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Psychology Research Opportunities
CLICK HERE for more information on Psych 286/486 (Research Apprenticeship), Psych 289/489 (Directed Study), or Psych Honors!
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PI mentorStatusMechanismContact / Application InformationResearch area / Lab informationPosition information (hours, responsibilities, prerequisites)
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Abdullah, TahirahCurrently recruiting286 (RA - elective)Application: https://forms.gle/KBvMWbrj1Zmu7JoU9
Email: umbbmhlab@gmail.com		Dr. Abdullah’s Black Mental Health Advocacy & Research Team is focused on research and outreach with the broad goal of improving mental health and mental health care among Black Americans. We conduct studies on racism and mental health, resisting racism, understanding Black clients’ therapy experiences, coping, help-seeking, mental health stigma, and more.Students are expected to enroll in either PSYCH 286 or PSYCH 486. The position is 9 hours/week, including required attendance at weekly research team meetings on Thursdays 4-6pm. Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to): project development, literature review, participant recruitment, data collection, data analysis, community outreach presentations, and assistance with manuscript preparation.
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Atallah, DevinNot recruiting486 (RA - upper level)
Please email Dr. Atallah at devin.atallah@umb.edu and put in subject line: "Research Assistant Inquiry". Please attach your resume and research interests.		Devin Atallah's DARA Collective engages in decolonizing, qualitative, and community-based participatory approaches to critical inquiry in clinical and community psychology. Professor Atallah aims to contribute to understandings of intergenerational trauma and to support pathways for resistance to oppression, healing justice, and decolonization.
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Blankenship, TashaunaCurrently recruiting286 (RA - elective)babies.umb.eduDr. Blankenship’s research interests include 1) better understanding how memory processes interact with other cognitive systems across development, 2) exploring the developmental origins of memory and attention, and 3) investigating how memory and attention systems differentially impact academic achievement. Please visit the Early Minds Lab.
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Blaser, ErikWaitlisting286 (RA - elective)erik.blaser@umb.eduDr. Blaser studies human perception, specifically visual psychophysics and cognitive development (in collaboration with the Early Minds Lab)
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Carter, AliceCurrently recruiting286 (RA - elective)
Complete https://forms.gle/MqhDdVPg8LU4nxYdA and email resume and most recent transcripts to Vanessa Alvarez (Melida.Alvarez@umb.edu)
Carter Lab / Autism Behavior and Child Development. Expertise: Identification of infants and toddlers at risk for problems in social, behavioral, and emotional functioning; the role of family functioning in child developmentThe Carter lab has openings for paid undergraduate research assistants for summer 2022. We have several opportunities, including delivering and picking up remote technology assessment equipment from research participants, administering surveys to parents of 6-10-year-olds, and coding parent-child interactions. The lab will provide all necessary training and ongoing support for the position. A personal vehicle is required. If you are interested, please email your resume and most recent transcripts to Vanessa Alvarez Melida.Alvarez@umb.edu and please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/MqhDdVPg8LU4nxYdA.”
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Carter, AliceCurrently recruiting286 (RA - elective)https://forms.gle/MqhDdVPg8LU4nxYdA ; email resume and most recent transcripts to abcdearlyscreening@umb.edu.Carter Lab/ RISE Project. Expertise: Identification of infants and toddlers at risk for problems in social, behavioral, and emotional functioning and autism; the role of family functioning in child development. Coaching Early Intervention Providers in the Part C Early Intervention System to use evidence-supported practices, including Caregiver-Implemented Reciprocal Imitation Teaching (CI-RIT).Dr. Carter expects students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and Psych 201 (Research Methods). This semester she is looking for students who are interested in watching and rating video-taped parent-child interactions. 7 - 10 hrs/wk
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Carter, AliceNot recruiting486 (RA - upper level)https://forms.gle/MqhDdVPg8LU4nxYdA ; email resume and most recent transcripts to abcdearlyscreening@umb.edu.Carter lab / Autism Behavior and Child Development Project (ABCD). Expertise: Identification of infants and toddlers at risk for problems in social, behavioral, and emotional functioning; the role of family functioning in child developmentDr. Carter expects students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and Psych 201 (Research Methods). This semester she is looking for students who are interested in watching and rating video-taped parent-child interactions. 7 - 10 hrs/wk
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Ciaramitaro, VivianCurrently recruiting286 (RA - elective)Vivian.Ciaramitaro@umb.edu; https://umassbostonbabylab.weebly.comDr. Ciaramitaro's research interests include the development of attention and sensory processing, looking at how information from our different senses is put together from low level features, such as lights and tones, to high level features such as the emotion in faces and voices. She is one of the professors in the Babylab.
