Advertisements for Research Assistant (RA) positions in the Psychology Department other than research awards

Students can do these opportunities on a volunteer basis, or apply for these positions to count as course credit. Please note that if you are doing PSYCH 264/464 as a course, there will be normal tuition fees associated with the course.

If you have a large amount of CR/NCR grades, transfer credits, or are a China 2+2 student, please consult with the Psychology advisor to make sure that a PSYCH 264/464 course credit will count towards your degree progress, as per the residency requirements.

Psychology 264/464 Position – Fall 2017

Developmental Psychology
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Stephanie Denison

Developmental Learning Lab (http://uwaterloo.ca/developmental-learning-lab)

Research areas: Cognitive and social-cognitive development in infancy and early childhood (example topics are: children’s understanding of probability and physical reasoning, and the development of social cognition, including theory of mind and preference attribution).

Contact: Email ONE of the following graduate students – please only email the graduate student that you are interested in working with (descriptions below). When you email that graduate student, you can indicate your second and third choice if you’d like, and they can pass your application on to the other researchers if they have already filled their position.

Samantha Gualtieri (samantha.gualtieri@uwaterloo.ca)

Tiffany Doan (t3doan@uwaterloo.ca)

Elizabeth Attisano (liz.attisano@uwaterloo.ca)

Duties:

All 264/464 students in our lab have the unique opportunity to learn how to collect and code data from young children in psychology experiments. Specific research topics and duties will vary based on which graduate student you are paired with, but all undergraduate research assistants are invited to attend lab meetings and to assist with additional general lab duties.

Samantha Gualtieri: You will be involved in data collection and coding of 3- to 6-year-old children’s responses. These experiments examine how young children use numerical information in their decisions, and how individual differences contribute to their decision-making.

Tiffany Doan: You will be trained on how to conduct research with infants, how to code data for looking-time studies, and how to reliability code completed experiments. These projects examine infants’ understanding of other people’s preferences and their ability to use others’ emotions to predict behaviour.

Elizabeth Attisano: You will code children's behavioural responses (i.e looking time), as well as their verbal responses to questions. These experiments examine how infants and children understand goal-directed action, and how they use this information to guide their expectations.

Benefits: You will learn how to conduct developmental psychology experiments, specifically looking-time with infants and action tasks with young children. You will also gain experience working directly with young children and infants.

Time commitment: Approximately 8 hours per week

Qualifications:

- reliable, detail-oriented, and highly-motivated students with a strong interest in developmental or cognitive psychology
- passionate about working with young children
- preference given to students in the psychology major/honour’s program (prior research experience an asset, but not necessary)

To apply: Please send the following documents to the graduate student that you are interested in working with:

1. Resume
2. Cover letter explaining your interest in this position and relevant skills
3. Your class schedule (even if it is still unofficial, with information regarding which class in your timetable you might replace with the 264/464)

Unofficial transcript (copied and pasted from Quest)

Undergraduate Research Assistant (Co-op; Paid Position for Winter 2018)

Developmental Psychology
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Heather Henderson

Social Development Lab (https://uwaterloo.ca/social-development-lab/)

Research areas: Social and emotional development in middle childhood with a focus on the relations between temperamental shyness and attention, information processing, social cognition, and internalizing problems.

Duties: Undergraduate research assistants (RAs) in our lab contribute to our ongoing studies of children’s social development. RAs will be trained in the collection, coding, and analysis of behavioral data from children and will work on a team comprised of both graduate and undergraduate students.

Benefits: You will interact with children and their families from the community and learn how to administer standardized and novel tasks. You will be trained in observational coding and basic data analysis.

