Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Ximena Arriaga – Principal Investigator
• Yiwen Gu – Graduate Student
• Rachel Florkiewicz – Graduate Student

Description of research area 

Research in the ARCC (Analyzing Relationships and Close Connections) Lab examines both beneficial and harmful processes of romantic relationships.

Our main research interests include:

• Attachment security enhancement
• Transitioning to a healthy, committed relationship
• How commitment impacts perceptions of intimate partner aggression
• Predictors and outcomes of intimate partner aggression

Description of undergraduate participation

ARCC undergraduate research assistants are expected to engage in a variety of tasks:

• Data collection and management
• Observational coding
• Research/professional development discussions
• Research article presentations
• Survey testing
• Literature searches

Students are also expected to attend and actively participate in weekly lab meetings.

Research setting

• We have a weekly 1-hour lab meeting that takes place in the Psychological Sciences Building (time for Spring 2026 TBD)
• Data collection occurs within the Psychological Sciences Building
• Some work can be completed online (literature searches, survey testing, observational coding)

Number of assistants needed

3-4

To Apply

Fill out this application: “ARCC Application” and email it to thearcclab@gmail.com by October 31^st

Additional Comments

Preference is given to students with a strong academic record who are willing to take PSY39000 for 3 credit hours (9 hours of work per week, as well as students who are 2+ semesters away from graduating.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

Dr. Stephen B. Broomell Global Risk and Individual Decisions (GRID) Lab

Description of research area 

Our lab is focused on understanding how individuals form judgments and make decisions in the face of risk and uncertainty. We leverage real world risks such as climate change, weather hazards, medical, or cyber risks and design experiments to investigate what features of the problem domain facilitate or hinder accurate judgment and effective decision-making regarding the risk.

Below are a few current research topics:

• Communication of uncertain climate projections.
• Developing and testing theories for how the form and presentation of information affects judgment.

More information can be found at: https://hhs.purdue.edu/grid-lab/

Description of undergraduate participation

Students can be involved in all phases of research, including designing experiments, testing participants, analyzing data, and presentations of study results. Students will also participate in regularly scheduled lab meetings and discussions of readings on relevant topics.

Research setting

The lab is located on the third floor in the Psychology Building.

Number of assistants needed

2-4 students.

If you are interested in joining our laboratory, please fill out this survey.

If you have further questions, please contact Angela Pastrana using the email below.

Contact Information

Email: apastra@purdue.edu

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Franki Kung, Associate Professor, I-O and Social Psychology
• Graduate Investigators, Lab Manager/Researcher, and Undergraduate Research Assistants

Description of research area 

At the Conflict Collaboratory, we do science to help people and organizations manage conflict and thrive by:

• Building culturally inclusive and humanizing systems
  (e.g., developing adaptive mindsets/policies, understanding marginalized groups’ experience)
• Fostering understanding and grace in difficult communication and disagreement
  (e.g., applying constructive strategies in difficult conversations, such as feedback and negotiation)
• Regulating self and multiple goals for success
  (e.g., examining the pros and cons of diverse approaches to managing multiple goals and goal conflicts)

Because the study of conflict is inherently tied to understanding differences and creating spaces where people with varying interests and experiences can thrive, our lab’s research fundamentally advances the science of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Description of undergraduate participation

We design the lab experience to prepare our undergraduate research assistants for graduate school and careers in I-O psychology and social psychology, management, human resources, and organizational behavior. Students will join a community of peers, researchers, and mentors passionate about the study of conflict, self-regulation, and inclusive excellence. In addition to individual project team meetings and tasks, students attend weekly lab meetings to learn and discuss related issues and enjoy educational and social events throughout the semester (e.g., research talks, lunch, escape room, mini golf).

Junior research assistants will have the opportunities to:

• Learn how to conduct online surveys, literature reviews, behavioral experiments, and qualitative analysis (e.g., picture/linguistic coding, focus group data analysis)
• Develop scientific thinking and presentation skills in weekly lab meetings
• Attend research and professional development workshops (e.g., literature review, survey design, data analysis)

Senior research assistants (typically 1+ year experience) will have the opportunities to:

• Manage participant recruitment and lab schedule
• Do honors contract or scholarly project
• Conduct training sessions
• Develop their own research ideas and design studies
• Present findings in academic conferences (e.g., Midwestern Psychological Association Conference)

We support and encourage student involvement in our lab through scholarship programs such as OUR Scholars, Summer Stay Scholars, and Summer Research Opportunity Program.

