Biopsychology | Clinical | Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience | Developmental Education and Psychology | Health Organizational | Personality | Social Complete List

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Richard Nisbett Email: nisbett@umich.edu Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Cognitive, Cultural, Social Project Description: Time commitment requested:   9-12 hours per week for at least one semester. Qualifications of student: Motivated, independent, reliable, and organized. Students should also be humble and willing to learn. The most successful students will be those interested in the project and in learning modern social-cognitive psychological research. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills are required, as is general computer proficiency in MS office. Additional computer skills (programming, SPSS, etc) are preferred but not required. Psychology major who would like to learn about research. To do library research on intelligence, wisdom, and culture. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: Yes

Project Director: Dr. Cynthia Ewell Foster, Department of Psychiatry Email: cjfoster@med.umich.edu Gigi Colombini: Adolescent Suicide Prevention Specialist, Macomb County Community Mental Health Email: Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Community Project Description: A research assistant is needed to follow up with participants in a suicide prevention program via phone. The RA will receive crisis intervention training, gain clinical experience and assist with the research project. Time commitment requested:   8 hours/week Qualifications of student: Undergraduate majoring in psychology or a related field Evening work hours available Transportation to Chesterfield, MI required Previous research experience preferred, but not necessary Credit Offered: No Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Dr. James Swain Alternate Contact: Robert Varney Email: rvarney@med.umich.edu Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Developmental, Cognitive, and Biopsychology Project Description: Our lab is focused on understanding the psychological and neural changes that take place during the transition to parenthood. More specifically, we are deeply interested in exploring how underlying brain mechanisms affect how parents think and act in regards to their role as caregivers. To carry out our research we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to take pictures of the brain while parents look at pictures of their own children or listen to baby cries, for example. We have a large amount of older data that need to be deciphered and entered into our database. Experience with Microsoft Access and Visual Basic strongly preferred. The student will assist in the design and maintenance of the database. Students must be organized, reliable, motivated, and able to work independently. Optional experiences for those who have interest in learning about psychology at the level of the brain include: learning how to analyze functional and/or structural brain-imaging data and to learning to program fMRI tasks. The computer programs we use to do these things are SPSS, Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM), and E-Prime. Time commitment requested:   8-10 hours/week Qualifications of student: Availability of at least 2 semesters. Looking for spring/summer availability. Students MUST be motivated, organized, personable, and self-directed. If interested in this position, please email Rob (rvarney@med.umich.edu) with a recent resume attached. Credit Offered: No Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Courtney McCluney Email: mccluney@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   (1) Attributions to Workplace Incivility, (2) Unique effects of Workplace Incivility on Emotional, Cognitive, and Mental Outcomes Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Personality & Social Contexts Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Organizational Psychology Project Description: (1) Workplace incivility is low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target–or is it? Research suggests low-status employees, especially women and racial minorities, are consistent targets of incivility behaviors; questioning the assumption of ambiguity behind the intentions of such behaviors. I am investigating how individuals appraise and process incivility by measuring their attributions to these ambiguous behaviors, potentially demonstrating ways incivility could be experienced as a form of gender or racial discrimination. Tasks for the research assistant include qualitative coding (with PI), data cleaning, and short literature review (contingent on RA credit hours and availability). (2) Uncivil behaviors are characteristically rude and discourteous, displaying a lack of regard for others, and violate workplace norms for mutual respect. Given this description, I propose incivility experiences have a greater negative impact on outcomes than minor annoyances at work (e.g., computer crashing), and will lead to more emotional, cognitive, and mental distress than pleasant interactions at work. I am conducting an experiment to measure the unique effects of incivility on emotions, creativity, and well-being through an online survey. Tasks for the research assistant include creativity coding (with PI), data cleaning, and preliminary analyses of data. Key Deliverables (1) Qualitative coding rubric for attributions to workplace incivility. (2) Creativity coding for experimental manipulation Time commitment requested:   Approximately 6-9 hours per week (2-3 credits) Qualifications of student: RAs will participate in multiple levels of the research process, including background readings, discussing methodology and design, and coding and managing data. They will also be able to collaborate in individual and lab meetings. Assistants should be interested qualitative data analysis. Motivation, reliability, creativity, and flexibility are encouraged, and familiarity with Word and Excel are required (knowledge of statistics [e.g. SPSS] and any previous research experience are a plus). Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Diana Betz Email: dibetz@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   (1) Feminine Math/Science Role Models; (2) Meta-Disparagement Humor: Racist/Sexist Jokes in the Age of Colbert and Chappelle; (3) Seeing Eye-to-Eye on Race Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: I have three projects running within the broad field of stereotypes and prejudice. (1) Science skills and femininity are often seen as incompatible: do adolescent girls and college women express more interest in and identification with math/science if exposed to a woman who is feminine yet competent in math and science? Or would such role models backfire, perhaps being seen as unrealistic or intimidatingly perfect? Tasks include data entry, creative recruiting strategies, and running subjects. (2) "Meta-disparagement humor" is a term we are using to describe the faux-politically-incorrect jokes favored on shows like The Colbert Report and 30 Rock. Although such sarcastic/ironic disparagement jokes have a different intention than straightforward disparagement jokes, they trade on the same stereotypes. Thus, would a "meta-sexist" joke activate negative female stereotypes just like a straightforward sexist joke would? Would a "meta-homophobic" joke harm or improve attitudes towards gay marriage? Tasks include literature reviews, searching for clips and jokes online, and running participants. (3) Finally, my research asks when people of different races are most likely to perceive race as an influential factor in everyday situations. We believe that it depends on whether the event is good or bad, on whether it happens to a Black or White individual, and what kinds of attitudes the perceiver holds (e.g., an awareness of white privilege). We are also interested in whether people of different races believe their views on race are different than those of people of other races, and whether changing this perception can improve interracial interaction. Follow-up work is in the planning stages, so RAs may be eventually asked to run subjects or do literature searches for this project. Time commitment requested:   6 - 9 hours per week Qualifications of student: Research assistants are needed for Winter 2013. RAs will participate in multiple levels of research, including doing background research, preparing experimental materials, discussing current research, coding and managing data, and recruiting & running participants. They will also be able to collaborate in individual and lab meetings. Assistants should be interested in learning about the psychological research process, from early steps like literature reviews to the actual process of data collection and analysis. Interest in the topic at hand is a must. Motivation, reliability, creativity, and flexibility are encouraged, and familiarity with Word and Excel are required (knowledge of statistics [e.g. SPSS] and any previous research experience are a plus). Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Patricia Gurin Email: pgurin@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   A Multi-University Evaluation of the Educational Benefits of Intergroup Dialogue Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: Ever wondered whether intergroup dialogue really works? Does interacting with members of different race, ethnic or gender groups actually change the way we think about the world? The Program on Intergroup Relations is seeking research assistance during the fall term for a 10-university intergroup dialogue research project. This large-scale randomized-controlled evaluation utilizes both quantitative and qualitative assessments to examine not only whether intergroup dialogue really works but also which psychological processes are most influential in producing positive intergroup outcomes. Research assistants will work closely with Professor Patricia Gurin (Principal Investigator) and her research team on the qualitative coding of student final papers and videotaped dialogue sessions and/or the quantitative analysis of longitudinal survey data obtained from intergroup dialogue participants across 9 universities. For a brief description of the research project, please see our webpage: http://www.igr.umich.edu/experiments.html. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours per week throughout the term, for 2-3 credits. Must also attend a two-hour seminar on intergroup relations. Qualifications of student: Interested students must be motivated, punctual, organized and possess a genuine interest in intergroup dialogue or intergroup relations more generally. No previous research experience is required. Credit Offered: yes Money: no Experience only: no Workstudy: yes

