Psych Scoop 11/19/24

Psychology Advising Announcements

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

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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 Internships: Info Session

• Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm | Zoom
• Cost: Free 
• Location: Zoom 

Join this session to learn more about the PSY 3896: Internship in Psychology class, earning credit for your work, and funding opportunities! Please RSVP to sign up for this event. In this session, you will learn about the PSY 3896: Internship in Psychology class. You will discover how internships can fit into your Psychology Major and/or overall enhance your undergraduate experience. Ideally, you will also leave this session with 2-3 ideas to explore for an Internship in Spring or Summer 2025. Please email [email protected] with questions or to request disability-related accommodations. Join us at any listed times!

Getting Started with Psychology Research: Info Session Workshop

• Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm | N219 Elliott Hall
• Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm | Zoom
• Cost: Free 
• Location: In-person or Zoom

Interested in getting started with Psychology Research? Are you in need of finding a research position for Capstone (3901W) enrollment? Sign up for an information session that will focus on sharing resources to get started with research that relates to the Psychology Major. You will learn how Psy 4/5993 research works in the department. You will discover how research can fit into your Psychology Major and/or overall enhance your undergraduate experience. You will leave this session with 2-3 ideas to explore for a research position. Sign up to attend a session! Any questions can be directed to [email protected]. 

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.

Association of Black Psychology Students - Psych Talk Feedback Forum

• Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 
• Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm 
• Cost: Free 
• Location: Amundson Hall

November’s Psych Talk is an open discussion on inclusion, challenges, and opportunities within the university’s psychology department. Students are highly encouraged to share their experiences, ask questions, and offer feedback. This is a great chance to advocate for change, voice your concerns, and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community on campus! Questions about this event can be sent to Kahleesia Chapman at [email protected].

Psych Club & Psi Chi - Graduate School Panel 

• Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024 
• Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm 
• Cost: Free 
• Location: Campbell Hall Room 150

Are you curious about what programs are out there for Psychology? Psych Club will be having a panel for you to learn about the master's programs they have out there. We will hear from UW Stout, ST. Thomas and Bethel College. We will listen to what they have to say while enjoying some refreshments! If you are interested Please RSVP. Contact [email protected] with any questions about this event!

PISA - Leadership and Member Interest! 

Psychology International Student Association (PISA) is recruiting Officers and Members! It will be an excellent opportunity to meet amazing people (e.g., fellow psychology students, faculty members, university leaders, etc.), build leadership within the Psychology community, and improve your understanding of psychology. We welcome both domestic and international students to apply. Officers who showcase leadership and prove responsibility will also be considered for board members! Current or previous student organization experiences are not required. Apply online! The priority deadline for board members is November 24, 2024 - applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you have questions, please email Psych Advising at [email protected] or Anna Picini at [email protected]. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Career Spotlight

Career Spotlight - Expressive Therapist

Majoring or minoring in Psychology can pave the way for careers across various industries. This week, we are highlighting a career in Expressive Therapy. Expressive therapists use therapeutic applications of art, music, dance, and movement to help people grow, heal, and develop. Responsibilities may include organizing expressive activities for recreation and incorporating engaging and expressive activities to help clients cope with life changes, trauma, and other challenges. Duties span client consultations, developing treatment plans, and administering therapy. Expressive therapists work with all ages in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient facilities. To pursue a career as an expressive therapist, you must have some postsecondary education or training. Minimum qualifications vary depending on the employer, and while requirements for certificates or bachelor’s degrees are common, there are also programs for master’s degrees and doctorates in expressive therapy. You can earn a master’s degree in psychology, educational psychology, counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or another mental health discipline as a precursor to obtaining a credential in expressive therapy. An expressive therapist education takes a multidisciplinary approach, involving both liberal arts and science studies, and programs may focus on specific concentrations within the expressive therapy discipline. To learn more about this career, visit our office for in-person career resources, or set up a meeting with us to discuss your post-grad plans and goals!

Events

Virtual Summer Research Roundup

• Date:  Friday, November 22, 2024
• Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
• Cost: Free
• Location: Zoom

Are you a STEM undergraduate interested in gaining research experience, professional development skills, and mentorship at the University of Minnesota next summer? This is for you! This is a unique opportunity for students to hear about summer research programs at UMTC and speak directly with program coordinators and past participants. We will provide example questions for student attendees to help boost their confidence during the event. The registration page includes a list of programs that are participating. Please note that registration is required. 

