Psych Scoop 12/3/24

Psychology Advising Announcements

Current majors are expected to know the announcements in the advising announcement section.

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Alumni Spotlight: Kay Rusch

Psych Advising loves to show what our amazing psychology alumni are up to through our monthly Alumni Spotlight! Our December spotlight, Kay Rusch (PSY BS - Spring 2022) works as an Introductory Economics Center Administrator in the Stanford University Economics Department. Read more about Kay’s experience with communication skill building which has made her equipped for her role. Nominate someone who you think would be great to spotlight, including yourself!

Psychology Undergrad Fall 2024 Town Hall - Meeting Minutes Available

The Psychology Student Advisory Council (SAC) met for the Fall 2024 semester on Friday, November 8th. Students met with Department faculty and administrative leadership in a Town Hall style event. Topics included data on the Psychology program and recently published SERU 2024 survey results, curriculum and instructional feedback, and opportunities to help audit Elliott Hall for inclusivity and accessibility. Student input is highly valued at these events. We invite those students who were unable to attend to review the meeting minutes. And, as always, the Department leadership welcomes feedback at any time - anonymous submissions are also accepted.

Apply for the PSY 5993 Enrichment Program

As part of the Building Pathways committee’s aim to increase engagement in research-related psychology careers among underrepresented students, we have created an enrichment program for students enrolled in PSY 5993, to support and enhance students’ research experiences. The program consists of weekly meetings with a cohort of 10-20 students to provide support for PSY 5993 research experiences, build research-related skills, learn about research-related career opportunities, and present their work. Participation in this program will also include up to $250 in tuition support. We would like to invite undergraduates who identify with groups underrepresented in psychology research careers to consider participating in this program by completing a brief application. Applications will be reviewed starting in early December, with acceptances communicated on a rolling basis throughout the Winter Break. The application should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

Psychology Capstone Fall 2024 Poster Session

• Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
• Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm 
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall 1st Floor Lobby

Psychology Undergraduates completing their Capstone in Psychology this Fall 2024 will be participating in the Capstone in Psychology Poster Session! Posters will change every 20 minutes. Psychology faculty, staff, and students are all encouraged to attend! This is a great opportunity for Spring or Summer 2025 Psychology Capstone students to see current project examples!

Psychology Student Group Announcements

All students interested in Psychology are welcome to participate in Psychology student organizations. No previous participation or membership is required. If you're interested, please attend! To learn more, visit the Organizations, Clubs, & Committees page on our website.

ABPS - Self Care Night

• Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
• Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm 
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall, Room N219

ABPS invites you to a self-care night. We understand how difficult finishing the semester can be. Take a break from studying and schoolwork to reset your mind and look after yourself. We will have games, arts and crafts, study areas, Qdoba, and more! We hope to provide students with a safe, welcoming space to connect and rejuvenate. Please get in touch with us by email @[email protected] or DM our Instagram @blackpsyumn if you have any questions.

Events

UMN Psychology Colloquium Series - Drs. Alex Rothman and Jeff Simpson: Conceptualizing the Determinants of Health Behavior Change Within Interpersonal Contexts

• Date:  Thursday, December 5, 2024
• Time: 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall, Room N219 & Zoom

As part of the Building the Future: Areas of Excellence Within UMN Psychology Colloquium Series, Drs. Alex Rothman and Jeff Simpson present “Conceptualizing the Determinants of Health Behavior Change Within Interpersonal Contexts”. Relationship partners can affect each other’s health in impactful ways, but how this occurs is not well understood. In an attempt to fill this gap, we first discuss initial empirical and theoretical work that examined the impact of relationship partners within social cognitive models designed to predict health behaviors. This early work highlighted the need to integrate and better understand the role that intrapersonal (within-person) and interpersonal (between-person) processes assume in changing a partner’s health behaviors. We next overview the Dyadic Health Influence Model (DHIM), which identifies three routes through which an individual (the agent of influence) might influence the health beliefs and behavior of their partner (the target of influence). A central premise of the DHIM is that agents act based on their beliefs about their partner’s health as well as their relationship. Agents’ actions, therefore, have consequences not only for the targets’ health behavior but also for their relationship. We conclude by summarizing research that provides initial support for portions of the DHIM and discuss important questions and promising directions for future research. To RSVP for this event, please visit the Zoom registration page. 