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Sara Johnson Email: sjohnso@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   ABC Toddler Study Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Project Description: The current longitudinal study examines mechanisms of self-regulation, parenting behavior, and childhood obesity in mothers and their toddler-aged children. The goal of the study is to understand how stress affects toddler eating behavior in families of low socioeconomic status. Participating families agree to saliva samples, measures of height and weight, and a series of questionnaires when their toddler is 21 months, 27 months, and 33 months old. Additionally, full time research assistants videotape a series of games like activities and a typical mealtime for the toddler and mother in their home. Undergraduate students are needed to work in the field as aides to the research assistants conducting protocol. Duties include providing activities for the children while their mothers participate in research and assistance in preparation of research materials as needed. Time commitment requested:   2-6 hours per week, more if interested; daytime and evening hours available. Must be willing to accompany research assistant to participant’s homes (transportation provided) . To begin Winter 2013 semester. Qualifications of student: Interested students must be reliable, personable, and comfortable around small children. Psychology and outside majors applicable. No previous research experience is required. Please email Sara at sjohnso@umich.edu for more information. Credit Offered: No Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Michael Shvartsman Email: mshvarts@umich.edu Alternate Contact: Professor Rick Lewis Email: rickl@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Adaptive eye movements in reading Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Project Description: We are interested in understanding how people move their eyes while reading. More specifically, we want to understand how people adapt their eye movement patterns while reading both to their own individual underlying cognitive / motor constraints, and to the specific reading task in front of them. Interested undergraduates will get a chance to learn how to work with a head-mounted eye-tracker, as well as learn about cutting-edge theories of memory, language, and adaptive control. Opportunities to learn data analysis in R and get involved in computational modeling are available as well. Time commitment requested:   8+ hours per week Qualifications of student: High reliability, motivation and capacity for independent thinking / work is absolutely required. Also crucial are excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, as is general computer proficiency. I currently have enough help with general RA tasks but am willing to consider exceptionally strong candidates with experience in data analysis using R or programming in Python or C++. Interested applicants should submit a resume and unofficial transcript to Mike Shvartsman at mshvarts@umich.edu Credit Offered: yes Money: no Experience only: no Workstudy: no

Project Director: Julie Kaplow, PhD Email: Alternate Contact: Amanda Burnside Email: amaburns@med.umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   CIRCLE Project Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Project Description: This research study, called the CIRCLE Project (Coping In Response to Childhood Loss Experiences) is being conducted by Dr. Julie Kaplow at the University of Michigan Depression Center (Rachel Upjohn Building). The goal of the study is to learn more about how children respond (psychologically, behaviorally, and physiologically) to the death of a parent and what factors, both within the children themselves and in their social environment, seem to help them to cope over time. The study includes children ages 3 to 12 who have lost a parent within the last six months. Surviving parents and their child(ren) are asked to complete questionnaires related to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We videotape an open-ended interview with the child as well as an interview with the child and the surviving parent, both of which are later coded for certain behaviors, coping strategies, and patterns of communication. We also collect saliva samples from the families as well as heart rate and sleep data from the children in order to better understand physiological responses to grief. As a research assistant, your responsibilities may include data entry, data checking, video coding, participant recruitment, lab-related tasks, participation in lab meetings, and possible observation and/or interaction with participating families. For more information about Dr. Julie Kaplow's work, please see: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/psych/people/directory/profiles/faculty/?uniquename=julieb. Please contact Amanda Burnside at amaburns@med.umich.edu or (734) 276-4071 for more information. Time commitment requested:   At least 3 hours/week. Qualifications of student: Psychology majors with at least a 3.2 GPA who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology. An availability of at least 2 semesters is preferred. Some experience with research as well as SPSS. We give priority to highly-motivated students who are interested in our specific research aims and who are particularly interested in children, child psychopathology, and/or child development. Sophomores and Juniors are especially encouraged to apply. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: Yes

