioral testing, and analyzing data. This is ideal research experience if you are considering applying to graduate school. We also host “Brain Camps” in conjunction with the Discovery Space down town.  In these day camps, we teach children about the science of the brain and of the visual system and give them an opportunity to participant in the very research that they are learning about.  We often need undergraduate students to help run the activities in the camps and at other local events, like Arts Fest.

Method of Compensation: Research assistants will receive Research Project (PSY 294 or 494) credits or Work Study opportunities. Summer opportunities are also available.

Requirements/Qualifications: We are looking for motivated and responsible undergraduate students. A 2-semester commitment (minimum) is preferred, for 6-9 hours per week (2-3 credits a semester). Students must have a 3.0 GPA or above. In your email please include: your year at Penn State, your major or academic interests, your GPA, and any prior research experience.

Contact Information: If you are interested, please contact [email protected]  for more information.

Kristin Buss 

Accepting Applications for Fall 2024

Description of Research :

Method of Compensation : Research assistants may apply for PSY 494 course credit or on a volunteer basis. Students eligible for work-study may be able to work in the lab for compensation after having worked in the lab for at least one semester. Participation provides a valuable experience and reference base for those considering graduate studies. 

Requirements/Qualifications : Because of the nature and training involved with the study, we ask for a minimum overall GPA of 3.3 and a minimum commitment of at least 2 semesters (although the majority of our undergraduates stay on the project longer than the minimum requirement). Students should plan to spend 10 hours per week involved in lab-related activities, including a weekly lab/coding meeting which research assistants are required to attend.

Contact Information : To apply or for more information, please contact Stacey Levan at [email protected] .  Interested students may also visit our website at  https://emotiondev.la.psu.edu.

Jenae Neiderhiser 

Gene-Environment Interplay Throughout the Lifespan

Accepting applications for spring 2021

Description of Research : Our lab is interested in understanding the interplay between genes and the environment in development. We are currently looking for undergraduates to work with us on one two different projects:

Early Growth and Development Study (EGDS): EGDS is a longitudinal adoption study interested in disentangling the effects of genes, prenatal drug exposure, and parenting on child outcomes and family adjustment. Opportunities for undergraduate research assistants include:

• Ordering, de-identifying and coding medical records of birth mothers (prenatal and delivery) and child medical records (0-10yrs).
• Other varied opportunities for data management/analysis and literature reviews.

Minimum qualifications: We are looking for undergraduate students (with a minimum GPA of 3.0) to work at least 10 hours per week. A commitment of 2 semesters is required. Accepted applicants will have to complete IRB human subjects training.

If interested, please go to  https://geinterplay.la.psu.edu/ to complete an application or contact Jenae Neiderhiser ( [email protected] ) or Allison Mitchell ( [email protected] ).

Pennsylvania Twin Registry

The Departments of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies are seeking volunteers to work on the Pennsylvania Twin Registry. The PA Twin Registry is currently recruiting adolescent twins in the state of Pennsylvania to register for and participate in future studies. Volunteers’ tasks include recruiting school administrators for participation, sending out mailings to participants, and managing databases.

Minimum Qualifications : Volunteers must have a GPA of 3.0 or above, have excellent interpersonal skills, and be willing to commit to 10 hours a week in the lab for a minimum of 2 semesters. Accepted applicants will also be expected to complete IRB human subjects training, Child Abuse Reporting Training, and will have to have a full background check.

Please send a resume to Tong Chung [email protected] .

Method of Compensation : Research assistants may work on a volunteer basis or receive credit for PSY 494. Our lab provides an excellent opportunity for students interested in developmental or clinical psychology, human development, biology, or medicine.

Dawn Witherspoon 

Context and Development Lab (CDL) – Undergraduate Research Assistant position

Description of Research : Research interests in the lab involve understanding how context shapes adolescents’ development and how race, ethnicity, and other cultural attributes interact with contextual characteristics to influence adolescent outcomes. Past projects in the lab ( FAN-C: Families, Adolescents, and Neighborhoods in Context ) have explored the roles of different contexts such as residential neighborhood, school, family, etc. on African American and Latino adolescent’s academic outcomes, beliefs, and behavior. Our current project ( PLACES/LUGARES ) is designed to explore the roles of residential neighborhoods and youth’s activities spaces on Latino and African American adolescents’ problem behavior, substance use, and affiliation with deviant peers as well as parents’ monitoring strategies. PLACES/LUGARES is a collaborative project with Dr. Mayra Bámaca and her IMPACT lab.