Disparities in Rural America: Addressing the Gap

• Date:  Tuesday, December 10, 2024
• Time: 5:30 pm-7:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Appleby Hall, Room 319

Join for an engaging session on the disparities facing rural America, covering key challenges in healthcare, education, economic opportunities, housing, and technology access. A former state representative with firsthand experience advocating for rural issues will share insights into the policy and community-based solutions that can drive meaningful change. Whether you're new to these topics or deeply invested in rural development, this session will provide valuable perspectives and actionable ideas. Fill out the Google Form to register for the Disparities in Rural America session.

Lack of Diversity in School Staff 

• Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2024
• Time: 11:00 am-12:15 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Appleby Hall Room 302

This session will examine the lack of diversity in K-12 school staff. Diversity in this session is defined as differences in race, ethnic group, gender, socioeconomic status, language, and disability/ability status. Presented by CESP Scholar Anna Johnson. As a pre-service teacher and student, she has come to recognize the dominant demographics that persist in the U.S. Education system. This session provides space for analyzing past experiences in K-12 schooling and will also provide a look into the future!  Fill out the Google Form to register for the Lack of Diversity in School Staff session.

Courses of Interest

For more detailed information on each of these courses, refer to Schedule Builder.

PSY 4861 - Measurement: Quantifying Individual Differences for Research and Applications

• When: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 11:15 am – 12:30 pm (150 minutes)
• Location: Online 
• Instructor: David Weiss

“Garbage in—Garbage out” is a long-standing maxim of those who develop psychological measuring instruments, as well as some data analysts who are aware of the role of measurement in the data analysis enterprise. This maxim means that if you have poor measurements—the numbers that are used in all statistical procedures—your resulting statistical analyses will also be of poor quality. No amount of manipulation of poor numbers will enable useful findings to result from bad measurements. The purpose of this course is to sensitize you to the issues involved in creating good psychological measurements, which then allow the use of basic and advanced statistical methods to extract meaning from numerical data. To accomplish this objective, we begin with a discussion of why we measure (answer: because people differ on every psychological characteristic) and the role of measurement in science. This will lead us to consider how, in the framework of the scientific method, psychological observations are converted into numbers so they can be used in both research and applications of psychology in clinics, schools, businesses, industry, and elsewhere. Read more about course details on Schedule Builder. The course is offered online at scheduled times (11:15-12:30, T, Th). However, all classes will be recorded within Zoom and the recordings will be available later the same day. Therefore, if you have another class at the same time, you can enroll in this course with special permission and view the lectures at any time.

Prerequisites: Psy 3001W/3001V, Psy 3801/3801H, or equivalent 

Note: This course does count within the Psychology major or minor program requirements. This course may count to fulfill a distribution C or psychology elective requirement.

PSY 5022 - The Human Experience of Sensory Loss: Seeking Equitable and Effective Solutions

• When: Thursdays from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm (150 minutes)
• Location: Elliott Hall, Room N639 
• Instructor(s): Gordon Legge, Peggy Nelson, & Andrew Oxenham

This course focuses on the visual, auditory, and other sensory pathways that convey information about the world to the mind and brain. Millions of people worldwide experience deficits in sensory function that affect their quality of life. We will focus on the characteristics of healthy sensory functioning as well as how sensory disorders can affect personal identity, impede information processing, and alter brain structure and function. The course will address the demographics and risk factors for sensory disabilities, the implications of these disabilities for activities of daily living, the history of society's response to sensory disability, as well as societal, ethical, and personal attitudes toward sensory disabilities. The course will also explore translational and applied approaches for addressing sensory disabilities, incorporating the principles of community-engaged participatory research and open science. Each class session will be co-taught by a pair of instructors, representing multiple scientific and social perspectives. A major goal of the course is to view sensory function and impairment from multiple perspectives cognitive science, neuroscience, medicine, engineering, society, consumers, ethics, and social justice. The course will combine lectures, discussions, and student-led presentations of research papers. The course will include hands-on demonstrations of assistive technology and panel discussions with people with visual and hearing disabilities. During the semester, each student (or pairs of students) will develop a mini-research proposal to address a real-world issue related to sensory impairment. 

