Our labs would not function without the help of many bright and talented undergraduate students. Please click on the “research assistant application” link if you are an undergraduate student who is interested in working in our lab. If you are a prospective graduate student, please contact one of the PIs directly.
Research assistants in the Existential Psychology Lab help conduct many different types of psychological experiments, enter and code data, design surveys, and assist with other phases of the research process. Advanced students also have the opportunity to design and conduct independent projects under the guidance of a faculty member or graduate student. Research assistants also participate in lab meetings where we discuss current and future research projects, as well as issues related to graduate school admissions, writing personal statements, general “life” after graduation, etc.
There are many advantages to working as a research assistant including:
- learning about current issues related to social, personality, and clinical psychology
- learning how to conduct cutting edge psychological research
- learning about the research process more generally
- learning how to think critically and how to apply those skills to real life issues
- the opportunity to conduct an honors thesis project
- the opportunity to get to know the professors working in the lab
- the opportunity to make yourself more competitive for graduate school
- the opportunity to meet other undergraduate students with similar interests
In addition, we will write a letter of recommendation for all research assistants who perform at an exceptional level. In order to provide you with the best letter of recommendation possible, we ask research assistants to work in our lab for at least 2 semesters.
The collaboratory currently consists of two semi-independent labs: one run by Dr. Schlegel and Dr. Hicks, and one run by Dr. Vess. Research assistants may work in either Dr. Hicks and Dr. Schlegel’s lab, or in Dr. Vess’s lab.
To apply to be a research assistant in Drs. Hicks and Schlegel’s lab, please proceed to their research assistant application.
To apply to be a research assistant in Dr. Vess’s lab, please proceed to his research assistant application.