Undergraduate Research Assistant

Our lab studies learning, decision-making, and emotion in those with and without symptoms of personality disorders. Our research investigates abnormalities underlying borderline personality disorder and its development during adolescence and early adulthood. To study these topics, we use a variety of techniques including clinical interviewing, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), computational modeling, physiological recording, and diverse behavioral methods. This position provides exposure to many aspects of psychology and neuroscience research, and can provide excellent preparation for many post-graduate opportunities (e.g., graduate school, research careers, clinical careers)! You can learn more about our research at https://dependlab.unc.edu.

We offer a variety of opportunities for students interested in clinical psychology, neuroscience, and personality research. Common tasks for this position include running participants through experimental sessions, conducting clinical interviews, participant recruitment and communications, data entry and data management, qualitychecking brain images, preparing study materials, and more. Additionally, all RAs will attend lab meetings and complete a semester paper on a research topic of their choosing. Advanced students may elect to complete a senior honors thesis while in the lab.

Undergraduate Research Assistants may volunteer or enroll in PSYC/NSCI 395 for course credit, although we typically encourage students to volunteer for a semester or two before applying for credit. Research Assistants are expected to commit at least 6-9 hours of lab work per week. We offer opportunities to work more intensively in our lab during the summer. We understand that our students may have scheduling conflicts some semesters, and we are willing to accommodate these needs on a case-by-case basis.

Preference is given to undergraduate students who can commit to working at least 2 semesters in the lab. We are eager to recruit highly motivated students interested in psychopathology research, neuroscience, and/or statistical methods. We also have opportunities for students with programming experience who would like to contribute to neuroimaging and methodological studies.

Interested students should complete our Undergraduate Research Assistant Application to be considered. Please contact our team at dependlab@unc.edu if you have any questions!