Prerequisites: [PSY 3001W AND jr OR sr] OR grad student OR instructor consent

Note: This course does count within the Psychology major or minor program requirements. This course may count to fulfill a distribution A or psychology elective requirement.

PSY 3960 - Undergraduate Seminar in Psychology: Psychology Research Preparation Course - Key part of the Department of Psychology's Pathways Program

• When: (Second Half of Term class) Mondays from 4:00 pm - 5:40 pm 
• Location: Elliott Hall N639 
• Instructor: Maya Rogers ([email protected]) and Emily Saks ([email protected])

Joining a research lab can be a fun way to enhance undergraduate education in psychology. However, getting involved is not always straightforward. This course is designed to help first- through third-year students with all levels of experience learn more about research and develop skills that will support success in future research placements, such as a PSY 5993 course. We will cover a broad range of topics including different career paths in research, preparation of 5993 application materials, how to look for scientific articles, and different expectations that labs may have. Throughout these topics, we will emphasize issues of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in science. We hope to provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds to explore how personal identity can play a meaningful role in the research experience. A permission number is required to enroll; please contact [email protected] for information.

Note: PSY 3960 may be used as 1 Elective Credit in the Psychology Major.

Research

To register for PSY 4993 or 5993 credit, view the registration requirements on the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Website.

*Credit or Volunteer* Research Assistant – Bronstein Lab

Dr. Michael Bronstein’s lab is seeking motivated students to assist with participant recruitment, scheduling, and monitoring participant progress in the lab's ongoing studies of mental health, vaccine hesitancy, data analytics, and/or misinformation. RAs will be required to attend a weekly lab meeting and to dedicate 5-9 hours per week to lab duties. Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors, individuals with previous research experience, and those who can commit to the position for at least two semesters. Research assistants in good standing will have the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, potentially including data analysis, assisting with publications, and developing their poster presentations. If interested, please contact Blair Brown at [email protected] and attach an unofficial transcript and resume highlighting previous research experience and relevant accomplishments.

*Credit or Volunteer* Minnesota Center for Eating Disorders Research

The Minnesota Center for Eating Disorders Research (MCEDR) at the University of Minnesota is looking for driven students and recent graduates to volunteer in our lab. MCEDR's volunteer and for-credit research assistants gain exposure to eating disorders and clinical research through their involvement with current research projects and educational seminars. Tasks can include tDCS, clinical diagnostic interview assessments, data entry/cleaning/analysis, recruitment, in-vivo laboratory-based "test meals", fMRI data collection, and more. RA's will also attend lab meetings and have an opportunity to develop independent research questions based on their interests and available data. Competitive applicants will have a strong interest in pursuing graduate-level education and an excellent academic record. The deadline is on a rolling basis. To apply please visit the Google Form. Any questions can be directed to [email protected] or 612-625-1542. 

*Credit* Research Opportunity - Dr. Whitney Ringwald

Our lab is conducting research at the intersection of personality and clinical psychology and is seeking PSY5993 students. We aim to understand patterns of behavior that account for how people differ from each other and why some people have better or worse mental health. To answer these questions, we use methods that involve having people report their experiences using smartphones as they go about their everyday lives and by collecting data from smartphone sensors (e.g., GPS, calls). More information about our research can be found on Whitney Ringwald’s Google Scholar page. Students will learn about conducting research in weekly meetings, participate in study design/data collection, perform literature reviews, and complete an original study as a group. Ideal applicants are interested in pursuing a research career. Please apply through this Google Form. Applications must be submitted by January 6th, 2025  and select candidates will be contacted for interviews the week of January 13th.  Email Whitney Ringwald at [email protected] with questions.

*CPSY Credit* Firearm Violence Study in the Child Wellbeing Lab

Dr. Canan Karatekin's Child Wellbeing Lab is looking for highly motivated undergraduate students to assist with an exciting new research project! Firearm violence is the leading cause of death of American children, but research is only beginning to emerge on how it affects children's mental health, and what strategies are most effective for prevention and intervention. We are planning to conduct a scoping review on the state of child firearm violence and prevention research to understand where research efforts are being directed, the impact this research has, and what recommendations are being offered. As a member of this study team, you will gain experience learning how to systematically analyze research articles by developing and applying coding schemes, conducting data analysis, and integrating results into a research manuscript. If interested, please send your CV/ resume, unofficial transcript, and a short introduction to Rachel Kritzik at [email protected]. Thank you!