Research setting

Our research takes place mostly in our lab space (in the Psychological Sciences building) and some part of the work can be carried out remotely (e.g., from home) as long as data security and confidentiality can be ensured.

Number of assistants needed

5+

Contact Information

To Apply, please fill out this form and supply related information (which takes just about 15 minutes): https://bit.ly/purduerarecruit

Contact Dr. Kung at fkung@purdue.edu if you have questions.

Additional Comments

Preference is given to students who major in or are interested in Psychology, Business, or related fields, and to those seeking research experience and future graduate studies. In the application, we collect information across relevant domains such as academic, research, work, and personal history. We review applications holistically to ensure fairness. Application is reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the semester – if you are interested, apply now!

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Brooke N. Macnamara – Associate Professor – Cognitive and Industrial-Organizational
• Skill, Learning, and Performance Lab

Description of research area 

The Skill, Learning, and Performance Lab (SLAP Lab) conducts research on skill acquisition, expertise, and achievement. We are looking for 390 students to participate in research on the following topics:

• How cognitive abilities predict skill learning
• How acute stress and stress responses predict skill learning
• How emotion-cognition traits predict skill learning
• How stress affects attention
• How people acquire dynamic spatial skills (e.g., returning a tennis serve)

Description of undergraduate participation

Students in the SLAP Lab will be involved in multiple steps in the research process. Depending on the research project assigned (dependent upon student interests and schedule availability), this may include the following opportunities:

• Learning how to collect heart rate variability (EKG) and blood pressure data
• Administering and scoring cognitive ability measures
• Running experimental protocols
• Taking participants through a stress test
• Collecting behavioral data

In some cases, student research assistants who continue in the lab may have opportunities to analyze data, conduct independent research, and/or receive pay. Federal work study students are especially encouraged to apply.

If available, students will attend bi-weekly lab meetings and can opt-in to receive mentoring on preparing for and applying to psychology graduate programs.

The minimum number of hours per week is 6 (two credits). Preference is given to students committed to 9 hours (three credits) per week. Work is almost entirely conducted in the lab in-person. Preference is given to students with flexible schedules. We conduct a rigorous interview process to select students who are the best fit. No prior research experience is required; interest and curiosity about research are required.

Research setting

The SLAP Lab is located on the 3^rd floor of the Psychological Sciences Building and the 3^rd floor of Pierce Hall.

One space is designed to collect data from up to 8 participants at a time. Student research assistants in this space will gain experience managing and directing multiple people at once to ensure consistent experimental protocol administration.

The other space is a series of small rooms. Student research assistants in this space will work closely with a senior research assistant (graduate student or post-bac research staff) to guide a single participant through a complex experiment. Research assistants in this space will wear lab coats, assist participants in placing EKG electrodes on their torso, prepare buckets of water with precise temperatures, maintain neutral expressions, and move back and forth between rooms to monitor participants during a behavioral paradigm, monitor physiological readings, administer protocols, and screen potential participants.

Number of assistants needed

2 research assistants are needed.

Contact Information

Students interested in the SLAP Lab should complete this application. Applications received earlier receive more preference than applications received later. We aim to complete interviews and confirm the spring lab schedule by the end of fall term.

Additional Comments

For more information, see our lab website.

Students are expected to respond to lab communications within 24 hours.

