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 — Summer 2025
Teri Kirby – Social
Faculty Member and Graduate Students
Teri Kirby, PhD, Assistant Professor—Social Psychology
Austin Zeng, Lab Coordinator
Junming Zhang, Graduate Researcher
Linh Pham, Graduate Researcher
Max Miller, Graduate Researcher
Description of Research
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 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 Research Assistants Needed
1-4
Contact Information
Please submit your application at:
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tzVkWICaZbikMC
For questions, please contact Austin Zeng: zeng297@purdue.edu
Brooke Macnamara – Cognitive/IO
Faculty Member
Dr. Brooke N. Macnamara – Associate Professor – Cognitive and Industrial-Organizational
Skill, Learning, and Performance Lab
Description of Research
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 following the spring semester may have opportunities to analyze data, conduct independent research, and/or receive pay. Federal work study students are especially encouraged to apply.
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.
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 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
2–3 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.
Susan South – Clinical
Faculty Member
Susan South, PhD Professor – Clinical Psychology
Jessica Dupree, Graduate Researcher
Magaret Lupo, 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. Additionally, the lab is in collaboration with Dr. Chris Eckhardt’s team to investigate the impact of stress, mood, and alcohol use on relationship experiences, and Dr. David Rollock’s lab to investigate discrimination, relationship functioning, and mental health.
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 biweekly 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. Applications are due 11/22/2024.
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).
Alex Harris-Watson – IO
Faculty Member
Principal Investigator: Alex Harris-Watson, PhD, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Graduate Researcher(s): Jeffrey Masser
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
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the application form here. 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 Accepting Undergraduate Students — Fall 2025
Stephen B. Broomell – Cognitive
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
Jennifer Brown – Clinical
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.
Contact information
Email: respectlab@purdue.edu
Yu-Chin Chiu – Cognitive
Research Team
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
Students will:
- Assist with running behavioral (or EEG) experiments in the lab (in-person) for 8-9 hrs weekly (registering for 3 credit hours)
- Assist with conducting literature search and/or stimulus preparation
Research Setting
Our behavioral testing lab is located on the 2nd floor of the Peirce Hall Building (PRCE).
Number of Assistants Needed:
2-3
Contact Information
Please submit the following materials under the subject line “PSY390 [FALL 2025]” to yuchinchiu@purdue.edu
- Transcript (unofficial is fine)
- What do you expect to learn from this experience?
- What is your longer-term career goal?
Additional Comments
- Already completed PSY 200. PSY 201 and PSY 203 are recommended but optional
- GPA of 3.5 or higher is preferred
Jeffrey Karpicke – Cognitive
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 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.
Teri Kirby – Social
Faculty Member and Graduate Students
Teri Kirby, PhD, Assistant Professor—Social Psychology
Austin Zeng, Lab Coordinator
Junming Zhang, Graduate Researcher
Linh Pham, Graduate Researcher
Max Miller, Graduate Researcher
Description of Research
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 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 Research Assistants Needed
1-4
Contact Information
Please submit your application at:
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tzVkWICaZbikMC
For questions, please contact Austin Zeng: zeng297@purdue.edu
Franki Kung – IO
Faculty Member
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)
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+
How to Apply
To Apply, please fill out this form and supply related information (which takes just about 15 minutes): https://j.mp/purduerarecruit
Contact Information
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!
Hongmi Lee – Cognitive
Faculty Member
Hongmi Lee (she/her), 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
Hongmi Lee / Lee Memory and Cognition Lab
E-mail: LeeMemoryAndCognitionLab@gmail.com
Phone: N/A
Office: 3160 PSYC
Additional Comments
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
We strongly prefer students with prior experience in data analysis using computer programming (Python, MATLAB, R, etc.). We require a commitment of at least 3 credits per semester (9 hours per week). Students from underrepresented or marginalized groups are particularly encouraged to apply.
Brooke Macnamara – Cognitive/IO
Faculty Member
Dr. Brooke N. Macnamara – Associate Professor – Cognitive and Industrial-Organizational
Skill, Learning, and Performance Lab
Description of Research
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 following the spring semester may have opportunities to analyze data, conduct independent research, and/or receive pay. Federal work study students are especially encouraged to apply.
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.
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 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
2–3 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.
Margo Monteith – Social
Faculty Member
Dr. Margo Monteith, Distinguished Professor—Social Psychology
Anna Li, graduate student — Social Psychology
Madison Vigdor, graduate student — Social Psychology
Description of Research Area
Research in Dr. Monteith’s Intergroup Relations and Inclusion lab explores issues related to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.