Time commitment: Approximately 35 hours per week

Qualifications:

- reliable, detail-oriented, and highly-motivated students with a strong interest in developmental psychology

- past experience working with young children

- preference given to students in the psychology major/honour’s program with an average of 80% or above

- prior research experience an asset

To apply: Please email the following documents to Dr. Henderson (hhenderson@uwaterloo.ca)

1. Resume
2. Cover letter explaining your interest in this position and relevant skills
3. Unofficial transcript (copied and pasted from Quest)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jonathan Oakman
Graduate students: Kevin Capobianco, Beth Keleher, Alex Milovanov, Katie Finch
Lab website: https://uwaterloo.ca/psychological-intervention-research-team/
Contact: pirtlab@gmail.com

Our research team studies the change process in psychotherapy, addressing a number of research questions using a range of research methods. We are interested in the relation of

• client characteristics
• therapist characteristics
• features of the therapist-client relationship
• properties of the psychological intervention itself

to both the process of a psychological intervention and its eventual outcome. Through our research we are seeking to improve the efficacy and acceptability of psychological interventions to those seeking help for mental health problems.

Some of the current projects in the lab:
Beth: Ryan and Deci (2008) suggest that when basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness to others) are thwarted, they are often replaced with substitutes (e.g., extrinsic life goals), reducing the drive to satisfy unmet needs. Research has yet to examine the contribution of basic needs satisfaction in psychotherapy to motivation, especially in regards to motivation for proximal homework or therapeutic goals that vary from week to week. This line of research will be continued through PIRT-run studies as I complete my Doctoral dissertation.

Katie is investigating the use of imagery-based techniques to reduce music performance anxiety. She is interested in the ways musicians habitually use imagery, as well as how it might be most effectively employed to alleviate anxiety. Additionally, Katie is investigating the prevalence and impact of musicians' experiences of negative intrusive imagery and how this might be related to music performance anxiety.

Alex is investigating how common therapeutic factors (e.g., therapist’s empathy and perceived expertise) interact with each other and lead to better outcomes in psychotherapy and alternative treatments (e.g., acupuncture, homeopathy).

Kevin is interested in understanding how psychotherapists typically go about conceptualizing their clients’ problems in their daily practice, as well as how therapists should go about doing so in order to improve therapy outcomes.

Qualifications for the volunteering position:

• We are looking for motivated and conscientious students with an interest in clinical psychology
• Prior research experience is not necessary (but is desired)
• Applicants should have at least an 80% average in their completed psychology courses.

Duties:

• Data collection, data coding, behaviour coding, data entry, recruitment and scheduling of participants, management of online studies, and preparation of study materials (e.g., building questionnaires using online survey software).

Optional, depending on students’ interests:

• Review research literature on topic of interest and present findings
• Participate in weekly research meetings/talks
• Develop and share research ideas
• Come up with original research ideas, collect data or use existing data to conduct statistical analyses, and present the findings (e.g., in the form of conference poster presentations, or publications).

Time commitment: 5–10 hours/week, one semester minimum (more than one semester preferable).

Benefits:

• Excellent research opportunity for students interested in graduate studies in Clinical Psychology
• Learn about psychotherapy process research (why do people improve in psychotherapy?), as well as about clinical psychology research more generally
• Opportunity to learn critical research skills (e.g., literature review, statistical analysis)
• Potential to develop your own research projects
• Support and guidance available for grad school applications
• Potential reference letters

How to Apply:
If you're interested in this position, please email a copy of your resume/C.V., and your unofficial transcript at pirtlab@gmail.com. Please also fill out the form below where we collect some basic information about you and ask why you would like to join the lab.
https://goo.gl/forms/kDxY8IOc4L5Eee0s2

Paid Internship 

Dr. Maureen Drysdale (St. Jerome's University)

Contact: Maureen Drysdale (mdrysdal@uwaterloo.ca) 

Research Area: mental health & wellbeing; educational, developmental, &/or clinical psychology; school-to-school and/or school-to-work transitions

Duties include:

Participant recruitment, literature searching and literature review writing, data entry and management, coding data, preparing materials for studies.