The following students are especially encouraged to apply:

• Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology (any subarea).
• Students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
• Students eligible for federal work study.
• Students who may be interested in working in the lab for more than one semester.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Doug Samuel, Ph.D., Professor, Clinical Psychology

Description of research area 

Research in the Samuel Assessment Methods for Personality and Psychopathology Laboratory (SAMPPL) focuses on the measurement and definition of personality and personality disorders. More specifically, our research studies how certain personality traits (organized around the Five-Factor Model or Big Five) can become maladaptive when they are too extreme. For example, on a personality trait called conscientiousness, a person in the normal range would be organized, on-time, diligent, hard-working, and careful. However, when this is taken to the extreme they can become perfectionistic, obsessive, and put work ahead of friends and family. We are conducting studies looking at how these traits may be helpful as problematic, as well as how different sources (i.e., a friend, teacher, or therapist) agree with each other when it comes to describing someone’s personality. We finally are examining how personality can be most usefully applied in clinical practice to improve client outcomes. For more information see: https://www.douglasbsamuel.com/

Description of undergraduate participation

Students will be responsible for entering, cleaning, and assisting in the analysis of data collected during the semester. They will also be a part of collecting new data in various studies. This experience is purposefully kept small as I want 390 students to feel more like collaborators than “workers.” Those with 3 or more semesters before graduation will have the opportunity, if interested, to have input in developing new research projects on these topics, including an independent Honor’s Project in the Research Focused Honors Program.

Research setting

A majority of the experience will be in a psychology laboratory, but there also may be opportunities to collect data in the community.

Number of assistants needed

2-3; No formal requirements, but those with cumulative GPAs 3.3+ are generally the most competitive. I am particularly interested in RAs who would increase the diversity of thought and opinions in the lab, so ask each applicant to indicate that in their application.

Contact Information

dbsamuel@purdue.edu

Additional Comments

Students must be available on Wednesdays from 3-4pm. Please complete the application form and return it to dbsamuel@purdue.edu for consideration.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Susan South, PhD Professor – Clinical Psychology
• Margaret Lupo, Graduate Researcher
• Lily Jensen, Graduate Researcher

Description of research area 

Research in the Relationships and Mental Health Lab seeks to investigate the role psychopathology plays within intimate romantic relationship experiences. Past research in the RMH Lab has focused on links between trait personality and dysfunction within marital relationships, as well as the interplay between personality and psychopathology and their influence on one another.

Currently, the lab is funded for a project examining the effects of adverse interpersonal experiences on mild cognitive impairment in an ethnically diverse sample of older adult twins. Other ongoing projects include a daily diary study of older adults with cognitive impairment, a project utilizing ecological momentary assessment to study the effects of parenting stress on romantic relationships, and a review paper examining the current state of personality disorders research with particular attention to in-person laboratory procedures.

Description of undergraduate participation

Research assistants will help facilitate data collection by assisting with participant concerns, programming surveys, as well as entering or analyzing data.

Research assistants will also attend weekly lab meetings to read and discuss relevant journal articles, watch presentations from Dr. South and graduate students regarding research processes to gain additional experience useful for graduate school. Research assistants who have been with the lab for more than one semester may also have an opportunity to conduct their own independent research project.

Research setting

Most of our research will take place in our lab space in the Psychological Sciences building. Some work may be completed remotely.

Number of assistants needed

2-3

Contact Information

For questions, please contact Dr. South: ssouth@purdue.edu

To apply, please contact RMHLab@purdue.edu for an application. Interviews will take place in November/Early December.

Additional Comments

Students taking the course for credit should commit to working 3 hours in the lab for each credit (e.g., 9 hours/week for 3 credits).

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Principal Investigator: Alex Harris-Watson, PhD, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Graduate Researcher(s): Jeffrey Masser, Changyoon Byun

Description of research area 

The Individual Differences in Groups and Organizations (INDiGO) lab investigates topics related to two broad areas: the role of traits (e.g., personality and intelligence) and collaboration (e.g., teams, leadership, human-AI interaction) at work.

Examples of current, ongoing projects include:

• Development and validation of a measure of teammate characteristics (e.g., personality traits)
• Investigation of how personality impacts followers’ preferences for different leadership characteristics
• Predictors and consequences of perceptions of AI as a teammate in human-agent teams

You can read more about the INDiGo lab at our website.

Description of undergraduate participation

Undergraduate research assistants (RAs) help with a wide range of research topics and activities, such as preparing surveys, collecting and cleaning data, coding and analysis of data, literature reviews, and writing related to ongoing research in the lab.