Undergraduate research assistants will be involved in preparing research materials, interacting with adolescents, and assisting with data collection. Research assistants will also be trained to enter and code data, conduct literature searches, and complete annotated bibliographies. Other lab tasks may be assigned as needed. Publication possibilities exist.

Method of Compensation: Research assistants may apply for PSY 494 or HDFS 496 course credit or work on a volunteer basis. Participation provides a valuable experience and reference base for those considering graduate studies.

Requirements/Qualifications: Because of the nature and training involved with the study, we ask for a minimum overall GPA of 3.3 and a minimum commitment of at least 2 semesters. Students are required to spend 10 hours per week involved in lab-related activities, including a one-hour weekly lab/coding meeting which research assistants are required to attend.

Bilingualism (i.e., Spanish) is desired but not required.

summer opportunities are available.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Context and Development lab, please complete the Undergraduate Research Application (available online: https://contextlab.la.psu.edu/ ) and email it to Dr. Witherspoon, [email protected] OR [email protected], with the subject: Context and Development Lab Undergraduate RA application.

Social Vision and Interpersonal Perception lab (social VIPs)

Contact information:  Please contact Dr. Reginald Adams ( [email protected] ) for more information or complete an application .

Description of research project:  Our lab focuses on the study of social vision—the intersection of social psychology and vision science. In our work, we recognize the interplay of visual and social processes both in terms of those that are innately prepared (via evolution), and those that have emerged as the product of individual variation and cultural learning. Our focus is on the study of Compound Social Cues. More specifically, we study how social and emotional meaning is extracted from the human face given the multiple social messages it conveys (e.g., emotion, gender, race, etc.). We utilize behavioral, neuroscientific, and cross-cultural methods to accomplish this work. We are currently seeking RAs who are interested in helping examine: 1) threat perception and individual differences, 2) emotion perception in the face and its interaction with social categories (e.g., race, age, gender), 3) social humor, 4) face perception in sub-clinical populations, and 5) perception of the self and others. Our goal is for RAs to experience all phases of the research process from idea generation to stimulus and program preparation, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation. All interested students are encouraged to apply.

Compensation:  Students will earn 3 hours of course credit by enrolling in Psych 494 (independent study). Working in a research lab is invaluable to those seeking to pursue graduate work in research psychology. Gaining early experience in a lab is also helpful for those who anticipate doing an honors thesis. 

Requirements/Qualifications:  We are looking for motivated, reliable, detail-oriented students with a strong work ethic and creative instinct. 

Daryl Cameron 

Description of research project: The Empathy and Moral Psychology (EMP) Lab focuses on the psychological processes involved in empathy and moral decision-making.  We use models and methods from affective science and social cognition to understand empathy and morality.  These include examining variation in empathic emotions and behaviors across different social contexts—for instance, why do people feel less empathy and help less when confronted with large-scale events (e.g., natural disasters, genocides) and with victims who are dissimilar (e.g., racial out-groups)?  In other work, we use cognitive tasks and mathematical modeling to understand the nature of moral judgment—i.e., how people decide whether an action or person is morally wrong and should be punished—in student, clinical, and incarcerated populations.

Research assistants are involved in every step of the research process.  This includes attending regular lab meetings; conducting literature searches; programming tasks and online surveys; administering studies; compiling and coding data; learning basic statistical analyses; and assisting with brainstorming and providing feedback.  Overall, this experience will provide an overview of psychological research and an opportunity to learn more about empathy and morality.  This experience is well suited for students who are interested in graduate study in psychology, as research assistants have the opportunity to contribute to creative discussions through all phases of the research process.

Method of compensation: Research assistants receive course credit (PSYCH 494).  Working in the EMP Lab will provide useful research experience and be good preparation for graduate school.

Requirements/qualifications: We are looking for interested, motivated, and highly conscientious students who want to learn more about psychological research.  No prior experience is required, but the minimal GPA to apply is 3.0.  We prefer students who can commit to 10 hours per week, and who can commit to work in the lab for multiple semesters.  Students with dual interests/majors in relevant fields (e.g., psychology & philosophy) are especially encouraged to apply.

To Apply for this position please visit : https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lOXCSylfhvlVzv

Contact Information: [email protected] .

Jonathan Cook

Group Identity and Social Perception Lab (GISP)  

What do we research?