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Ciaramitaro, VivianWaitlisting486 (RA - upper level)Vivian.Ciaramitaro@umb.edu; https://umassbostonbabylab.weebly.comDr. Ciaramitaro's research interests include the development of attention and sensory processing, looking at how information from our different senses is put together from low level features, such as lights and tones, to high level features such as the emotion in faces and voices. She is one of the professors in the Babylab.Dr. Ciaramitaro expects students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych), Psych 201 (Research Methods) and Psych 286 should have been completed in my lab. Students help with data collection and analysis, including studies of behavior and the brain, and attend weekly lab meetings, writing a final paper based on a literature review. Some projects are on campus and some off campus, such as at museums. 8-10 hours/week
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Donaldson, TiffanyNot recruitingtiffany.donaldson@umb.eduBehavioral Psychopharmacology Neuroscience Lab; Expertise: Brain changes underlying psychostimulant abuse; the female body’s natural response to pain, immediately preceding pregnancy and during delivery
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Eisenhower, AbbeyNot recruitingabbey.eisenhower@umb.eduABCD Early Screening Project. Expertise: Child Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychopathology, Early School Adjustment, Treatment Outcome Research
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Hayes-Skelton, Sarah A.Not recruiting286 (RA - elective)Sarah.Hayes@umb.eduThe research in this lab generally focuses on the why and how anxiety develops for people and how and why treatments can help reduce anxiety. Work in the lab focuses particularly on cognitive-behavioral and acceptance based treatments. More recently, the lab has also been investigating anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Member of the lab also have general interests in the ways that identity and culture influence anxiety and treatment. Dr. Hayes-Skelton expects prospective students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and Psych 201 (Research Methods). Students help with data collection and data entry, participant recruitment, and literature searches. Students need to be available on Thursday's from 4-5 for lab meetings. 8 hrs / wk.
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Hayes-Skelton, Sarah A.Not recruiting486 (RA - upper level)Sarah.Hayes@umb.eduThe research in this lab generally focuses on the why and how anxiety develops for people and how and why treatments can help reduce anxiety. Work in the lab focuses particularly on cognitive-behavioral and acceptance based treatments. More recently, the lab has also been investigating anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Member of the lab also have general interests in the ways that identity and culture influence anxiety and treatment. Dr. Hayes-Skelton expects prospective students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and Psych 201 (Research Methods). Students help with data collection and data entry, participant recruitment, and literature searches. Students need to be available on Thursday's from 4-5 for lab meetings. 8 hrs / wk.
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Hunter, RichardNot recruitingPaid positionhttps://www.umb.edu/hunterlab/contact/volunteer Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics and Genomics. Richard Hunter is fundamentally interested in how stressful or traumatic life events alter not only the course of our lives but the very structure and function of our brains as well. Why do many, if not most, humans and animals recover quickly from trauma and why do others go on to suffer life long impairments like depression and post traumatic stress disorder? Why does environmental stress cause some to age more rapidly than others?11 hrs/wk. Students an Intro Bio course as well as Psych 360 (Behavioral Neuroscience). Students should be serious about neuroscience.
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Hunter, RichardWaitlisting486 (RA - upper level)https://www.umb.edu/hunterlab/contact/volunteer Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics and Genomics. Richard Hunter is fundamentally interested in how stressful or traumatic life events alter not only the course of our lives but the very structure and function of our brains as well. Why do many, if not most, humans and animals recover quickly from trauma and why do others go on to suffer life long impairments like depression and post traumatic stress disorder? Why does environmental stress cause some to age more rapidly than others?10 hrs/wk. Students are expected to have completed Intro Bio course as well as Psych 360 (Behavioral Neuroscience). Students should be serious about neuroscience.