*Volunteer* RA Opportunity – Understanding Human Motivation: Why do people do what they do?

Dr. Vohs in the Department of Marketing is looking for volunteer research assistants to support ongoing projects. Dr. Vohs’s lab studies people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. We are interested in what motivates people, what bothers them, what gives them joy, what their fears and goals are. We employ theories and methods from marketing, management, and psychology. Dr. Vohs is known as a behavioral economist who intersects and contrasts economics with behavioral science. Research assistant responsibilities may include running studies in the lab, doing literature reviews, and entering and coding data. Competitive applicants will be responsible, highly detail-oriented, and interested in understanding human behavior. Please send your CV/Resume, unofficial transcript, and a short introduction to Dr. Kathleen Vohs at [email protected] to be considered. 

*Volunteer* RA Position in Substance-Use Disorder and Neuroimaging Lab

Dr. Zilverstand in the Department of Psychiatry is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented volunteer student to support an ongoing project investigating mechanisms underlying mental health risks, substance use initiation, and the development of psychiatric disorders in adolescents. Responsibilities include conducting literature searches and reviews for an upcoming manuscript and gaining experience with phenotypic subtyping methods in psychopathology research. This role offers hands-on research experience in a collaborative lab environment, participation in lab meetings, and journal clubs, and opportunities to contribute to poster presentations and authorship on published manuscripts. Ideal candidates will have a strong academic record, a passion for research, and an interest in pursuing graduate-level education. Contact Leyla Brucar at [email protected] and attach a CV/resume, an unofficial transcript, and a cover letter/short introduction.

Summer & Fall 2025 UROP Deadline 

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides University of Minnesota undergraduates from every college, major, and discipline, the opportunity to partner with a faculty member on research or creative projects. The next deadline to apply for an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award is March 17, 2025, for Summer & Fall 2025 projects. Research experience is important no matter what your discipline! The OUR staff is happy to help you get started. Not sure where to start? Go to peer drop-in hours to demystify the research process. They can help you figure out how to get started with research, go over the next steps, and answer general questions.

Learning Abroad

For additional information about learning abroad opportunities, refer to the Learning Abroad Center’s website.

New Learning Abroad Center Scholarship

The Learning Abroad Center has a new scholarship for first-generation college students. This award for first-generation undergraduate students covers airfare and $1,000 toward the cost of a student's program. The award is an early planning award, so recipients can use the award for a program offered any term starting the fall semester after they receive the award. Applications are now live and due February 12, 2025. Learn more about the award on the Learning Abroad Center website. 

Graduate School

Find Diversity Weekend programs - includes Fall, Spring, and Summer programs. Updated frequently. 

Virtual Info Session: Online MA in Applied Child and Adolescent Development

• Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
• Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Virtual

Interested in a career working with children or adolescents in advocacy, community, and healthcare settings? Consider an online graduate degree in applied child and adolescent development from the #1 ranked developmental psychology program in the nation. Join us for an info session to learn more about the program, areas of specialization, and how to apply. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Counseling & Art Therapy Program at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Accepting Applications

The Counseling & Art Therapy program at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University will offer three more webinars in 2024 and an Open House in January 2025. Additionally, the Early Decision Deadline is on December 15th for individuals applying for fall 2025 entry. Early Decision is intended for applicants who are prepared and seeking ODU Counseling & Art Therapy as their first choice for graduate study.  Application for Early Decision does not guarantee an interview, however, it does give the applicant an advantage of being reviewed by the Admissions Screening Committee before the February 15th Regular Decision deadline. Visit their website to register for the Open House and to explore program details. 

Resources

Boynton Health’s Nutritious U Food Pantry

• Date:  December 4, 2024
• Time: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: 1st floor of Memorial Union, Room 103A

Boynton Health’s Nutritious U Food Pantry provides free groceries to any University of Minnesota student. Students can visit the pantry one time per event during open hours (1-2 total visits per month). Please bring your U Card. Review the Food Insecurity Resources for UMN-TC Students Document to learn more about ways to gain access to food items. 