In addition to attending lab meetings (approximately 1 hour each week), undergraduate RAs are expected to work an average of 3 hours for each credit of PSY 390 (i.e., 3 credits = an average of 9 expected hours outside of the lab meeting).

Research setting

Research meetings are held in our lab space in the Psychological Sciences building. Some work can be completed remotely (e.g., from home) with computer access. Depending on the specific project, some work may need to be completed in person in the lab space (e.g., due to the need for specific equipment for in-person data collection).

Number of assistants needed

2-3

To Apply

To apply, please complete the application form on the lab website. Contact Dr. Harris-Watson with any questions at aharrisw@purdue.edu.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted prior to the start of each semester.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Jennifer Brown
• Lab Website: https://jenniferbrownphd.wordpress.com/

Description of research area 

Work conducted in our clinical health psychology lab is focused on addressing substance use, HIV, and reproductive health disparities both domestically and globally.  Current research seeks to:

• Develop and evaluate culturally-tailored interventions to prevent HIV/AIDS; improve reproductive health and substance use outcomes; and address the intersection between substance use and infectious diseases.
• Implement evidence-based interventions in community settings to improve HIV, reproductive health, and substance use outcomes.
• Understand cultural facets of mental health, substance use, reproductive health, and infectious disease disparities.

Description of undergraduate participation

Students will be involved in all phases of research, including:

• Conducting literature reviews
• Designing studies
• Working with research participants
• Analyzing data
• Preparing presentations and publications of study results

Students will also participate in regularly scheduled lab meetings and discussions of readings on relevant clinical health psychology topics.

Research setting

Dr. Brown’s lab is located on the first floor in the Psychology Building.

Application

If you are interested in joining our lab, please fill out this Survey Form and email a brief statement regarding why you are interested in the lab’s area of focus on substance use, infectious diseases, and reproductive health as well as attach an updated PDF of your resume/CV by March 30, 2026.

Contact Information

Email: respectlab@purdue.edu

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Sébastien Hélie

Description of research area 

We use behavioral (mostly), EEG, fMRI (sometimes), and computational modeling methods to study the cognitive neuroscience of decision-making and problem solving with typical undergraduate students (mostly) and older adults (sometimes). We are especially interested in how individual differences in cognitive control and time perception affect choices and ability in decision-making and problem solving. You can find a description of the lab’s work here: https://ccn.psych.purdue.edu/index.html.

Description of undergraduate participation

Research assistants will help with researching the literature and use computers to collect data from human participants in a lab setting. The research assistant may also help with EEG/fMRI data collection if needed.

Research setting

Laboratory for Computational Cognitive Neuroscience (Peirce Hall) and Purdue Life Science MRI facility (if fMRI work is performed).

Number of assistants needed

1 or 2

Contact Information

Sébastien Hélie at shelie@purdue.edu.

Additional comments

Students who have taken Intro to cognitive psychology and/or Intro to cognitive neuroscience will be given priority. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Bridgette Kelleher
• Lab Website:
• Kelleher Lab

Description of research area 

Dr. Kelleher’s lab conducts research on the early development of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in order to identify early markers of risk and resilience in clinical populations. Kelleher Lab methods include clinical assessments, behavioral observation, psychophysiological data collection (e.g. heart activity, EEG), use of wearable sensors, telehealth methods and ecological momentary assessments. Information about Dr. Kelleher’s broader research interests are available at kelleherlab.weebly.com.

Description of Research Area

Our lab conducts research on the early development of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in order to identify early markers of risk and resilience in clinical populations. We currently have four ongoing research projects. PEPS is a longitudinal online survey for families of children with neurogenetic disorders aimed at characterizing early development in areas such as communication, sleep and autism features. Undergrads will primarily assist with participant and data management. PANDABox is a novel telehealth-based assessment where research staff collaborate with caregivers to remotely assess early development of children with rare genetic conditions (e.g., Angelman, Down, and Fragile X syndromes). Undergrads will primarily assist with coordinating participants, supporting remote assessment, data management, and coding behavioral and physiological data. CareBEAM is an ecological momentary assessment study aimed to improve tools that help monitor challenging behaviors in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. Undergrads will primarily assist with participant and data management. Zika is a longitudinal study of children with congenital Zika syndrome. Undergrads will primarily assist with coding EEG data.

