Psych Scoop, 12/10/19

December 10th, 2019

The Psych Scoop is sent to all Psychology Undergraduate students and alumni every Tuesday throughout the academic school year. 

Share your news with psyadvis@umn.edu!

Psychology Advising Announcements

1. Last Day of Drop-Ins - Wednesday, December 11th

The last day of drop-ins will be on Wednesday, December 11th. If you have any questions during winter break, please email us at psyadvis@umn.edu or schedule an appointment with us. We hope you have a relaxing break!

Courses of Interest

2. PSY 4960-001: Interventions for Health and Wellness - 3 Credits

This is an advanced topics course for undergraduate students interested in learning about empirically-tested psychological interventions to increase health and happiness. Students will evaluate research on many types of intervention strategies, simultaneously learning about the strategies and learning how to conduct and evaluate intervention research. In the first third of the course, the focus will be on interventions to change health behavior, and students will test different strategies on themselves each week (as well as read the research literature on the strategies) as they attempt to maintain a new health goal. In the second two-thirds of the course, students will read about and test interventions (again, on themselves) to reduce stress and increase happiness. Students will also do a group project in which they use the psychological principles and strategies taught in class to create and implement an intervention to reduce the stress and/or increase the happiness of the campus community. The course will consist of lectures, discussions, and substantial hands-on learning. PSY 3206: Health Psychology is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.

PSY 4960-001 meets Wednesdays from 9:00 am- 11:30 am

Elliott Hall N391

Instructor: Traci Mann

Note: this course counts as an elective in the Psychology majors. If you are a minor, please reach out to PsyAdvis@umn.edu for consultation.

3. PSY 5960-003: Sex, Gender, and Cognition - 3 Credits

This is an advanced topics course for graduate and undergraduate students. Biological mechanisms of sex are variables that affect physiology and development throughout the body, including the brain. Many neuropsychiatric disorders seem to occur differently across genders. However, there are multiple biological mechanisms for sex, and in humans, sex mechanisms are distinct from gender identity. This course is intended to be a critical review of the psychology and neurobiology of sex and gender effects on cognition and behavior. It will focus primarily on executive functions, such as impulse control and decision making, as a candidate cognitive domain where sex and gender effects have been reported, and use these to discuss interpretations, caveats, and best practices in this research area. Over the course, we will cover the independent and dissociable biological spectrums of sex, how these are distinct from gender, and neural mechanisms these can act on. The course will conclude with discussions of how sex and gender can intersect with neuropsychiatric conditions and neurodiversity. Prior or concurrent enrollment in PSY 3011 and/or PSY 3061, and PSY 3001W strongly recommended but not required.

PSY 5960-003 meets Fridays from 9:05 am- 11:35 am

Elliott Hall N227

Instructor: Nicola Grissom

Note: this course counts as an elective in the Psychology majors. If you are a minor, please reach out to PsyAdvis@umn.edu for consultation.

4. EPSY 5401: Counseling Practices - 3 Credits

Are you interested in a career in a helping profession—like counseling, clinical psychology, consulting, teaching, advising, or human resources? Counseling Procedures will help prepare you to counsel and consult with clients, students, or other professionals, help clients manage problems and turn them into opportunities, and evaluate conflicting views and best practices in counseling, including face-to-face and online. Upper-level undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to enroll.

EPSY 5401 meets Thursdays from 4:40 pm- 7:30 pm

Appleby Hall 303

Instructor: Sherri Turner (turne047@umn.edu)

Note: this course does not as an elective in the Psychology majors or minors.

Events

5. December Nutritious U Food Pantry

Tuesday, December 10 - Thursday, December 12, 2019, 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Memorial Union 210

Do you worry your food might run out before you can buy more? Do you lack reliable transportation to an affordable grocery store? If you struggle to get enough, quality food to eat - visit the Nutritious U Food Pantry on December 10th-12th from 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm in Coffman room 210! Any registered undergraduate, graduate, or professional student is welcome! No verification of income required. We care about sustainability - if possible please bring your own reusable bag! Find out more information.

6. Perspectives on Grad School for International Students: Data Science

Friday, December 13, 2019, 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Bruininks Hall 420B

Are you considering Graduate School as a next step? Join this session to hear from a current International Graduate Student who is in the Data Science program here at UMN! The speaker will share her experience including - how and why she decided to go to graduate school after finishing her bachelor's, how she chose her program, how she has built relationships with faculty and classmates, and more! Bring any questions you might have to learn about the graduate school experience. All UMN Undergraduate International students welcome to attend. Facebook EventGoldPASS event.

7. First-Gen Students: Writing & Relaxation Drop-In

Friday, December 13, 2019, 2:30 pm- 5:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Nicholson 15

Student Writing Support is here to help you with any stage of your writing. Never visited us before? That's okay! Drop on in to grab coffee and snacks, visit with an emotional support dog, or take a break with some relaxing crafts. Working on a final paper or prepping for an essay exam? Our writing consultants are here to provide support and guidance, totally optional with no appointment necessary.