Our research investigates how group identities (e.g. race, gender, sexual orientation, chronic illness, religion, being a student) can affect social perceptions. Much of our current research seeks to understand how people manage stress that can arise from important social identities. This phenomenon is called social identity threat. Our lab seeks to understand how social identity threat affects motivation, behavior, and basic biological processes and ultimately contributes to intergroup disparities in education, employment, and health. Additionally, we study how psychological interventions – such as brief writing and reflection exercises – can be used to mitigate the negative consequences of social identity threat.

More information about our research is available at  http://gisp.la.psu.edu

How do you join?

If interested, please fill out this form and email it to  [email protected] . Please note that your unofficial transcript should be included with your application.

We welcome research assistants from all demographic backgrounds and aim to create a work environment that is inclusive and respectful.

What would be your role?

Research assistants play an integral role in the lab and participate at all stages, from designing and running studies to organizing and analyzing participant responses. Past research assistants have also presented their work at national psychology research conferences. In some circumstances, research assistants can be co-authors on publications.

Can you volunteer, work for course credit, or apply your work-study hours in our lab?

Research positions are available on a  volunteer basis  or in exchange for  course credit (PSYCH 494) . Eligible students can also get involved for  work-study .

Please note that for applicants who seek course credit, we expect  a minimum of a 2-credit commitment , which corresponds to about  6 hours per week . Because of the time involved to get people trained, we ask for a  minimum of a two-semester commitment . While we consider GPA and relevant experience in the application process,  all are welcome to apply.

Contact information:  [email protected]

Karen Gasper 

518 Moore,  [email protected]

Description of Research Project  : Our lab is searching for a couple of motivated students who are interested in learning about how moods and emotions influence everyday activities. Some questions under investigation will be:

• How do people differ in their understanding of emotional experiences? Are some individuals more aware of their experiences than others?
• How do feelings influence judgment? For instance, do sad individuals always view the world more negatively than those who are happy? Under what circumstances does this change?
• How do our feelings influence information processing? For instance, are happy individuals more creative than sad individuals?

You will gain some valuable experience in using appropriate scientific methods, in running and conducting experimental sessions, and in analyzing and interpreting data. 

Method of compensation : Independent Study Opportunity. 

Requirements/Qualifications:  Knowledge of computers would be a plus, but it is not required. We are looking for responsible, creative, and articulate people with an interest in psychology. For more information and an application form, please go to:  http://fbiplab.weebly.com/

Sean Laurent

Morality and Social Cognition Laboratory (MASC Lab)

Contact Information:   Contact Dr. Sean Laurent ( [email protected] ) with any questions. See the lab webpage  for more information about the lab and what we do. If you decide to apply, fill out the form on this page  and email it to [email protected] and [email protected] . 

Description of Research Projects:  We are looking to recruit a few motivated and conscientious students to assist us in the morality and social cognition laboratory (MASC Lab). Our studies focus on “how people understand other people,” which includes things like how information about others’ minds influences the way they and their behaviors are evaluated, how information about others’ behaviors influences beliefs about their minds and character, how information about people’s attitudes, behaviors, or backgrounds contextualize how people evaluate their minds and behaviors, and how all of these pieces of information intersect to guide how people think about other people. See the MASC Lab website for more information. 

Responsibilities:  Students will gain a wide understanding of different aspects of research in social psychology and have the opportunity to learn a wide variety of skills. Students are expected to complete all assigned duties in a timely fashion, show up on time for research sessions, and if at all possible, attend weekly lab meetings where they will have opportunities to collaborate with others about research ideas and provide input on ongoing and future projects. Highly motivated students who have shown their commitment to the lab and to learning more about research might have opportunities to collaborate on a research project, present work at a professional conference, or be included as an author on a scientific publication. 

Methods of Compensation:   In addition to gaining research skills and learning about professional development and career opportunities, students can earn course credit by registering in PSY 294 or 494. Students can also volunteer.

Requirements/Qualifications:  To join the lab, students must be willing to commit to working in the lab for at least 2 semesters. Given the time and energy it takes to train new assistants well, longer participation is preferred. In addition, students must commit to working at least 6 hours in the lab (2 credits) during their first year. Students can apply during any year of their program (1st-4th) although first and second year students are preferred and last year students (i.e., seniors) are unlikely to be recruited except in special circumstances. Although we will also consider students who are interested in any career, we are particularly interested in students who are at least considering studying social psychology in graduate school. 

