Prospective Research Assistants

Are you interested in gaining research experience in a human factors lab? 

Here's how you can get started:

Complete the online Student Research Assistant Application.

Why participate in research?

There are several reasons why getting involved in conducting research experiments can be important to your career as a psychologist:

• Experiences in the lab will help solidify the theories you learn about in class.
• Getting your hands "wet" can help you identify which disciplines of psychology you truly enjoy and which you would rather set aside.
• Whether you are applying for jobs at graduation or to graduate school, research experience will be an important asset to your rêsumê/curriculum vitae.
• It's fun! Sometimes you get to be a part of small victories in science, which is incredibly rewarding in and of itself!

What types of compensation are there for my time?

Some labs may have the funds to pay research assistants, but that is an unusual case. Instead, most research assistants are either on a volunteer basis or receive course credit for their work. This is arranged using the PSYC 460 designation through the advising office and counts towards your total number of credits for that semester (so it is important to consider whether or not you have reached the 16 credit limit with standard tuition!). This arrangement should be sorted out prior to the start of the semester and involves some paperwork and footwork on your part, so the earlier you contact potential labs, the better.