Project Director: Lynn Ossher Email: lossher@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Cognitive control and weight control Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Project Description: Why do some people gain weight or have difficulty losing weight? Does our cognitive system have any influence over our weight? We are investigating whether cognitive control abilities can contribute to weight management success or failure. We use behavioural cognitive psychology techniques to investigate how cognition may influence weight control efforts, and in the future hope to add fMRI investigations to the project. Students will assist in running participants through experimental testing sessions and helping with participant recruitment and scheduling, and data processing and analysis. Students have the opportunity to gain experience and expertise in SPSS, SAS, E-prime, and other software. Further involvement is possible depending on interest and commitment of the student. Time commitment requested:   9-15 hours/week; 2 semester minimum commitment Qualifications of student: Students should be highly motivated, dependable, detail-oriented, and conscientious. Psychology, BBCS, and Neuroscience majors are especially encouraged to apply, and an interest in a future career in research is a plus. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Excel are required, as is general computer proficiency. Previous experience working with human participants in a research setting is desirable but not a requirement. Interested applicants should submit a resume and unofficial transcript to lossher@umich.edu. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Shinobu Kitayama Alternate Contact: Steven Tompson Email: tompson@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Cultural Neuroscience: Investigating the Social and Neural Bases of Social Cognition and Behavior Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: Our research focuses on how culture and the brain dynamically interact to influence how people think and behave, as well as how the social environment influences neural processes. In order to investigate these issues, we employ a variety of neuroscience methodologies, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and genotyping. The goal of the current series of studies is to investigate how and why cultural and subcultural differences in cognition and behavior might occur. We focus on Eastern and Western cultures, as well as social class differences within the US. Effects we investigate include attribution of social behavior, self-referential processing, conflict detection and error monitoring, and emotion regulation. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in some aspects of the project, based on experience and personal fit: data analysis, design and programming of new experiments, and literature review. Additionally, students will learn how to use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain waves, help to schedule and run participants using EEG, analyze the EEG and behavioral data using MATLAB, EEGLab, and SPSS, and attend weekly lab meetings. Students will learn how to conduct research using behavioral and neuroscience methodology, work as part of a team, and will be encouraged to think creatively and independently. Those working for course credit will receive guidance on writing a paper and/or preparing a poster presenting the results. Time commitment requested:   7-10 hours per week Qualifications of student: Students must be motivated, independent, reliable, and organized. Students should be willing to learn. The most successful students will be those interested in the project and in learning social psychological as well as neuroscience methods. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills are required, as is advanced computer proficiency (e.g., programming, MATLAB, SPSS, etc.). Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: Yes

Project Director: Cheri Chan Email: chancc@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Culture and Knowledge Acquisition: How do children learn from other people? Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Project Description: To find out more about the world, we frequently depend on two important sources of knowledge: 1) our own observations and reasoning, and 2) what other people tell us. Particularly in this information age, there is an escalating need to trust in the expertise of others. Thus, it becomes more crucial to become wise consumers of information. But how does this ability develop in the first place? In this project, we will conduct studies to discover the factors (for example, how children perceive their own knowledge) that shape children’s tendency to trust what other people tell them. More interestingly, by exploring similarities and differences across young learners in US and Chinese cultures, we will better understand how the values and meanings salient in a culture shape the way we acquire knowledge about the world. Interested? Send an email to chancc@umich.edu with a copy of your resume, and we can set up an informational meeting to explore the possibilities! What student will do: (1) Be actively involved in designing study and creating stimuli, (2) Interact with 4- and 5-year-olds in local preschool classrooms, (3) Run experiments at local preschools, (4) Review scholarly literature, (5) Analyze and present data. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours/week Qualifications of student: - Honest, responsible, organized, and with a heart of discovery - Interested in learning about the way children think and learn - Enjoy interacting with preschoolers (prior work experience with children is a plus!) - (Preferred: students of at least junior standing, and majoring in Psychology or Education) Credit Offered: yes Money: possibly Experience only: yes Workstudy: no