Qualifications:

• Applicants should be interested in psychology and mental health research; be organized, reliable, conscientious, and detail-oriented, with at least an 80% average in completed psychology or AHS courses.
• Experience writing a literature review in health or social sciences is recommended.
•  Prior research experience and experience with statistical software packages (such as SPSS) are assets but not required.

Benefits:

• Learn how to conduct complex psychological and health related research, and work directly with faculty.

How to apply:

Please contact Dr. Maureen Drysdale via email mdrysdal@uwaterloo.ca no later than January 15, 2018 with the following materials:

1. Resume/CV

2. Brief cover letter (please specify any research or technical experience)

3. Unofficial transcript (copied/printed from Quest is fine)

4. Attach a 1000-word sample from a literature review that you have written.

For more information about the lab please visit: https://www.sju.ca/mhswtlab

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Stolz
Contact: Joel Knight (Lab manager) at j3knight@uwaterloo.ca or Martin Turpin (Graduate Student) at mhturpin@uwaterloo.ca

Duties

You will be in charge of running various experiments, primarily investigating human memory, attention, and learning. Duties may include scheduling and running participants, coding and cleaning up data in Excel or SPSS, and other responsibilities depending on interest.

We are looking for highly capable, dedicated students looking for hands-on experience in cognitive research. This will be a volunteer position for the Winter semester with the possibility of transitioning to a paid position in the future.

Benefits: Learn more about cognitive research and develop skills applicable to grad school. Work with a bright team of RAs, grad students, and a super awesome lab manager.

Time Commitment: 5-10 hours/week (5 hours minimum)

Qualifications

Applications should be conscientious students with at least a 75% average in their completed Psychology courses. We will give preference to individuals who are interested in applying to graduate studies in Psychology. Enthusiasm about research is a must!

How to apply

Please send Joel Knight (j3knight@uwaterloo.ca) and Martin Turpin (mhturpin@uwaterloo.ca) an email briefly explaining why you'd like the position and attach a copy of your unofficial transcript (from Quest) and schedule.

Cognition and Natural Behavior Laboratory (https://uwaterloo.ca/cognition-and-natural-behaviour-laboratory/) 

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Evan Risko 
Contact: Dr. Evan Risko, efrisko@uwaterloo.ca

Research Area: cognitive psychology, embodied and embedded cognition, social cognition, natural behaviour, mind wandering, attention 

Duties: 

• Data collection, coding, recruitment and scheduling of participants, management of online studies
• Behaviour coding, data entry, and preparation of study materials
• Statistical analysis (training provided in SPSS, R)
• Attend weekly laboratory meetings

Time commitment: minimum 6 –8 hours/week 

Qualifications:

• We are looking for smart, reliable, and conscientious students with an interest in cognitive psychology, social cognition, or applied cognition
• Basic computer literacy is expected and advanced computer skills (e.g., programming) are desired
• Prior research experience is not necessary (but is desired) 
• Applicants should have at least an 80% average in their completed psychology courses.

Benefits:

• Fun
• Learn about human cognition, social cognition, and applied cognition
• Opportunity to participate in all aspects of research from research design to dissemination of results
• Learn critical research skills (e.g., programming, statistical analysis)
• Potential to develop your own research projects 

How to Apply: 
If you're interested in any of these positions, please email the following documents to Dr. Evan Risko (efrisko@uwaterloo.ca). 
1. Cover letter describing why you want to work in the Cognition and Natural Behavior Laboratory
2. Resume/CV
3. Unofficial transcript

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Colin MacLeod
Contact: David McLean (david.mclean@uwaterloo.ca)

Research Areas 

Our lab examines human attention, learning, and memory. Our particular emphasis is on the fundamental processes that underlie associative learning as well as memory encoding and retrieval. 

