The major purpose for undergraduate research is to provide an opportunity for qualified undergraduates to obtain firsthand, supervised research experiences in psychology. Students may assist professors and/or graduate students with a research project by helping to prepare the study, collect data, and/or enter data into computers.
Students can obtain pass/fail elective credit for their assistance if desired, or they can serve as a research assistant voluntarily. Whichever option is selected, obtaining research experience can be a valuable asset when applying for graduate school or jobs after graduation.
Please read each project description carefully, and contact the professor or graduate student listed for further information.
Date Posted: 1.26.23
Description: The Cognition and Health Analytics lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies is looking for an undergraduate research assistant to help with data coding for a study on the effects of pollution exposure on cognition and mental health in adults. The project is a multi-university, multi-country collaboration (CSU, U. Manchester, and U. Oxford) and an opportunity to connect with and learn from prominent researchers studying cognition and healthy longevity. Students who are interested in gaining experience working with big data are especially encouraged to apply, although all are welcome. This is an exciting and fast-moving project!
Duties: Cross-reference occupational codes with heavy-metal exposure risk in a database of 6200 adults from the United Kingdom. Perform ''data sleuthing'' of UK databases to determine historical pollution exposures (air quality, lead plumbing, etc.) in over 1000 cities. Perform basic statistical analyses to summarize outcomes (with guidance from Dr. Aichele).
Minimum requirements: Dependable, detail-oriented students with an interest in environmental psychology and healthy aging. 1-semester commitment (2 preferred).
Research assistant positions open: 2
Contact Information: Dr. Stephen Aichele (A -shell): stephen.aichele@colostate.edu
Application Instructions: Email the contact for this project. Include your name, major, year, and the amount of time per week you are able to commit. Please also include a brief note about your interest in this project.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Date Posted: 3.6.23
Description: We are looking for several undergraduate research assistants (RA) to help with an ongoing qualitative research study examining how information about a university affects expectations of academic success and overall experience at that institution.
Duties: Attending training sessions. Conducting study sessions (i.e. interviews) in our lab space in Clark. Following the study protocol. Obtaining participants consent. Maintaining files. Recording study sessions. Transcribing interview recordings. Reporting deviations from the protocol. Ensuring accuracy and completeness of each study session.
Minimum requirements: Effective written and oral communication. Attention to details. Punctuality. Basic computer skills.
Research assistant positions open: 6-8
Contact Information: If would like to learn more about this project, please contact Amanda Spitzer at Amanda.Spitzer@colostate.edu
Application Instructions: Email or call the contact for this project.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Date Posted: 1.24.23
Description: Our projects involve research on religion and spirituality and how they relate to other aspects of an individual's life (such as environmental attitudes). Furthermore, we are interested in psychometric scales regarding this topic. We are also specifically interested in working with data on non-religious individuals but are open to exploring a wide variety of religious/spiritual topics beyond non-religiousness.
Duties: Students will work with graduate research assistants to analyze existing data, perform basic literature reviews, and possibly work with graduate research assistants to develop their own research projects.
Minimum requirements: Students would ideally have some psychology classes (such as Research Methods) under their belt, but this is not a strict requirement. Students should be self-motivated and eager to learn new skills. Basic computer skills are expected. Graduate research assistants are willing to provide guidance for more specific skills. No GPA requirement, but student should be able to demonstrate conscientiousness and ability.
Research assistant positions open: 2
Contact Information: bailey.underill@colostate.edu
Additional Information: Student must feel comfortable talking openly about religion, atheism, agnosticism, spirituality, evangelism, etc.
Application Instructions: Email Bailey Underill (bailey.underill@colostate.edu) if you are interested in partaking in research. Please include your name, year, major, what you are looking for, and what your goals are after graduation.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Date Posted: 1.24.23
Description: The Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct a yearly national epidemiological survey of 6th-12th grade students in schools on or near American Indian reservations, write academic journal publications, present at conferences, and work towards creating prevention programs tailored to the specific needs of rural Native youth. The available research assistantships are intended to contribute towards those goals and will be research focused. It will be ideal for students who are looking to gain skills and experience in preparation for grad school or a career in research. We are happy to work with students on their specific research and experience goals for this assistantship. If desired, students may enroll for credit hours in PSY295 or PSY495.