Jes Matsick 

Contact Information:  Contact Dr. Jes Matsick ( [email protected] ) if you have any questions. Interested students should submit an application by completing the following questionnaire:  https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bOOkcLHGCBwRDE1

Description of Research Projects:  Our lab is focused on prejudice, sexuality, and diversity:  we are committed to conducting research that highlights the perspectives and experiences of women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ people.  In one area of research, we study how members of marginalized groups view dominant groups (e.g., men/white people/heterosexual people). For example, what are LGBTQ people’s thoughts and feelings about heterosexuals?  Similarly, how might minority groups’ attitudes toward dominant groups predict their well-being?  We also study how to promote diversity and inclusion in male-dominated STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and the experiences of underrepresented groups in those fields. These interests include multiple projects that are at various stages of the research process (e.g., from being “just an idea” to being a nearly published article).

Responsibilities:  Students are expected to attend weekly lab meetings and their scheduled lab hours.  Students will learn how to collect online data, to conduct reviews of scientific articles, to design surveys on Qualtrics Survey Software, to organize data in Excel and SPSS (statistical software), to properly format APA references and data tables, and to collaborate with others during the brainstorming process. Students who have demonstrated a commitment to the lab and to learning more about research may have the opportunity to present at professional conferences in the future. 

Methods of Compensation:  In addition to gaining research skills and learning about professional development and career opportunities, students can earn course credit by registering in PSY 494 or WMNST 494. Enrollment in WMNST 494 requires formal approval from Dr. Matsick and the department’s undergraduate director. Please see here for more information about WMNST 494: https://wgss.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/internships-and-opportunities/

Requirements/Qualifications:  Students must be willing to work either 6 hours (2 credits) or 9 hours (3 credits) per week in the lab.  Given the time and energy it takes to become a well-trained research assistant, students must be willing to make a 2-semester commitment to working in the lab. Preference will be given to students who have taken courses in Psychology and/or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and to students who display interest in thinking critically about gender, race, and sexual orientation.

Janet K. Swim (last update 6-21-16)

Contact Information : Please fill out an application at https://swimlab.weebly.com/application-to-be-the-pact-lab.html .  For further information contact the lab manager, Mike Lengiezia at [email protected] .

Description of Research Project: Janet Swim researches the psychology of environmental sustainability. More specifically, she is examining individual, situational, and cultural barriers and facilitators to behaviors that influence engaging in sustainable practices. Projects range from small scale (a single experiment or survey on college students) to large scale (examining climate change conversations at recreational sights such as zoos and aquariums or tourist destinations). For more information see  http://swimlab.weebly.com/research.html . We are looking for several students and most work will be done at University Park.  However, we are looking for a student who can spend a few weekends each semester in Philadelphia collecting data to work on a new project this year with Mount Cuba Botanical garden near Philadelphia collecting baseline data on homeowners’ reactions to and use of natural landscaping. 

Compensation : Research assistants receive course credit (PSYCH 494) that may count towards the 400 level credit requirements for psychology majors. Additionally, working in our lab will provide you with valuable experience in conducting research, which is excellent preparation for graduate school.

Qualifications : We are looking for motivated, detail oriented students who can give thoughtful feedback on data coding, survey development, and experimentation. Our research assistants typically learn how to: create online surveys, design experiments, enter and code data, manage both the subject pool and publicly available on-line samples, and conduct basic statistical analyses.  Some years, students learn computer game programing and how to run focus groups.  We prefer students who are able to commit for 9 hours/week

Sheri Berenbaum

“Are you interested in gaining research experience? Interested in biological influences on behavior? Want to learn about the ways hormones affect sex differences in development and cognition?

The Berenbaum Lab is currently seeking motivated and responsible undergraduate research assistants. Students will be involved with the collection and analysis of data for several ongoing studies, one of which involves neuroimaging. Students may also have the opportunity to utilize lab materials and data for honors theses and independent study projects. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in learning more about human neuroscience or developmental psychology in preparation for graduate school.

Ideal candidates are sophomores or juniors with a strong interest in research and a desire to attend graduate school in the future. Eligible candidates must be willing to commit 10 hours/week for at least 3 semesters. Preference is given to students who will be available to work in the summer. Assistants will be given credits for PSYCH 494.

Apply on-line at:  https://berenbaumlabpsu.wixsite.com/cah-info

Contact Information : Interested students should email ( [email protected] ) for more information and to get an application.

Psychology Research Opportunities Programs

Program |  Student Comments  |  Sample Syllabi  |  Application  |  FAQ

The PROPS 2024 application is now closed! Please check back in October 2024 for the PROPS 2025 Application.

