Psych Scoop, 8/25/20

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. Psychology Undergrad Pre-Fall Semester Town Hall

Tuesday, September 1, 2020, 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Online, Zoom link sent out to RSVP list

This will be the first of a couple of planned opportunities in Fall 2020 for students to connect directly with the Department of Psychology leadership. In an effort to provide space for undergraduates to express their opinions, ideas, or concerns, the Psychology Department will host a Pre-Fall Semester Town Hall. Do you have feedback about your personal experience as a Psychology student? Any thoughts on the Department’s Strategic Plan? What is your reaction to the Department’s planning process to act to address racial injustice and inequity? If you are interested in attending, please fill out the Google form to RSVP. The Zoom meeting link will be sent out to those who RSVP in advance. If you are unable to attend this first event, you may leave comments/questions in the form; feedback can be shared anonymously at the Town Hall. More opportunities will be announced in Fall 2020 for those unable to attend this first event.

2. Psychology Undergraduate Student Advisory Council - Call for Applications!

Are you a psych major interested in helping the psych department at the U make progress? Do you want to improve your experience and other students’ experiences in the department? The Psychology Undergraduate Student Advisory Council (SAC) is the perfect way to do that! We are looking for passionate psych students to serve as members of the SAC. The SAC meets with the department leadership at least once a semester to voice their concerns as undergraduates. (All meetings for fall will be held virtually.) The position is for the entire academic year (2020-21) with the option of renewing membership for the next academic year. If you are interested in the position, please fill out the application by Friday, September 11th. We also encourage all interested in SAC to attend the September 1st Town Hall, if possible.

Psychology Student Group Announcements

All students interested in Psychology are welcome to participate in Psychology student organizations. No previous participation or membership is required. If you're interested, please attend! To learn more, visit our website.

3. Psych Club/Psi Chi Flipgrid and Other Groups!

Check out the Psych Club/Psi Chi informational flipgrid video about their group and how to join. You can also check out videos from many of the other student groups on campus! You can join the Psych Club mailing list by emailing psichi@umn.edu.

Courses of Interest

4. New Course - PSY 1010 - Introduction to the Psychology of Pandemics - 1 credit - Fall 2020 Online!

This course will increase students’ understanding of how psychological science can inform our understanding of causes, consequences, and responses to pandemics, such as the COVID- 19/Coronavirus. In doing so, it will expose students to the different subdisciplines of psychology so they can understand the wide range of theories and methods employed in the field. This is one of the only psychology courses in which students will be taught by a wide range of psychology faculty with expertise in cognitive and brain science, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, industrial/organization psychology, personality, social psychology, and quantitative/psychometric methods.

This course does not count as Psychology Elective for most Psychology majors or minors - however, there is one exception. Students that transferred in a 3 credit PSY 1001 course may request that this 1XXX level course be applied to the 4th credit towards PSY 1001. You must email us at psyadvis@umn.edu to request an APAS update for this option.

5. EPSY 1281: Psychological Science Applied - 4 credits - Fall 2020

This course introduces students to applied psychology as a discipline and reviews fundamental principles of psychology through the lenses of applied and professional areas. Each topic will center around an applied problem faced by people in the real world. The course serves as a foundation for future coursework in education and health sciences. There will be two Zoom meetings/lectures with the professor each week. These lectures will be recorded so those that cannot attend at the scheduled time may view them when it best fits their schedule. Every Wednesday from 9:05 to 9:55 a.m. we will meet for a lecture. A survey will be sent out at the beginning of Fall 2020 to determine the best meeting time for a second session that will focus on feedback on assessments, general questions, etc. You and your group will be required to attend two meetings with your teaching assistant a week. These meetings are meant to guide you through the unit activity.

EPSY 1281 is online, asynchronous

Instructor: Martin Van Boekel (vanbo024@umn.edu)

Note: this course does not count in psychology majors or minors.

6. FSOS 4150 – Special Topics: Impact of Covid-19 on Children’s Mental Health - 3 credits - Fall 2020

Gerry August leads a new course exploring the impacts that the pandemic has had on children and young adults and how practitioners can understand the root cause of negative behaviors and develop prevention strategies. Students will be provided with resource materials that support learning for each topic and will receive didactic lectures. Classes will give students the opportunity for synchronous online discussions and live chat sessions with peers. Students will be expected to complete several homework assignments and a project that demonstrates the integration of course content.

FSOS 4150 is Tuesdays/Thursdays, 4:30 pm- 5:45 pm

**Completely Online

Instructor: Gerry August (augus001@umn.edu)

Note: this course does not count in psychology majors or minors.