Engagement Opportunities 

Service to Science Scholars Research Program

During this 10-week Service to Science Scholars Research Program, students will gain real-world experience conducting cutting-edge Veteran-focused research at a major VA medical facility. Our nationally and internationally recognized award-winning VA faculty are studying a range of questions relevant to Veteran populations, from PTSD, suicide risk and prevention, traumatic brain injury, cognitive aging, severe mental illness, addiction, sensor technologies/mHealth assessments, clinical trials, to risk and resilience. In addition to hands-on research experience, the program includes faculty-led weekly seminars on research professional development, mentoring (grad students only), statistics, and other relevant research methodologies and topics. All students present a flash talk at the Annual Service to Science Scholars Research Program Symposium, and many past participants have elected to present their projects at national and international scientific conferences. The application deadline is December 15, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact either Dr. Melissa Polusny at [email protected] or Dr. Snezana Urosevic at [email protected].

Jobs/Internship Opportunities

IMPORTANT: Organizations listed below are not necessarily affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Psychology or Psychology Undergraduate Advising. Please exercise the same discretion you would in viewing any other source.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Technician 

We are looking for a motivated individual with a background in psychology, or a related field, who is interested in neurotherapeutic interventions! The position involves direct patient experience and working with a team of highly skilled physicians and technicians. It is a full-time, paid position that includes benefits like PTO, 401K, paid holidays off, and cost-effective health insurance. On-the-job training and certification is provided. This would be a great opportunity for students graduating this semester who have an interest in working with patients or pursuing medical or graduate school. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is an FDA-approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression in adults. The TMS Technician administers TMS treatments under the supervision of a Psychiatrist. The TMS Technician sets up the equipment for each treatment, ensures patient comfort, and monitors for safety.  They also provide questionnaires to monitor changes in symptoms and report information to the Physician. To learn more about this position and to apply, visit their website. Questions about this position can be directed to Maddi Moe at [email protected].

Summer 2025 Psychology Internship - Northwestern University

The summer psychology internship at Northwestern University is now accepting applications! The 2025 internship will run as a partnership with the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) at Northwestern from June 16th to August 8th. Applications are being accepted until February 10th, 2025 through SROP. Two Faculty Recommendations are needed, so planning is important! To be considered for acceptance into SROP, you must be a current sophomore or junior, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have an interest in pursuing a doctoral degree at Northwestern University. Those interested in pursuing an MBA, JD, or MD are not eligible. Those belonging to groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in graduate education (e.g., certain racial and ethnic minorities, women in STEM, first-generation college students, etc.) are encouraged to apply.

Research Assistant

The Mood and Behavior Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School is looking to hire 1 full-time research assistant (RA). The RA will assist with NIMH-funded studies aimed at improving short-term risk prediction for suicidal behavior in youth. We are particularly seeking candidates who demonstrate the character, integrity, and work ethic to excel in a collaborative work environment with a clinically sensitive population. The RA will work under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Liu and Dr. Taylor Burke at Massachusetts General Hospital. This position is particularly well suited for individuals seeking to gain research and clinical experience before graduating or medical school. RAs who demonstrate potential and excel in this position often have opportunities to receive mentorship on conducting independent research projects and grant writing. Application information: The start date is the summer of 2025. Interested applicants are invited to submit a cover letter and CV through the application form. Any questions may be directed to Devika Goel at [email protected].

Mental Health Practitioner

Central Care Service Inc. is hiring a Mental Health Practitioner! This is a great opportunity for those with majors/minors in Developmental Psychology or related fields to get first-hand experience working under a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. This position is In-home services, which means going into clients’ homes. No previous experience or training is required, as you will be trained after hire. Mental Health Practitioners work one-on-one with children on the autism spectrum and related disorders, using the ABA modality, to help clients reach their individual goals. Goals include skills such as social communication, motor skills, etc. Starting pay is $ 20-22/hour, and preference is given to those who can work about 40 hours per week. Hours of operation are from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm on weekdays, and 11:00 am-6:00 pm on weekends. Please reach out to [email protected] with a copy of your resume if interested!