Psych Scoop, 4/22/25

Psychology Advising Announcements

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

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Psychology Engagement Award - Summer Applications Now Open

Are you taking Summer classes & also volunteering in your community? 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 enrolled psychology majors who engage in unpaid learning experiences beyond the University campus and classroom environments (i.e. unpaid internships, volunteer experiences, or a study abroad containing a psych-related internship). Up to two awards of $500 will be offered for Summer 2025. The application deadline is Monday, June 9th. For details about the awards and application materials, please visit our webpage.

Psychology Undergraduate Spring Survey

Your voice matters! Psychology Undergraduate Advisory Council is collecting feedback on undergraduate experiences in the department, including diversity in course curriculum, research preparation and Elliott Hall! This feedback will be shared with Department faculty to help make meaningful changes. No questions are required, so the survey can take as much or as little time as you would like! Questions about the survey can be directed to Kayla Besse at [email protected].

Spring 2025 Psychology Capstone Poster Session

• Date:  Monday, May 5, 2025
• Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 
• Location: Elliott Hall, 1st Floor Lobby

Psychology Undergraduates completing their Capstone in Psychology this Spring 2025 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 Summer or Fall 2025 Psychology Capstone students to see current project examples!

Seniors! RSVP to the 2025 Psychology Senior Spectacular!

• Date:  Friday, May 2, 2025
• Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm (check-in from 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm)
• Cost: Free

Psychology majors who have applied for Spring or Summer 2025 graduation have received an email invitation to the 2025 Psychology Senior Spectacular Celebration. This psychology undergraduate event recognizes award recipients and graduating seniors in front of peers, staff, faculty, and family for all of their accomplishments! The event will be held on campus on Friday, May 2nd, 2025, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. If you are graduating this Spring or Summer and have not received an email from us to RSVP for the Senior Spectacular, please reach out to [email protected].

Psychology Student Group Announcements

Psi Chi Honors Cords Pick Up

Are you a graduating Psi Chi member this Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 semester? If yes, please arrange to pick up your Psi Chi Honor cord from Mary Simonsen. Email Mary at [email protected] to arrange a time to pick it up.

Psi Chi Initiation Ceremony

• Date:  Monday, April 28, 2025
• Time: 5:30 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Hasselmo Hall, Room 2-101

We are thrilled to invite you to our First Annual Psi Chi Induction Ceremony, a special evening dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of our newest members of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. The event will take place at 5:30 PM on April 28th at Hasselmo Hall. All students who have been officially accepted into Psi Chi are welcome to attend. The evening will feature a formal pinning ceremony to honor our inductees, followed by a complimentary dinner. We encourage attendees to dress in business casual attire to mark the occasion. Each inductee is welcome to bring one guest to join in the celebration. Please make sure to RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your spot. Questions and accommodation requests can be directed to Natalie Worzalla at [email protected] or 920-851-5840. 

Events

Stories in Health Equity

• Date:  Thursday, April 24, 2025
• Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: HSEC 2-110

The Student Engagement Subcommittee is planning an evening to discuss health equity work, and its changing landscape! They will have Dr. Jessica Simacek from the Masonic Institute on the Developing Brain presenting about her experiences in health equity work. She will present a 15 min presentation followed by a Q/A session. This will be an opportunity for students to connect, have some snacks, and converse about health equity work. Students must register for the event. 

UMN Psychology Colloquium Series - Correlates and Consequences of Personality: Pathways, Complexes, and Possibilities

• Date:  Monday, April 28, 2025
• Time: 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall, Room N219 & Zoom

Part of the Building the Future: Areas of Excellence Within UMN Psychology Colloquium Series. Dr. Deniz Ones will be hosting a discussion on personality. A century of research confirms what everyday intuition suggests: personality shapes who we are, how we feel, behave, adapt, and succeed—not only at work, but across all life domains. It predicts misbehavior, performance, happiness, adjustment, and even sleep—but not in the same way for everyone, everywhere. Those interested in attending should RSVP for the event.