PROPS is a two-quarter (Winter/Spring) program that provides a variety of opportunities.  During the program, PROPS students will:

• Work as a research assistant for 10 hours per week in a UCLA Psychology research lab. 
• Present their research at an undergraduate conference as well to the PROPS cohort at the end of Spring quarter. Both a research poster and verbal presentation are required.
• Submit a research paper at the end of the program.
• Enroll in a 2-unit weekly seminar (Weds, 10:00-11:30am in both Winter and Spring 2024).  Seminar topics include information on how to prepare a CV/resume, write a Personal Statement, present at research conferences, and prepare for life as a graduate student and beyond.
• Receive a $2,500 stipend*

To be eligible for PROPS, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a member of an underrepresented group within graduate school: i.e. low income and eligible for financial aid, first generation college student, and/or underrepresented minority (URM).
• Junior standing or above (and enrolled undergraduate student during Winter and Spring quarters)
• Psychology, Psychobiology, or Cognitive Science major
• Have completed Psych 100B by the end of Fall quarter prior to start of program 
• 3.25 UCLA GPA or higher
• Not concurrently participating in another research program in the same academic year

* PROPS Scholarships are awarded through the UCLA Financial Aid Office. If you are receiving financial aid, your package may be adjusted to ensure you do not exceed your financial need or cost of attendance. Check with the Financial Aid Office to see if you can accept this scholarship.

Funding for PROPS is generously provided by the Division of Undergraduate Education, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Department of Psychology and the Dr. Monica Salinas Fund.

[email protected]

Research Opportunities

• Undergraduate Study
• Chicago Journal of History
• Local Archives
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• What Can I Do With a History Degree?
• Continued Studies

History offers a variety of ways to engage with research, from working with faculty to funding independent projects. History’s annual Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program matches student RAs with faculty who have research opportunities. As part of the Summer Institute in Social Science Research Methods , History offers an Archival Methods course, which can be taken as a course or paired with research with a faculty mentor.  History also provides funding on a competitive basis for Thesis and Capstone Track students to pursue archival research during the summer after their third year. In addition, the College Center for Research and Fellowships offers robust resources to support all kinds of undergraduate research. 

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Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience

Getting involved in research .

Doing research in a faculty laboratory is a way to experience the real process of science and the search for new knowledge.  Most Neuroscience labs have undergraduates as part of their research team.  Those students get to apply their classroom knowledge and problem-solving skills to help make discoveries.  Students usually work as part of teams supervised by PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, under the guidance of the faculty member.  Student research may involve hands-on experiments, working with human subjects, analyzing data, developing research tools, or working with computational models.  

How to find a research lab position

There are several ways to find a research position.  To start, talk to classmates, staff undergraduate advisers, and your graduate student instructors (GSIs).  Read about the research focus of faculty members on the Neuroscience Department faculty page , which gives links to individual lab research websites.   Think about what scientific questions or approaches you are interested in.  Then, either apply to a structured research program, or contact individual faculty to express your interest in their research and see if a position is available.

Structured research programs

University Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)

Biology Scholars Program

Amgen Scholars Program

and more at the research.berkeley.edu website

Apply directly to a neuroscience faculty lab

This is the most common way that students find a research position in a neuroscience lab.  Here are tips on how to proceed:  Check out the Neuroscience Department faculty page , or the broader Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute faculty page , to determine which labs you are interested in.  Before contacting the professor, read the research description on their laboratory website, and review some of their recent publications.  (You are not expected to understand the articles completely, but if you understand the general questions and approach, you will be more convincing when you contact them.).  Then email the professor to express interest in their work and in joining their research team, and request an appointment.  It's a good idea to include your resume and unofficial transcript in the email.  

During your appointment, discuss what you find interesting about their work, tell them about your goals, and ask if they would be willing to accept you into their lab.  Remember, it can be competitive to get into a lab, so you should approach this with focus and professionalism like you would for a job search.

Non-Neuro and Off-Campus Research Opportunities

Neuroscience majors who want research experience don't have to limit themselves to NEU Department labs.  There are many positions available on campus in other departments, and off-campus.  You can apply either through the structured research programs, or by contacting individual faculty.  Other relevant departments at Berkeley include:

Anthropology

Bioengineering

School of Public Health

Off-campus, you can find many opportunities at UCSF , which includes laboratories at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland.

