Psych Scoop, 4/29/25

Psychology Advising Announcements

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

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Last Call to RSVP! 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].

Study Spaces Available in Elliott Hall During Finals Week

With finals coming up, Elliott Hall has available study spaces for final exams. Psychology Undergraduate Advising has a study room on the South end of the second floor of Elliott Hall (Room S225).  Review available study spaces on the U of M Study Space Finder. 

Student Position in Psychology Department - PSY 1001 Lecture Recording Support Tech

Interested in working as a student support tech in the Department of Psychology? Apply for this positon! You must be a degree-seeking University of Minnesota student, reliable and punctual, and must be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Willey Hall (West Bank) during the Fall semester. You must also have experience with using and troubleshooting classroom presentation and video recording technologies, positive attitude, and attention to detail. Students who are interested in this position can learn more about it online. Apply through the University of Minnesota Employee’s Website and use Job ID 367925. All questions may be directed to Silke Moeller at [email protected] and Liza Meredith at [email protected].

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!

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.

Industrial Organizational Psychology Club: Last Meeting of the Semester

• Date:  Wednesday, April 30, 2025
• Time: 6:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall, Room N391

IOPC will be hosting their last meeting of the semester, Wednesday, April 30th at 6:00 pm. They will be watching an I/O Psychology related movie and studying for finals. Snacks will be provided!

Association of Black Psychology Students: Psych'D for the Future Panel Event Rescheduled to 5/5!

• Date:  Monday, May 5, 2025
• Time: 5:30 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Elliott Hall, Room N219

ABPS is presenting our final event of the semester! Join us for an incredible night learning about different professions within the psychology field and making connections. We will have a "speed-networking" section where students can network closely with the panelists as well as a classic panel forum for students to ask any questions. The event will have catered Chipotle for dinner, so please RSVP as soon as possible. Everyone is welcome!

Events

CLA Senior Celebration

• Date:  Frday, May 2, 2025
• Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free
• Location: Pfutzenreuter Plaza - Northrop Lawn

The CLA Student Board is hosting a Senior Celebration! Come celebrate the end of the school year and your graduation with graduation cap decorating, lawn games, and free ice cream and Buffalo Wild Wings! Come to Pfutzenreuter Plaza at the Northrop Lawn for an afternoon of fun! Seniors, RSVP to reserve your meal voucher!

Non-Carceral Harm Reduction Seminar: Introduction to The Impacts of Carceral Systems and How We Can Do Better

• Date:  Sunday, June 22, 2025
• Time: 2:00 pm CT
• Cost: Sliding scale $50 - $110 - Some Scholarships Available
• Location: Virtual

Traditional mental health practices seek to keep people alive at all costs - on one hand, this makes complete sense, as lives have value and we want people to live those valued lives. On the other hand, interventions such as wellness checks and forced hospitalization often escalate mental health crises and increase trauma. How can we do better for each other? Learn with us! Questions may be directed to Ash Parker at [email protected].

Courses of Interest

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

Summer 2025 Courses Still Available!

There are still spots available for Summer 2025 Psychology courses! Take a look at available psychology courses on Schedule Builder. 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 - Summer 2025

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].

*Volunteer* Minneapolis VA Volunteer Research Opportunity - Summer 2025

Dr. Nicholas Davenport, PhD is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our resarch team at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System as a volunteer clinical research assistant starting in May 2025, with an opportunity to eventually transition into a paid position. This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in clinical psychology, neuroscience, or the intersection between neuropsychology. The individual will be working on the LIMBIC-CENC multisite study, which examines active military and Veteran populations to learn about how mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects the brain over time, including the development or progression of various conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dementia. This will be an in-person part-time volunteer position. If interested, please email your resume/CV, unofficial transcript, and a cover letter to Jada Loleng at [email protected] with the subject line "Volunteer Research Assistant - Your Name". Questions may be directed to Jada Loleng (study coordinator) at [email protected] or [email protected].

*Volunteer or Credit* Early Language and Experience Lab Seeking Research Assistants - Summer 2025

The Early Language and Experience Lab, directed by Dr. Melissa Koenig, is looking for undergraduate RAs to join the lab this summer! At the ELE Lab, we investigate how infants and young children learn from what other people tell them. We think this is an important question because so much of what we know comes from other people - through direct conversations, from overhearing others, from reading books and newspapers, to using the internet and television. From the many words offered by their parents and others, children learn about language, social values, past and future events, what town they live in, the names of their parents, the geography of the world, scientific discoveries, and many other domains that play important roles in their lives. For a description of current projects that are ongoing in the lab, check out our lab website. If you're interested in working in the lab this summer, fill out the interest form. Questions about the position may be directed to Yeonju Suh at [email protected]. 

*Volunteer or Credit* Minnesota Center for Eating Disorders Research

The Minnesota Center for Eating Disorders Research (MCEDR) at the University of Minnesota Medical School 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 a strong academic record. The deadline is on a rolling basis. To apply, you must complete the interest form. Any questions can be directed to Emma Rasmussen at [email protected].

*Credit* CFL Lab Recruitment for The CARPE DIEM Study - Summer 2025

The Culture and Family Life Lab, directed by Dr. Gail Ferguson, is conducting an exciting study in collaboration with the Early Language and Experience Lab and the Child Behavior and Perception Lab. The CARPE DIEM Study is an antiracist parenting intervention study for White parents of young children. We are seeking new research assistants (RAs) who identify as White to help conduct family visits with families who come to our lab on weekday afternoons/evenings (3:30-7:30) and on weekends (Saturdays/Sundays) during the Summer and Fall semesters. RAs will register for at least 3-4 credits of CPSY 4994 (equivalent to 9-12 hours weekly) or volunteer for a similar amount of time. NOTE: After RAs are trained and error-free, it is possible to arrange to conduct summer family visits from a confidential location in your home. To apply, please complete the online RA application and direct any questions to [email protected]. Apply now for priority consideration!

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].

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.

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.

Research Intern For a Brain Training Project in Addiction - Psychiatry Department

This research is under the direction of Dr. Jazmin Camchong within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. Intern responsibilities will include working with databases, verifying accuracy of study data collected, assisting in MRI’s and administering brain training sessions involving transcranial direct current stimulation. The active recruitment is focused on research participants that are patients enrolled in a treatment program for alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder. Qualified candidates must be highly motivated, able to work independently, extremely detail-oriented, comfortable using basic computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and web applications (e.g. zoom) and willing to develop new skills as the need arises. Candidates must be pursuing a degree in Psychology or related field, and be willing to commit to 9-10 hours per week for a minimum of 12 months. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Clarista Berg, [email protected].

Direct Care Professional

ACR Homes is hiring psychology students to become Direct Care Professionals! Apply today for positions starting anytime in the next 6 months! 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, we only ask for 2 shifts/week, but you could work more. Starting pay is $15.50-$21.50/hr depending on the shift you work. We have locations near campus, and you don't need to have a car! On top of all of that, we offer optional 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. You pick your start date. Contact Kayla Wildes at [email protected] if you are interested in applying!