Our lab family includes a large, diverse team of staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students. We typically involve over 10 undergraduate students in research activities each semester across a variety of project teams.

Description of undergraduate participation

Undergraduate participation may involve a combination of the following:

• Assisting with participant management and remote assessment
• Managing longitudinal clinical datasets using REDCap and Excel
• Data coding
• Cleaning and preparing datasets for reporting
• Supporting ongoing writing projects
• Professional development activities
• Translating research findings into accessible, shareable content
• Independent or team-based research projects and presentations

All students involved in the Kelleher lab complete a combination of lab-focused research tasks (~60% of time), professional development (~15%), and a research poster than is often completed in teams (~25%; if students do not elect to do a poster, this time is spent on research tasks). Students who join the lab in the spring frequently wait to join a poster team until the following fall.

Time Commitment

For this position, all research tasks will be completed in person in Dr. Kelleher’s laboratory. Option to complete some tasks remotely will be based on amount of research credits registered.

2 credits = 6 hours (1 hour might be completed remotely)
3 credits = 9 hours (2 hours might be completed remotely)

Due to the advanced training involved with joining the lab, a 2-semester commitment is required. Preference will be given to students who plan to remain in the lab for 3+ semesters. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to apply.

Regular attendance at lab meetings is required, as these meetings are central to training, collaboration, and mentorship in the lab. Students must have sufficient schedule flexibility to attend and will be asked to submit their availability as part of the application.

Number of assistants needed

7

Application

• Complete our lab application. Here, you can also view a syllabus from past 390 courses.
• Email your application to Veronika Vozka at kelleherlab@purdue.edu
• Indicate you are interested in PEPS, PANDABox, CareBEAM, or Zika within your email and application.
• Veronika will provide additional information about virtual interviews.

Additional comments

This lab is best suited for students who are:

• Interested in pursuing graduate training in clinical psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, speech-language pathology, or related fields
• Want to work with clinical populations, including children with neurodevelopmental disabilities long-term
• Interested in gaining hands-on experience with clinical assessments, EEG, behavioral coding, and longitudinal research
• Motivated, detail-oriented, and comfortable taking initiative
• Able to commit to consistent involvement over multiple semesters

That being said, our lab is an inclusive space for students with a variety of research/academic backgrounds, including students with limited prior exposure to the research process. We provide substantial mentorship to support students in developing skills over time. Mentorship includes both peer-to-peer supports, engagement with graduate students and staff, and group and individual meetings with Dr. Kelleher.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Teri Kirby, PhD, Associate Professor—Social Psychology
• Austin Zeng, Lab Coordinator
• Junming Zhang, Graduate Researcher
• Linh Pham, Graduate Researcher

Description of research area 

Research in Dr. Kirby’s lab explores a range of topics related to diversity, inclusion, identity, prejudice, and discrimination. We most often focus on racial/ethnic, gender/sex, and LGBTQ+ diversity.

Recent topics of investigation include:

• Diversity ideologies: ideas about how to accommodate differences across ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation categories (e.g., multicultural and colorblind approaches to diversity)
• Diversity initiatives: intersectional approaches to diversity initiatives, how diversity initiatives shape sensitivity to discrimination, self-concept, stereotyping, and academic/workplace outcomes
• The co-opting of diversity by majority/privileged groups
• Cultural appropriation
• Intersectionality and feminism

Description of undergraduate participation

Research assistants typically gain experience running participants in experimental lab studies, recruiting research participants, programming surveys, collecting survey data, entering or analyzing data, reviewing relevant psychological literature, and helping to design studies. They also gain experience with software that can be useful for graduate school (e.g., Qualtrics, Zotero, SPSS, R and RStudio).

Research assistants attend research group meetings to discuss projects in the lab and learn more about the research process. Finally, more senior research assistants may have the opportunity to conduct independent research projects and mentor/train more junior assistants.