Courses of Interest

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

Summer 2025 Courses Still Available - PSY 3666 Add On!

There are still spots available for Summer 2025 Psychology courses! Take a look at available psychology courses on Schedule Builder, including PSY 3666: Human Sexuality. All psychology courses in the summer will be offered online. Questions about summer courses may be directed to [email protected].

PSY 3960: Undergraduate Seminar in Psychology - 1 Credit

Psychology Research Preparation Course - a part of the Department of Psychology's Pathways Program. 

• Course: Second Half of Term Course - Mondays, 4:00 - 5:40 pm CT
• 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. Email Maya at [email protected] or [email protected] to request a permission number to enroll!

PSY 5960-002: Topics in Psychology - Drugs of Abuse - Brain and Behavior - Fall 2025 

• Course: Tuesdays & Thursdays - 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm CT 
• Location: Elliott Hall N119
• Instructor: Kurt Fraser

Drugs of Abuse - Brain and Behavior This course will provide an overview of the major behavioral and neurobiological aspects of drugs of abuse, how they function, why humans use and abuse drugs, and contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to studying substance use disorders. This course is intended for upper-level undergraduates interested in neuropsychopharmacology, medicine, and psychiatry. No formal requirements, but one or more of PSY 3011, 3031, 3051, 3061, or NSCI 3101, 3102W or BIOL 3211 are recommended. Undergraduate students should register for PSY 5960-002. 

PSY 5960-004: Topics in Psychology - Visual Hallucinations and Illusions - Fall 2025 

• Course: Fridays - 11:15 am - 1:45 pm CT 
• Location: Elliott Hall N423
• Instructor: Steve Engel

This course will cover how, when, and why we perceive things that are not there. Specifically we will discuss the nature and origin of visual hallucinations and "positive" illusions, in which things are perceived that do not appear to have a clear origin in the external world. We will discuss both behavioral experiments that measure both what hallucinations look like and neuroscience experiments that attempt to uncover how our brains produce them.

Research

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

*Volunteer* Undergraduate Research Opportunity: Youth Mental Health

We are looking for undergraduate students to volunteer in Dr. Meredith Gunlicks-Stoessel’s research lab this summer. Students would primarily be working on a study evaluating youth and caregiver attitudes about mental health services, barriers, and preferences for types of services. Participation would involve collecting surveys from families attending county fairs in rural Minnesota communities and the Minnesota State Fair as part of the UMN Driven to Discover (D2D) Research Program. All expenses, including mileage, hotel, and food will be covered. There may be opportunities to continue to work on other research projects into the 2025-2026 academic year. To apply, please send a cover letter including GPA and resume to [email protected].

*Credit* Undergraduate Research Opportunity at the Institute of Child Development

We are looking for responsible, enthusiastic, and detail-oriented students to work in Professor Glenn Roisman's Relationships Research Laboratory in the Fall of 2025 to help with the transcription of interviews about participants' childhood experiences with their primary caregivers. Prospective undergraduate research assistants must be prepared to sign up for 3 credits (approximately 9 hours of work per week, including a flexible schedule and 1-2 weekly, hour-long lab meetings). Please contact Professor Roisman by email at [email protected] if you are interested and indicate your availability for an informal, 15-minute interview via Zoom. Professor Roisman asks that you email in advance of your Zoom appointment your resume and a brief writing sample (no more than a 1-page excerpt) from a college paper. Questions may be directed to Professor Roisman at [email protected].

Research Poster Opportunity - Institute for Human Neuroscience 2025 Summer Research Symposium 

Are you an undergraduate student passionate about psychology or neuroscience research? The Institute for Human Neuroscience at Boys Town National Research Hospital invites rising juniors and seniors majoring in psychology, neuroscience, and related fields to apply to present a research poster at our annual symposium. This event is a unique opportunity for students to share their research, engage with faculty and graduate students, and learn more about our neuroscience PhD program, which is offered in partnership with Creighton University. Interested students can apply directly by completing the online application form by April 30. Selected students will be notified in late May and early June. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

Graduate School 

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

School of Social Work Community Open House

• Date:  Tuesday, April 22, 2025
• Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm CT - stop by any time!
• Cost: Free
• Location: Peters Hall, 1404 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108

Are you interested in a Youth Studies major, or a minor in Family Violence Prevention, Social Justice, or Youth Studies? Are you interested in earning a Masters in Social Work (MSW)? Join the School of Social Work at the Open House to meet faculty and staff, hear about classes, tour the building, and get your questions answered! Register for the open house through the Google Form. 

