Psych Scoop, 8/4/20

August 4th, 2020

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. Reminder: New Form for Feedback

A new resource has been created to anonymously submit feedback for Psychology Undergraduate Advising! This is a Google Form Virtual Comment Box. We want to hear your feedback to be able to improve our services, our office, and work with the department to bring changes as possible. As always, you are also welcome to submit feedback to an advisor directly. (Note: You must be logged into your University account to access the feedback form, but email addresses are not collected. It is entirely anonymous for University of Minnesota psych majors.)

Courses of Interest

2. 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.

3. Virtual Internships through the Learning Abroad Center - Fall 2020

The Virtual International Internship is a four-credit internship opportunity. It’s critical to learn to adapt, acclimate, discover new ways to contribute and be productive working remotely. Virtual internships combined with the internship course give you an opportunity to learn and develop valuable skills. You’ll work on projects from the US for an international organization in Argentina, Australia, Ecuador, France, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Senegal, Spain, Thailand, or the United Kingdom while adding a global perspective to your professional work experience. You’ll apply your in-class knowledge to real-world meaningful work, gain experience, expand your skill base, earn four credits from coursework, and maximize your time. While we’ll try to place you in your preferred location, keep in mind that our top consideration is making an appropriate match for your skills, experience, and internship goals. Check out more information on the Learning Abroad Center's website. Application deadlines are dependent on location, August 6th, or 15th.

Note: if you are curious if this experience could count for elective credit in the psych major, please email us at psyadvis@umn.edu.

Events

4. Behind the Scenes at the Arboretum

Thursday, August 6, 2020, 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Online

The Alumni Association is partnering with the UM-Duluth Alumni Association to bring you a fascinating “virtual” walk through the vibrant Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with Director of Operations Alan Branhagen. Learn more and register here.

5. We Made the MCAT Option, Now What?: Medical School Info Session

Thursday, August 13, 2020, 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: Online

Join the Office of Admissions for a webinar and Q&A session regarding the application, evaluation, and interview process for the TC and Duluth MD programs. Find webinar information here.

Research

6. *Credit* Decision-Making Laboratory

I will have a weekly or biweekly meeting with the students to help them decide to either do a literature review, help in an existing project, or design a new project. Although no in-person research can be conducted, they can take the time to develop a research question (with our help) and design a project, including both methods and power analysis. This will not only give the student experience in developing a project from scratch but also if they continue with my lab for the Spring semester, this will give them time to prepare everything to start an experiment, and submit preregistration, so to collect data in the Spring. If at that time it also seems likely that the Spring semester will be remote, then the experiments will be designed so that they can be performed online. In addition, throughout the semester they will also be attending lab meetings and presenting at a lab meeting. This will give them a more complete experience of what it is to work on a research lab. Email Iris Donga Vilares at ivilares@umn.edu for more information.

7. *Credit* PSY 5993 Opportunity with Professor McGue

Student research projects involve working with the rich longitudinal database available in the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) with Professor McGue. Because it is not possible to complete a research project from start to finish in a single semester, students are asked to make a commitment for the full academic year. In the fall, students will work with the instructor to develop a research project, which they will execute in the spring. The latter typically involves learning some statistical procedures under the guidance of the instructor. Seniors typically use their research project to fulfill the requirement for their Capstone Project. Examples of recent projects include 1) Effects of alcohol consumption on telomere length; 2) The impact of psychological well-being on mid-life health, and 3) Are perfectionists just overly anxious individuals? If you are interested in learning more about this section of PSY 5993, please e-mail a copy of your transcript and resume to Dr. McGue at mcgue001@umn.edu.

8. *Credit* I/O Psychology Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunity [VIRTUAL]

We are looking for three motivated and responsible students to assist with a current research project on corporate social responsibility in Professor Deniz Ones’ Corporate Social Responsibility Research Lab, headed by Phoebe Hessen, for credit in PSY 5993. The research project is focused on understanding the content of organizations’ socially responsible initiatives. RA’s would work closely with a Ph. D. student to carry out responsibilities including conducting literature reviews and background research, collecting critical incidents of socially responsible initiatives from organizations’ sustainability reporting, reading, and making judgments about these incidents (i.e., coding), and data analysis. Weekly meetings will be held to discuss progress and assist with any difficulties (held virtually through Zoom until further notice). Prospective applicants should fill out a brief application here. Please contact Phoebe Hessen at hesse179@umn.edu with any questions or for more information. The deadline to apply for a Fall Semester position is September 1st.