Topics of investigation include:
- Confrontations of bias (e.g., how people react when they are confronted about their biases; how to make confrontations more effective; how confrontations encourage non-biased social norms and environments where members of minoritized groups feel included and safe)
- How legislative and institutional changes reducing foci on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion influence people’s attitudes, ideologies, and willingness to stand up against bias
Description of Undergraduate Participation
The lab experience is designed to provide students with hands-on experience with the research process.
Research assistants engage in weekly one-hour research group meetings will be held to discuss various projects in the lab and to help undergraduate assistants to learn what our research is all about. Additional time will be spent on planning and execution (e.g., data collection) of the research projects. Scheduling is flexible.
Research Setting
Labs in Psychology Building
Number of Assistants Needed:
3-4
Contact Information
Please download and fill out this application form and send to Anna Li (a graduate student in the Monteith lab) at li4268@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 is preferred
- Minimum commitment of 3 credits per term (9 hours per week) required, as well as two terms overall
However, all interested candidates are encouraged to apply. We especially encourage people from underrepresented or marginalized groups to apply.
Thekla Morgenroth – Social
Faculty Member
Dr. Thekla Morgenroth (they/them/their), Assistant Professor—Social Psychology
Kira Means (she/her), graduate student – Social Psychology
Heejoo Chung (she/her), graduate student – Social Psychology
Description of Research Area
Research in the UNICORN (UNderstanding Identity and the COntinuance of Roles and Norms) lab examines how and why people defend and maintain social categories and hierarchies.
Topics of investigation include:
- LGBTQ+ issues
- Gender and the gender binary
- The psychology of different feminist ideologies
- Opposition to trans-inclusive policies
- Women’s bodily autonomy
Description of Undergraduate Participation
The lab experience is designed to provide students with hands-on experience with the research process.
Research assistants have the opportunity to:
- Conduct research using a variety of research designs and methods
- Gain experience in software used for research (e.g., Qualtrics, SPSS)
- Engage with and code open-response data
- Read and analyze published academic articles
- Be active participants in weekly lab meetings and discussions about research
Research Setting
Work will be carried out in a joint lab space in person at specific times (depending on your schedule).
Number of Assistants Needed:
4
To apply
Please fill out the following survey by April 4th. You will hear back within 1-2 weeks of this deadline.
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a8CUIaw5Qvcm7lQ
Additional Comments
Members of underrepresented or marginalized groups are particularly encouraged to apply. In addition, individuals interested in pursuing careers in academic research and/or who may be interested in working in the lab for more than one semester are particularly encouraged to apply. Students should be able to commit at least 6 hours/week (2 credits).
Thomas Redick – Cognitive
Faculty Member or Graduate Student
Dr. Thomas S. Redick
Purdue Applied Cognition Laboratory (PacLab)
Description of research area
Our lab is involved in several research projects focused on understanding the role of working memory and cognitive control as predictors of behavior. Almost all of our studies are conducted with young adults as the sample. Our work is very applied in nature. Below are a few current research topics:
- Individual differences in learning, memory, and attention
- Different ways that people create spatial representations as they navigate a new place
- Ways to influence memory and attention
Description of undergraduate participation
Students will be involved in testing participants and also participate in regularly scheduled lab meetings and discussions of readings on relevant cognitive psychology and professional development topics.
As students progress in responsibility in the lab, they may be involved in designing experiments, analyzing data, and presentations and publications of study results.
Research setting
The PacLab is located on the third floor in the Psychology Building.
Number of assistants needed
2-4 students
Contact information
If you are interested in joining our laboratory, please fill out the following survey:
PacLab Undergraduate Research Assistant Interest Form
Doug Samuel – Clinical
Faculty Member
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.
How to Apply
To apply
Please fill out the following survey.
Contact Information
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.
Susan South – Clinical
Faculty Member
Susan South, PhD Professor – Clinical Psychology
Jessica Dupree, Graduate Researcher
Magaret Lupo, 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. Additionally, the lab is in collaboration with Dr. Chris Eckhardt’s team to investigate the impact of stress, mood, and alcohol use on relationship experiences, and Dr. David Rollock’s lab to investigate discrimination, relationship functioning, and mental health.
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 biweekly 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. Applications are due 4/16/2025.
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).
Alex Harris-Watson – IO
Faculty Member
Principal Investigator: Alex Harris-Watson, PhD, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Graduate Researcher(s): Jeffrey Masser
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
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the application form here. 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.
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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