Psychological research, focusing on behavior and quality of life issues, is abundant here at the University of Maryland. You have many options to be a research participant, pursue an independent research project, or serve as a research assistant under the expert tutelage of a faculty mentor. Its this last option that if marketed effectively to graduate schools and employers can help you to become a more appealing candidate for an advanced degree or entry level career.
What are the benefits of being a Research Assistant?
There are many positives to the Research Assistant experience. These include:
- Acquiring an understanding of the scientific process
- Learning how to communicate and disseminate research findings through journal article submissions and professional conference presentations
- Building a mentoring relationship with a faculty member
- Generating new knowledge that will help impact the field of psychology
- Developing communication skills, statistical skills, and problem solving skills that will enhance your grad school school and/or employment applications
The duties of a Research Assistant will vary depending on the project and lab within which you work. Generally speaking, here are some common functions of Research Assistants:
- Recruiting and screening study participants
- Data collection and analysis (scoring, coding, and processing data)
- Conducting literature reviews
- Using statistical analysis programs
- Assisting with writing up research findings for submission to professional journals and conferences
- Help faculty develop new research ideas
- Approach your professors about your interest in being a Research Assistant
- Learn about the research professors are doing
- Go to http://psychology.umd.edu/research/labs.html to learn more about the psychology department labs.
- Peruse the PSYC E-News Blog for Research Assistant opportunities
- Once you've identified a lab you'd like to work in contact the professor and articulate why you'd be a good fit for that particular lab/research project as well as how you hope to contribute to their research
- Schedule a time to meet with the faculty mentor overseeing your research lab of interest
- Ask questions of the faculty mentor including the hours of the research project, responsibilities you'd be performing, how you'll be evaluated, and the commitment length of the position.
- If you're looking to receive academic course credit for being a Research Assistant complete the PSYC 489 contract at the following link http://psychology.umd.edu/ugrad/documents/PSYC_479_Contract.pdf and e-mail it to psycforms@umd.edu
- Once approved you'll receive an e-mail to then log into Testudo and register for PSYC 479