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

OLPD 5033 - Foundations of Individual and Organizational Career Development

• When: Tuesdays from 4:40 pm - 7:20 pm (160 minutes)
• Location: Bruininks Hall 123 
• Instructor: Michael Stebleton

Introduction to individual and organizational career development theory and practice. Examines critical issues in work patterns, work values, and workplaces in a changing global society, with implications for career planning, development, and transitions, emphasizing personal and organizational change. For nonmajors: serves students in adult ed, HRD, IR, college student advising, and other related fields.  Any questions, follow up with Dr. Mike Stebleton at [email protected].

Prerequisites: Exclude fr or soph 5000 level courses

Note: This course does not count within the Psychology major or minor program.

SOC 4090 - Calling Bullshit: Data Reasoning in Digital World

• When: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm
• Location: 120 Blegen Hall 
• Instructor: Rob Warren (he/him/his)

We are all constantly exposed to news, research findings, social media posts, friends and family, college professors, and other spewers of claims that are alleged to be scientifically defensible "facts". It can be very difficult to fully tell the difference between facts and bullshit. Facts and bullshit are often most difficult to tell apart in the areas of our lives that matter most ─ such as in making health-related decisions or when deliberating about big public policy issues. Many people resist changing what they believe to be factually true when confronted with new or better information; as a result, they often cling to bullshit way too long. Few people are very good at effectively convincing other people that ideas they believe to be based on scientifically defensible facts are just bullshit. Given these observations, in this course, you will learn how to: (1) Be aware of situations in which claims or ideas that allege to be scientifically defensible facts might be bullshit, (2) Develop tools to figure out for yourself whether and why claims or ideas are scientifically defensible facts or just bullshit, (3) Develop the skills needed to effectively persuade reasonably open-minded people to give up their bullshit claims or ideas when there is good fact-based reason to do so. This is a class about scientifically defensible facts, not a class about religious, political, or other opinions; specifically, it is a class about the difference between scientifically defensible facts and two things that can easily be confused for them ─ namely, bullshit and lies. Read more about course details on Schedule Builder.

Note: This course does not count within the Psychology major or minor program.

Research

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

*Credit* Research Opportunity Machine Learning/AI in Bipolar Disorders Research Study

Dr. Urosevic is seeking highly motivated and detail-oriented research assistants (RA's) (sophomore/junior standing) for a study using machine-learning/AI algorithms and smartphone app data to predict future mood and functioning in adults with bipolar disorders. Credit and volunteer positions are available. Responsibilities include participant recruitment/retention, data collection/management, and learning about digital phenotyping methods in psychopathology research. RA's will also attend lab meetings and have an opportunity to develop independent research questions based on their interests and available data. Past RA's have authored poster presentations and contributed to manuscript submissions. Competitive applicants will have a strong interest in pursuing graduate-level education and an excellent academic record. You must be a US citizen to apply. Contact Helen Frieman at [email protected] or 612-946-5859, and attach an unofficial transcript, a cover letter, and a resume.

Call For Undergraduate Research Papers!

Have you completed a research paper in a psychology-related field (i.e. psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, linguistics)? Are you looking for a platform to publish your work? If so, The Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology at UCLA (URJP) wants you to submit your papers for their annual publication, expected to be released in Spring 2025. URJP is an organization dedicated to informing the community of psychological findings through research run by undergraduates from all over the world. Last year, they received submissions from both local and international universities. URJP is one of the few established psychology journals that publishes undergraduate psychological research. Submitted papers must be original work completed by undergraduates (Includes senior honors theses, independent research, reviews, theoretical papers, and other scholarly writing)and have never before been published. The deadline to submit papers is Friday, November 29, 2024, at 11:59 P.M. PST. Multiple submissions from one author are welcome. More information regarding submission criteria and the types of articles accepted can be found on their website. To view prior publications, please visit the website! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].

