Research Opportunities
Interested in joining the Early Minds Lab?
Frequently Asked Questions
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:
Research assistants get hands-on experience with experimental methods and, after completing their coursework, can receive more personalized letters of recommendation from the supervising professor and mentoring in continuing their studies at the graduate level. Students participate in laboratory work for 7 hours/week for three credits in Psych 286. Primary investigators typically take on one Psych 486 student per semester. However, this student would have had to complete Psych 286 within the previous semester. Psych 486 is a more intensive position involving an extensive literature survey and writing a 15-20 page literature review based on a minimum of 25 sources. Besides their faculty mentor, each undergraduate research assistant will also have an assigned PhD student mentor. If you are interested in applying for the research assistant position, please submit an APPLICATION FORM.
Research assistants get hands-on experience with experimental methods and, after completing their coursework, can receive more personalized letters of recommendation from the supervising professor and mentoring in continuing their studies at the graduate level. Students participate in laboratory work for 7 hours/week for three credits in Psych 286. Primary investigators typically take on one Psych 486 student per semester. However, this student would have had to complete Psych 286 within the previous semester. Psych 486 is a more intensive position involving an extensive literature survey and writing a 15-20 page literature review based on a minimum of 25 sources. Besides their faculty mentor, each undergraduate research assistant will also have an assigned PhD student mentor. If you are interested in applying for the research assistant position, please submit an APPLICATION FORM.
1. What kind of tasks do research assistants do?
- assist in studies with infants, toddlers, and young children
- participate in weekly lab meetings where we discuss primary research literature
- write weekly journal article summaries
- recruit study participants at child-centered events (library story time, festivals) and scheduling appointments (via call and email)
- travel to children's museums in the Boston area to help with data collection and outreach
- assist with coding and analyzing data
2. Who is an ideal candidate for the Early Minds Lab?
- Sophomore or junior student who is able to commit to 2 (or more) semesters in the lab.
- Ideally, a 3.5 GPA with a B or higher in:
- PSYCH 201 Research Methods
- PSYCH 241 Infant & Child Development
- PSYCH 255 Perception
- PSYCH 201 Research Methods
- Interested in research, primarily in the cognitive development of children.
- Has experience working with children and families.
- Has great communication and organization skills.
3. What is the time commitment and workload like as a research assistant?
In the Fall and Spring semesters (14 weeks) research assistants dedicate a minimum of 7 hours per week to lab related tasks and 1 hour for weekly lab meetings. In the shorter Summer sessions (10 weeks), RAs dedicate a minimum of 10 hours per week to lab related tasks and 1 hour for weekly lab meetings. These hours are set in a regular weekly schedule, just as your classes.
Honors Thesis students can expect to commit more time as they will be creating, developing and administering their own project.
Honors Thesis students can expect to commit more time as they will be creating, developing and administering their own project.
4. Do I have to be a Psychology Major to enroll in Psych 286 in the Early Minds Lab?
No you do not, but you have to have completed Psych 100 or Psych 101, and ideally Psych 201 (Research Methods), too.
5. How do I apply for Psych 286 (Introductory Research Apprenticeship) in the Early Minds Lab?
If you would like to enroll in Psych 286 (Introductory Research Apprenticeship), please complete our APPLICATION FORM and then reach out to the professor you intend to work with via email (Dr. Blankenship ([email protected]), Dr. Blaser ([email protected]), Dr. Ciaramitaro ([email protected]), or Dr. Kaldy ([email protected]).) For the Summer and Fall semesters, review of applications starts in mid-March. For the Spring semester, review of applications starts in late October.
6. How do I apply for Psych 486 (Research Apprenticeship in Psychology) in the Early Minds Lab?
Students who are interested in enrolling in Psych 486 must first complete Psych 286 in the Early Minds Lab. Besides the hands-on tasks in the lab, Psych 486 also involves an extensive literature survey and the writing of a 15-20 page literature review based on min. 25 sources. Please not that each primary investigators typically take on one Psych 486 student per semester.
7. I am looking for a faculty mentor for my Senior Honors Thesis. What should I do?
The faculty members in the Early Minds Lab typically mentor 1-2 Honors Thesis students per year. Your best chance for being able do your Honors project in the lab is if you get enrolled in Psych 286 in the lab during your sophomore or junior year. If you are a Psych major in the Honors College and hoping to complete a one-semester thesis project, please contact the faculty member whose interests most align with yours during your junior year.
8. WHERE CAN I FIND THE APPLICATION FORM?
Please complete our APPLICATION FORM and then reach out to the professor you intend to work with via email (Dr. Blankenship ([email protected]), Dr. Blaser ([email protected]), Dr. Ciaramitaro ([email protected]), or Dr. Kaldy ([email protected]).) For the Summer and Fall semesters, review of applications starts in mid-March. For the Spring semester, review of applications starts in late October.
9. I JUST SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION, WHEN CAN I EXPECT A REPLY?
For the Summer and Fall semesters, review of applications starts in mid-March. For the Spring semester, review of applications starts in late October.
