What steps are involved?
1. Explore: If you're interested in becoming a research assistant, we recommend that you first look at the directed research opportunities listed below. The prerequisites for Directed Research are a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; 12 completed credits of psychology (including the term in which you register for Directed Research); STAT 0200, 1000, or 1100; and either PSY 0035 Research Methods, or both PSY 0036 Research Methods Lecture and PSY 0037 Research Methods Lab.
2. Apply: Once you have a list of a few opportunities that interest you, follow the directions listed under those opportunities. Some may have an application form that you can fill out to apply to work in that faculty member's lab. Some may ask that you email someone in addition to completing the application. If no application form is available, email the contact person.
3. Wait: Give it a little while—it may take a couple of weeks before you hear back from the labs that you applied to. If you don't hear back in 2-3 weeks, it is appropriate to send a follow-up email noting that you have applied but not yet heard back. Something like: Dear Dr. XX, I applied to be a directed research student in your lab on X date but have not yet heard back from you. I am writing to follow up to ask if you are accepting students at this time.
4. Interview: You will likely be asked to interview with the labs you have applied to work in. Some labs have a multi-tiered interview process in which you will first be interviewed by a graduate student or staff member, and then be interviewed by the faculty member.
5. Choose: If you have been accepted into multiple labs, you will need to choose which one to join. You may want to try to talk to other students who have been in these labs. The Psychology Advising office may also have good advice for you about this.
6. Complete: Once you accept an offer, you'll need to complete the learning agreement - in part by you and in part by the faculty advisor. PSY 1903 Learning Agreement
7. Send: Send the completed learning agreement and a transcript (unofficial is fine) to psyadvis@pitt.edu for review and to request a permission number to enroll.
8. Enroll: Use the permission number provided by the Psychology Advising Office to self-enroll.
- Dr. Bertocci: InCabs Imaging Study - Full for Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024
- Dr. Sarah Brown: PAIRS Study (Personality, Affect, Interactions, and Risk for Suicide) - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023, FALL 2023, AND SPRING 2024
- Drs. Bylsma and Scott: FEEL Study (Feeling Emotions in Everyday Life)
- Dr. Conklin: Cue Reactivity and tDCS Research - NEW OPPORTUNITY
- Drs. El Nokali and Rofey: The Pittsburgh Obesity, Weight, and Emotion Research (POWER) Lab
- Dr. Erika Forbes: Affective neuroscience and Developmental Psychopathology - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Frieze: Homesickness in First-Year College Students - NEW OPPORTUNITY
- Dr. Hasler: Sleep and Alcohol/Drug Use in Teens - Full for Summer 2023
- Dr. Horton: Youth, Emotions, Thoughts, and Interactions (YETI)
- Dr. Jakubowski: Relationship Influences on Sleep, Emotion, and Heart Health
- Dr. Joseph: The Pittsburgh ADHD Risk in Infancy Study (PARIS) - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Kennedy: Symptom Tracking for ADHD in Real Time using Smartphones (START Smart Study) - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Kline: Functional Recovery After Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury
- Dr. Levenson: Targeted Intervention for Insufficient Sleep among Typically-Developing Adolescents (TAPAS) - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Levine: The Health and Behaviors in Transition (HABIT) Study
- Dr. Low: Biobehavioral Oncology + Technology Lab - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Morgan: Child Affect Regulation & Expression Lab (CARE) - Full for Summer 2023
- Dr. Jessie Northrup: MEET (Managing Everyday Emotions Together) Study of Preschoolers wtih Autism Spectrum Disorder - Full for Summer and Fall 2023
- Dr. Pacella-LaBarbara: The Tracking Acute Post-Injury Pain (TAPP) Study - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Pedersen: Judgement and Experiences Following Alcohol Consumption in the Moment (JAM)
- Dr. Price: The Clinical Application of Neuroscience Laboratory (CANlab)
- Dr. Radovic: Supporting Our Valued Adolescents (SOVA)
- Dr. Rofey: Pittsburgh Obesity, Weight, and Emotion Research (POWER) Lab
- Dr. Scott: DEAR Study (Daily Emotions and Relationships) - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023, FALL 2023, AND SPRING 2024
- Dr. Steel: Collaborative Care and Dyadic Sleep Intervention - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Steel: Motivations of Anonymous Living Liver Donors and Double Donors - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
- Dr. Thurston: Women's Biobehavioral Health Laboratory - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER AND FALL 2023
- Dr. Treble-Barna: The Pediatric Brain Injury Research Laboratory
- Drs. Vanwoerden and Stepp: Borderline personality disorder and significant relationships across the lifespan
- Drs. Vaughn-Coaxum and Goldstein: Life Experiences in Adolescents and the Development of Skills (LEADS) Study - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2023
- Dr. Frances Wang: Improving assessment of impaired control over alcohol use for individuals of diverse racial and ethnic identities - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2023
* Researchers who wish to become 1903 mentors should follow these Instructions.