Undergraduate Research Assistants
If you are interested in becoming involved in the UP Lab as an undergraduate research assistant (RA), please complete the online application and review the material below. Applications will be reviewed before the start of each semester. If there is an opening in the laboratory, you may be contacted for a brief in-person interview.
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Using psychological and feminist research methods, we study research questions that help us to better understand the perspectives and experiences of people who have stigmatized or marginalized identities (e.g., women, gender and sexual minorities, racial minorities). For example, many of our research projects examine the thoughts, attitudes, and experiences of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ). We embrace mixed method projects, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, to study the psychology of gender/sex. Across all studies and projects, our program of research aims to create new knowledge that diversifies what we know about mainstream theories and concepts in social psychology.
Responsibilities
Our lab operates in a multi-project model: at any given time, there are several ongoing projects at various stages of the research process. This style of research provides our RAs with the opportunity to learn about every step of the scientific method (i.e., brainstorming and design, participant recruitment and data collection, data organization and analysis, explaining results, and writing the results for publication). For example, in the same week, RAs may help to review literature for a new project and create properly formatted tables and references for a published paper. During their time in the laboratory, students receive training for each step of the research process and assist with multiple ideas and studies. Students with strong performance in the lab also receive publication and presentation opportunities (e.g., at local and national academic conferences).
What will research assistants do in this lab?
In addition to completing weekly lab hours, students are required to attend a weekly lab meeting with Dr. Matsick and the graduate students. Lab meetings are used to discuss weekly tasks, provide feedback on new ideas, troubleshoot any issues, and discuss assigned articles.
The longer students work in the lab, the more skills they will learn. Most students who are in the lab for at least two semesters will be qualified to complete the following tasks:
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Designing surveys in Qualtrics Survey Software and taking practice surveys to check surveys for errors, logic, and typos
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Recruiting participants to take surveys by posting advertisements online, posting flyers around campus, or working with survey companies that help us to collect data (i.e., Qualtrics panel services, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, Prolific)
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Developing study materials
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Coding open-ended survey responses into organized categories and “cleaning” data in Microsoft Excel (e.g., making sure the data is organized and complete)
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Finding relevant research articles, organizing the articles in PDF format and in EndNote (a reference management software), describing the articles in an annotated bibliography format, and creating reference sections for papers
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Running studies in the lab as an experimenter
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Helping to create aesthetically appealing PowerPoint slides for research presentations
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Providing feedback on written products (e.g., manuscripts, conference abstracts, award applications) related to the lab’s research
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Writing study applications for the Institutional Review Board’s (IRB) approval
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Writing organizational syntax to manage data in SPSS (statistical software to analyze data)
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Developing a project abstract and designing a conference poster
Methods of Compensation
Students can earn course credit by registering in PSY 294, PSY 494, or WMNST 494. Enrollment in WMNST 494 requires formal approval from Dr. Matsick and the department’s undergraduate director.
Requirements and Qualifications
Students must be willing to work either 6 hours (2 credits) or 9 hours (3 credits) per week in the lab. Given the time and energy it takes to become a well-trained RA, students must be willing to make a 2-semester commitment to the lab. Preference will be given to students who have taken courses in Psychology and/or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and to students who display interest in thinking critically about gender, race, and sexual orientation.
Professional Development
In addition to learning about new research ideas and receiving training in conducting various research tasks, students are encouraged to use lab time to develop their careers.
Workshops
If students become aware of a relevant workshop on campus (e.g., how to find research articles or tips for using Microsoft Office software), students may use their lab hours to attend the workshop. These skill-based workshops are relevant to one’s performance in the lab and can be listed on one’s résumé.
Career-Oriented Lab Meetings
During every semester, we hold a professional development workshop in one of our lab meetings. For example, students might be asked to use some of their lab hours to update or prepare a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV). In lab meeting, we will circulate one another’s materials and provide feedback. We may also hold a “career day” during lab meeting in which we will discuss different career paths related to students’ interests. If students are interested in going to graduate school, we may hold a meeting about finding and applying to graduate programs. Students are encouraged to reach out Dr. Matsick or the graduate students to discuss these issues or suggest professional development topics.
Presentations
If students are in good standing, they may be involved in the lab long-term. Students in good standing are almost always able to co-author a conference poster presentation about one of the lab’s projects. Conference presentations look great when applying to graduate school or jobs. Students who are interested in gaining this type of experience should demonstrate exceptional effort and interest in the lab. They should also speak to Dr. Matsick or the graduate students about their interest in conference presentations so they are included in relevant conversations and meetings about conferences.
Letters of Recommendation
We write good letters of recommendation for good students. Dr. Matsick may provide a letter of recommendation for a good student, and to do so, she will require the following: at least two weeks in advance of the letter deadline, a CV, information about the type of position (e.g., a description of the position as well as the desired qualities in candidates for the position), a summary or outline of one’s trainings and tasks completed in the lab, and directions for submitting the letter. If a student needs multiple letters of recommendation (e.g., when applying graduate programs), they should contact the graduate students and Dr. Matsick as early as possible to discuss the letter writing process.
Laboratory Environment
Students’ attendance and participation in lab is vital to the lab’s efficiency. The lab operates like any other college course: Students are expected to regularly attend their scheduled hours, diligently work on the tasks they are assigned, and conduct themselves in a responsible and professional manner.
Our lab's approach to research and collaboration is one that promotes justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Members of our lab should know that we are actively committed to establishing an anti-racist and anti-sexist environment. Likewise, we do not tolerate homophobia, transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, xenophobia, or any other forms of hatred or bias.
The research we do in the lab often centers on the experience of marginalization. Regardless of students’ standing in the world given the systems that privilege them and those that marginalize them, students should bring their whole, unique selves to their lab work. We value the experiences that each student has had while navigating the world, and we hope they will draw upon their experiences and reflect on such experiences as they approach their work in the lab. These insights are critical in our research. We aim to create an atmosphere in which we can collectively understand society better through data as well as our experiences. In other words, we welcome and value your experiential knowledge!
Finally, our lab is committed to working with students from underrepresented backgrounds as marked by socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and/or ability. We strive to give our RAs professional development assistance and research opportunities that can help them to become competitive for their future careers. If RAs or graduate students are aware of students who may be interested in the lab, Dr. Matsick is happy to review their lab applications on a rolling basis.