Research setting

Labs in Psychology Building

Number of assistants needed

2-4

Contact Information

Please submit your application at: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tzVkWICaZbikMC

Please note that the deadline for submitting your application is March 23^rd

For questions, please contact Austin Zeng: zeng297@purdue.edu

Additional Comments

• Must have completed PSY 120
• Completion of or enrollment in PSY 240 and PSY 203 preferred
• GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred
• Minimum commitment of 2 credits per term (6 hours per week) required, as well as three terms overall. Those committing to more terms receive preference.

However, all interested candidates are encouraged to apply. We especially encourage people from underrepresented or marginalized groups to apply.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Franki Kung, Associate Professor, I-O and Social Psychology
• Graduate Investigators, Lab Manager/Researcher, and Undergraduate Research Assistants

Description of research area 

At the Conflict Collaboratory, we do science to help people and organizations manage conflict and thrive by:

• Building culturally inclusive and humanizing systems
  (e.g., developing adaptive mindsets/policies, understanding marginalized groups’ experience)
• Fostering understanding and grace in difficult communication and disagreement
  (e.g., applying constructive strategies in difficult conversations, such as feedback and negotiation)
• Regulating self and multiple goals for success
  (e.g., examining the pros and cons of diverse approaches to managing multiple goals and goal conflicts)

Because the study of conflict is inherently tied to understanding differences and creating spaces where people with varying interests and experiences can thrive, our lab’s research fundamentally advances the science of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Description of undergraduate participation

We design the lab experience to prepare our undergraduate research assistants for graduate school and careers in I-O psychology and social psychology, management, human resources, and organizational behavior. Students will join a community of peers, researchers, and mentors passionate about the study of conflict, self-regulation, and inclusive excellence. In addition to individual project team meetings and tasks, students attend weekly lab meetings to learn and discuss related issues and enjoy educational and social events throughout the semester (e.g., research talks, lunch, escape room, mini golf).

Junior research assistants will have the opportunities to:

• Learn how to conduct online surveys, literature reviews, behavioral experiments, and qualitative analysis (e.g., picture/linguistic coding, focus group data analysis)
• Develop scientific thinking and presentation skills in weekly lab meetings
• Attend research and professional development workshops (e.g., literature review, survey design, data analysis)

Senior research assistants (typically 1+ year experience) will have the opportunities to:

• Manage participant recruitment and lab schedule
• Do honors contract or scholarly project
• Conduct training sessions
• Develop their own research ideas and design studies
• Present findings in academic conferences (e.g., Midwestern Psychological Association Conference)

We support and encourage student involvement in our lab through scholarship programs such as OUR Scholars, Summer Stay Scholars, and Summer Research Opportunity Program.

Research setting

Our research takes place mostly in our lab space (in the Psychological Sciences building) and some part of the work can be carried out remotely (e.g., from home) as long as data security and confidentiality can be ensured.

Number of assistants needed

5+

Contact Information

To Apply, please fill out this form and supply related information (which takes just about 15 minutes): https://bit.ly/purduerarecruit

Contact Dr. Kung at fkung@purdue.edu if you have questions.

Additional Comments

Preference is given to students who major in or are interested in Psychology, Business, or related fields, and to those seeking research experience and future graduate studies. In the application, we collect information across relevant domains such as academic, research, work, and personal history. We review applications holistically to ensure fairness. Application is reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the semester – if you are interested, apply now!

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Hongmi Lee, Assistant Professor, Cognitive Psychology

Description of research area 

In the Lee Memory and Cognition Lab, we investigate how the human brain remembers complex real-world events. Our research is focused on understanding the characteristics of narrated memory recall for experiences resembling real-life situations (e.g., free web browsing) and the brain mechanisms that support the storage and recall of those experiences. We utilize a combination of behavioral experiments and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Description of undergraduate participation

As undergraduate research assistants, you will work closely with other lab members, contributing to a range of tasks essential for our fMRI and behavioral experiments. These tasks primarily include participant recruitment, preparation, and testing, as well as data coding, organization, and basic analysis. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to attend lab meetings and other lab-related events. If you express interest and demonstrate the required skills, you may also have the chance to develop your independent research project.

Research setting

Most of the research activity will take place in our lab space and testing rooms on the 2^nd floor of Peirce Hall. fMRI experiments will be conducted at the Purdue Life Science MRI Facility on campus.

