Psych Scoop, 7/17/25

Psychology Advising Announcements

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

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Second Section of PSY 3051 Available in Fall 2025

• Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM CT 
• Location: 216 Pillsbury Drive, Room 275
• Instructor: Mark Stellmack ([email protected])

The Psychology Department has added a second section of PSY 3051: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology for the Fall 2025 semester. Students who are interested in the scientific study of the mind in terms of representation and processing of information, research and theory on cognitive abilities such as perception, attention, memory, language, and reasoning, and aspects of computational modeling and neural systems, are encouraged to register. PSY 3051 can count toward fulfilling distribution area A requirements, or psychology elective credit. Review course details on Schedule Builder. 

Study Abroad Experience Questionnaire

Psychology Undergraduate Advising would like to hear your thoughts about your study abroad experience this past academic year! We would love to know everything that you encountered throughout the entire process - from selecting a program, arriving to your location, and to your return. With this information, we hope to learn more about the decisions students who study abroad make, as well as share all the cool things you have done! There is a chance you may be featured in some of our announcements. Answer with what is comfortable, not every question in this form is required for you to answer. Please complete the form by Monday, July 21. Questions about the form can be directed to [email protected] or [email protected].

Events

Free First Saturdays - Walker Art Center

• Date:  First Saturday of every month
• Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free 
• Location: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Bring your loved ones to the Walker for a day of art and creativity. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am-5 pm. Explore current exhibitions, get creative with drop-in art activities for families from 10 am-3 pm, and check out a film in the Mediatheque.

Free Thursday Nights - Walker Art Center

• Date:  Every Thursday
• Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm CT
• Cost: Free 
• Location: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Explore the latest exhibitions, grab a drink, get creative, and enjoy special programming. Taking place each Free Thursday Night and of no-cost, participate in and artist-designed programs and events. Free guided tours of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden begin at 6 pm. Skyline Mini Golf, the Museum Shop, Idea House 3, and Cardamom are also open late.

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. 

Courses of Interest

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

PSY 5015: Cognition, Computation, and Brain - Fall 2025

• Time: Fridays, 1:25 PM – 3:55 PM CT
• Location: Elliott Hall N423 
• Instructor: Stephen Engel ([email protected])

This course is a survey of cognitive neuroscience and focuses on how psychology and neuroscience can be combined to understand how people perceive, remember, make decisions, and use language. Students will have the opportunity to explore one topic of their choice in depth. 

Note: Prereq: Junior or Senior Standing; completion of one: PSY 3011, 3031, 3051, or 3061. Recommended completion of PSY 3001W Research Methods. 

PSY 5036W: Computational Vision - Fall 2025

• Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM CT
• Location: Elliott Hall S204 
• Instructor:  Daniel Kersten ([email protected])

This course covers visual perception from a computational perspective, examining how image information is transformed into neural signals that enable  inferences about the world.  The relationship between neural mechanisms and visual behavior is investigated through computer analysis and simulation. Students will learn how visual demonstrations and illusions can provide insights into the underlying computations. The course also compares current AI approaches to vision using deep networks to biological vision. Practical programming exercises in Julia, a state-of-the-art scientific language, are included. Topics include: neurophysiology of the visual system, fundamental limits to visual sensitivity, efficient coding, convolutional neural networks, the perception of object shape and material, depth and motion, and object recognition. For more information contact Professor Daniel Kersten at [email protected].

PSY 5960: Intro to Data Mining Techniques for the Psychological Sciences - Fall 2025

• Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM CT
• Location: Elliott Hall N668 
• Instructor:  Katerina Marcoulides ([email protected])

This course is a seminar on the theory and application of data mining, machine learning, and exploratory approaches to data analysis. In contrast to traditional hypothesis-driven approaches to analysis, data mining enables investigators to assess the predictive value of various combinations of variables in a data set. Data mining has emerged in recent years as a major area of statistical research and practice and is increasingly employed by psychologists and other behavioral scientists. Data mining techniques are particularly useful for the analysis of very large data sets, as can arise in clinical, survey, psychometric and genomic research. The goals of this course are to develop an understanding of various data mining approaches, assess the utility of each approach, evaluate the predictive power of each approach, and tailor models to obtain replicable results.

