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Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Department of Psychological Sciences

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Undergraduate Research Opportunities

PSY 39000 (Research Experience in Psychology)

PSY 39000 is a course that allows you to work as a research assistant on projects managed by a faculty member or graduate student in the Department of Psychological Sciences. Through this course, you’ll gain hands-on experience in data collection and learn skills such as data analysis, data interpretation and writing. The course will also allow you to develop contacts for job references and letters of recommendation as well as enhance the competitiveness of your application for graduate school, professional school or a variety of careers.

Faculty Accepting Undergraduate Students — Spring 2027

Faculty member
Faculty member
  • 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.

Contact information

Email: apastra@purdue.edu

Faculty member
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. Applications are due November 6, 2026.

Contact information

Email: respectlab@purdue.edu

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

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 (in-person in PSYC 2193; 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
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 1st 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
  • Andy Jeesu Kim, Assistant Professor, Cognitive/Neuroscience
Description of research area

In the Attention, Affect, & Aging Lab, we investigate what happens to the brain as we age. Specifically, our goals are to identify the brain mechanisms that become altered in aging, detect those who have faster cognitive aging trajectories, and introduce primary interventions to reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). The lab primarily focuses on the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline system and how aging alters its neuromodulatory effect on cognition (e.g., attention, memory) and emotion processing. We utilize a multimodal/multivariate approach to investigate these research aims including eye tracking, electroencephalography, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, cognitive assessments, and blood plasma biomarkers.

Description of undergraduate participation

As an undergraduate research assistant, you are an integral part of the lab’s research team. Your primarily role will be to interact with participants (adults aged 18-90 years old) including preparation and running an experiment. If you are committed and would like to be more involved in the research process, you may also have the opportunity to develop an independent research project that would incorporate all stages of the research process: brainstorming ideas, experiment design, coding an experiment, running the experiment, analyzing the data, and presenting findings at local/international conferences. Undergraduate researchers who are involved in significant portions of this research process may also be recognized as a co-author in peer-reviewed journal publications (typically requires longer than one year of lab commitment).

Research setting

Most research will take place in the Psychological Sciences building in our lab space. Other research-related activity may take place in the Purdue Life Science MRI Facility, Lyles-Porter building, or the Clinical Research Center.

Number of assistants needed

1-4 students

Contact Information
Additional Comments

We require a commitment of at least 2 credits per semester (6 hours per week). To apply, please send me an email with a cover letter detailing your interest in the lab, your prior research experience, any research-related technical skills (e.g., programming, statistical analysis), what you would like to accomplish in your time with us, and your future goals. I encourage freshmen to be involved in research – the earlier you start, the more involved you can be!

Research Team
  • Teri Kirby, PhD, Associate Professor—Social Psychology
  • 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

1-3

Contact Information

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

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.

Research Team
  • 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 conduct research to help people and organizations navigate conflicts:

  • Between groups (applying adaptive mindsets/policies and understanding marginalized groups’ experience)
  • Between individuals (using constructive strategies in difficult conversations, e.g., feedback and negotiation)
  • Within the self (recognizing the pros and cons of varied approaches when managing multiple goals and goal conflicts)

Because the study of conflict is inherently connected to understanding differences and building spaces for people whose interests and experiences may diverge can all thrive; at its core, our lab’s research seeks to advance the science of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our team is involved in a multidisciplinary group on campus that brings together researchers with relevant expertise to share, exchange, and disseminate the scientific knowledge. See HHS DEI Science Consortium.

Description of Undergraduate Participation

We design the lab experience to prepare our undergraduate research assistants for graduate school and jobs in the fields of I-O and social psychology, management, human resource, and organizational behavior. Students will join a community of peers, researchers, and mentors passionate about the studies of diversity, conflict, and goals. Besides individual project team meetings and tasks, students attend lab meeting weekly 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 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): http://j.mp/purduerarecruit

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

Additional Comments

Preference is given to students who major or are interested in Psychology, Business, or related fields and students who are interested in 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 2nd 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
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
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 math anxiety affects decision-making
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 3rd floor of the Psychological Sciences Building and the 3rd 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, 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

3 research assistants are needed.

Contact Information

Students interested in working in the SLAP Lab in Spring 2027 should complete this application by November 25th. We aim to complete interviews and confirm the spring lab schedule by late December 2026 / early January 2027.

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
  • Dr. Darryl W. Schneider
Description of Research Area

We conduct basic research on attention and cognitive control. Recent studies in our lab have examined attentional focusing in selective attention tasks and visual search in a sonar detection-like task.

Description of Undergraduate Participation

Students will be primarily responsible for help with data collection in behavioral experiments. Students will also participate in regular lab meetings and discussions of research with Dr. Schneider and other lab members.

Research Setting

Experiments are conducted in laboratory rooms on the 3rd floor of the PSYC building.

Number of Assistants Needed

We are seeking 3-4 students.

Contact Information

Dr. Darryl W. Schneider

Office: PSYC 3174

Email: dws@purdue.edu

Website: https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~dws/

Additional Comments

A commitment of 3 credits per semester (9 hours per week) is preferred. Students often have

The option of doing research in the lab for more than one semester.

Registering and Earning Credit for PSY 39000

Registration for PSY 39000 is done during open registration using Scheduling Assistant — not during pre-registration using the course request form. Although PSY 39000 may be taken more than once, no more than six credits may be taken for a standard grade. All additional PSY 39000 credits must be taken as pass/no pass credit. Only three credits of standard-grade PSY 39000 can be used in the psychological sciences major, the brain and behavior science major, or the psychological sciences minor.

During the 16-week fall or spring semester, you are expected to work three hours in the lab for every credit earned (e.g., three credits would require nine lab hours per week). After the fourth week of the fall or spring semester, you may not register for three credit hours of PSY 39000 without special permission from the Department of Psychological Sciences. Late enrollment in PSY 390 during any semester reduces the number of possible credit hours you can earn.

During the eight-week summer session, you are expected to work in the lab six hours per week for every credit earned (e.g., three credits would require 18 lab hours per week).

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