Stress, Immunity, and Emotion Regulation in Aging (SIERA)

Supervising Faculty: Rebecca Reed, PhD  

Area of Research: Health Psychology, Psychoneuroimmunology, Aging    

Description of Research: Dr. Reed’s Psychoneuroimmunology Lab investigates biopsychosocial factors that contribute to health in later life. The Stress, Immunity, and Emotion Regulation in Aging (SIERA) study aims to examine how stress influences immunological aging (e.g., inflammation, latent viral activity) in older adults, and the protective role that emotion regulation may play. This study uses a variety of methods including remote videoconference, lab-based, and daily assessments as well as saliva- and blood-based biomarkers to study the mechanisms through which stress and emotions influence older adults’ immune systems.   

Duties of Students: We are seeking motivated, enthusiastic, organized, and reliable undergraduates who are interested in interdisciplinary research involving health psychology and psychoneuroimmunology. Interested students will have the unique opportunity to be involved in all stages of our projects – including seeing “behind the scenes” of getting a research study up and running. We are recruiting research assistants to become involved in study administration, data collection, and data entry and management. Students may also have the opportunity to learn how to administer subjective, behavioral, and physiological tests in the lab and help with data analyses. Opportunities to process clinical specimens in the wet lab may be available for students interested in longer time commitments. 
All psychology students and chemistry and biology majors are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity. Pre-med students are also welcome to apply. 

Requirements:

  • Requirements:
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • 12 credits of Psychology (including current term)
  • STAT 0200/1000/1100 Statistics
  • PSY 0036 Research Methods Lecture
  • PSY 0037 Research Methods Lab
  • Preferably including PSY 1215 (health psychology) 
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Comfort with computer applications
  • Highly responsible and dependable individual
  • A 2-term commitment, and ability to commit to at least 2 credits per semester.

Terms offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer 

Number of students: Open

Apply here: https://forms.gle/grhAYitGdtNWZrmA7