Research

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

*Credit* Evaluating Claims of Generalizability in Psychology Research 

This PSY 5993 research experience directed by Dr. Moin Syed involves working on a meta-scientific project that examines the claims that researchers make related to the generalizability and contextual nature of their research results. Students will read and summarize academic articles, learn and apply a coding system to quantify how published research results are discussed in terms of their generalizability, and write a brief paper summarizing their experience. Only one hour will be predetermined and mandatory on Thursdays from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Other lab hours can be selected by the student. Interested students should complete an application. Questions about this position can be directed to Moin Syed at [email protected].

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

Dr. Snezana Urosevic, Asst Prof. at the UMN Dept. of Psychiatry and clinician investigator at the Minneapolis VAHCS, seeks motivated and detail-oriented undergrads to contribute to a study identifying machine-learning/AI algorithms with phone app data predicting mood symptoms and functioning in adults with bipolar disorders. Credit and volunteer opportunities available. The position is a 9-hour-per week, 1-year commitment. Responsibilities include recruitment, data collection/management, learning about digital phenotyping methods in psychopathology research, and attending lab meetings. Also, an opportunity to develop independent research questions based on available data. Past RAs authored poster presentations and manuscript submissions. Competitive applicants will have strong interest in pursuing graduate-level education and an excellent academic record. You must be a US citizen to apply. To apply, email Isaac Thao ([email protected]) with an unofficial transcript, cover letter, and resume.

*Credit or Volunteer* DSCN Undergraduate Research Assistant Openings - Summer 2025 

The Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience (DSCN) Lab in the Institute of Child Development is seeking a Summer Research Assistant (volunteer or taking it for CPSY 4994 credit) to help manage a small randomized control trial (RCT) among local families with children ages 2-5 years old. The role would begin as soon as possible and extend through the end of August, at 20 hours per week (flexible), supervised by Professor Stephanie Carlson. If interested, please refer to the application form or email the DSCN lab managers at [email protected] to be considered.

*Volunteer* Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research - Summer and Fall 2025 Commitment

The lab is conducting two studies (COMN 2.0 and COMN-PATHS) within the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) and is recruiting up to 2 research assistants (RA) for two longitudinal studies examining the intergenerational transmission of physical health, mental adjustment, and personality traits as well as the effects of marijuana legalization on parents, families, and adolescents. RAs will be responsible for a range of different tasks including recording and storing data, attending lab meetings, and assisting recruiters and interviewers with their responsibilities. Strong preference will be given to students who can commit to two or more semesters. To learn more about this research opportunity please reach out to Jason Shulman [email protected] and Olivia Costa at [email protected] with a copy of your CV/resume and brief description expressing your interest in applying.

*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.

Resources 

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!

Student Administrative Support Specialist - School of Public Health 

The Epidemiology Clinical Research Center (ECRC), in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, seeks 2-3 Student Administrative Support Specialists (2222) beginning August 2025 to provide customer service and administrative duties for 10-30 hours per week. We are seeking motivated and reliable student workers to provide exceptional customer service while supporting the administrative operations of our team. This role involves a mix of front-line reception duties and behind-the-scenes administrative tasks, ensuring a smooth and efficient environment for both staff and participants. If you are proactive, detail-oriented, and enjoy interacting with people, we encourage you to apply. This position reports to Katie Gurujal, Clinic Manager. All work is to be conducted in person at the ECRC. Remote work is not available for this position. Some evening and Saturday availability may be necessary.  The ECRC is located at 1100 Washington Ave. S, STE 201, Minneapolis, MN 55415. For more information or to apply for the job, visit the job description on the U of M Job website. 

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.