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Hunter, RichardWaitlisting286 (RA - elective)https://www.umb.edu/hunterlab/contact/volunteer Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics and Genomics. Richard Hunter is fundamentally interested in how stressful or traumatic life events alter not only the course of our lives but the very structure and function of our brains as well. Why do many, if not most, humans and animals recover quickly from trauma and why do others go on to suffer life long impairments like depression and post traumatic stress disorder? Why does environmental stress cause some to age more rapidly than others?10 hrs/wk. Students an Intro Bio course as well as Psych 360 (Behavioral Neuroscience). Students should be serious about neuroscience.
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Kaldy, ZsuzsaWaitlisting286 (RA - elective)babies.umb.edu; (see application form there) ;zsuzsa.kaldy@umb.eduAt the UMass Boston Early Minds Lab we are interested in learning about how infants and toddlers learn about the world around them. More specifically, we study the development of attention and working memory. Dr. Kaldy expects students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and prefers students to have completed Psych 241 (Infancy and Child Dev.). Students help with data collection with infants and toddlers and participate in weekly journal-club style meetings with written assignments. Some projects are on campus and some at a Children's Museum. 8 hrs/wk.
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Kaldy, ZsuzsaNot recruiting486 (RA - upper level)babies.umb.edu; zsuzsa.kaldy@umb.eduAt the Early Minds Lab we are interested in learning about how infants and toddlers learn about the world around them. More specifically, we study the development of attention and working memory. Psych 486 applicants should have already taken Psych 286 in the Early Minds Lab. Dr. Kaldy also expects students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and prefers students to have completed Psych 241 (Infancy and Child Dev.). Students help with data collection with infants and toddlers and participate in weekly journal-club style meetings. The semester's work will culminate in a final integrative paper (15+ pages). 8 hrs/wk.
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Levitt, HeidiWaitlisting486 (RA - upper level)Heidi.Levitt@umb.edu; https://sites.google.com/site/drheidilevitt/There are two main areas of research in our lab: (1) Gay, Lesbian, bisexual, and transgender minority stress and cultural identities (see www.lgbtqmentalhealth.com to learn about some of this work); (2) Psychotherapy process and outcome -- with a focus upon clients and therapists experiences across psychotherapy orientations; We also tend to work on prejects related to designing, reporting, and reviewing research using qualitative methods.Students should have at least a 3.5 GPA and have completed their freshman year. Students are often interested in either LGBTQ+ Research or Psychotherapy Research, but some students are involved in both these aspects of our lab. Students often help with recruitment, literature review, transcription of qualitative data, outreach, or coding of data - depending on the needs of the lab. Students should be able to commit to at least two semesters of involvement. 8 hrs/week.
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Maeng, LisaCurrently recruitingMultiple positions (please inquire)Lisa.Maeng@umb.eduDr. Maeng’s research examines the neurobiological and neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the sex differences observed in stress and threat responses. Her primary research questions are: (1) How do gonadal hormones modulate sex-specific effects of stress on cognition and behavior? and (2) Can the gonadal hormones linked to sex-specific stress effects on cognition and behavior be targeted or manipulated for clinical treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders? She uses a rodent model and a variety of behavioral paradigms to address these questions with the aim of identifying clinical targets for more effective, sex-specific treatment of mental illness. Recent work is focused on the role of the gut-brain axis in hormonal modulation of emotional learning and memory.One semester of volunteering/training in the lab is required before 286/486/Honors/Independent study project work. 8-10 hours/week; Students should have completed at least one biology or behavioral neuroscience course (e.g. Psych260, Psych360, Biol318, Biol319, Biol111, Biol112, Biol212)
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Nestor, PaulNot recruitingpaul.nestor@umb.eduExpertise: Clinical Neuropsychology; Forensic Psychology; Attention in Schizophrenia; Violence and Psychosis
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Pantalone, DavidNot recruitingMultiple positions (please inquire)david.pantalone@umb.edu Dr. Pantalone’s lab is the Syndemics Treatment, Evaluation, and Prevention (STEP) Lab. They focus on the intersections of clinical psychology and public health. They study sexual and gender minority (SGM) health disparities in general and especially focus on the U.S. HIV epidemic. The lab uses qualitative and survey methods to study relevant research questions with an eye towards developing therapy programs to improve the physical and mental health of people with stigmatized identities and are marginalized by society. Students should have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) & Psych 201 (Research Methods). Students primarily help with literature reviews for papers and grant applications, and with transcription of qualitative interviews for student and faculty projects.