Number of assistants needed

1-3 students

Contact Information

• Hongmi Lee / Lee Memory and Cognition Lab
• E-mail: LeeMemoryAndCognitionLab@gmail.com
• Phone: N/A
• Office: 3160 PSYC

Additional Comments

We require a commitment of at least 2 credits per semester (6 hours per week). To apply, please send an email to LeeMemoryAndCognitionLab@gmail.com with the following materials:

• A very brief statement (no longer than one page) describing 1) who you are, 2) why you are interested in joining our lab, 3) your prior research experience and technical skills (e.g., computer programming), and 4) your weekly availability 
• A CV or resume, if available
• An unofficial transcript

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Susan South, PhD Professor – Clinical Psychology
• Margaret Lupo, Graduate Researcher
• Lily Jensen, Graduate Researcher

Description of research area 

Research in the Relationships and Mental Health Lab seeks to investigate the role psychopathology plays within intimate romantic relationship experiences. Past research in the RMH Lab has focused on links between trait personality and dysfunction within marital relationships, as well as the interplay between personality and psychopathology and their influence on one another.

Currently, the lab is funded for a project examining the effects of adverse interpersonal experiences on mild cognitive impairment in an ethnically diverse sample of older adult twins. Other ongoing projects include a daily diary study of older adults with cognitive impairment, a project utilizing ecological momentary assessment to study the effects of parenting stress on romantic relationships, and a review paper examining the current state of personality disorders research with particular attention to in-person laboratory procedures.

Description of undergraduate participation

Research assistants will help facilitate data collection by assisting with participant concerns, programming surveys, as well as entering or analyzing data.

Research assistants will also attend weekly lab meetings to read and discuss relevant journal articles, watch presentations from Dr. South and graduate students regarding research processes to gain additional experience useful for graduate school. Research assistants who have been with the lab for more than one semester may also have an opportunity to conduct their own independent research project.

Research setting

Most of our research will take place in our lab space in the Psychological Sciences building. Some work may be completed remotely.

Number of assistants needed

3

Contact Information

For questions, please contact Dr. South: ssouth@purdue.edu.
To apply, please contact RMHLab@purdue.edu for an application. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-April.

Additional Comments

Students taking the course for credit should commit to working 3 hours in the lab for each credit (e.g., 9 hours/week for 3 credits).

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Stephen B. Broomell Global Risk and Individual Decisions (GRID) Lab

Description of research area 

Our lab is focused on understanding how individuals form judgments and make decisions in the face of risk and uncertainty. We leverage real world risks such as climate change, weather hazards, medical, or cyber risks and design experiments to investigate what features of the problem domain facilitate or hinder accurate judgment and effective decision-making regarding the risk.

Below are a few current research topics:

• Communication of uncertain climate projections.
• Developing and testing theories for how the form and presentation of information affects judgment.

More information can be found at: https://hhs.purdue.edu/grid-lab/

Description of undergraduate participation

Students can be involved in all phases of research, including designing experiments, testing participants, analyzing data, and presentations of study results. Students will also participate in regularly scheduled lab meetings and discussions of readings on relevant topics.

Research setting

The lab is located on the third floor in the Psychology Building.

Number of assistants needed

2-4 students. If you are interested in joining our laboratory, please fill out this survey.

If you have further questions, please contact Angela Pastrana using the email below.

Contact Information

Email: apastra@purdue.edu

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Yu-Chin Chiu, PhD, Associate Professor
• Cognitive Neuroscience of Cognitive Control Lab

Description of research area 

Cognitive control is a psychological construct that refers to a collection of processes that allow us to orchestrate thought and action according to our goals. For instance, we are able switch from one task to another by implementing cognitive control over task sets. While cognitive control is crucial to our everyday behavior, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Our lab conducts behavioral and neuroimaging experiments that try to specify the neurocognitive architecture of cognitive control and how it interacts with perception, learning, and memory.

Description of undergraduate participation

• Manage and assist with data collection (behavioral and/or EEG studies).
• Program experiments or prepare experimental stimuli.
• Participate in the lab’s journal club and present papers.