Expectations for a lab research position

The specific expectations, including the number of hours per week and duration of commitment, vary from lab to lab.  It is common to spend 10-12 hours per week on your research project.  Many labs will ask for a 1-year commitment.  Student research can be for credit, or can be paid, or can be on a volunteer basis (see below).  This depends on the lab and their resources, and the type of project.  You will have a project supervisor within the lab who will train you on all the needed methods, and will supervise your work. You may also be required to complete training courses or certifications that are needed for your research.

Research credit and honors research

Students can obtain course credit for their independent lab research by enrolling in NEU 99/199 and NEU 191 courses

Outstanding seniors can also undertake the Neuroscience Honors program , in which students perform laboratory research in fall and spring of their final year, culminating in a research presentation and a formal honors thesis.  Honors students enroll in NEU 196A/196B for their honors research.  Students who are interested in pursuing honors are strongly encouraged to look for a research position in a lab during the first semester of their junior year.  Students typically perform a year of research in a lab before undertaking their honors research in that lab.

Gunther Stent Neuroscience Research Scholars Program

The Stent Neuroscience Research Scholars Program recognizes students who have a passion and strong talent for research, and provides financial support for them to conduct targeted research or scholarship in the laboratory of an established Neuroscience Department faculty member for one year.  The goal is to allow students who have shown strong initial success in research to be able to immerse themselves in a research experience with a leading faculty member.  

This research scholars program is named for Professor Gunther S. Stent, who was an early molecular biologist and visionary neuroscientist at UC Berkeley. 

The program provides financial support in the form of a research stipend ($7500 for the 2024-2025 academic year) to support an undergraduate research during their junior or senior year.  Students must have already identified a faculty mentor and demonstrated successful initial research in that faculty laboratory.  The award will recognize both the student and the faculty mentor.

Faculty mentors must apply on behalf of the faculty-student pair.  Students also fill out an information form.  Please see the Stent Neuroscience Research Scholars page  for more information.  The application deadline for AY2024-25 is Aug 23, 2024.  We anticipate funding two scholars for this year.  Interested students should contact their faculty mentor to apply.

Research Experience Pathways (REP) Program

The REP-Neuroscience Program (REP Neuro) is an inclusive undergraduate research program focused on connecting work-study eligible Berkeley undergrads with Berkeley neuroscience laboratories for research experience, career mentorship, and scientific training. 

REP is a year-long program.  Students apply to REP, and each accepted student is matched to a specific project in a faculty lab, and works with their graduate student mentor to learn the ins-and-outs of that research project. In the spring, each REP student participates in the REP spring colloquium to present a poster of their scientific work. During the year, students also join weekly seminars with their REP community -- learning alongside their peers about the field of neuroscience, the path to graduate school, and career opportunities that await them as neuroscientists. REP Neuro provides financial support for student research via payment to students based on work study. REP students must have minimal or no prior research experience, and must be work-study eligible. 

Applications are accepted each summer for the fall cohort.  The deadline for Fall 2024 was June 30, 2024.

For more details, see the  REP Neuro website  or email  [email protected]

Deadlines approaching for 2024 research experiences for undergraduates

• Conducting Research
• Becoming a Psychologist

Deadlines for 2024 undergraduate research programs are fast approaching. Students can gain hands-on experience and important skills that will be valued in the workplace, as well as necessary for graduate study in psychology and related disciplines. While students may find research opportunities through faculty on campus and their own networking, we invite you to explore the following opportunities that are currently accepting applications.

• Georgia Tech Neuroscience Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Deadline: February 16, 2024
• Harvard Lab for Developmental Studies Summer Research Opportunities Deadline: March 1, 2024
• Michigan Summer Program in Cognition and Early Development (MSPICED) Deadline: February 16, 2024
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Research Internship Program Deadline: February 16, 2024
• NYU Undergraduate Summer Research Training in Neuroscience Deadline: February 15, 2024
• NYU SHARE-CSD Program Deadline: February 15, 2024.
• PRIMO at Harvard Business School Deadline: February 14, 2024.
• Princeton University Research Communications Internship
• Summer Brain Research Program at Boys Town National Research Hospital Deadline: February 5, 2024
• UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Deadline: March 31, 2024
• University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (multiple opportunities)
• University of California, Berkeley Early Learning Lab (BELL) Summer Internship Program Deadline: February 29, 2024
• University of Maryland (UMD) Research Opportunities and Beyond UMD Research Opportunities
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Research Program for Community-Engaged Training for Advancing Health Equity Deadline: March 1, 2024
• University of Toronto Canada Summer Research Opportunities Programme (SROP) Deadline: February 22, 2024
• U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates
• WVU Undergraduate Summer Research Experience in Behavior Science Deadline: March 1, 2024
• Yale University Emotion, Health, and Psychophysiology Lab Summer Internship Deadline: March 1, 2024

The Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) also has a forum where individual researchers can post “late breaking” research assistant and coordinator positions .