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Tyler Grove Email: tylerg@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Emotion and Auditory Processing in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Project Description: This study examines whether difficulties in localizing emotional and neutral auditory information is associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, social cognition, and social functioning. Research assistants will be involved in scheduling and running participants for the study, data entry, data organization, participating in lab meetings, and other lab-related tasks. Applicants should send their CV and an unofficial copy of their transcript to Tyler Grove at tylerg@umich.edu. Time commitment requested:   10 Hours Per Week Qualifications of student: Undergraduates majoring in Psychology, BCN, or Neuroscience who are interested in research. Students must be organized, reliable, motivated, and able to work independently. Students in good academic standing and with experience in research are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to students who are interested in schizophrenia and, if possible, able to help during the spring and summer. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Ed O'Brien Email: obrieneh@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Emotions: Experiencing and Thinking Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: Don't believe everything you think! The Beatles famously sang that their troubles of yesterday seemed so far away - but were they right? Is the grass from the past really greener than today? In my lab, I examine the ways in which people think about emotions versus how their emotions are actually experienced. Whenever people remove themselves from the "here and now" - whether imagining their pasts and futures, taking the perspectives of other people, or contemplating decisions they should (or shouldn't) make - they tend to misremember and mispredict how these experiences actually feel. This is a problem: inaccurately thinking about emotional experiences can often lead to maladaptive psychological consequences. Will you really regret not asking your lab partner on a date? Was high school really as great as you think it was? Does time really fly when you have fun? Do other people really feel the same way you do? More than you might realize, the answers to these questions largely depend on situational factors outside of your own control - like the people you're with, your current mood, and your cultural background. This intersection of thinking and feeling - specifically, the causes and consequences of how we often inaccurately think about how we feel - is the major theme of my research. I aim to test these issues with laboratory experiments - with your help! Motivated students with or without experience are encouraged to apply. Working in the lab will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct research, summarize literature, interact with participants, and analyze data using statistics. I also am interested in your own opinions and insights into the various questions we will address, and I am happy to guide your own projects as well as supervise an Honors Thesis on your road to graduate school. Time commitment requested:   8-12 hours per week Qualifications of student: Students should be psychology majors (although students from all backgrounds are eligible) who are highly motivated, hard-working, care about even the smallest details, and passionate about discussing and researching the topics listed above. Students who want to make a 2-semester (or more) commitment are especially encouraged to apply. Prior research experience is preferred, but not required - you will be able to gain all the necessary skills from scratch. Credit Offered: Yes (2-4 credits; negotiable) Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Jennifer Goldschmied Alternate Contact: Jennifer Goldschmied Email: jrgolds@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Examining the Role of Naps on Mood and Emotional Reactivity Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Project Description: This study seeks to explore the effects of sleep on mood and emotional reactivity in healthy subjects. Our goal is to determine if, following a nap, subjects will have increased positive mood, will more easily recognize positive stimuli than negative stimuli, are more able to regulate emotions, are less impulsive, and less willing to take risks. Research assistants will be involved in scheduling and running participants for the study, data entry, data organization, participating in lab meetings, and other lab-related tasks. Applicants should send their CV and an unofficial copy of their transcript to Jennifer Goldschmied at jrgolds@umich.edu. Time commitment requested:   10 hours per week Qualifications of student: Undergraduates majoring in Psychology, BCN, or Neuroscience with at least a 3.2 GPA. Students MUST be able to work independently, organized, reliable, and self-motivated. Students must also be available for the Spring/Summer semester for training and both Fall 2013 and Winter 2014 semesters - commitment for this time period required. Priority will be given to students who are interested in sleep research and have transportation to Rachel Upjohn Building. Upperclassmen are especially encouraged to apply. Four positions available. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Brenda Volling Alternate Contact: Lauren Rosenberg Email: lbrosenb@umich.edu Phone: (734) 615-4101 Overall Title of Project:   Family Relationships Project Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Project Description: The goal of the Family Relationships Project is to examine changes occurring in the family before and after the birth of a second child. We want to learn more from families about what changes occur, what things they worry about, and how the older sibling adjusts when the baby is brought home. To do this, we have recruited 241 families that have had a second child. We collected data from these families from before the second child was born until they were three years old. Data collection is now complete and coding and analysis of the data is underway. Students will assist primarily with coding observational data – watching video tapes of home or laboratory visits and analyzing behaviors. Research assistants are asked to commit for at least two semesters. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours per week Qualifications of student: Students must be responsible, reliable, and have an interest in research. Scheduling flexibility is required, especially during normal business hours, as students will meet with full-time staff members for coding meetings. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Dr. Rich Tolman Email: rtolman@umich.edu Alternate Contact: Dr. Rich Tolman Email: rtolman@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   First-Time Fathers’ Prenatal Behaviors, Motivation to Parent and Partner, and Their Pregnant Partner's Perceived Support Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Developmental, Health Project Description: This project aims to fill a gap in knowledge about the prenatal experience of fathers, make an important contribution to the still very limited body of research on men's transition to fatherhood, and test a preventive intervention based on positive psychology principles to strengthen fathers’ parenting and partnering in the postnatal period. A research assistant is needed to assist with data management.SPSS proficiency and data management skills are a prerequisite. Time commitment requested:   9-12 hours per week, April-June. Qualifications of student: Qualifications of student: The key requirement of this position is SPSS proficiency. Specifically, you must be adept at: -writing syntax in SPSS -variable creation -cleaning and merging datasets Additional qualifications include motivated, independent, responsive, reliable, and organized. Credit Offered: yes Money: yes Experience only: yes Workstudy: yes

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Kristen Elmore Email: kelmore@umich.edu Phone: (919) 612-5991 Overall Title of Project:   Gender in the Classroom Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: Why do girls and boys behave differently within the context of school? This project examines this topic through two lines of inquiry. The first is to determine whether student behaviors within classrooms are affected by the content of salient images of one’s gender. For example, are girls more likely to work hard at school in response to the suggestion that school achievement is a ‘female’ pursuit? Is the opposite true when it’s suggested that school success is a ‘male’ domain? The other line of study is the role of perceptions of power in the classroom and whether boys and girls perceive the hierarchical structure of the classroom differently. Are boys acting out in class more than girls as a display of personal autonomy? These topics will be explored through the use of priming techniques and experimental design. The project involves both laboratory studies at the university and field experiments with adolescents. Student responsibilities may vary, but include administering lab-based studies to subject pool participants (e.g., administering the study, debriefing participants, and assigning subject pool credit), assisting in school-based data collection, and data entry. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours/week Qualifications of student: Students should be reliable and organized, as well as motivated to learn more about the topic and about the research process. Academic credit can be earned through Psych 323 (credit/no credit) or Psych 327 (graded credit). Credit Offered: Yes Money: no Experience only: no Workstudy: no