Duties

• Carrying out a variety of usually computer-based experiments, primarily investigating human attention, learning, and memory
• Data collection, coding, recruitment and scheduling of participants, management of online studies
• Behaviour coding, data entry, and preparation of study materials
• Some statistical analysis (training provided in Excel, SPSS, R)
• Other responsibilities dependent on your interests

Time commitment: minimum 6 –8 hours/week 

Qualifications

• We are looking for reliable, conscientious students with an interest in cognitive psychology, basic processes, and psychology of attention, learning, and memory
• Basic computer literacy is expected and advanced computer skills (e.g., programming) are desired
• Prior research experience is not necessary (but is desired)
• Applicants should enjoy working with others
• Applicants should have at least an 80% average in their completed psychology courses
• Applicants should be enthusiastic about research!

Benefits

• Develop skills and experience in working within a psychology lab
• Learn about research in human memory and cognition
• Opportunity to participate in all aspects of research from research design to dissemination of results
• Learn critical research skills (e.g., programming, statistical analysis)

How to apply

If you're interested in volunteering within our lab, please email the following documents to David McLean (david.mclean@uwaterloo.ca):

1. Cover letter describing why you are interested in joining the Memory, Attention, and Cognition Lab
2. Resume/CV
3. Unofficial transcript

Volunteer RA Position or PSYCH 264/464 

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Wendi Adair

Contact Name and Email: Lab Manager - cawl@uwaterloo.ca.

For more details, visit: https://uwaterloo.ca/culture-at-work-lab/join-lab#RA.

Who we are:

Our lab investigates issues arising in multicultural workplaces and international ventures where people from different national cultures face interdependent challenges including negotiation, conflict management, teamwork, effective communication, and decision making. We conduct both lab and field studies in both academic, practitioner journals, and organizational settings. 

Who we are looking for:

The Culture at Work lab is looking for motivated, detail-oriented, and hard-working undergraduates to join our lab. As a research assistant, you will help design and conduct studies, design web-study materials, recruit participants, and input and analyze data. Primary duties vary, but we aim to give research assistants experience in all aspects of the research process. Once you have some experience working for our lab, you may receive an opportunity to develop your own research projects through courses like directed studies or the honours thesis courses.

Previous experience:

Any academic and research experience would be an excellent asset to your application (please indicate below), however, the Culture at Work lab also welcomes applications from anyone who is interested in getting involved with psychology and those who have only limited, if any, previous experience. Enthusiasm and commitment are the most valuable assets, as we conduct publishable research and expect research assistants to respect and value the process.

Application form: https://psychologyuwaterloo.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kw1yxGthiOL7V3

Volunteer RA 

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. James Beck

Contact: Midori Nishioka (mnishiok@uwaterloo.ca)

Duties may include:

• Managing participant recruitment and scheduling
• Conducting laboratory experiments and/or online surveys
• Building questionnaires using online survey software
• Coding written data

Optional depending on students’ interests:

• Review literature and present findings
• Participate in weekly research meetings/talks
• Develop and share research ideas

Time commitment: 5 – 10 hours/week
This position is a volunteer RA position
PSYCH 264 or 464 is also an option (commitment of 8 hours per week for 13 weeks).

Qualifications:

• We are looking for a reliable student who has a strong interest in research
• Preferences will be given to students enrolled in the psychology major program
• Prior research experience is not necessary but is an asset

Benefits may include:

• Hands-on research experience
• Learn transferable skills (e.g., project coordination, data analysis, presentation)
• References for graduate school application

To apply: If you're interested in this position, please send the following documents to Midori Nishioka (mnishiok@uwaterloo.ca) in PDF.
1. Availability for Fall 2017
2. Unofficial transcript

You will hear from Midori if you are selected for an interview.

Volunteer RA 

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. John (Jay) Michela 
(https://uwaterloo.ca/psychology/people-profiles/john-michela)

Contact: Erica Naccarato (enaccarato@uwaterloo.ca)

Research areas: Cognitive and social factors in the performance of innovators/ entrepreneurs, particularly mental models and knowledge representations of the entrepreneur’s business strategy and how they relate to entrepreneurial outcomes.

