Psych Scoop, 7/25/23

July 25th, 2023

The Psych Scoop is sent to all Psychology Undergraduate students and alumni every Tuesday throughout the academic school year. 

Share your news with psyadvis@umn.edu!

Psychology Advising Announcements

Current majors are expected to know the announcements in the advising announcement section.
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1. Important Class Cancellation Update: PSY 3666 & PSY 4207/5207

Students who were enrolled in PSY 3666: Human Sexuality or PSY 4207/5207: Personality & Social Behavior for the Fall 2023 term had the courses removed from their Fall 2023 schedule. The Department of Psychology has made the decision to cancel due to a combination of factors. Students who are enrolled in these courses have been notified and are encouraged to set up a meeting with Psychology Advising staff to discuss course planning regarding the recent change. We understand that this cancellation impacts students very differently. Our Psychology Advising staff is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about this cancellation on your Major/degree progress. If you have any concerns, please reach out to us at psyadvis@umn.edu as soon as possible so that we may assist you in finding an alternative option for Fall 2023.

2. Share Your Research Experience!

Psych Advising would like your help! If you have participated in research for credit or as a volunteer at the U, please consider sharing your experience with this short Google Form. In our new office space, we are putting together informational bulletin boards which provide resources and advice to students who stop by. One of these boards includes information on getting involved in research as an undergraduate student! Our office strives to provide all the information we have about what research is and how to get involved, but we are missing the essential student perspective. With your help, we can better serve students who may be in a similar boat as when you first started looking into how to become involved. We will likely be featuring 2-4 students on a monthly basis, and we will of course notify you if your experience is being shared. If you have any questions, please reach out to psyadvis@umn.edu.

3. 2023-2024 Psychology Undergraduate TA Positions

Each fall and spring, the Department of Psychology selects from a pool of highly qualified undergraduate applicants for paid undergraduate teaching assistant (TA) and section leader (SL) appointments. Serving as a TA or SL is a fantastic professional development opportunity to add to a resume, and it can also provide you with an integrated department experience to highlight on an application to graduate school. Our teaching assistants and section leaders work on average 5-10 hours per week per appointment and will be paid $16.50/hr in the 2023-2024 academic year. More information on eligibility, the application process, and typical duties can be found on the 2023-2024 Undergraduate TA Application Form. If you have questions, please contact Christina Wiencke at choldvog@umn.edu (Associate Director of Curriculum & Instruction) or Heidi Wolff at hwolff@umn.edu (Curriculum and Graduate Services Specialist).

4. Student Tech Support Services - Lecture Recording Support

The Department of Psychology is hiring for lecture recording support. The primary responsibility of this position is to prepare the classroom technology for the lecture presenter and adjust the camera during the lecture recording. The position will be supervised by the Course Instructor. The Department Academic Technologist may also provide additional supervision and guidance. You must be a University of Minnesota student. Must be available Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm at Willey Hall (West Bank TC campus) during Fall and Spring semesters. Preferred qualifications include experience using and troubleshooting classroom presentation and video recording technologies, positive attitude, attention to detail, and willingness to problem-solve. Starting pay is $16.50/hr. To learn more about the position and how to apply, visit the U of M job website and enter Job ID: 356336. If you have any questions, please direct them to Silke Moeller at smoeller@umn.edu.

Events

5. Free Meals on Thursdays

Thursday, July 27, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm CST (or when meals are gone)
Cost: Meals are free
Location: Coffman Memorial Union

Free, to-go, chef-prepared meals are available to any University of Minnesota student. A partnership between Minnesota Central Kitchen (Second Harvest Heartland), the Campus Club, and Swipe Out Hunger. Located at Coffman Memorial Union, outside Nutritious U Food Pantry (Room 103A). This event will continue through the summer. For more food insecurity resources, click here.

Courses of Interest

6. PSY 3896: Internship in Psychology - 1-4 Credits - Fall 2023

Make an internship experience count toward your PSY Major! PSY 3896 class credits (1-4 variable credits) are based partly on the number of hours you work at your internship during the Fall 2023 semester. Online course assignments are a complement to your learning at your internship site. Students apply to and secure a position on their own, but guidance is available. Example sites include ACR Homes, People Serving People, Sexual Violence Center, Tubman, and the Walk-In Counseling Center. Look for more opportunities in the Psych Scoop and even more on Handshake. Read more about what students have to say about PSY 3896!

