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: 4.16.2024
Description: We are seeking a highly motivated undergraduate research assistant to join a research project focused on reducing stigma associated with mental health in Evangelical-Pentecostal communities. This project aims to understand how faith influences mental health challenges and help-seeking behaviors. By exploring and developing effective strategies that integrate traditional mental health services with spiritual care, we seek to foster a holistic approach that respects and incorporates evangelical and Pentecostal beliefs. The ultimate goal is to devise and promote strategies that underline the importance of mental health care, respect religious values, and foster community-wide acceptance and support for mental health initiatives.
Duties: Help in coding and thematic analysis of literature to identify key components of effective mental health interventions.
Participate in the preparation and distribution of surveys and collection of qualitative feedback from subject matter experts. Engage in regular project meetings and contribute to the development of project presentations and manuscripts.
Minimum requirements: Applicants must be currently registered as a full-time undergraduate student at Colorado State University with a 3.0 GPA or above. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to commit to 9 hours per week for Fall 2024 semester
Research assistant positions open: 2
Contact Information: Ashleigh Zaker (ashleigh.zaker@colostate.edu)
Application Instructions: Email the contact for this project. Please include your name, major, year, and any relevant experience. Please also include a brief note about why you are interested in this position.
Application Deadline: August 15, 2024. Late applications will be considered if there are still spaces
Date Posted: 1.2.2024
Description: Two ongoing projects that focus on understanding people's experiences with speaking in work teams need significant URA support. One is a lab-based study in which participants come into the lab, work together as a team while being video recorded and connected to physchophysiological recording equipment. Another is a field-based study in which working adults will complete an online intake meeting, then complete surveys for 3x per day for 10 work days. Afterwards, they will have the opportunity to have a one on one coaching session based on their data.
Duties: URAs will set up the lab study, run participants through it, and clean it up afterwards. This requires properly connecting people to psychophysiological recording equipment (ECG, respiration monitor, galvanic skin response monitor), reading a detailed script and following instructions perfectly, and answering any participant questions. URAs will also be asked to code video data as well as heart rate data. For the field study, URAs will be responsible for the intake meetings and setting up the survey schedules. URAs will receive training on any required duties.
Minimum requirements: Minimum GPA: 3.7. Course completed (or co-enrolled): PSY 250.
Research assistant positions open: 10
Contact Information: Email your resume along with answers to the questions below (in application instructions) to Dr. Keaton Fletcher (keaton.fletcher@colostate.edu).
Additional Information: Depending on performance in the first semester, a paid managerial position will be available to those interested. Opportunities to present at conferences will also be available for those interested.
Application Instructions: 1. What skills could you bring to this position and how did you develop them?
2. What are your career goals?
3. Are you able to commit to 10 hours/week for the next year?
Application Deadline: Initial deadline 1/20, late applications will be considered if there are still spaces.
Date Posted: 4.8.2024
Description: The Rhodes Memory and Metacognition Lab investigates topics related to learning, memory, metacognition, and education. Research projects involve determining which study and teaching strategies lead to the best learning and the best methods to communicate these strategies to students and educators; how people assess their own learning and use these assessments to make decisions; and how people develop various learning skills, such as problem solving and reading comprehension.
Duties: Primary duties include leading participants through experiments and data collection and organization. Other duties may include assisting with experiment development, data coding/scoring, and statistical analyses. No previous research experience is required; RAs will be trained in all of these tasks.
Minimum requirements: Dependable and conscientious students are needed. Students will be expected to maintain a consistent work schedule each week and respond to emails promptly. A GPA of 3.1 or higher is preferred and RAs must commit to a position for at least 2 semesters.
Research assistant positions open: 2-3
Contact Information: Matthew.Rhodes@colostate.edu
Application Instructions: Please email Dr. Matthew Rhodes at: Matthew.Rhodes@colostate.edu. In the email, please state your name, year in school, GPA, how many hours you would be willing to work each week, and plans after graduation.
Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2024
Date Posted: 1.2.2024
Description: We study different facets of how human operates by carrying out computerized memory experiments that implement various types of tasks involving memory. Among the facets of memory that we study are: Recall processes, feelings of familiarity, deja vu, tip-of-the-tongue experiences, and how memory relates to attention.
Duties: : Duties will primarily involve helping to run research participants through computerized memory experiments, assisting with stimulus preparation and task development, and attending regular lab meetings.
Minimum requirements: Minimum qualifications are a 3.0 GPA and a genuine interest in learning about the research that this lab is conducting
Research assistant positions open: 3
Contact Information: Please contact Dr. Anne Cleary at Anne.Cleary@colostate.edu and/or Brooke Carlaw at Brooke.Carlaw@colostate.edu
Application Instructions: Email or call the contact for this project.