7. EPSY 5200-002: Programming Fundamentals for Social Scientists - 3 credits - Fall 2020

Learn the fundamental concepts and techniques of programming using the Python language—with an emphasis on techniques that are useful for social science research. This course takes an active learning approach to teaching programming and computer-based skills that are increasingly important in modern social science research. Using Python 3, you'll learn software engineering topics such as writing robust code, testing, debugging, collaboration, version control, code repositories, and working with file systems. No prior programming experience necessary!

EPSY 5201-002 is Wednesdays, 2:30 pm - 5:10 pm

**Completely Online, synchronous and asynchronous

Instructor: Jeff Bye (jbye@umn.edu)

Note: this course does not count in psychology majors or minors.

8. EPSY 5401 - Counseling Procedures - 3 credits- Fall 2020

According to the American Counseling Association, counseling is the process of building relationships with individuals that empower them to accomplish mental health and wellness, education, and career goals. According to the Positive Psychology movement, counseling can help individuals and communities thrive, cultivating what is best within themselves, and enhancing their experiences of work, love, and play. In this course, you will learn a short-term model of counseling that is rooted in both client empowerment and positive psychology, aimed at helping clients, students, and others manage problems more effectively and develop opportunities more fully. The course relates to the COVID-19 pandemic in that students will learn skills to help others manage stress and isolation, overcome anxiety and fear, and make and implement personally-meaningful choices in their lives. This course is appropriate for individuals whose professional work includes counseling and interviewing and for those interested in advising, counseling, and consulting.

EPSY 5401 is Thursdays, 4:40 pm- 7:30 pm

**Completely Online

Instructor: Sherri Turner, Ph.D. (turne047@umn.edu)

Note: this course does not count in psychology majors or minors.

Events

9. Save the Date: CLA Internship & Career Fair

Thursday, October 1, 2020, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm CST
Cost: Free
Location: Online

The 2020 CLA Internship & Career Fair will be held as a virtual career fair. A virtual career fair is an event where employers host virtual booths with representatives from the organization available to talk with you either through 1:1 conversations or group sessions. The goal of the event is to build relationships (i.e. network) with employers so you can explore different career fields, discover position openings, and engage with employers about their organizations and what kind of skills they are seeking for their roles. Often you won’t leave a career fair with a job offer in hand, but you will leave with a better understanding of where you want to apply for positions, how to best represent yourself for those roles, and who to get in touch with to learn more or ask questions. Making a positive impression with employers in person can really help you to stand out in the job or internship application process! Learn more and RSVP through GoldPASS.

Research

10. *Credit or Volunteer* Research Volunteer Opportunity

Drs. Scott Sponheim, Nick Davenport, and Seth Disner are looking for volunteer research assistants to work in the Cognition and Brain in Psychopathology lab at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Volunteers will assist with projects investigating the neurologic effects and treatment outcomes related to traumatic brain injury and stress disorders in military service members. The projects combine clinical assessments with biological techniques, such as genetic analysis, electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Responsibilities for volunteer research assistants may include assisting with recruitment, chart review, cognitive assessment, collection/management of genetic samples, and data entry. This opportunity is eligible for PSY 4993 credit. We require a commitment of at least 10 hours per week. (NOTE: During the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, this position will be modified so that the majority of responsibilities can be completed remotely. However, there will be some responsibilities that require in-person access to Minneapolis VA facilities. Time spent on site will be staggered amongst volunteers and study staff to promote social distancing.) Successful candidates typically have a 3.5 GPA or higher, have junior or senior level credits and may have an interest in pursuing a higher degree in psychology or related fields. If you are interested, please send a copy of your unofficial transcripts, cover letter, and resume to Alison Gammons at gammo025@umn.edu.

11. *Credit* PSY 5993 Opportunity for research in Auditory and Music Perception

The Auditory Perception and Cognition lab, under the direction of Professor Andrew Oxenham, is looking for motivated undergraduate students to work on research projects this fall. Potential projects include: 1) Absolute and Relative Pitch Perception; 2) How do we know when music is out of tune?; 3) Enhanced captions for people with hearing loss; 4) Simulating the sound of a cochlear implant. Students will work directly with one of our lab researchers, including weekly online one-on-one meetings, lab meetings, and regular email interactions. The research project will involve online research, collecting and analyzing data, and learning more about sound and hearing. The project may be used to fulfill the requirements for a Capstone project, and it may be possible to continue in the lab into the Spring. If you are interested, please email Professor Andrew Oxenham at oxenham@umn.edu with your unofficial transcript and a brief statement of interest.

