Supervising Faculty: Rebecca Reed, PhD
Area of Research: Health Psychology, Psychoneuroimmunology, Aging
Description of Research: Dr. Reed’s Psychoneuroimmunology Research Lab investigates biopsychosocial factors that contribute to health in mid- and later life. Specifically, we investigate how psychosocial and environmental factors affect biological aging processes, including inflammation and epigenetic age, as well as age-related health outcomes including cognitive health. Students will have direct involvement with many research projects in our lab and have ample opportunities to learn about the biological-health psychology research process in a “hands on” way. Undergraduate students assist with all ongoing research efforts; in these roles, students develop coding and data management skills in REDCap and/or R, wet lab skills (working with biospecimens in the lab), and professional development skills (giving presentations, interactions with participants) that are useful in any scientific field. Candidates should be independent, responsible, possess excellent organizational skills and attention to detail and be willing to meaningfully contribute to the larger team environment.
Duties of Students: We are seeking motivated, enthusiastic, organized, and reliable undergraduates who are interested in interdisciplinary research involving health psychology and psychoneuroimmunology. Interested students will have the unique opportunity to be involved in all stages of our projects – including seeing “behind the scenes” of getting a research study up and running. We are recruiting research assistants to become involved in study administration, data collection, and data entry and management. Students may also have the opportunity to learn how to administer subjective, behavioral, and physiological tests in the lab and help with data analyses. Opportunities to process clinical specimens in the wet lab may be available for students interested in longer time commitments.
All psychology students and chemistry and biology majors are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity. Pre-med students are also welcome to apply.
Requirements:
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 12 credits of Psychology (including current term)
- STAT 0200/1000/1100 Statistics
- PSY 0036 Research Methods Lecture
- PSY 0037 Research Methods Lab
- Preferably including PSY 1215 (health psychology)
- Good interpersonal skills
- Comfort with computer applications
- Highly responsible and dependable individual
- A 2-term commitment, and ability to commit to at least 2 credits per semester.
Terms offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Number of students: Open
Apply here: https://forms.gle/grhAYitGdtNWZrmA7