Project Director: Emily Bonem Email: ebonem@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Incidental and Task-Related Emotions on Risk Assessment Tasks Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: What is the role of emotions in our decision-making processes? Does it matter if the emotions we are feeling are related to the decision at hand? How do different types of emotions affect our assessments of risk? These are some of the questions that we are examining in our current study on the affects of incidental and task-related emotions on risk assessment tasks. Students would be involved in participant recruitment, scheduling and running participants in experiments using E-prime software. Students may also be involved in data entry and some data analysis. Time commitment requested:   6-12 hours per week Qualifications of student: Students should be highly motivated, responsible, organized and interested in both the topic and in gaining research experience in the field of psychology. Experience with E-prime or programming is appreciated but not required. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Rick Price Email: ricprice@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Psychology and Strategy Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Personality and Social Context ; Social Psychology Project Description: This project is about innovators and entrepreneurs. Are they different from the rest of us? Do they think and act in distinctive ways? Innovators and entrepreneurs are people who put their new ideas to use in the world. Their dream may be to create a new business, help a disadvantaged group or save the environment, but beneath the surface they share a common set of strategies. We will study how they frame problems, marshal persuasive tactics and manage cooperation as they turn their vision into a new enterprise. We are looking for students who are passionate about doing research to gain a deeper understanding of the psychology and strategies used by innovators and entrepreneurs. Students will have a chance to interview innovators and entrepreneurs, work in teams, review the popular and scholarly literature, analyze interviews, write case studies and analyze existing data sets. Students interested in doing undergraduate honors theses or applying to graduate school will find this project especially useful. You will learn: How to conduct interviews, do observational and archival research, design and write case studies, and the practical skills for doing research at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Time commitment requested:   8-12 hours per week [2-4 credits; negotiable] Qualifications of student: Students should be majors in psychology or majors relevant to the content of this project who are highly motivated, organized and reliable, detail-oriented, hard-working, passionate about the topic, genuinely interested in gaining research experience, and capable of working as a part of a team of researchers. Students who want to make a 2-semester commitment are especially encouraged to apply. Some previous research experience and writing skills preferred. Credit Offered: Yes Money: Yes (negotiable) Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Twila Tardif Email: twila@umich.edu Yanni Liu Email: yanniliu@umich.edu Alternate Contact: Christina Stienman, Lab Coordinator Email: cbsteinm@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Language Development across Cultures Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Project Description: How do children learn words? Are some types of words conceptually easier to grasp than others? Similarly, do infants encode and make sense of certain elements of their reality better than others? How might culture play a role in shaping the above patterns? Does this process differ for children who are learning different languages? Our laboratory collaborates with laboratories in China and Korea to examine whether or not children learning different languages pay attention to the same elements when learning new words. For example, in some experiments, we use a habituation method to tap into whether infants associate a word with different parts of simple scenes, and when this occurs: at what age, under what kind of experimental conditions, and in what cultural or linguistic contexts. In addition to the behavioral observation, we will be using some neuroimaging methods to examine brain mechanisms of language and learning. We will be using ERP (event-related potentials) and fNIRs (functional near-infrared optical brain imaging) to understand the underlying mechanisms of language development and second language word learning. Research assistants will gain valuable hands-on experience recruiting participants, interacting with children and parents as an experimenter, and conducting infant research using a habituation paradigm. Students may also be asked to run an ERP or fNIRs study and have a chance to learn the data analyses process after training. When joining the project, students will choose the weekly times that they can commit to the lab. Participants will be recruited according to RA schedules, so it is crucial that assistants be consistently responsible and punctual. Previous experience with young children is very helpful but not required. Undergraduate students seeking research experience and enthusiastic about working with kids are welcome to apply. Training will be provided. Time commitment requested:   Approximately 9 hours per week Qualifications of student: We are looking for people who are English speakers and majoring in psychology or linguistics. Native speakers of Mandarin Chinese or Korean could also help with the cross-linguistic studies. Credit Offered: yes Money: no Experience only: no Workstudy: no

Project Director: Twila Tardif Email: twila@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Language Development in English and Chinese Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Psycholinguistics Project Description: How do children learn language? What factors influence language development, and do these factors change over time? How do language skills shape other aspects of development? Does the language learning process differ for children learning different languages? What mechanisms in this process are universal, and which vary based on linguistic or cultural differences? Our laboratory collaborates with other laboratories in China and Singapore to examine these and related questions. Our studies look longitudinally at English-learning and Chinese-learning children, assessing various linguistic skills, as well as information about the children�fs backgrounds, their language learning environment, literacy skills, IQ, visual spatial skills, and processing speed. We hope to use this information to develop a comprehensive model of language development. Research assistants will gain valuable experience in the domains of language development, cross-cultural and longitudinal methodologies, statistical methods, and general research practices. Tasks will include some data analysis (primarily in Excel and SPSS), transcribing, coding, and translating. Hours are fairly flexible, and training will be provided. Time commitment requested:   8-12 hours per week Qualifications of student: We are looking for people who are Native Mandarin speakers �ipreferably from the Beijing area or other areas of northern China�j, majoring in psychology or linguistics. Some basic knowledge of statistics is preferred, but not required. Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and SPSS are strongly recommended. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Amanda Broderick Alternate Contact: Amanda Broderick Email: psych-macy-team@med.umich.edu Phone: (734) 232-0205 Overall Title of Project:   MACY (Maternal Anxiety during the Childbearing Years) Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Clinical, Developmental Project Description: Dr. Maria Muzik's research team coordinates several projects related to depression and trauma in high-risk mothers and young children. We are looking for students to assist with a variety of research tasks, such as data entry and verification, transcribing narrative interviews, conducting phone interviews, helping with home and lab assessments, and assisting with interventions targeting high-risk families. In addition, this position offers the opportunity for hands-on experience with data analysis and presentation, learning about developmental and clinical research, interventions for parents of young children, and administrative aspects of running longitudinal and intervention studies. Time commitment requested:   8-10 hours/week, including one 4-hour shift Qualifications of student: Credit Offered: Yes Money: no Experience only: Yes Workstudy: no

Project Director: Patricia Reuter-Lorenz Email: parl@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Memory and Cognitive Training Across the Lifespan Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Cognitive and Affective Neuropsychology Project Description: Distractions can distort our memory, or cause us to forget. Our lab investigates how and why our memories are vulnerable to interference. We are also working on interventions to improve memory. We use both behavioral and neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques to understand how executive functions such as attention allocation and interference resolution can trained. We are especially interested in how these abilities may be affected by normal aging. Students in our lab are involved in screening, scheduling, and running participants in experiments programmed using E-Prime software. Students exhibiting exceptional performance may also be involved in running fMRI experiments and analyzing data. Time commitment requested:   Approx. 9 hrs/week Qualifications of student: Interested students should possess good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other basic computer programs. Experience working with human participants in a research setting is desirable. Students should be highly motivated, detail-oriented, organized, and dependable. They should also have a pleasant telephone manner and possess very good interpersonal skills. An interest in pursuing a career in psychological and behavioral research is a plus. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Linas A. Bieliauskas, Ph.D. Email: linas@umich.edu Alternate Contact: Laura Boxley, Ph.D. Email: laurabox@med.umich.edu Phone: (734) 845-3717 Overall Title of Project:   Neuropsychological Changes with Normal and Abnormal Aging, Chronic Disease, and Head Injuries Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Biopsychology, Cognition and Perception Project Description: This description covers ongoing projects in the areas of aging, chronic disease, and head injuries which are conducted primarily at the associated Veterans Administration Hospital. Students will be involved in testing patients for cognitive and emotional status on admission to the nursing home care unit, veterans returning from the Gulf Wars area, patients with cardiovascular and liver disease, and normal aging subjects. Students will learn clinical skills associated with administering psychological tests, learn to administer and score various clinical test instruments, get experience with data entry, and learn the application of medical and psychological test data to research protocols. Team members meet weekly to coordinate activities, learn about relevant neuropsychological syndromes, and track progress of research projects. Honors theses are sponsored and encouraged, as well as participation in ongoing research protocols which result in national and international presentation and peer-reviewed publication. Travel to national sites for data collection and for meeting presentations is supported as resources are available. Time commitment requested:   Minimum of ½ day per week plus weekly meeting of 1 hour. Qualifications of student: Credit Offered: yes Money: no Experience only: yes Workstudy: no