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Park, Jin HoCurrently recruiting486 (RA - upper level)https://jinhopark6.wixsite.com/parkneuroendolabPark Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab; Expertise: Behavioral neuroendocrinology, reproductive behavior and physiology, behavioral genetics, behavioral neuroscienceDr. Park prefers that students have completed an Intro Bio course and Psych 360 (Behavioral Neuroscience).
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Rhodes, JeanNot recruiting486 (RA - upper level)Jean.Rhodes@umb.eduJean Rhodes' research is focused on two main areas: adolescents' mentoring relationships and young adults' responses to trauma and natural disaster. Rhodes and her students are currently involved in a range of research projects that address the role of both formal and informal mentors in vulnerable groups including children of prisoners, community college students, high school dropouts, and low-income children in after-school settings.Rhodeslab: Dr. Rhodes expects students to have completed Psych 100 (Intro Psych) and Psych 201 (Research Methods). This research experience would be ideal for students who enjoy being part of projects associated with youth resilience. This includes working with doctoral students on their projects and working on literature reviews for the Chronicle for Evidence-Based Mentoring.
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Roemer, LizabethCurrently recruiting486 (RA - upper level)lisa.nakamura001@umb.eduDr. Roemer's research team focuses on how people understand, react to, and cope with intense emotional reactions in ways that either promote or inhibit their well-being. In particular, they study how mindfulness, self-compassion, values-based living and emotion regulation help people with anxiety and other forms of stress. She and her doctoral students explore the relevance of cultural and contextual factors in these phenomena, with a focus on helping people thrive in the face of discrimination and racism. Students can take either 286 or 486. Students will work with doctoral students on their projects and also write a research paper with mentorship from a doctoral student. Biweekly lab meetings Thursday from 4-5 are required; seven additional hours weekly are individually scheduled.
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Rogers, TraceyNot recruitingtracey.rogers@umb.eduExpertise: Adult Psychotherapy
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Wainwright, LaurelNot recruitinglaurel.wainwright@umb.eduLaurel Wainwright's research interests focus on children with a diagnosis of autism and their families. Recent work in her lab has included identifying areas of functional strengths for children on the autism spectrum as well as determining how families are coping as their children on the spectrum move into school age. Dr. Wainwright is also interested in the ways in which typical school age children gain comfort with math skills to obtain fluency with math concepts.
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Zup, SusanCurrently recruiting286 (RA - elective)susan.zup@umb.eduProfessor Zup studies the role of hormones in shaping the developing brain. As a mammalian embryo develops, it must become either male or female – a process controlled primarily by hormones. Professor Zup is interested in understanding the basic mechanisms of establishing a male vs. female brain as well specifically gaining insight into the particular susceptibility of the developing male brain to diseases such as autism.Dr. Zup expects prospective students to have completed Psych 360 (Behavioral Neuroscience). She also prefers students who have additional coursework in Biology and/or Chemistry. 10 hrs/wk.
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Zup, SusanNot recruiting486 (RA - upper level)susan.zup@umb.eduProfessor Zup studies the role of hormones in shaping the developing brain. As a mammalian embryo develops, it must become either male or female – a process controlled primarily by hormones. Professor Zup is interested in understanding the basic mechanisms of establishing a male vs. female brain as well specifically gaining insight into the particular susceptibility of the developing male brain to diseases such as autism.Dr. Zup expects prospective students to have completed Psych 360 (Behavioral Neuroscience). She also prefers students who have additional coursework in Biology and/or Chemistry. 10 hrs/wk.
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