Application form for Shanahan Lab research team

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Thanks for your interest in joining the Shanahan Lab research team! Here's some more information about the lab and position:

Dr. Shanahan (shanahanl@rhodes.edu, she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department and Neuroscience Program here at Rhodes. Her office can be found in the basement of Clough (Clough 116), and her lab space is across the hall. Dr. Shanahan started her position at Rhodes in fall of 2022, so the lab is still fairly new.
The Shanahan Lab studies sleep and sensory processing (with a focus on olfaction -- the sense of smell!). Current projects investigate olfactory perceptual learning (can we improve our sense of smell with practice?). Future projects will likely explore connections between olfactory perceptual learning and sleep/sleep deprivation.
Research team responsibilities include: (1) Reading, analyzing, presenting, and discussing scientific literature related to lab projects, (2) learning to code in the computer programming language MATLAB, and applying these skills to further lab projects, (3) collecting data from human participants, and (4) analyzing, presenting, and discussing data.
You might be a good fit if: (1) You are freshman, sophomore, or junior majoring/minoring (or intending to major/minor) in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field, (2) you have a genuine interest in the lab's research area, and want to acquire and/or further the skills described above, (3) you are hard-working, motivated, reliable, and work well on a team, and (4) you are able to commit ample time, energy, and enthusiasm to lab activities, and open to a longer-term commitment (i.e., being part of the team for multiple semesters).
Pursuing research in the Shanahan Lab (or elsewhere) might benefit you because: (1) Engaging in research may help clarify and/or further your academic/career goals, (2) the skills described above are practically useful, both in scientific fields and more broadly, and (3) it's an opportunity for intellectual, creative, and collaborative growth.
This starts out as a temporary volunteer position (1-3 hour time commitment per week). If volunteering for one semester leads to a more permanent position, you can be compensated via course credit (i.e., 1-2 credits per semester, 1 course credit = 4 hour time commitment per week, 2 course credits = 8 hour time commitment per week). In some cases, it may be possible to continue lab work during the summer, which is compensated via on-campus lodging and a stipend.

To apply, you should (1) complete and submit this application form, and (2) send your resume and college academic transcript (unofficial is fine) to Dr. Shanahan via email (shanahanl@rhodes.edu). Examples of student resumes can be found at this link, and Career Services can provide additional resources and guidance. You can download a PDF of your academic transcript from Workday (follow these steps).

Feel free to reach out to Dr. Shanahan with any questions!

Note: The Shanahan Lab research team does not always have openings (e.g., if the team is currently at capacity). If there are no openings when you apply, Dr. Shanahan will review your application during the next recruitment cycle. Alternatively, you're welcome to inquire about current openings before submitting an application.

Email *

Name *

Year *

Note that seniors are not eligible to apply due to the timeline of recruitment

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Intended/declared major(s) and/or minor(s) *

Indicate whether these are intended or declared -- e.g., Majoring in psychology (declared), minoring in Spanish (declared)

Read the review article linked below (Dr. Shanahan is the first author), which describes some ways that odor perception can adapt in different contexts. Describe 1-2 aspects of this research area that you find interesting. *

Article: On the state-dependent nature of odor perception

Describe any relevant experience you've had (e.g., from coursework, extracurricular activities, employment) that would help you succeed on the research team. *

Review the research team responsibilities listed above to inform your response.

Describe why you think you would be a good fit for the research team. *

Review the good fit description above to inform your response.

Describe your academic/career goals, and how being part of the research team could help you achieve those goals. *

Review the research benefits listed above to inform your response.

How much time could you commit to the research team per week during a typical semester? *

Consider your other activities/obligations to realistically assess your availability (e.g., employment, internship, athletic/extracurricular activities, volunteer/service work, other research commitments).

1-3 hours per week (this is the requirement for temporary research team volunteers)

~4 hours per week (this is the time commitment required for permanent research team members earning 1 course credit per semester)

~8 hours per week (this is the time commitment required for permanent research team members earning 2 course credits per semester)

Other:

List 2 professional or academic references who I could reach out to about your qualifications. For each reference, include their email and a brief description of how they know you. *

Ideally, at least one reference would be a Rhodes faculty member who you have taken a psychology, neuroscience, or related course with.

How did you learn about this research opportunity? *

Any additional comments?

A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.

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