Psych Scoop, 8/22/23

August 22, 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. Psychology Engagement Award - Fall Application Now Open!

Are you volunteering in your community this Fall? Or, participating in an unpaid internship here or abroad this semester? The Department of Psychology's Donor Awards for Psychology Undergraduate Engagement are available to support you! The purpose of these awards is to encourage and support psychology majors who engage in unpaid learning experiences beyond the University campus and classroom environments (i.e. unpaid internships, volunteer experiences, study abroad containing a psych-related internship, etc.). Up to three awards of $500 will be offered for Fall 2023. The application deadline is Wednesday, September 20th (12:00 pm CST). For details about the awards and application materials, visit our webpage. If you have any questions feel free to email 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. Apply to PSY 5993 Enrichment Program!

Do you identify with a group of people underrepresented in the field of Psychology? Are you interested in pursuing a career in the field? Apply to the PSY 5993 enrichment program, designed to support and enhance the experiences of students enrolled in our directed research course, Psy 5993, while building research-related skills and learning about research-related career and grad school opportunities. Participation in this program involves weekly meetings with a cohort of about 10 like-minded students, and will also include up to $250 in tuition support. We invite undergraduates who identify with groups underrepresented in psychology research careers to apply. The form is due at 12:00 pm CST on Friday, September 1st, and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

5. 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 in Job ID: 356336. If you have any questions, please direct them to Silke Moeller at smoeller@umn.edu.

Events

6. Let Freedom Ring: The 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington

Monday, August 28, 2023, 6:30 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Northrop

Experience beloved community and honor the enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom!

7. Start strong: Early semester planning

Friday, September 8, 2023, 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Online

Learn new strategies, tools, and hacks that can help you this semester. We will talk about semester planning including the semester calendar, and Canvas course tips, and go on virtual visits to the UMN Libraries and success.umn.edu (peer tutoring centers). Get ideas for keeping up the motivation and staying on track in your courses. Registration is required.

Courses of Interest

8. 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.

Volunteer/Engagement Opportunities

9. Are you Interested in Volunteering at a Community Organization?

Volunteering offers many of the same potential benefits as other experiential activities, like interning, for example, or participating in research projects. Volunteering is yet another way you can continue developing the Core Career Competencies that signify career readiness. It also gives you a chance to explore various organizations, career paths, and work settings in a fairly low-key way. One way you can find Volunteer opportunities is through the Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL). At the University’s Center for Community-Engaged Learning, staff members will ask you about your interests and then connect you with one or more of the 300 nonprofit community partners they work with. Additionally, you can often find volunteer positions posted on Handshake. Visit the CLA Undergraduate Studies website to view further instructions on how to navigate Handshake.

Learning Abroad

10. Learning Abroad Fair

Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 10:00 am - 2:30 pm CST
Location: West Bank Plaza

The Learning Abroad Center is holding its annual fair on Wednesday, September 20 from 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. We encourage students to visit us outside on the West Bank Plaza to learn about the many international opportunities available to them. Registration is not required but welcome.

Graduate School

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

11. Announcing the 2023 Diversity in Psychology Virtual Program

The University of Minnesota’s Diversity in Psychology Program is excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the Fall 2023 virtual diversity program event (Friday, October 13, 2023). The program is designed for individuals who are historically underrepresented in psychology graduate programs and who are interested in earning their Ph.D. from the Department of Psychology, Institute of Child Development, or the Department of Educational Psychology, at the University of Minnesota. 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

12. *Credit or Volunteer* Coparenting Coding Lab - Research Assistant Opportunity

Dr. Jeffry Simpson from the Department of Psychology's Social Interactions Lab is looking for undergraduate RAs for the upcoming Fall 2023 semester. We are looking at parent-child interactions and coding them for behavior related to the parent-child relationship or the relationship between the parents. If you’re interested in applying to be a RA in this project, please fill out the Qualtrics form. You can also email Mo at nakam036@umn.edu.

13. *Credit or Volunteer* Relationships, Emotion Regulation, and Eating Lab - Research Assistant Opportunity

Dr. Jeffry Simpson from the Department of Psychology's Social Interactions Lab is looking for undergraduate RAs for the upcoming Fall 2023 semester. We are looking at couples and how they influence each other’s emotions and eating. If you’re interested in applying to be a RA in this project, please fill out the Qualtrics form. You can also email Mo at nakam036@umn.edu.