Project Director: Adena Rottenstein Email: adena@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Psychology of Disability Research Lab Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Personality Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Social, Health, Education and Psychology Project Description: Psychologists have long viewed the experience of disability from a medical/clinical perspective focusing on perceived losses or limitations, and seeking to “help” people to adjust to their conditions. The Psychology of Disability research lab runs counter to that perspective, and utilizes what is known as the Social Model of Disability to argue that people with disabilities should be seen as a minority group united not by their particular impairments, but by their shared experiences in navigating a physical, social, and political environment which, in general, is not suited to their needs. We have a number of projects which explore the experience of disability from this perspective, including work on disability identity, disability stigma & prejudice, and disability activism. We also collaborate with a number of different research labs in psychology and with other on and off campus groups. If you are interested in joining the lab, please check out our webpage at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/rottenstein.lab and click on the "Join Our Lab!" link. It will review in more details the responsibilities of URAs as well as provide instructions for how to formally apply for a position. Time commitment requested:   5-15 hours of independent work + 1 hour mandatory lab meeting per week. Course credit is available to students who remain in the lab for more than one semester. Qualifications of student: Interested students must be self-motivated, organized, and able to effectively communicate with others. Familiarity with disability studies in addition to psychology research methods is preferred, but not required – if you’re willing to work, we will teach you! Credit Offered: Maybe Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Michelle Kees Email: mkees@umich.edu Phone: (734) 764-7328 Overall Title of Project:   Resilient Military Families Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Developmental Project Description: Through M-SPAN (Military Support Programs and Networks; www.m-span.org), we have a number of family-based programs developed to build resiliency and promote positive adjustment across the deployment cycle. Activities within our military family programs include therapeutic intervention groups for parenting young children and for building spouse resiliency, military family support and education groups, community service and outreach, and an extensive research component with surveys, focus groups, and program evaluation. Students will have an opportunity to be involved in all phases of the various projects including team meetings, outreach activities with military families, collecting data from adults and children, co-leading child intervention groups, entering and analyzing data, and writing up results for presentation/publication. Students will gain in-depth knowledge and experience about how to conduct clinical research and opportunities for direct interaction with children. Time commitment requested:   6-12 hours per week. Some evening time required. Potential weekend time. Qualifications of student: Research Assistants must have an interest and experience in working with children. Prefer someone with an interest and/or background in the military. Upper-level psychology majors with 3.0 GPA or higher preferred. Students must be reliable, detail-oriented, professional, and organized. Skills/experience with data entry and analyses is a plus. Individual interviews with project director and transcripts will be required. Credit Offered: yes Money: No Experience only: yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Dr. Cynthia Ewell Foster, Department of Psychiatry Email: cjfoster@med.umich.edu Alternate Contact: Amanda Burnside Email: amaburns@med.umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   SAMSHA Transforming Youth Suicide Program Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Community Project Description: What is the best way to reach adolescents at risk for suicide? How can so-called gatekeepers (teachers, school counselors and others) recognize adolescents at risk for suicide and link them to the appropriate resources? Our SAMSHA-funded project is looking to answer these questions, after providing these gatekeepers with a suicide prevention training. A research assistant is needed for data entry and data organization. The research assistant should be self-motivated and energetic with attention to detail. Time commitment requested:   5-10 hours/week (flexible) Qualifications of student: Undergraduate coursework in psychology; Transportation to the Rachel Upjohn Building; Previous work experience (with references) Credit Offered: No Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: David Lee Email: dsjlee@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Seeing Friendliness in Negative Feedback Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: When people meet a stranger, they need to quickly distinguish whether that person is going to be a friend or an enemy, as connecting with an enemy can be disastrous. Because of this, we frequently try to obtain information about others to predict what they might be like. In this project, we investigate what kind of cues people use to assess friendliness in others. The experiments will include interacting with participants, administering paper-based surveys, and behavioral measures. Research assistants will be responsible for preparing experimental materials, running subjects, and entering and coding data. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours per week Qualifications of student: We are looking for students who are reliable, punctual, detail-oriented, and motivated to gain research experience. Good communication and organization skills and knowledge of some basic computer skills are also required. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Anna Linda Hagen Email: alhagen@umich.edu Alternate Contact: Professor Norbert Schwarz Email: nschwarz@umich.edu Phone: (734) 834-6340 Overall Title of Project:   Selection, Employment, and Impact of Alternative Metaphors on Consumers’ Judgment and Decision-making Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Experimental Consumer Research, Embodied Cognition, Social Cognition Project Description: An intriguing line of research shows that how we evaluate people and objects (e.g., consumer products) can be influenced by bodily sensations that are related to metaphors used in common language. For instance, physical warmth influences judgments of social warmth and even highly complex perceptive conceptions such as sweet or bitter taste can shape how we judge the personality of others and ourselves to the effect that others seem to have a “sweeter” personality when we taste something sweet rather than bitter. Our project addresses processes of this type and asks which factors determine whether a given metaphor is used or not, and which of several applicable metaphors are drawn upon to aid information processing. Our research assistant will have the opportunity to participate in all steps of an experimental research project. Core responsibilities include literature and internet searches, approaching potential research participants and inviting them to partake in our studies, presenting them with the study materials (i.e. products to be evaluated, survey sheets to be filled out), and organizing and managing the collected data. Time commitment requested:   6 hours per week (2 credits) Qualifications of student: We are looking for students who are: - Psychology majors familiar with the experimental method of research. - Dependable and diligent workers, well-organized in terms of managing time and materials, and honest - Outgoing and confident (and polite) enough to approach a variety of people in person to encourage them to participate in our research - Genuinely curious, capable of independent thinking, and motivated to learn. Experience with SPSS and/or literature research is welcome but not required. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Barbara Smuts Email: bsmuts@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Social Behavior in Domestic Dogs Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Biopsychology Project Description: Students will code specific behaviors while watching video (on computers) of social interactions among domestic dogs. The interactions occur mainly during play and greetings. The videos are filmed locally (in back yards or dog parks, etc.) as part of an ongoing study of dog social behavior. Students will use slow motion and frame-by-frame viewing to recognize and code subtle or rapid behaviors difficult to identify in real time. Through this experience, students will develop an excellent eye for complex behavioral sequences. Since these observational skills will generalize to other species, this training is useful for any student interested in studying naturally occurring behavior in animals, including humans. Students will work for a pre-agreed, average number of hours each week at a video laboratory in East Hall. Work hours are flexible but a minimum of 6 hours/week is required. Students can take the course as Psych 322 (credit/no credit) or Psych 326. The latter involves writing a 6-8 page paper in scientific format that describes the coding, analysis, and interpretation of some aspect of dog behavior. Students highly motivated to continue with research may participate further in subsequent terms. Advanced students may have opportunities to design their own research projects in collaboration with Dr. Smuts and other experienced students. Time commitment requested:   Minimum 6 hrs/week Qualifications of student: At least one previous class in animal behavior, such as Psych 335 or Psych 338 (same as Anthro 368) and Psych 530, "Behavior of wolves & dogs" taught by Dr. Smuts. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Oscar Ybarra Email: oybarra@umich.edu Alternate Contact: David Lee Email: dsjlee@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Social Factors in Decision Making Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: Standard economic perspectives tend to assume that people are always rational. However, research in social psychology has shown in many studies that people at times make decisions that do not make perfect economic sense, for example, forgoing large long-term benefits for smaller short-term ones. At times people run into this kind of trouble because of the involvement of other people – other people have a way of influencing us to make less than optimal decisions because they can trigger motives such as competition, altruism, or a veritable buffet of emotions that affect thinking. In this study, we are exploring the idea that social factors, in particular secure and supportive social relations, can make people more “rational.” The experiments will include interacting with participants, administering computer-based surveys, and behavioral measures. Research assistants will be responsible for preparing experimental materials, running subjects, and entering and coding data. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours per week Qualifications of student: We are looking for students who are reliable, punctual, detail-oriented, and motivated to gain research experience. Good communication and organization skills and knowledge of some basic computer skills are also required. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Sari van Anders Alternate Contact: Lauren Hipp Email: hipplau@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Social Neuroendocrinology Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Biopsychology: Personality in Social Context, Psychology & Women's Studies Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Social, Gender, Sexuality, Hormones, Relationships Project Description: Hormones+Gender/Sex+Evolution+Sexuality Lab Research •We study how hormones and social behaviors are associated. •All research is conducted with humans. For more info on the lab and how to apply, please see http://www-personal.umich.edu/~smva/jointhelab.html Time commitment requested:   7-10 hours per week Qualifications of student: •Comfortable working with people; •Dependable, motivated, interested in research; •Able to devote 7-10 hours/week to the lab; •Majors in: Psychology, Neuroscience, Women’s Studies; Also welcome are majors in Anthropology, Biology, etc. Credit Offered: possibly, see website Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: possibly