Steps to Register for PSY 3896:

1.) Student secures an internship with a site

2.) Submit a "Request an Experience" form on Handshake and receive approval.

3.) Permission number to register for the course will then be emailed to you.

PSY 3896 is completely online

Instructor: Michael Houlahan

Note: This course counts as elective credit for the Psychology majors only.

Graduate School

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

7. Announcing the 2023 Diversity in Psychology Virtual Program

The University of Minnesota’s graduate programs in psychology (Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Educational Psychology) are excited to announce the 2023 Diversity in Psychology Program (DPP). This virtual event will take place on Friday, October 13, 2023. While DPP is open to prospective applicants to the University of Minnesota doctoral programs in psychology regardless of race, ethnicity, or national origin, our program centers the experiences of individuals with backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in the field of psychology. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who identify as BIPOC, low-income, disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, first-generation college students, and military veterans. As a participant in the program, you will learn, through formal and informal experiences, how to construct a successful graduate school application. You’ll also have the opportunity to get a sense of the graduate school experience in our departments. If you are interested in applying for the Diversity in Psychology Program (or know someone who might be), please visit our website.

Research

8. *Credit or Volunteer* Research Assistant Opportunity - STRIPE Lab

Are you interested in health equity? Would you like to learn about and contribute to research on health promotion and prevention among underserved populations? Dr. Melissa Ertl is an incoming assistant professor in the counseling psychology area who is recruiting undergraduate research assistants for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year to contribute to research centered on investigating and addressing health disparities and health risk behaviors. Dr. Ertl specifically focuses on women’s health and how experiences of oppression and discrimination influence health among marginalized groups, including Latinx immigrants and young adults, people with substance use disorders, LGBQ individuals, college students, and individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. Research assistants will register for PSY 5993: Directed Research and contribute to ongoing projects by engaging in readings, literature reviews, participant recruitment and data collection, data coding, data analysis, and weekly lab meetings. If you are interested, please fill out the application form. The deadline to apply for a Fall semester position is August 15th, but applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Please email Melissa at mertl@umn.edu if you have any questions about applying.

9. *Credit or Volunteer* Counseling Psychology Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunity

Dr. Alex Ajayi, an incoming assistant professor in the counseling psychology area, is currently seeking undergraduate research assistants for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year. Research assistants are expected to register for PSY 5993: Directed Research. Dr. Ajayi's research interests include mental health and well-being, social identity development as it relates to race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality, prejudice and discrimination, and designing integrative psychological interventions. An ideal candidate for this position is curious, engaged, and eager to learn. Undergraduate research assistants will have the opportunity to participate in various tasks, including literature reviews, data coding, and analysis, participant recruitment and data collection, data entry and management, and weekly lab meetings. If you are interested, please complete this application before Friday, August 11th. The applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Dr. Ajayi at ajayi006@umn.edu.

10. *Credit or Volunteer* Undergraduate Research Opportunity with Adolescent Suicide Risk and Depression Study

Dr. Karina Quevedo is currently looking for undergraduate students interested in gaining volunteer experience in her lab in the Department of Psychiatry! There is an opportunity for Directed Research credit! The Health and Emotions in Adolescents Trajectories (HEAT) Laboratory is a neuroimaging lab conducting several studies to better understand suicidality, depression, and trauma. In addition, the HEAT Laboratory focuses on the brain function of adolescents – with and without suicidal ideation/history of suicide attempt – while they complete fMRI tasks, such as neurofeedback, designed to examine emotion regulation and cognition as a potential treatment for suicidality. Who We Want: We are currently in the data entry phase of the study. Students will be assisting in entering a high volume of data from paper format onto an online database while maintaining accuracy. We are looking for detail-oriented, organized students with basic computer skills. Students should be in good academic standing, and be able to commit 5-12 hours a week of data entry, in person. We are interested in students who can begin before Fall 2023. Committed and dedicated student volunteers will have the opportunity to expand their role within the lab including being a co-author on scientific papers. Contact: send a short introduction, unofficial transcript, a copy of your CV, and how many hours a week you can commit to Tasha Das at das00024@umn.edu and Cc Hoang-Giang Nguyen at nguy2815@umn.edu.