14. *Credit or Volunteer* Gunnar Lab Undergraduate Research Assistant

The Gunnar Lab at the Institute of Child Development is looking for two student research assistants to start as soon as possible. Our research focus is on stress and the effects of early life experiences in children, teens, and young adults. We have a research project seeking RAs to assist with running online research protocols as an experimenter or judge, recruitment, scheduling, meta-analysis coding, literature reviews, and other tasks as needed. Must have availability between 2 pm-8 pm on weekdays & weekends and commit to 6-9 hours weekly. Due to the nature of the research protocol, we are seeking a RA who identifies as male to fill one of the positions. Students can earn 2-3 credits for CPSY 4994. Preference will be given to those who can commit to two or more semesters. To learn more about these positions, please send your CV/resume and a short introduction to Bao Moua at moua0066@umn.edu to be considered.

15. *Credit* Social Cognition in Serious Mental Illness - Research Assistant Opportunity

A laboratory at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System is funded to conduct a feasibility study of a novel skills training intervention designed to improve employment outcomes for veterans with serious mental illness. There is an opportunity for 2 undergraduate students to become involved with this project as a Research Lab in Psychology experience during the Fall semester. The students will learn about cognitive and social-social cognitive functioning in individuals with serious mental illness and evidence-based approaches to intervention to reduce symptoms and improve functioning. Students will work as a part of a research team led by a psychologist and will be involved with the development of the social-cognitive skills training curriculum, preparation of study materials, scoring measures, and entering data. As part of the research experience, students will attend a weekly lab meeting in which topics related to the project are discussed. In addition, students will write an APA-style paper on a related topic. All research activities are conducted at the VA Health Care System. Students must be able to commute to the VA. Students will be asked to register for research credit and to commit an average of 9 hours each week. Students must become volunteers at the hospital in order to participate in this experience. Volunteers are required to be U.S. Citizens. To apply, please send a resume and unofficial transcript to Tasha.Nienow@va.gov.

16. *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.

Scholarships & Awards

17. Financial Need Early Planning Scholarship - Study Abroad

The Learning Abroad Center’s Financial Need Early Planning Scholarship provides study abroad awards for University of Minnesota undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. This scholarship is intended to ease the financial barrier of studying abroad for students with significant financial needs, provide assurance of funding earlier in the process, and encourage early financial planning. Recipients have up to one year to use their award. Increase representation of economically disadvantaged students in study abroad programs. The Financial Need Early Planning scholarship is not merit-based and awards are granted based on the strength of a student’s essay. To learn more and to apply, visit the Learning Abroad Center website.

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.

18. Central Office Student Assistant - Psychology Department

The Department of Psychology Central Office is looking for a Central Office Student Assistant to join the team. This role involves overseeing the management, organization, and guest relations of the Central Office within the Department of Psychology. It's an excellent opportunity to gain insights into the department and interact with faculty members. The starting pay rate is $15 per hour, and there's potential for raises based on performance and duration of employment. For more details about the position and to apply, visit the University of Minnesota Employment System. You can find the job opening by referring to ID 357242. While the priority application deadline is August 25th, 2023, applications will continue to be reviewed until August 31st, 2023. If you have any questions about the position, contact Amanda Schmit at amsuchy@umn.edu.

19. Housing Support Specialist

Looking for a unique and rewarding job? We are hiring housing support specialists- a great opportunity to build experience in the mental health field! Oak Grove is a small company located in Minneapolis. We serve a population of mentally ill residents in a long-term care setting. Our clients are adults with Serious and Persistent mental illness (SPMI) such as depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Some of them also have medical conditions. Housing Support Specialists are direct care providers who provide shift coverage and individualized services to residents. Duties Include Medication Administration, Assistance with Independent Living Skills (ILS), Assistance with Activities of Daily Living, Socialization- both one-on-one and groups, Activities- in-house and in the community, and Documentation of services and interactions. We offer paid training for the above-noted. We do not do hands-on bathing, toileting, or lifting. We are looking for part-time staff to work weekends days/evenings and weekday evenings. If you have a passion for mental health and want to gain lasting experience that transfers to any field, apply today! Starting pay may increase based on relevant experience and we prompt from within. Please visit their website to get further instructions on how to apply. Questions can be directed to Ben Paul at benjaminpaul651@gmail.com or 651-767-2287.