Application Deadline: Open until positions filled
Date Posted: 3.22.24
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.
Duties: Cross-reference postal codes and update from pdfs to an Excel spreadsheet. There are several thousand entries, which will be split into batches of 500/per RA. Once that work is completed, there will be opportunities to assist with "data sleuthing" (gathering information about historical pollution metrics available in UK cities so that we can begin to build participant pollution-exposure profiles).
Minimum requirements: Dependable, detail-oriented students with an interest in environmental psychology and healthy aging. 1-semester commitment (for data entry), 2-semester commitment for data entry plus research.
Research assistant positions open: 3
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: 3.4.24
Description: This study investigates the relationship between active workstations and stress responses.
Duties: URAs will be trained to conduct experiment sessions following the research protocol, record deviations, and complete data entry. URAs need to actively attend weekly research meetings to discuss relevant literature and give one presentation during the spring semester/summer in the research meeting.
Minimum requirements: Applicants must be able to communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, and participants of all ages. Applicants must demonstrate a strong work ethic, attention to detail, punctuality, and basic computer skills. Applicants should be available to work 8-10 hours per week during the spring semester and/or in the summer. Preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed PSY250.
Research assistant positions open: 6-8
Contact Information: If you have any questions or want to learn more about this project, please contact Skylar Yu (skylar.yu@colostate.edu).
Additional Information: If you are a highly motivated student with a background or interest in health psychology, physical activity, mental health, or other related fields, and would like to learn more about this project, please apply through the link below.
Application Instructions: Please fill out the application form: https://forms.gle/jxX8C36cQmC1SDjeA
Application Deadline: Rolling
Date Posted: 4.2.24
Description: We are searching for a self-motivated undergraduate student who possesses a strong work ethic and is interested in gaining experience as a research assistant with Clover Educational Consulting Group. This non-profit organization focuses on enhancing mental health and wellness in the community through various applied research projects in Colorado and throughout the country. The research projects primarily aim at suicide and substance abuse prevention, increasing knowledge of mental health, and expanding the psychology workforce. This position is ideal for students who want to understand more about community behavioral health initiatives and how they can apply the knowledge gained in school to real-life community settings.
Duties: 1. Recruiting and communicating effectively with participants about study procedures and informed consent 2. Collecting data from participants via remote protocols 3. Entering and managing data from electronic surveys and other sources (e.g., logs, records) 4. Preparing literature reviews, reports, and development of research questions. 5. Creating and maintaining reporting dashboards. 6. Assisting with basic descriptive analyses.
Minimum requirements: Applicants must be currently registered as a full-time undergraduate student at Colorado State University with a 3.0 GPA or above. Applicants must demonstrate a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and basic Microsoft Office skills. Preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed PSY 250.
Research assistant positions open: 2
Contact Information: Juliana.Rosa@clovered.org (Clovers Research and Evaluation Director)
Additional Information: This position is mainly remote but can include monthly in-person check-ins.
Application Instructions: Email Juliana Rosa (email above). Please include your name, major, year, and the amount of time per week you are able to commit to the position. Please also include a brief note about why you are interested in this position.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Date Posted: 1.2.24
Description: We are seeking a self-motivated undergraduate student with strong work ethic interested in gaining experience as a research assistant with the Health, Emotion, and Aging Research Team (HEART Lab) in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University. The HEART conducts research on how people manage their emotions during stressful situations, and how successful coping may promote healthy physical and mental development across adulthood. This position is well-suited for students interested in learning more about stress, emotions, physical/mental health, and/or adult development and aging.
Duties: 1. Recruiting and communicating effectively with participants about study procedures and informed consent 2. Collecting data from participants via remote and in-person protocols 3. Entering and managing data from electronic surveys; cognitive and health tests; and physical activity trackers 4. Preparing literature reviews, reports, and development of research questions. Assisting with Institutional Review Board (IRB) amendments to study protocols 5. Processing compensation for participants and debriefing participants about study aims 6. Assisting with basic descriptive analyses of the data
Minimum requirements: Applicants must be currently registered as a full-time undergraduate student at Colorado State University with a 3.0 GPA or above. The candidate must be available for 9 hours per week for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters.
Research assistant positions open: 2
Contact Information: Gloria Luong (Gloria.Luong@colostate.edu)
Additional Information: This research assistant position is expected to start ASAP in Fall 2023
Application Instructions: To apply, please visit: https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/hdfs/research/research-labs/health-emotion-and-aging-research-team/get-involved/ to learn more and email HEART@colostate.edu to request an application
Application Deadline: Rolling through Friday, September 22, 2023 or until positions are filled