Duties: The undergraduate research assistant (RA) appointed to our lab will contribute to an ongoing study of entrepreneurial cognition. The RA will be trained in the transcription and coding of entrepreneurial cognitive data and will work closely with the lead graduate student on the project, with direct involvement of the faculty supervisor.

Benefits: 

• Training on transcription of entrepreneurial interviews and coding of cognitive maps.
• Training in an established qualitative research method--cognitive mapping.
• Direct involvement in designing the coding scheme for the cognitive maps.
• References for graduate school and/or employment applications

Time commitment:
Approximately 5-10 hours per week until the end of the Winter term.

Qualifications:

• Reliable, detail-oriented, and highly-motivated students with a strong interest in Industrial/Organizational psychology, either in the study of entrepreneurship or in the related areas of team performance or managerial/professional cognition
• Preference given to students in the psychology major/honours program with an average of 80% or above

To apply:
 Please email the following documents to Dr. Michela (jmichela@uwaterloo.ca) and Erica Naccarato (enaccarato@uwaterloo.ca)

• Resume
• Cover letter explaining your interest in this position and relevant skills
• Unofficial transcript (copied and pasted from Quest is o.k.)

Memory & Cognitive Neuroscience Lab

Dr. Myra Fernandes

Duties: Preparing materials and stimuli for experiments examining memory abilities and function in undergraduate students, senior citizens, individuals with compromised cognitive ability; recruiting and scheduling participants, running experiments with undergraduates, possibility of assessing cognitive function in senior citizens, data collection, data coding, data entry and management, creation of graphs, drafting ethics applications, literature searches, general lab maintenance duties, attendance at lab meetings

Time commitment: Approximately 8 – 10 hours per week for PSYCH 264/464 course or 3-4 hours/week for volunteer position

Qualifications:

• applicants must be reliable, organized, enthusiastic and hardworking
• must be comfortable working with people of all ages, and in a team environment
• must have a current average greater than 78% in Psychology courses

Benefits: You will gain a great deal of hands-on experience using Excel, Word, Power Point, SPSS and E-Prime, as well as refine your Oral and Written communication skills; good preparation for a future career in academic research or industry research & development. You will have the opportunity to attend our lab meetings and learn about current research projects and approaches in our memory lab.

How to apply: Please send an email to Dr. Myra Fernandes (mafernan@uwaterloo.ca) stating why you would like this position. Attached to this email should be your resume/cv, a Fall and/or Winter class schedule/plan, and a copy of your unofficial academic transcript from Quest.

Volunteer RA

Social Psychology
Dr. Igor Grossmann (https://uwaterloo.ca/wisdom-and-culture-lab/)
Contact: Wisdom and Culture Lab at (wcl@uwaterloo.ca)

Research Areas: UW Wisdom and Culture lab examines factors that enable people to think and act wisely: How can individuals and groups adaptively resolve social conflicts? What factors foster wise reasoning? How are mental processes situated within a larger cultural context?

Duties: The RA’s will be responsible for data collection and data analysis, participant recruitment running experiments, coding data, and preparing materials for studies,

Benefits: Learn about all phases of Wisdom and Culture psychological research, and belong to a lab group dedicated to working within the field of social psychology

Time commitment: Roughly 6-10 hours a week

Qualifications: Applicants should be enthusiastic, organized, conscientious, and comfortable interacting with participants, with at least a 75% average in completed psychology courses. Prior research experience, particularly with running social psychology experiments, and using physiological measurement equipment (heartrate and respiration devices) would be an asset.

To Apply: Please email the lab at wcl@uwaterloo.ca with your resume, unofficial transcript, Spring term schedule, and please specify any relevant research or technical experience.

Volunteer RA or Psych 264/464 

Dr. Ian McGregor, Experimental Science of Human Motivations and Relations

Contact: Abdo Elnakouri, Graduate Student (abdo.elnakouri@uwaterloo.ca)

Research Areas: Motivation, Meaning, Self-Regulation

Duties: Online study programing, literature reviews, data entry, data collection, coding, participant recruitment and scheduling. Duties are subject to change. Although prior experience is preferred, training will be provided.