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Adrienne Dougherty Email: adough@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Stressful Tasks and Coping Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: We all encounter stressful tasks throughout life. We are constantly trying to find ways to effectively deal with these daily stressors. This study is investigating how different methods of preparing one’s self for an important task influences physiology and performance. The experiments will include interacting with participants, administering paper-based surveys, and behavioral measures. Research assistants will be responsible for preparing experimental materials, running subjects, and entering and coding data. Time commitment requested:   Qualifications of student: We are looking for students who are reliable, punctual, enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and motivated to gain research experience. Good communication and organization skills and knowledge of some basic computer skills are also required. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: No Workstudy: No

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Joanna Rosenthal, LMSW Email: joannakr@umich.edu Phone: 734.998.5832 Overall Title of Project:   STRoNG Families: Support to Restore, Repair, Nurture and Grow Military Families Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Developmental Project Description: A program of M-SPAN (Military Support Programs and Networks; m-span.org), STRoNG Families is a 10-week program for military families with young children, and is designed to support and enhance the resilience of military families by creating opportunities for families to learn and grow in their ability to navigate the unique challenges they face. Beginning in mid-March, a new group will launch in Warren, MI and will be held on Thursday nights through May. Additional groups in Oakland County and Jackson will be launched later in the spring/summer. Students are needed to staff the Child Team. Students on the Child Team will have an opportunity to be involved in all phases of the project, including team meetings, outreach activities with military families and collecting and entering data from adults and children. Through direct interaction with children and families in a supervised setting, students will also develop clinical skills and the ability to observe interactions while cultivating a better understanding of child development. Time commitment requested:   6-12 hours per week. Evening work is required. Potential weekend time. Qualifications of student: Research Assistants must have an interest and experience in working with children. Prefer someone with an interest and/or background in the military. Students must be reliable, detail-oriented, professional, and organized. Skills/experience with data entry and analyses is a plus. Individual interviews with Child Team leader will be required. Credit Offered: yes Money: no Experience only: no Workstudy: no