20. CORE Outreach Student Assistant

The University's Community Outreach, Retention, and Engagement (CORE) program has 10 openings for students to work one Saturday per month for the 2023-2024 academic year. We need 10 (preferably) STEM students from underrepresented populations to provide representation on our CORE Crew. The CORE Crew is our group of undergraduate and graduate students at UMN who provide hands-on support at events, serve as near-peer mentors to our students, and share their experiences in college and STEM. Please find the CORE Outreach Student Assistant (Job ID: 354650) position at the University of Minnesota Employment site. For more information, please contact Delina Brown-Jackson, Program Manager, at brow2985@umn.edu or 651.587.5575 (call/text).

21. Psychology Subject Tutor

The Lindahl Academic Center at the University of Minnesota is hiring both Graduate and Undergraduate students for paid Peer Tutoring Positions beginning Fall 2023. Sessions are used to review and reinforce course-specific materials across a wide variety of Psychology focused subjects ranging from introductory courses to advanced material. For additional information and to apply, please visit the Lindahl Academic Center's website. For any questions you may have regarding the position please contact Adam Demchak (Senior Tutor Coordinator) at mdemchak@umn.edu.

22. Supportive Housing Assistant

The Housing Assistant provides safety and security to tenants that are experiencing significant mental health/psychiatric symptoms, who are demonstrating significant functional impairments, and who may have co-occurring chemical dependency and/or personality disorder. The primary duties of the Housing Assistant include promoting the safety and security of the premises, building of community through socialization, and provision of support to tenants during a crisis. This is a part-time positon with evening and rotating weekend hours. If you are interested in applying, please contact lon.levitre@springpathmentalhealth.com.

23. Central Care Service Inc. - Mental Health Practitioner

Central Care Service Inc. (located on 3355 Hiawatha Ave. Minneapolis, MN) 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. 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, 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 pm on weekdays and 11 am-6 pm on weekends. Please reach out to info@centralcareservice.com with a copy of your resume if interested!

24. CLA Student Services Peer Advisor/Office Assistant

Become a Peer advisor for the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Student Services office! We provide direct service to students as key information, intake, peer advising, and referral office for all CLA undergraduate students. In this role, the CLA Student Services office located in Johnston Hall, serves as a pivotal outreach and communication arm of CLA Student Services (CLASS) for students, faculty, staff, the university community, and the general public. Functionally, the CLASS team operates as the "front door" of the College for the majority of our incoming first-year and transfer students. Our team also supports CLA advising by assisting students with basic advising decisions and referrals to professional advising staff. To apply, please visit the University of Minnesota Employment System. Questions can be directed to class@umn.edu.

25. Center for Community Engaged-Learning (CCEL) is currently hiring for 6 positions

The CCEL coordinates campus-wide resources for curricular and co-curricular community engagement and domestic off-campus study programs. We have a project-oriented and team-oriented approach to accomplishing our work. Our student staff Peer Advisors hold a critical role in the CCEL. They support student engagement through one-on-one advising, general office support, front desk management, tabling at fairs, creating content for the CCEL website, leading information sessions about specific CCEL programs, and preparing for / facilitating workshops. Students selected for this position will gain valuable program implementation experience, interpersonal communication skills, coordination experience, and contacts across an array of community organizations. The positions we are hiring for include CESP Assistant/Peer Advisor, CESP Events Facilitator/Peer Advisor, Community Outreach Coordinator/PA, Office Coordinator/PA, Communications Assistant/PA, Racial Equity Coordinator/PA. All positions have a dual role and details about each position can be found here. The benefits of each position include 10-15 self-scheduled hours dependent on the position, $15 per hour pay, and a flexible and supportive team environment. The priority application deadline is September 8th but we will be hiring on a rolling basis. Feel free to email us at ccel@umn.edu with any additional questions on positions. We look forward to adding new members to our team!

26. ACR Homes - Direct Care Professional

ACR Homes is hiring psychology students to become Direct Care Professionals! Apply today for positions starting now or in the upcoming 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!