Other places to find opportunities include job search sites such as Indeed.com  or Monster.com , the internal career opportunity pages of large teaching hospitals (e.g., Massachusetts General Hospital), organizations and institutions that conduct research (e.g., Rand Corporation), and through your college or university career services center.

Related Resources

• Undergraduate Research Experience: A Roadmap to Guide Your Journey
• Tips and tricks for finding and applying to National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates and Internships

Summer Research Opportunities Program Mentee Athena Thai Wins First Place

Athena Thai won first place at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium for her Undergraduate Research Talk, "Challenges to Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices: Serving Students of Color in School-Based Settings."

The Illinois Summer Research Symposium   is the culminating program that features cutting-edge research, achievement, and creativity by summer scholars. Nearly 140 scholars presented research developed through the mentorship and training of faculty members from various disciplines.

Athena participated in the Summer Research Opportunities Program, working under faculty mentor Dr. Lynda Gibson to examine the efficacy and barriers of implementing trauma-informed practices in a school serving under-resourced youth of color.

She is currently working on her bachelor's degree in psychology at Rutgers University.

Related People

More Department News

• Melissa Odom takes home the Departmental Staff Award In every workplace, there are unsung heroes who tirelessly contribute to the success of their teams. On May 11th, Melissa Odom was honored with the prestigious Departmental Staff Award, spotlighting her remarkable achievements and contributions. We took this opportunity to chat a bit and learn... Read full story
• Laura Hernandez Awarded 3-Year Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation Laura Hernandez has been honored with a three-year Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This prestigious fellowship is awarded to promising graduate students with outstanding potential for significant research contributions in their respective fields.  The NSF... Read full story
• Sylvia E Honored With The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Sylvia E was honored with the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious award established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater's legacy. Nationally, only 438 students were chosen from the 1,353 nominees to receive this esteemed award. The University of Illinois is proud to be... Read full story

Undergraduate Internships and Fellowships

Are you an undergraduate student currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree and looking for an opportunity to enhance your education in a STEM-related discipline? The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education administers a variety of STEM internship and fellowship programs for undergraduate students at national laboratories and federal research facilities across the United States.

By conducting real-world research while networking with mentors and your peers, you will gain a better knowledge of your anticipated field of study and even expand your expertise into a number of new areas.

Whether you are seeking a summer, fall, or spring STEM internship, or a longer-term research opportunity to provide hands-on laboratory experience, ORISE has a program for you.

Current Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

Enter keywords to search current opportunities available through Zintellect. Once you enter the Zintellect catalog by clicking an opportunity listed below, you can set up a profile and apply.

Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunities

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education periodically offers a chance for undergraduate students to earn scholarships to advance their academic studies. Students can earn funding toward their education through competitions that challenge students to demonstrate their STEM expertise.

Learn more about scholarship competitions

Internship and Fellowship Programs Managed by ORISE

ORISE manages programs for the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies that pair students, recent graduates, postdocs, and faculty with programs that help grow their STEM expertise and experience. Check out websites created specifically to provide information about these ORISE programs for prospective applicants.

STEM program websites

STEM Connections Blog

Finding an internship or fellowship means polishing your resume and networking with your peers and professionals to learn about opportunities in the STEM disciplines that offer hands-on experience. For decades, ORISE has helped STEM professionals along their career paths, and our experts have provided tips and resources below to help you reach the next step in your career.

STEM Connections blog

Professional Development Resources

ORISE provides various resources to address the career planning and professional development needs of all research and non-research participants. Check out our professional development resources to enhance your internship or fellowship experience and prepare for the next step in your career.

Professional development resources

Meet some of the ORISE participants who are advancing scientific research and discovery

ORISE administers science education programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies. The diversity of these programs enables individuals—whether undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, or faculty—to conduct collaborative research with national laboratories or at one of DOE's federal agency partners. Learn about how their research experiences have advanced their academic and professional careers in STEM.

Read participant success stories

Ask the Experience ORISE Team

Want to learn more about an ORISE internship or fellowship? Have questions about how the ORISE experience can successfully impact your career path and/or add value to the research opportunities of students or alumni you engage with at your organization? If so, contact our team today—we look forward to hearing from you!

