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Undergraduate Research Experience Opportunities:
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Why is research experience important?
Research experience is essential for students who wish to pursue graduate studies in clinical or experimental psychology. For those who do not intend to pursue graduate studies in psychology, having research experience is a major asset that will set you apart from others — our students have gone on to law school, medical school, business programs, social work, counseling, and teaching. You will learn many important skills by working in a research lab, and it is an excellent way of acquiring reference letters from your professors.
How can I get involved?
The DUCK lab welcomes undergraduates to work with us! There are several avenues for getting involved in our research. You can earn course credit via PSY 433 (Research Experience in Psychology), PSY 490 (Directed Readings in Psychology), or PSY 493 (Honors Thesis). Alternatively, you may wish to work on a volunteer basis.
| What are the requirements?
Please contact Dr. Boseovski or Dr. Marcovitch directly if you are interested in pursuing these opportunities. Also, you will need to provide us with the following:
--> Names of two of your professors at UNCG who could serve as references for you
--> A copy of your most recent transcript
--> A resume that tells us about your previous jobs and experiences
What is the time commitment?
Working in a research laboratory is a commitment. We require that students who participate in research activities contribute 10 hours per week (i.e., three credits) to working in the lab, including attendance at a mandatory weekly lab meeting in which we discuss assigned readings. We also request that you keep at least one morning and one afternoon time slot free in your schedule, for the purposes of working with children.
If you cannot work ten hours per week, but still wish to be part of the lab, there are opportunities to work primarily as a recruiter (i.e., help find participants; administrative work) rather than in direct research activities such as child testing. Please talk to Dr. Boseovski or Dr. Marcovitch about this.
The lab follows a mentorship model. In general, students who join us initially work under the direction of a graduate or senior student, with the opportunity to progress to independent work once they’re ready.
Social interaction
In addition to gaining valuable applied research skills, working at the DUCK Lab also offers a means for social connection. In addition to day to day interaction within the lab, we also make a point to enjoy time socially outside of the lab. One of our favorite ways to relax and unwind at the end of a busy semester is to enjoy treats at local bakery Maxie B's (see photo above).
Is there anything else I need to know?
The value of the lab experience is unique to each student. Here are what a couple of our undergraduates have to say about working in the DUCK Lab:
“The Undergraduate Research Assistantship has given me the opportunity to immerse myself in the research experience, beginning with the formulation of a specific research question relevant to my personal interests in psychology. From this, Dr. Boseovski and I worked to formulate a way to assess the question and subsequently collected and analyzed data, the results of which I used to submit my research to a conference. Working in the DUCK lab as a URA has allowed me to more closely identify my interests in psychology and has equipped me with skills I hope to use in graduate school and throughout my academic career. ” -Allison O'Leary
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"Practicing scientific research skills in the DUCK Lab has been an educational and rewarding experience. Not only are student researchers encouraged to independently navigate the world of research, but they are also given constructive feedback from the close supervision of the lab directors and lab manager. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant (URA), I can now begin to understand now how much research and diligent work is involved in completing any project. Researching, developing and carrying out my own original research project in the DUCK Lab has helped me to grow intellectually not only as a student, but as a future scientist." -Sabrina L. Epps
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