Research setting

Our lab is located on the 3^rd floor of the Psychology Building (PSYC).

Number of assistants needed

2 students are needed

Contact Information

Please submit the following materials under the subject line “PSY390 [Fall 2026]” to yuchinchiu@purdue.edu:

• Transcript & Resume/CV
• What do you expect to learn from this experience?

Additional Comments

• Best if already taken PSY200, PSY201, PSY203
• GPA > 3.8
• Prior programming experiences (Python, R, matlab, etc) are a big plus, but is not required

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Jeffrey D. Karpicke
• Cognition and Learning Lab

Description of research area 

The Cognition and Learning Lab conducts basic and applied research on how people learn. Specific areas of interest are as follows:

• Identifying effective learning strategies
• Metacognition and self-regulated learning
• Developing computer-based learning tools
• Memory retrieval processes and retrieval-based learning

Description of undergraduate participation

Students in the Cognition and Learning Lab have the opportunity to get involved in all phases of the research process. Most frequently this consists of running experimental sessions, helping to score and analyze data, and attending bi-weekly lab meetings. Additionally, students have the opportunity (although this is not required) to conduct independent research and learn more about experimental design/computer programming.

Research setting

The Cognition and Learning Lab is located on the 1^st floor of Peirce Hall.

Number of assistants needed

4-6 research assistants are needed.

Contact Information

Students interested in doing PSY 390/391/498 in the Cognition and Learning Lab should complete an application.  If you have any questions, please direct them to Angela Pastrana: apastra@purdue.edu

Additional Comments

For more information see our lab website.

Faculty Member or Graduate Student

• Dr. Brooke N. Macnamara – Associate Professor – Cognitive Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Skill, Learning, and Performance Lab

Description of research area 

The Skill, Learning, and Performance Lab (SLAP Lab) conducts research on skill acquisition, expertise, and achievement. We are looking for 390 students to participate in research on the following topics:

• How stress affects attention
• How people acquire dynamic spatial skills (e.g., returning a tennis serve)
• How feelings of belonging develop and differ

Description of undergraduate participation

Students in the SLAP Lab will be involved in multiple steps in the research process. Depending on the research project assigned (dependent upon student interests and schedule availability), this may include the following opportunities:

• Learning how to collect and clean heart rate variability (EKG) data
• Running experimental protocols
• Taking participants through a stress test
• Collecting behavioral data
• Organizing Qualtrics data

In some cases, student research assistants who continue in the lab may have opportunities to analyze data and/or conduct independent research.

The minimum number of hours per week is 6 (two credits). Preference is given to students committed to 9 hours (three credits) per week. Work is almost entirely conducted in the lab in-person. Preference is given to students with flexible schedules. We conduct a rigorous interview process to select students who are the best fit. No prior research experience is required; interest and curiosity about research are required.

Research setting

The SLAP Lab is located on the 3^rd floor of the Psychological Sciences Building and the 3^rd floor of Pierce Hall.

One space is designed to collect data from up to 8 participants at a time. Student research assistants in this space will gain experience managing and directing multiple people at once to ensure consistent experimental protocol administration.

The other space is a series of small rooms. Student research assistants in this space will work closely with a senior research assistant (graduate student or post-bac research staff) to guide a single participant through a complex experiment. Research assistants in this space may be asked to wear lab coats, assist participants in placing EKG electrodes on their torso and neck, prepare buckets of water with precise temperatures, maintain neutral expressions, and move back and forth between rooms to monitor participants during a behavioral paradigm, monitor physiological readings, administer protocols, and screen potential participants.

Number of assistants needed

1 research assistant is needed.

Contact Information

Students interested in working in the SLAP Lab in the fall should complete this application by July 15th. We aim to complete interviews and confirm the fall lab schedule by August 15th.

Additional Comments

For more information, see our lab website.

Students are expected to respond to lab communications within 24 hours.

The following students are especially encouraged to apply:

• Learning how to collect and clean heart rate variability (EKG) data
• Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology (any subarea).
• Students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
• Students eligible for federal work study.
• Students who may be interested in working in the lab for more than one semester.