Resources 

NextGen Psych Scholars Program is Opening Recruitment for 2025-2026!

Are you interested in applying to a psychology PhD program? Join the NextGen Psych Scholars Program! The NextGen Psych Scholars Program is a mentorship program for the underrepresented undergraduates and post-baccalaureates interested in psychology PhD programs. If you are interested in joining for 2025-2026, fill out the application. All are welcome to apply but priority admittance to the program will go towards students from underrepresented groups. Please note that this program is focused specifically on psychology PhD programs; if you are interested in mentorship for other types of programs (e.g. MA or PsyD) this program will likely not meet your needs. Notifications for acceptance into the program will go out by 07/01/2024. For additional information, visit the NextGen Psych Scholars website.

CLA's Graduation Media Day

• Date:  Tuesday, April 29, 2025
• Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Northrup Plaza

Calling all CLA 2025 Seniors, bring your cap and gown and join us on Northrop Plaza, Tuesday, April 29. Stop by anytime from 3 to 5 p.m. to take part in our Graduation Media Day! You'll nab a free professional photo, CLA Swag, and a pose with Goldy -- all in the company of your fellow CLA undergraduates. Students must register for the event.

Job, Internship, & Engagement 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. Looking for Psychology Internships? Get Started with Our YouTube Tutorials!

Be The Change: Volunteer at Walk-In Counseling Center!

Walk-In provides free, no-appointment, anonymous counseling every weekday. It is also the only clinic in the world (that we know of) that uses volunteer professional clinicians and advanced graduate students to serve clients. We’ve been in operation since 1969, so we know what we’re doing. Best of all, during our counseling clinics we require no appointment. You can volunteer remotely as a Spanish Language Assistant on the Spanish-voicemail line! Spanish voicemail line assistants provide an important service to an underserved client population in the community! To learn more about the Spanish Language Assistant position or if you have any questions, please contact Pang Chang, Director of Volunteers, [email protected].

The Libraries are Hiring 3 Peer Research Consultants

The Peer Research Consultants (PRCs) provide one-on-one assistance (in-person and online) to develop the research strategies needed to write an excellent research paper. The consultants are U of M students who are specially trained to help other students. In order to be considered for this role, you must have successfully completed Writing 1301/1401 or equivalent with a B or higher grade, effective communication skills and interpersonal skills as relevant to working with individuals and small groups in academic support at the University of Minnesota, current enrollment at the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate student, and be available to work in shifts of 2-4 hours at a time. Students can send a cover letter, resume, and a letter of reference directly to Andrew Palahniuk ([email protected]) or Kate Peterson ([email protected]). There's more information on the Libraries' Jobs Page.

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. We do not do hands on bathing, toileting or lifting. 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. Questions about this position can be directed to Benjamin Paul at [email protected] or 651-767-2287.

Full-time Research Specialist Position at the Princeton Social Neuroscience Lab

The Princeton Social Neuroscience Lab seeks a full-time research specialist to begin Summer/Fall 2025. The lab uses functional neuroimaging, behavioral techniques, and machine learning to study conversation, social cognition, and spontaneous thought. The successful candidate will assist with all aspects of research, including (1) developing materials and programming experiments, (2) recruiting and testing human subjects, (3) analyzing behavioral, web scraped, and fMRI data, and (4) miscellaneous research support (e.g., literature searches, IRB management, manuscript and grant preparation, general lab duties). To apply, please fill out the application form. Review of applications will begin immediately and proceed on a rolling basis.