Project Director: Pamela Davis-Kean, Ph.D. Email: pdakean@isr.umich.edu Irene Wu Email: irenewu@umich.edu Alternate Contact: Celeste Mendoza Email: cmendoz@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   The HOME Project Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Major area of Psychology in which this project is located:   Education, Psychology Project Description: The HOME project involves researching and documenting data sets that have used the H.O.M.E. Inventory and assessing the ways in which participants respond to items across SES and race groups. We are currently analyzing home data and how it relates to various outcomes (e.g., educational, behavioral, psychological) with a specific focus on ethnic minority individuals. We are working on recommendations for revisions of the H.O.M.E. Inventory, as well as recommendations for new items. Other projects include studying how family and culture influence the academic achievement of students from underrepresented populations. More specifically, we are looking at how families play a role in the transition from high school to college for Latina/o youth. We are not collecting data for these projects. RAs will participate in multiple levels of research, including literature reviews, helping organize and analyzing data, and collaborating in individual and lab meetings. Familiarity with Excel is required and knowledge of statistics (e.g. SPSS) and any previous research experience are a plus, but not required. Students can expect to gain experience with SPSS since we primarily work with data in this program. If you are interested in these projects or the HOME project, please contact Celeste Mendoza (cmendoz@umich.edu). Time commitment requested:   8+ hours a week Qualifications of student: Undergraduate majoring in psychology or a related field. Research assistants are needed to start during Spring/Summer 2013, with preference given to RAs who can commit to Summer 2013 and/or Fall 2013 as well. RAs will participate in multiple levels of research, including literature reviews, transcriptions, coding data, and collaborating in individual and lab meetings. Familiarity with Word and Excel are required. Knowledge of statistics (e.g. SPSS) and any previous research experience are a plus, but not required. We give priority to highly-motivated students who are interested in our specific research aims and who are particularly interested in studying how family, culture, and SES influence development. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: Yes

Project Director: Julie Lumeng, MD, Katherine Rosenblum, PhD, Alison Miller, PhD Alternate Contact: Emilie P Kraft Email: MaternalFeeding@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   The Maternal Feeding Study Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Developmental Project Description: The current longitudinal study examines maternal feeding styles, parenting behavior, and childhood obesity in mothers and their preschool-aged children. The goal of the study is to characterize maternal feeding styles in families of low socioeconomic status and address gaps in the current literature surrounding childhood obesity. Participating families agree to a series of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, recorded mealtimes, and a food experiment located both on campus and in the field. These protocols occur during the day and/or into the later afternoon in communities up to 1.5 hours from Ann Arbor, and this position therefore requires availability in the evening. Data collection occurs in a family's home and in child care settings. Undergraduate students are needed to work in the field as aides to the research assistants conducting protocol. Duties may include helping with preparation of research materials (weighing food, setting up protocols), engaging with the mothers and their children, providing activities for the children while their mothers participate in research, and other office tasks (phone calls). Time commitment requested:   4-10 hours per week, more if interested; most times will be during the evening between the hours of 3-7pm. Must be willing to accompany research assistant into the field (transportation provided). Qualifications of student: Interested students must show initiative, be professional, motivated, personable, and comfortable around small children. Psychology and outside majors applicable. Competition of a background check will be preformed before student can go into field. Credit Offered: No Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: Yes

Project Director: Alternate Contact: Zarina Kraal Phone: azkraal@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   Written Emotional Expression, Working Memory, Depression, and Rumination Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Clinical Project Description: This study examines whether difficulties in manipulating emotional information in working memory is associated with depression and rumination, and whether a writing task can improve the ability to manipulate emotional information in working memory. Research assistants will be involved in scheduling and running participants for the study, data entry, data organization, participating in lab meetings, and other lab-related tasks. Applicants should send their CV and an unofficial copy of their transcript to Zarina Kraal at azkraal@umich.edu. Time commitment requested:   5-8 hours per week. Qualifications of student: Undergraduates majoring in Psychology, BCN, or Neuroscience who are interested in research. Students must be organized, reliable, motivated, and able to work independently. Students in good academic standing and with experience in research are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to students who are interested in the cognitive aspects of depression. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Yes Workstudy: No

Project Director: Patricia Chen Email: patchen@umich.edu Overall Title of Project:   You Are What You Assume! Major area of Psychology in which these projects are located:   Social Project Description: Looking at these project descriptions, are you most drawn in by the ones that fit most closely with your personal interests, or the ones that promise the greatest developmental experience? When you encounter a difficulty at school, how do you react to it? Is it always better to persist in the face of an obstacle or to know when to cut your losses and focus on things that you are naturally better at? In romantic relationships, would you prefer to look for your perfect soulmate, or for someone who is complementary enough, but will weather the ups and downs with you? Across multiple domains, from education to relationships, our research pits the “practice makes perfect” stance against “finding your perfect match.” We look at not only how people view themselves as fixed or malleable, but also what their views about the environment are, and how the environment shapes these fundamental assumptions they hold. We are also interested in how culture may play a role in shaping different beliefs and assumptions about human nature and the environmental context. If you’re someone who fits well with us because you care about these issues, or if you’d like to develop your research experience with a team of dedicated people, we welcome you to apply to the Ideas Lab! We are looking for capable, responsible, and highly motivated students to join our journey. As part of the team, you can expect to be involved in various stages of the research process. This includes experience in (1) research design (2) gaining expertise in the relevant literature (3) research methodology, possibly including online surveys, field research, and computer-based lab studies (4) collating and analyzing data (5) presenting your findings. If you make a commitment to us, and take the initiative to develop yourself through this process, we will make an equal commitment to you to facilitate that development. Time commitment requested:   6-9 hours per week (2-3 credits or Pass/Fail lab courses) Qualifications of student: We are looking for highly driven individuals who show responsibility and care in their work. You should be excited about the research process, and take initiative to learn as much as you can from this opportunity. Students with strong interest in social psychological topics and how they apply to daily life are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to those who are keen to commit for more than one semester, because this is the optimal period of time to develop the necessary skills for research. The lab is also very active during the summer months, and although we do not expect you to commit to those terms, we would love it if you can be a part of the process then. Previous research experience is preferred but not required, as I am more than happy to guide you through the learning process. There is ample room for people who work well in teams and for those who are more efficient working individually. Credit Offered: Yes Money: No Experience only: Preferred but not required Workstudy: No