12. *Credit* PSY 4993/5993 Opportunity with Prosocial Research Projects

We are looking for one or two motivated undergraduate students to assist with two current research projects. Due to the nature of these projects and the virtual nature of the fall semester, successful students will need to be self-motivated. Briefly, students will work with existing datasets by cleaning/recoding variables, perform statistical analyses, and related organizational tasks. There is a strong preference for those who have some familiarity with the R statistical software as well as being interested in intellectual giftedness and/or volunteering. Please contact Joshua Braverman at brave044@umn.edu with any questions or to express interest. The priority deadline to apply for this fall semester position is August 24th at 5:00 pm with a final deadline of August 31st at 5:00 pm.

13. *Credit* PSY 5993 [Virtual or In-Person] Opportunity with Professors Ones & Krueger

Student research projects involve working with a range of electronic databases to identify and code relations of DSM-V personality scales to external variables, including behaviors and outcomes. Students will work under the direction of Professors Ones and Krueger to explore the nomological network of maladaptive personality traits. Students interested in this opportunity are asked to commit one full academic year towards effort on the research project. During the Fall, students will work with Dr. Ones to code studies for a meta-analysis. Dr. Krueger will provide guidance and feedback for projects. Both professors will work with students to help them develop their research projects. Students will meet with their faculty mentors regularly for project assistance and consultation (meetings held virtually via Zoom until further notice; please note Virtual and In-Person options when registering for the course). For Seniors, this project can be used to fulfill the requirement for their Capstone Project. For honors students, this project can provide them a project and data for Honors theses. Some topics of interest for this project may include maladaptive personality traits as they relate to everyday behaviors, work performance, or cognitive ability. If you would like to learn more about this credit opportunity for PSY 5993, please email a copy of your transcript and resume to Dr. Ones at onesx001@umn.edu by September 3rd.

14. *Credit or Volunteer* Social Interaction Lab Seeking Undergraduate RAs

Dr. Jeff Simpson’s Social Interactions Lab is seeking enthusiastic, conscientious, and detail-oriented students. We will be hiring research assistants (RAs) for projects about romantic relationships and parenting. These projects will involve a variety of tasks including behavioral coding and data management. You will be able to gain valuable skills in hands-on research and understanding human behavior. All tasks will be completed remotely. Prospective research assistants should be able to commit approximately 6-9 hours of work per week over the semester. Preference will be given to students that are able to commit for more than one semester. RAs are also expected to attend weekly lab meetings, where they will learn more about social psychological research and careers in psychology. To view more about the opportunities we offer to our undergraduate RAs and to get tips on what we look for in our applicants, please visit our lab website. To apply, please visit the following link.

15. *Credit or Volunteer* Undergraduate Volunteer Research Assistant in Anxiety Laboratory

The laboratory of Dr. Matt Kushner is looking for an undergraduate volunteer research assistant to assist in an ongoing study in the Department of Psychiatry. The purpose of the study is to test a computer-delivered therapy for alcohol use disorder and anxiety. Primary responsibilities include data entry with the possibility of completing participant appointments in the future. We require a commitment of at least 10 hours per week with preferred availability in the afternoons. Those able to make a multiple-semester commitment will be given priority. If you are interested, please send a copy of your resume to Nikki Degeneffe at degen022@umn.edu.

16. *Credit or Volunteer* RA Opportunity in Research on Bipolar Disorders

We are seeking three highly motivated, responsible, and detail-oriented undergraduates of sophomore or junior standing to contribute to projects on understanding neural and behavioral abnormalities in bipolar disorders (BD) at different stages of life span in the laboratory of Dr. Snezana Urosevic. Both credit and volunteer opportunities are available. RA duties may include project coordination of a neuroimaging pilot study examining neural function in older adults with BD; contributing to a study using smartphone apps to track symptom and functional changes in adults with BD; learning to preprocess and analyze electroencephalography (EEG) and/or MRI data for over 100 adolescents with BD and adolescents without psychopathology. Both credit and volunteer opportunities are available. Past RAs have authored poster presentations and contributed to manuscript submissions. Competitive applicants will have a strong interest in pursuing graduate-level education and an excellent academic record. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Snezana Urosevic by email at snezana.urosevic@va.gov and attach an unofficial transcript and a resume that includes information about your work and research experience, references, software skills, and knowledge.

