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Undergraduate Research Assistantships
Overview
Several opportunities exist for outstanding graduate and
undergraduate students to gain basic and applied research
experience in the laboratory. We are looking for research
assistants who are good human beings, who are intellectually honest
and open, are genuinely curious and thoughtful, and for persons who care about the
quality of their work and the betterment of the lab. Such persons
take pride in their own accomplishments and those of other
lab members, are hard working (because they care about what they
do, not because they "have to" do it), and are passionate about the field
of clinical psychology and the research process more generally.
Undergraduate RAs typically assume increasing levels of
responsibility over time, tend to be self-motivated (see the bit about passion above),
and show a willingness to play as part of a team. The scope of
research involvement is dependent on the needs in the lab and level
of training and interest.
Undergraduate Assistantship Requirements
Gaining an undergraduate research assistant slot in our
lab is competitive. To be eligible, undergraduates must be willing
to (a) commit at least 1 year of work in the lab (pending
satisfactory performance), (b) have solid
academic (minimum GPA of 3.0) and interpersonal qualities, and (c) demonstrate a strong
work ethic and some degree of focus in terms of a future career in
clinical science/practice. Computer literacy is required. Most undergraduates
who work in the lab are highly committed to advanced graduate
training in clinical psychology and see their present research
experiences in the lab as the beginning of their eventual career
as clinical scientists and practitioners. Many undergraduate research
assistants tend to work more than 1 year (academic semesters) in the lab. Special
lab requirements exist for those wishing to use their research
assistantship for credit in 297/397 courses.
Application and Selection Process
If you are interested in being considered for a research assistant
position in our research laboratory, then you will need to do the following:
complete the application for research assistant positions.
The application is available outside our Lab, Room 137-B, Social Sciences Building,
or you may click here for an online printable PDF
version of the application (you will need Adobe Acrobate Reader
to access the online application).
All applications will be reviewed by Dr. Forsyth and the Graduate Coordinator of
Undergraduate Research.
Depending on fit and need, promising candidates will be invited for an interview
with current graduate students and undergraduate research assistants.
Now You're In, What Can You Expect from Us, and We From You?
You've made it through the review process and have an undergraduate RA position
in the ADRP lab. Now, what can you expect from the lab?
You can
expect exposure to a range for research projects, some of which are Federally funded.
Such exposure, in turn, will help build your repertoire of research skills and interests.
You can expect that you will be working with a group of bright,
highly motivated, and successful folks. Take time to learn as much as you can from them.
Undergraduate RAs normally assist with 1-2 focal projects, but also routinely
help out with other lab-related tasks as necessary. With hard work and effort,
many undergraduate RAs get the priviledge (not a right)
of co-authoring posters submitted for presentation at National and International
conferences. Ultimately, a solid performance in the lab translates into a solid
(ideally stellar/glowing) letter of reference to graduate school (again, not
a right but something that must be earned based on what you do and how well you
do it).
Now, here is what we expect of undergraduate RAs. Undergraduate
RAs are expected
to behave in a professional, collegial, and respectful manner
when interacting with staff, other professionals, and particularly patients and research
participants. As we are primarily a research program, Undergraduate RAs
are expected to undergo SUNYA Research Ethics Training shortly after joining the
lab and to behave consistent with the APA Ethical Principles for
Psychologists and Code of Conduct and the Research Ethics Guidelines
described by the SUNYA Institutional Review Board. RAs are expected
to keep their commitments and obligations, and
to know when to ask for help and guidance. Undergrad RAs aspire to a level of
involvement beyond clerical/administrative tasks (e.g., data entry), but
this has to be earned. We expect undergraduate RAs to be capable of doing
more (with training and experience) than library searches/data entry/clerical tasks.
Keep in mind, however, that such activitites are part of the research process, regardless
of level of training/expertise. Undergraduate
RAs are expected to do good work, represent the lab
well, and show a willingness to help others (as needed).
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