9. *Credit or Volunteer* Online Research - Psychology of Environmental Sustainability (Green), Fall 2020

Professor Deniz Ones’ Organizational Environmental Sustainability “Green” research lab, headed by Yagizhan Yazar & Yilei Wang, will be conducting an online research program. The program can be taken in exchange for PSY 5993 (3 credits) for the fall semester and/or by volunteering. During this program, the participants will: 1) Gain experience in research on organizational environmental sustainability; 2) assist in data collection, data entry, and statistical analysis; 3) receive instruction in introductory statistical analysis in R, introduction to modern machine learning, and natural language processing techniques; and 4) learn about cutting-edge research in environmental sustainability in and of organizations, and other I-O related topics. Tips and suggestions for pursuing advanced degrees in I-O psychology will be shared. The program will start with an intensive onboarding training from 8/31 to 9/4. Afterward, the program requires approximately 20 hours of commitment per week, through October (see the schedule here). The number of participants in this research experience is limited to 16. We are especially interested in participants who can read and understand the following languages: Arabic, Hebrew, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. The application is open until August 16th and may be accessed through this link. Questions may be e-mailed to Yilei Wang at wang6568@umn.edu and Yagizhan Yazar at yazar001@umn.edu.

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.

Resources

11. 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.

12. Reading for Racial Justice

The University of Minnesota Press has collaborated with its authors on an open-access collection of antiracist books, available to read free online through Aug. 31. Access the books here.

13. UMN Libraries Delivery of Print Materials has Started!

This means that upon request, the libraries will scan and digitally deliver print items, such as book chapters and journal articles, via email. For requests of books and other larger items, we will send them to you by U.S. Mail. Here are three ways to make your request:
-Use Libraries search on our website. When you find what you need, request delivery by clicking on the “Get it” button in the search results and a request form will be automatically populated.
-Use any of our licensed databases or WorldCat FirstSearch and the item you choose will auto-populate our request form.
-Go directly to our Interlibrary Loan/Digital Delivery web page and manually complete a request form.

14. 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 31stapply today.

15. 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.

16. Student Worker Position for Admin/Support Services within the Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology is currently hiring an undergraduate student worker to provide administrative support to the CSPRPIB, and Social areas of specialization for the 2020-2021 academic year. Duties of the position will vary, however, the student will generally provide administrative support and assistance with space management and event set-up. For more detailed information, please see the following link. Please know that due to COVID-19, work will be virtually completed during the Fall semester. Therefore, access to computers and the internet is required. In-person attendance may be required in the Spring semester depending on University recommendations. All undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota who are eligible for work-study and are registered above 6 credits (resident) or 12 credits (non-resident) are encouraged to apply. Strong organization, Time Management, Verbal/Written Communication, and attention to detail is required—as well as proficiency in Google Drive and Microsoft Office Suite. It is also preferred if you have previous experience with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, or have a willingness to learn. If hired you will be expected to work about 20 hours a week. For questions, you may email Darian Schwietz at schwi232@umn.edu.

17. Caregiver - English Rose Suites

Students, start now making a difference in the lives of people with dementia and earn while you’re learning! English Rose Suites will help you build your knowledge and understanding of dementia and other neurological disorders. Learn the meaning of true holistic care from dementia experts. You’ll be part of a team providing hands-on care, and just as important, building loving relationships that enhance the quality of life for your residents. English Rose Suites is a residential care provider located in Edina, offering flexible work schedules and highly competitive pay! Work as little as every other weekend or as much as full time during your breaks and summer vacation. You will start at $15-$18 per hour based on your experience with the potential for a raise after 90 days. No experience or certification necessary and we provide paid training! Contact Jane Geiger at jgeiger@englishrosesuites.com for more information.

18. Health Science Specialist

A funded, intervention study is seeking a temporary, part-time interventionist. The person in this position would provide intervention services to individuals who have been diagnosed with PTSD and moral injury. Interventions are manualized and consist of 12-sessions of either Adaptive Disclosure or Present Centered Therapy. The incumbent will receive training to provide all aspects of the interventions and will participate in weekly supervision and consultation meetings. Applicants must have a Master's degree in social work or a doctoral degree in psychology; experience with evidence-based treatments for veterans with PTSD; and experience with manualized interventions. All treatment will be provided through telehealth. Email Tasha Nienow at tasha.nienow@va.gov for more information.

19. Research Coordinator Position: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments

We have an opening at the Center for Veterans Research and Education (CVRE) for a full-time Research Coordinator working on two randomized clinical trials examining psychotherapies for PTSD. The primary aim of the first study (COMPASS) is to determine which of two evidence-based strategies for treating post-traumatic stress disorder is more effective, acceptable and feasible for patients with comorbid substance use disorder: trauma-focused therapy (Prolonged Exposure or Cognitive Processing Therapy) or non-trauma-focused therapy (Present Centered Therapy). Additional study information is available at https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2019/comparative-effectiveness-trauma-focused-and-non-trauma-focused-treatment. The primary aim of the second study (CF-CPT) is to examine the impact of a case-formulation adaption of Cognitive Processing Therapy on the functioning and PTSD symptoms of a national sample of Veterans. Both studies will be conducted at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System within the Center for Care Delivery & Outcomes Research, a VA Health Services Research Center of Innovation. See the link for position details, required qualifications, and application instructions.

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