Psych Scoop, 6/17/25

Psychology Advising Announcements

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

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Spring 2025 Sentience Vol. 28 is Now Available

Sentience is an online academic journal for papers describing research in Psychology that are written by undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota. Sentience provides opportunities for undergraduate students to gain first-hand experience in all phases of the scientific publication process. Published work is limited to papers written by undergraduate students (as first author). Visit the Sentience Website to review the Spring 2025 Sentience.  

Events

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].

Music in the Gardens

• Date:  June 1st - August 31st 
• Time: 1:30 pm CT
• Cost: Sliding scale 
• Location:  Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318

Enjoy live music throughout the summer at the Arboretum! This year, we welcome new and returning artists to our series, which occurs June through August every Sunday afternoon from 1:30-3 p.m. and Thursday evenings from 6-7:30 p.m. Music selection ranges from blues to folk, brass quintets to a Bob Dylan tribute band. There’s something for everyone AND the series is included with your general daily admission to the Arboretum. 

Firefly Viewing Nights - UMN Arboretum

• Date: June 26-28; July 3, 5-6 and July 10-12, 2025 
• Time: 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm CT
• Cost: UMN Students & Staff - $10 
• Location: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318

Experience the magic of summer nights at the Arboretum with hundreds of fireflies flashing through the sky! Bring your family and friends along to marvel at the wonder of these glowing winged beetles (also known as lightning bugs). Begin your firefly viewing experience by gathering to learn about these special creatures from local experts before heading out to see them live on the trails.

Courses of Interest

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

PSY 5037: Psychology of Hearing - Fall 2025

• Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:15 pm CT
• Location: Elliott Hall N391 
• Instructor: Mark Stellmack ([email protected])

This course will cover biological and physical aspects of hearing, auditory psychophysics, theories and models of hearing, and perception of complex sounds, including music and speech.  

PSY 5701: Employee Selection and Staffing - Fall 2025 

• Time: Tuesdays - 2:30 pm - 5:15 pm CT 
• Location: Elliott Hall N639
• Instructor: Deniz Ones ([email protected]) and Ziyu Ren ([email protected])

This course will cover the applications of psychological research/theory to issues in personnel recruitment/selection and to measurement of job performance. You will also learn how to apply principles of individual differences, psychological measurement to decision making in organizations (recruitment, selection, performance appraisal). Prerequisites include Psy 3001W, Psy 3711, or Instructor permission. Credit will not be granted if credit has been received for PSY 5707. 

Research

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

*Credit* Gunnar Lab in Child Development Seeking Research Assistant fluent in Spanish - Fall 2025 

The Gunnar Lab at the Institute of Child Development is seeking two research assistants for Fall 2025. Our research focuses on stress and early life experiences in youth. We need RAs to help collect data with Latino students in elementary and high school. Tasks include taking blood pressure, setting up Garmin watches, measuring height and weight, administering stress questionnaires, and assisting with focus groups. Duties also involve enrollment/consent, phone calls, equipment setup, and data analysis or writing. Must be available during school hours (8:00 am–2:30 pm) for 4–5 hour shifts, plus 1–2 hours after school (around 3–5pm). RAs must be bilingual in English and Spanish. Students can earn 3–4 credits (CPSY 4994). Preference for those who can commit to two or more semesters. Must have reliable transportation to schools; carpooling is an option. Please send a resume/CV, unofficial transcript, and short introduction to Jasmine Banegas at [email protected].

*Volunteer or Credit* CPSY 4994 Gunnar Lab Seeking Research Assistants - Summer or Fall 2025 

The Gunnar Lab at the Institute of Child Development is looking for research assistants to start the Summer or Fall 2025 semester. Our research focus is on stress and effects of early life experiences in children, teens, and young adults. We have a few research projects seeking dedicated research assistants who can commit to 3-9 hours per week. Tasks may include recruitment, scheduling research visits, in-person data collection, and remote work. Students can earn 1-3 credits for CPSY 4994. To learn more about this position, please send your CV/resume, unofficial transcript, and a short introduction to Clarissa Filetti at [email protected] to be considered.

*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 will 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* 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]. 

Resources 

Free Naloxone on Twin Cities Campuses

Free Naloxone kits are now available in five locations on the Twin Cities campus through Boynton Health. Naloxone is a life-saving, easy-to-use medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. Students, staff, faculty, and visitors can pick up a kit at no cost. Kits will be available on the first floor of Appleby Hall, outside the main entrance of Boynton Health, across the welcome desk on the first floor of Coffman Memorial Union, the Skyway on West Bank, and across the Post Office in the Basement of the St. Paul Student Center.

Join the UMN Libraries Student Advisory Board

The University of Minnesota Libraries Student Advisory Board is the undergraduate student leadership team of the UMN Libraries. Board members represent the student body and share feedback on library spaces, collections, and services. Board members also work with librarians and library staff on student engagement and outreach projects. Please fill out the short application. Learn more about how to join the board on the U of M Libraries Website. 

2025–2026 LAC Seminar Program Open Applications 

The Learning Abroad Center is offering 13 Global Seminars between winter break and May session. Global Seminars are three-week, three-credit experiential study abroad programs led by UofM faculty and staff. They offer a way for students to explore interdisciplinary topics, and most are approved for liberal education themes and/or cores.

Pre-Law Modules to Explore this Summer!

Check out the Pre-Law 101 Module. This module is perfect for someone just starting to explore law school, and outlines how to explore, ways to gain experience, and a brief overview of the timeline and application process. The Applying to Law School module is intended for those who have completed the Pre-Law 101 module and want more details on the application process. It outlines every element of the application process and how to get assistance and support.

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!

Direct Care Professional 

Hiring Direct Care Professionals now! Seeking part-time employees who are kind, motivated, and caring to work with Annie, a young woman with physical and mental disabilities in our private home. Female preferred and no experience needed as paid training is provided. Hiring now but must be able to work some weekdays, approximately 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, once the semester begins. Starting pay is $22+ with flex pay available. If interested, contact Andrea Mckee at 651-274-3574 or [email protected].

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.               

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 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!