Research

8. *Volunteer or Credit* TNTLAB Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunity

We are looking for motivated and responsible students to assist with a current research project in Professor Richard Landers' TNTLAB (Testing New Technologies in Learning, Assessment, and Behavior). The mission of TNTLAB is to understand the role and potential of the Internet and related technologies to improve organizations in relation to their employees. This research is conducted through the lens of industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology, which is the science of workplace behavior. We incorporate rigorous experimental and psychometric methods to address questions of interest, which involves a range of technologies, including big data, gamification, virtual reality, video games, handheld devices (e.g., smartphones), online social networking, and web-based training, among others. We are looking for 2-3 research assistants to watch and rate videos of mock employment interviews. Prospective URAs should submit an application through the TNTLAB website. Please contact Elena Auer at auer0027@umn.edu, the lab manager, with any questions or for more information.

9. *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 Spring of 2019 to help with data entry and 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 10 hours of work per week, including a flexible schedule and 1-2 weekly, hour-long lab meetings). Please contact Professor Roisman by email at roism001@umn.edu if you are interested and indicate your availability for an informal, 15-minute interview in Professor Roisman's office at the Institute of Child Development (104A ICD). Professor Roisman asks that you bring along to your appointment with him your resume and a brief writing sample (no more than 1-page excerpt) from a college paper.

10. *Volunteer or Credit* Social Interactions Lab

Dr. Jeff Simpson’s Social Interactions Lab is seeking enthusiastic, conscientious, and detail-oriented students for a wide variety of projects this Spring term. We will be hiring research assistants (RAs) for projects about romantic relationships, parenting, health, and friendship. These projects will involve a variety of tasks including data collection, coding, data management, and participant recruitment. Prospective research assistants should be able to commit approximately 9 hours of work per week over the spring. Preference will be given to students that are able to commit for more than one semester. RAs are also expected to attend bi-weekly lab meetings, where they will learn more about social psychological research and careers in psychology. Other expectations may vary by project and can be seen on our lab website. To apply please visit this link. If you have additional questions, please contact Jami Eller at eller091@umn.edu or visit our lab website.

11. *Volunteer or Credit* Research on Longitudinal Study of Resilience in Military Service Members RA Position

The Readiness and Resilience in National Guard Soldiers (RINGS) research lab, under the direction of Drs. Melissa Polusny and Drs. Christopher Erbes at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, is looking for research assistants! The current longitudinal study examines processes contributing to resilience in military personnel. Research assistants who join the RINGS lab will receive extensive training and gain hands-on experience conducting a large cohort study that utilizes evidence-based longitudinal tracking and survey methods. Duties include: recruiting soldiers to participate and collecting baseline data at National Guard armories on Saturdays/Sundays, conducting participant outreach and follow-up calls, conducting eligibility screenings for lab visits, data entry, attending lab meetings, and assisting lab technicians with lab visits. In collaboration with Drs. Scott Sponheim, Nick Davenport, and Shmuel Lissek (co-investigators on this project), research assistants may also gain experience with the collection of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in conjunction with cognitive tests, interview-based assessments of symptoms, and questionnaires. This is a volunteer position and requires an 8-10 hour per week commitment. Students can receive research credit for the course PSY 4993. Preference will be given to students who are available in the summer and fall, and those able to make a multiple-semester commitment. The start date is June 2019. Successful candidates must have a valid SSN (required to work on-site at the VA). Those with experience working with veterans or the military may be given priority. To apply, send an email with “RINGS RA Position” in the subject line to the project coordinator, Shelly Hubbling at michelle.hubbling@va.gov. Include your name, email, class year, and reasons for applying in the body of the email, and attach your resume/CV and copies of your unofficial transcripts.

Scholarships

12. $5,000 Internship Award for CLA Students

This scholarship opportunity will combine the hands-on experience of a summer internship with an internship reflection course, enhanced career coaching, and opportunities for networking. Students do not need to have an internship secured in order to apply and the funds can support a paid or unpaid position. Scholarships will be awarded in early June 2020. The application deadline is tomorrow, December 11th, 2019. Follow the directions on the website for applying.

13. Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship for Study Abroad

The Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship supports a full year of study abroad for students who will have completed at least 120 credits of academic work by the end of the spring semester 2020 and will have finished all graduation requirements by the end of the proposed study abroad experience. Qualified students who are in their third year of undergraduate education are especially encouraged to apply. The University expects to award two scholarships of up to $15,000 for the 2020-21 academic year. For additional information see the website. The application deadline is February 7th, 2020.

Resources

14. Study at the Libraries: Finals Edition

Walter Library will be open 24/7 beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, and ending at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19. Check the University Libraries’ website for a full list of hours and locations.

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.

15. Career Services - Office Assistant (Work-Study Required)

Career Services Administration is hiring for an Office Assistant (GoldPASS: 3359120). This position serves as the face of Career Services in 411 Bruininks. In addition to welcoming visitors, scheduling appointments, and coordinating drop-ins, Office Assistants have the opportunity to pick up other projects according to their skill set and career objectives. Office assistants work closely with career counselors from CLA, CCAPS, CDES, and CFANS as well as CLA Career Services peer advisors. Students in this position typically find it to be a great opportunity for their own career development. You can apply through GoldPASS or by sending a resume and cover letter directly to Jessica Hoarn at jhoarn@umn.edu.

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