Duties: 1. Assisting with academic publications through contributing to research for literature reviews, table/chart creation, creating annotated bibliographies and/or Independently develop research topics for publications and conferences. 2. Learn and perform coding an analysis of interview or survey data. 3. Research reservation-based schools to keep our national database current. *All duties are performed at the TEC offices on the CSU main campus, or remotely from home for specific projects.
Minimum requirements: Reliable, honest, detail-oriented, self-motivated. Available for 4+ hours per week and willing to commit to an entire semester or more. Consistent with communication about status and progress of research projects.
Research assistant positions open: 2
Contact Information: Email to Allison.Burford@colostate.edu with your name, phone number, availability, and a sentence or two on what your ideal experience would be.
Additional Information: All staff/students who work at the Tri-Ethnic Center are required to complete CITI Human Subjects Research training (approx. 1-2 hours online certification).
Application Instructions: NA
Application Deadline: Rolling
Date Posted: 8.12.22
Description: Get to know Marriage and Family Therapists and where their passions lie. This is a great opportunity to learn about career focus areas and network with graduate students, supervisors, and faculty.
Serving as receptionist during busy therapy nights, an RA can expect to conduct phone intakes, direct clients to the waiting area, and relay messages to therapists. Other tasks at the CFCT include filing, auditing, and data entry. Additional responsibilities may arise as needed.
Duties: Assist therapy supervisors in creating marketing materials and promoting the CFCT at public events. Learn about the services offered in the clinic and the community partnerships that exist.
Minimum requirements: 2-3 credits per semester
(6-9 hours per week); Talk to your advisor about registering for HDFS 498A or 498B
Research assistant positions open: 3-4
Contact Information: Maddie Shaw at cfctracoordinator@gmail.com
Application Instructions: please submit a resume to the above e-mail address
Application Deadline: Until filled
Date Posted: 8.12.22
Description: This lab studies human memory processes and various phenomena of human memory. Examples include: The ability to recall a prior experience, the ability to recognize a situation as familiar when recall fails, the ability to control which things to remember and which to forget, the processes that produce feelings of familiarity, deja vu experiences, and tip-of-the-tongue experiences, as well as the neurological underpinnings of these types of memory processes.
Duties: Duties include aiding in stimulus preparation, data collection, data coding, lab organization, and attending lab meetings. Contributions to future projects and bigger future roles are available for students who demonstrate motivation and capability. Data collection efforts and lab meetings take place in person on campus in the BSB. As such, part of working in this lab means that you will run research participants through computerized memory experiments in the BSB on campus.
Minimum requirements: Reliable, conscientious, self-motivated students are needed. A GPA of 3.5 or greater is preferred, but we will consider students with lower GPAs who are highly motivated & have other indicators of potential to succeed in our lab. Expertise working with Excel and with manipulating images with graphics software or sounds with sound editing software is a plus, though not a requirement.
Research assistant positions open: 6-8
Contact Information: Please email Anne Cleary (Anne.Cleary@colostate.edu)
Application Instructions: Email: Name, Year in School, GPA, How many hours you are willing to work during the week, Days you are available, Research interersts, Plans after graduation.
Application Deadline: Until filled
Date Posted: 1.26.23
Description: We are interested in the relationship between sensation seeking as a personality type and high-risk health behaviors such as substance use, sexual behavior, and delinquency. In conjunction with this research, we are interested in identifying behavioral measures which correlate with sensation seeking.
Duties: Students will work with a graduate research assistant through the Counseling Psychology program to administer a range of studies and behavioral measures to PSY100 research participants. The position requires 5 hours per week throughout the Spring 2023 semester.
Minimum requirements: We are looking for students with a strong interest in research and research application. Successful applicants will be reliable, collaborative, have strong communication skills, and show great attention to detail. Completion of PSY250 (Research Methods in Psychology) and PSY360 (Psychology of Drug Addiction Treatment) ideal, but not required.
Research assistant positions open: 5 - may be temporarily waitlisted
Contact Information: Brenna Carter (brennac@colostate.edu) and Dr. Brad Conner (brad.conner@colostate.edu).
Additional Information: Underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Additional opportunities may be available after becoming an experienced assistant: independent research with graduate students to present at academic conferences, data collection, and data processing.
Application Instructions: Email Brenna: Your reason for applying, your major(s), major GPA, overall GPA, your year in school. Brenna will return your email and will be your main point of contact. in school. Emma will contact you to set up an interview.