Scholarships

17. Psychology Engagement Award

Are you participating in an internship this Fall 2020 semester? Or engaging in a learning opportunity that takes you outside of the classroom for a unique experience? The Department of Psychology's Donor Awards for Psychology Undergraduate Engagement is available to support you! The purpose of these awards is to encourage and support psychology majors who engage in learning experiences beyond the University campus and classroom environments (i.e. unpaid internships, volunteer experiences, study abroad containing a psych-related internship or research component, etc.). Up to two awards of $500 will be offered for Fall 2020. For Fall 2020, remote experiences will count and if you are doing an in-person experience, please email us for further steps. The application deadline is September 21st (12:00 pm CST). For details about the awards and application materials, visit our webpage.

18. Sprout Health Group Healthcare Scholarship

Sprout Health Group is offering a $1,000 scholarship to students studying a healthcare-related field, including psychology. Selection is based on a 500-word essay describing why the healthcare field inspires you and how you intend to use your degree. Winner(s) will be selected based on a personal story, need, and practical application of degree. Preference is given to applicants pursuing a career in addiction treatment and mental health.

19. CLA Internship Scholarship

The CLA Internship Scholarship is designed to provide some financial assistance to undergraduate students participating in unpaid internships. The scholarships are offered by CLA three times per year and awarded during the term that the internship is completed. Read more information and find application instructions here. The deadline to apply is September 13th.

20. Culture Corps Gender Equity Award

The Culture Corps Gender Equity Award is given annually to an international student in support of their work in bringing a global perspective on advancing gender equity to the University of Minnesota campus. A $500 award will be given to the recipient in support of their work on a project which brings a global perspective on advancing gender equity to the University of Minnesota. The recipient is recognized at the annual Celebrating Changemakers event hosted by the Women's Center. Find more information and apply here. The deadline is September 21st at 4:30 CST.

Resources

21. Nutritious U Food Pantry Available Over Summer!

The Nutritious U Food Pantry will be offering food to students one day per week at Coffman Memorial Union during the summer months. Students in need can request a bag of groceries using this Food Pantry ordering form. Students can pick up their bag of food at Coffman on Wednesdays from 3-6 pm OR they can choose to have their food delivered to their residence on Wednesday afternoons. Delivery is available for students who live in the following zip codes: 55455, 55454, 55414, 55108, and 55408. Not living on campus? Here are some Minnesota food resources.

22. New Racial Justice Resources Page Available

The Race, Indigeneity, Gender & Sexuality Studies initiative has compiled resources for racial justice in a new website. Check it out today.

23. Empowering Multicultural Students for Careers in Medicine Seminar

This seminar is designed for underrepresented minority pre-medical students, however, all pre-meds are welcomed to apply. The eight-week series is presented each year, September through November. The 2020 seminar starts September 24, 2020, and ends on November 19, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this seminar will be offered ONLINE/VIRTUAL ONLY this semester. Students meet virtually (via zoom platform) every Thursday from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Attendance sessions are 90 minutes and cover topics such as admissions, MCAT, AMCAS personal statement and supplemental application, interviewing, financing your education, insight from current medical students and physicians, and creating an action plan and applying. The application deadline is August 31st, apply today.

24. Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Mentorship Program

Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Mentorship Program is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year! As an organization, one of SNMA's goals is to support students as they pursue their medical education. The mentorship program pairs current medical students with pre-medical students to offer support and advice throughout the medical school application process. In addition, the program offers optional small group sessions in which groups of mentor/mentee pairings can meet and discuss different aspects of the pre-med process, including extracurriculars, MCAT studying, gap year activities, and the AMCAS application. All pre-medical students with a strong interest in a career as a physician are eligible to be mentees. However, pre-medical students of minority heritage are strongly encouraged to participate. Students of sophomore standing and above, as well as those who have graduated, will be given preference. Find more information and application here. The deadline to apply is September 7th.

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.

25. Health Science Specialist

A funded VA intervention study is seeking a part-time (25-30 hours/week) interventionist to provide individual psychotherapy services to individuals who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and moral injury. Interventionists will offer 12 sessions of either Adaptive Disclosure or Present Centered Therapy. Services will be offered through telehealth. Training will be provided and the incumbent will participate in weekly supervision calls with licensed psychologists and consultation meetings with study therapists. The position will last for 1 year. A Master's degree in social work or a doctoral degree in psychology is desired. Experience working with veterans with PTSD and manualized interventions is required. Email Tasha Nienow at tasha.nienow@va.gov for more information.