11. *Volunteer or Credit* Research Assistant Opportunities with the CARPE DIEM Study

The Culture and Family Life Lab at the Institute of Child Development is collaborating with two other labs the Early Language and Experience Lab, and the Child Behavior and Perception Lab to launch an exciting new research study called the CARPE DIEM Study. This study is actively seeking several new research assistants (RAs) who will meet with families on weekday afternoons/evenings and weekends during the Fall and/or Spring semesters. RAs will have the opportunity to register for CPSY 4994 credit. RAs will primarily assist with conducting pre-test and post-test assessments of families in ICD testing rooms. These assessments involve explaining consent forms, facilitating a mother-child storybook reading task, assisting children in completing a set of tasks/games and guiding mothers to an online questionnaire. To apply, please complete the online RA application on Professor Ferguson’s Culture and Family Life Lab website. In the application, select CARPE DIEM as the project of interest. We are interviewing applicants now so we encourage you to submit your application now for priority consideration! If you have questions please contact, Salma Ibrahim at ibrah247@umn.edu.

12. *Volunteer or Credit* Research Opportunity with Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research

The Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research (CCDOR) has an opening for one to three research assistants for a funded suicide prevention study that will lay a foundation for understanding the effective treatments and supports needed for Veterans who experience suicide loss, including women and Native and Indigenous Veterans. Using explanatory sequential mixed methods, this study will identify the mental health outcomes associated with knowing someone who has died by suicide and risk and protective factors. This opportunity requires 5-10 hours per week for at least 6 months. The research intern(s)/volunteer will join an interdisciplinary team, participate in lab meetings and work under Dr. Robert Orazem, the lab manager and a clinical psychologist. Responsibilities involve preparing survey mailings, phone contact with potential participants, scanning completed surveys, literature reviews, and participating in a journal club. Other responsibilities will be determined based on interest and experience. Students interested in receiving credit for this opportunity will register for PSY 4993: Directed Research. To be considered for this intern/volunteer opportunity, please submit a resume/CV and cover letter to Robert Orazem, Ph.D., at robert.orazem2@va.gov. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

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.

13. Direct Care Professional

ACR Homes is hiring psychology students to become Direct Care Professionals! Apply today for positions starting NOW or Fall Semester. You would work in a home setting alongside a co-worker to care for 4 people who have disabilities. You will get the chance to gain DIRECT PATIENT CARE HOURS by caring for the medical, emotional, and physical needs of the residents as well as enjoying fun activities with them on your shifts. ACR is flexible for students, min of 12-16hrs/week (shifts are 4, 6, or 8hrs) but of course, you could work more. Starting pay is $15-$21/hr depending on the shift you work, paid training, and we have locations near campus, and you don't need to have a car! On top of all of that, we even offer custom research-based INTERNSHIPS that end with a letter of recommendation from our CEO who is a licensed psychologist. We are doing interviews 30 min Zoom interviews now to secure your spot when you are ready to start. Contact Kayla Wildes at wilde177@umn.edu if you are interested in applying!

14. Dietary Interviewer - Spanish/English bilingual

The Nutrition Coordinating Center in the U of M School of Public Health is hiring for a Dietary Interviewer position. We are looking for individuals who are Spanish/English bilingual. We offer training on the dietary interview process and software. Please see the job posting on the U of M job website. We hope to make hiring decisions prior to August 7th, though there may be an opportunity for a September start as well. If you have any questions about the position contact Julia Lorenzana Peasley at peas0027@umn.edu.

15. Student Assistant Position - Student Services Office at the School of Public Health

Join the School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Minnesota. We are seeking dedicated Student Assistants to support our Student Services Office and contribute to our mission of preventing disease and promoting better health. As a Student Assistant, you will play a vital role in maintaining smooth operations and providing exceptional service to prospective, enrolled, and continuing education students, as well as SPH staff and faculty. Your responsibilities will include managing front desk operations, answering phone calls, emails, and live chats, and staying up to date with details about our academic degree programs. You will collaborate with SPH Student Ambassadors, assist with file organization, maintain office cleanliness, schedule student tours, and handle various administrative tasks. Embrace this opportunity to balance your academic responsibilities while gaining valuable experience in a professional environment. Those interested should apply on the U of M job website Job ID: 356522.