Application Deadline: Until Filled
Date Posted: 1.24.23
Description: Research team is looking for several undergraduate students to be trained to assist with implementation and evaluation of a mindfulness-based intervention, as well as observational assessments of family relationships. Students who join the team can receive course credit.
Duties: Students will be trained in standardized assessment procedures, mindfulness-based interventions, fidelity, and/or observational assessments.
Minimum requirements: N/A
Research assistant positions open: Several
Contact Information: Questions should be directed to the Moving to Mindful lab (m2m@colostate.edu).
Application Instructions: Fill out the online application, including uploading a CV/resume, here: https://forms.gle/zAh1eHN62WirgQGN6
Application Deadline: Until filled
Date Posted: 3.6.23
Description: We are interested in comparing the effects of awe and mindfulness on health and well-being. The study is an experiment and will take place in-person. Participants will be asked to fill out surveys before and after an awe or mindfulness intervention.
Duties: Students will primarily be involved with data collection and data maintenance. Students may also be asked to conduct a literature review related to the study.
Minimum requirements: 3.2 GPA or above, completed introductory psychology, attention to detail, punctuality, effective written and oral communication.
Research assistant positions open: 3-4
Contact Information: See below.
Additional Information: N/A
Application Instructions: Please email Angelina Sung (angelina.sung@colostate.edu) a resume and brief statement of interest.
Application Deadline: Until filled.
Date Posted: 1.24.23
Description: This project involves studying severe cases of family conflict after divorce and separation, and how the public and professionals perceive these cases. It also involves a thorough literature review using several electronic databases.
Duties: Students will work with the research team to create study stimuli based on real-life cases of family conflict, and will assist with compiling a database of published literature on different forms of family violence. Students may also assist with identifying science denial techniques used to communicate with the public about family conflict.
Minimum requirements: Students should have GPA of 3.2 or higher, and ideally should have taken PSY317, although it is not required. Students need to be able to dedicate 9 hours a week to this project (scheduling is flexible).
Research assistant positions open: 3
Contact Information: Email Dr. Jennifer Harman: jjharman@colostate.edu.
Application Instructions: Email or call the contact for this project.
Application Deadline: Until the positions are filled.
Date Posted: 8.12.22
Description: The ADAPT lab, under the direction of Dr. Manfred Diehl, is looking for exceptional research assistants to work on projects investigating topics of adult development and aging. Broadly defined, our research focuses on aspects of personality and social-emotional development. Motivated students who are interested in learning about all aspects of developmental research, including study design and research methods, are welcome to apply. The most successful students in our lab show openness to new experiences, willingness to figure things out independently, and attention to detail. We foster a team-like atmosphere, and take pride in providing a meaningful learning experience to students. All team members are held to an ideal of high quality work. In order to offer the most effective training experience, and to ensure continuity on our research projects, we seek out students who are willing to commit at least 2 consecutive semesters in which they will earn 3 credits each (about 10 hours per week). Please visit our lab website for more information about the work we do, and to download the application form: http://www.adapt.chhs.colostate.edu
Duties: Participant recruitmet.
Literature searches and summarizing of literature.
Data entry and data managemet.
Minimum requirements: Required:
GPA of 3.0 or higher (3.5 GPA or higher preferred).
Reliable, conscientious, highly self-motivated, able to use effective problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
Basic knowledge in developmental psychology and principles of scientific research.
Availability to attend and participate in a one-hour weekly lab meeting.
Preferred:
Basic knowledge of theories of adult development/aging and research methods (e.g. HDFS 312).
Experience with statistical software (example: SPSS, R).
Desire to be well-prepared for graduate school.
Entering the Sophomore or Junior year (exceptions possible, determined case-by-case).
Strong academic writing skills (a writing sample should be submitted with application).
Research assistant positions open: We are seeking 3-4 excellent students to join our lab.
Contact Information: Professor: Manfred Diehl (manfred.diehl@colostate.edu)
Lab Coordinator: Kat Thompson - primary contact (kat.thompson@colostate.edu)
Office: Behavioral Science Building, Room 443 (Diehl) and Room 435
Application Instructions: First, download the application form from: http://www.adapt.chhs.colostate.edu/join.aspx . Second, read instructions carefully, and submit your completed application materials to kat.thompson@colostate.edu
Application Deadline: We will review applications on a first-come, first-serve basis.