Students from HSIs and HBCUs Excel in UCF Summer Programs

UCF is home to six groups that take part in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and/or the Department of Defense (DoD). The REU program supports research opportunities for undergraduate students in science, engineering and education, taking place over a 10-week period in which students participate in courses, social programs and industry visits while working full time on their individual research projects.

The programs cover travel and housing costs and awards participants with a $6,000 stipend. UCF’s REU research sites specialize in areas of study including nanoscience, computer vision, hypersonics, and more with approximately 10 to 15 participants working at each site. Participants receive hands-on research training and work closely with faculty and graduate students to present their research at the end of the summer in a poster showcase. This summer UCF’s programs have attracted students from a variety of schools, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HBIs) such as Spelman College, North Carolina A&T State University, and Miami-Dade College.

Mechanical engineering majors Isabella Llamazares and Croix Thomas participated in UCF’s REU Advanced Technologies for Hypersonic Propulsive, Energetic and Reusable Platforms (HYPER) program. Llamazares is going into her senior year at Florida International University and Thomas is going into her junior year at North Carolina A&T State University.

HYPER is an MAE site jointly supported by NSF and DoD and takes a multidisciplinary approach to advancing essential knowledge needed to overcome the technical barriers limiting hypersonic flight. The program includes visits to aircraft manufacturers and the NASA Kennedy Space Center. Both Thomas and Llamazares applied to HYPER to gain hands-on experience in the field of research. Thomas described the research process as steady and rewarding and hopes to continue her research when she returns to school.

“I conducted research on 3D printing and its role in creating solid state batteries,” says Thomas. “My research has the potential to improve energy storage systems in automation and aviation technologies.”

Llamazares worked in the Propulsion and Energy Laboratory (PERL) and her main research project related to observing and measuring the hydrodynamic thickness of a detonation.

“This topic is important within propulsion because it is necessary to know the limits within detonations and where there is a boundary from sonic to supersonic conditions for future supersonic systems,” Llamares says.

Llamazares’s interests lie in aerospace and aviation and she plans to pursue a master’s degree at UCF due to the school’s academic credentials and connections within the aerospace and defense industries. She believes the balance of independence and teamwork she has learned from this experience will assist her in her post-graduation journey.

“There are many skills and concepts that I have learned from this experience,” Llamazares says. ”I also was able to get more hands-on skills for engineering, whether it be soldering, sawing, and assembling components. These are skills that are important for engineering and are not always easy to obtain in a classroom setting so connecting the topics learned in class with actual hands-on work has been beneficial.”

Celine Gordon was accepted into the REU in Applied and Computational Mathematics. The program focuses on applied differential equations, computation mathematics, financial engineering and mathematics biology.

A rising sophomore at Spelman College, Gordon sought an interdisciplinary program based in computer science. The program was the perfect fit, combining computer science and mathematics, with an emphasis on linear algebra.

Her project, Accelerating the Iterative Solution of the Forward Medium Scattering Problem, has applications in defense systems and MRI scanning.

“Since my major is computer science, and my research was conducted through a math lens, this experience showed me how my computer science major is applicable to research topics beyond my major,” Gordon says.

She adds that the prospect of pursuing research at UCF was especially appealing because of the variety of Ph.D. programs available for students with a computer science background.

“With the opportunity of the various workshops hosted by UCF, I was able to also learn more about UCF graduate school, and the different career paths one can take with mathematics and computer science,” she says. “In the future, I will be more equipped and more prepared to take on research opportunities, already having abundant experience from this REU.”

Elvis Cabrera Computer Vision REU Poster Title: CLIP-Based Learning for Robust Multi-Label Classification Miami Dade College

Celine Gordon Math REU Poster Title: Accelerating the Iterative Solution of the Forward Medium Scattering Problem Spelman College

Isabella Llamazares HYPER REU Poster Title: Analysis of Sonic Plane Relative to Liquid Fuel Detonation Shock Waves Florida International University

Sonali Mittal Nanoscience REU Poster Title: Characterization of Silane Coupling Agents for Enhanced Adhesion Between Polycarbonate and Silicon Dioxide for 3D Microelectrode Arrays University of Texas Arlington

Croix Thomas HYPER REU Poster Title: Additive Manufacturing of Solid-State Battery Composites Using Uv-Curable Ink North Carolina A&T State University

Story and photos by Kyra Martin

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