Learning Abroad

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

Africa Awaits: Encouraging Education Abroad Opportunities Across the Continent

• Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
• Time: 8:45 am arrival and light refreshments | 9:15 am – 4:30 pm workshop
• Cost: Free
• Location: University International Center; Room 101, 331 SE 17th Ave #100, Minneapolis, MN 55414

U.S. students’ interest in studying abroad in African countries has been in decline since 2018. Exacerbated by the pandemic, study abroad in Africa has been the slowest to recover of all the world regions. To be successful in the current globalized environment, US students need more exposure to countries in the Global South, especially Africa, which provides countless opportunities for global learning. The higher education sector must step forward with new forms of collaboration and engagement across campuses and the international education community to emphasize the importance of educational experiences in Africa and to rebuild awareness of the opportunities available to students. This workshop will explore how to get US students to pursue the opportunities Africa offers for global learning and how international education practices/scholars can help promote and facilitate that. Space is limited, so we kindly appreciate your response by Friday, November 15th. Note that there is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided.

Mental Health & Well-being in Spain Study Abroad Info Session

• Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
• Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm 
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall N227 or Virtual

Interested in studying abroad? You can explore mental health, well-being, and helping professions in a global context while living in Toledo, Spain this May with the Mental Health & Well-being in Spain program led by Seth Christman Ph.D., L.P. While in Spain, you will participate in activities and excursions that will introduce you to issues, concepts, challenges/strengths, and interventions related to mental health and health care. This program will help you deepen your understanding and abilities to apply cross-cultural competencies in mental health research, practice, and advocacy. Plus you will have the opportunity to work with experts in psychology and related fields to identify mental health trends, current issues, and care systems from Spain and the United States. Limited space is available on this program, so apply soon! The priority application deadline for this program is February 1st and the final application deadline is March 1st. Students interested in the program can join the LAC and Professor Christman for an information session. For more information about the program, planning for study abroad, financial aid resources, and scholarship information, please reach out to Anna DeWitt ([email protected]). 

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. 

Carlson Graduate Programs HRIR Info Session

• Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Zoom
• Cost: Free

This Informational session is a great opportunity for you to get general information about the Human Resources and Industrial Relations program, presented by the MS Program staff. Following a program overview presentation is a Q & A session. This session is for people who want to pursue Carlson School's Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations program but have not had the chance to research the program. Questions about this session can be directed to Alex Baker at [email protected].

Rawls Lab at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Accepting Applications

The Rawls Lab, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington on a sunny beach in North Carolina, is accepting a master's student (neuroscience MS) next year! We use EEG to study how the human brain enables us to control our actions, and how these mechanisms can go wrong and contribute to mental health disorders. Our application deadline is in December, so if you are graduating and want to get a master's degree, please apply online. We pay a full-time (20 hours/week) salary of ~$20,000 in a relatively low COL area, plus tuition and benefits. Questions about the program can be directed to Eric Rawls at [email protected].

Resources

Boynton Health’s Nutritious U Food Pantry

• Date:  Wednesday, November 20, 2024
• Time: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm 
• 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 

NIMH Intramural Research Program Training Opportunities

Do you have questions about the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Intramural Research Program (IRP)? Join the NIMH Office of Fellowship Training for the final virtual information session of 2024! This information session is open to undergraduates, graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and anyone else interested in learning more about opportunities with the NIMH Intramural Research Program. The session will provide information about a variety of National Institutes of Health (NIH) training programs, and exciting research being done in NIMH IRP laboratories, and give attendees a chance to chat with current NIMH staff and trainees. This event is free but registration is required. Questions can be directed to Alycia Boutte at [email protected].

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.

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!

Medical Scribe

Aris Clinic is a pediatric mental health clinic located in Woodbury, MN. We provide medication management and outpatient psychotherapy, but our primary focus is on our Intensive Outpatient Program, which provides therapeutic and school services for kids ages 8-18. We are looking to hire a combination psychiatric technician and medical scribe who would be working with one of our APRNs starting this December of 2024! We are also willing to accept applicants who can start in January 2025. This position is a great option for those seeking experience in graduate school. Please visit our website for more information. Please reach out to Samantha Bruce at 651-412-8920 for questions regarding this position. 

Rawls Lab at University of North Carolina Wilmington Hiring for Research Assistants 

The Rawls lab, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is hiring for lab assistants or managers! Positions will be part-time 20-30 hours/week at ~$16/hour which is the median for the area. This position is funded for a minimum of 2 years with potential for extension based on funding. If you want to get research experience and work in a dynamic human neuroscience lab using EEG to study the brain basis of cognition and mental health, and if you want to relocate to the sunny NC beach, this is a great opportunity! Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or would like more information.