Benefits: Valuable laboratory work experience and skill development. For especially dedicated students, possible opportunities for further research and references are available.

Qualifications: We are interested in students who are motivated, dedication, conscientiousness, and passionate about research. Computer skills are a must and programming experience is an asset. Strong ability/desire to read and comprehend scientific literature.

Applying: Please go to this survey and fill out the required information: https://psychologyuwaterloo.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1NdDS7hl58e1GKh

Volunteer RA or Psych 264/464 - Spring 2018

Dr. Hilary Bergsieker

Contact: digrlab@uwaterloo.ca

Researcher assistants gain experience with both standard and advanced social psychological and social networking methods. Professor Bergsieker works directly with undergraduate research assistants, engaging them in the research process and providing personalized mentorship.

The time commitment is ideally 8 hours per week on average, with a minimum of 6 hours per week.

Research Areas: Interracial trust and conflict; intergroup friendships and close relationships 

To apply, please complete this online application before April 27th, 2018. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

For responsibilities, requirements, and application procedures, please visit:

https://uwaterloo.ca/diversity-intergroup-relations-lab/joining-lab/undergraduate-ras

Volunteer RA or Psych 264/464 - Fall 2017, Winter 2018, Spring 2018

Dr. Abigail Scholer, Self-Regulation and Motivation Lab

Contacts: Kassandra Cortes (kcortes@uwaterloo.ca), Jeff Hughes (j4hughes@uwaterloo.ca), Jane Klinger (jklinger@uwaterloo.ca), or Franki Kung (franki.kung@uwaterloo.ca)

Research Areas: Motivation, Goals and Self-Regulation, Communication, and Lay Beliefs;

Duties: 

Basic:

• Manage participant recruitment and study schedules 
• Conduct online surveys, field studies and behavioral experiments
• Perform qualitative analysis (e.g., picture coding and linguistic analysis)

Optional depending on students’ interests:

•  Attend research training workshops (e.g. literature management, Qualtrics, SPSS)
• Review literature
• Develop your own research ideas and design studies
• Participate in biweekly research meetings/talks

Time commitment: Ideally 8 - 10 hours per week

Qualifications: 

• We need passionate and persistent students
• Other qualities: responsible, eager to learn, able to work in team and is organized
• Preferences will be given to students in psychology major program, who can make a long term commitment in the lab and have a future plan to apply for graduate school

Benefits:

• Working closely with psychology researchers and gaining hands-on research experience
• Job and graduate school application references
• Opportunity to develop your own research projects and present at academic conferences

To apply:
Please go to the below link and fill out your information:

http://j.mp/fk_srmrarecruit

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a casual information interview shortly. If you do not receive our reply in a few weeks, probably it is because the vacancies for RAs are filled (we set a quota to ensure the quality of training). And if so, the application will be considered for your subsequent available semester.

Volunteer RA or Psychology 264/464 Position

Social Psychology
Dr. Joanne Wood
Contact: Jessica Edwards (jessica.edwards@edu.uwaterloo.ca).

Research Areas: Close relationships, personality, emotion regulation

Duties: Participant recruitment, running experiments, data entry and management, coding data, preparing materials for studies, managing online studies

Benefits: Learn about all phases of social psychological research, and belong to a lab group dedicated to discovering more about relationships

Time commitment: 5-10 hours a week depending on the position and task

Qualifications: Applicants should be enthusiastic, organized, reliable, conscientious, and comfortable working with people, with at least a 75% average in completed psychology courses. Prior research experience, particularly with running social psychology experiments, would be an asset.

To Apply: Please email (jessica.edwards@edu.uwaterloo.ca) with your resume, unofficial transcript, Fall term schedule, and cover letter (please specify any relevant research or technical experience).