News

Undergraduate Research Assistants Needed: Emotions and Cognitive Control Validation Study

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Lead Investigator: Deborah Schneider (deborah.schneider@uconn.edu)
Project: Stop, Feel, Go: Emotions at the Intersection of Cognitive Control
Credits: 1-2 credit hours (3-6 hours/week commitment)

Opportunity Description

Project Overview: Join our research examining how emotional content affects cognitive control and response inhibition. This validation study establishes the reliability and validity of Go/No-Go tasks using emotional stimuli before implementing them in neuroimaging research. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with experimental psychology methodology while contributing to research that advances our understanding of emotion-cognition interactions.

What You’ll Learn
• Research methodology: Experimental design and psychometric validation processes
• Data collection and analysis: Working with behavioral measures and standardized assessments
• Critical analysis: Evaluating test reliability, validity, and sensitivity to emotional interference
• Scientific writing: Contributing to manuscript preparation
• Collaboration: Working as part of a research team

Responsibilities
• Assist with participant recruitment and data collection sessions
• Help administer Go/No-Go tasks and standardized measures
• Participate in weekly online team meetings
• Maintain detailed records using structured data collection protocols
• Assist with data analysis and quality assessment procedures

Recognition Opportunities Research assistants who demonstrate sustained commitment and make meaningful contributions will be eligible for:
• Acknowledgment in the published manuscript
• Potential co-authorship based on level of contribution
• Recommendation letters for graduate school or future research opportunities

Time Commitment
• 2-5 hours per week of research work
• 1 hour per week online team meeting
• Flexible scheduling around your academic commitments

Student Qualifications
What We’re Looking For
• Highly motivated students committed to seeing the project through completion
• Interest in emotion research, cognitive control, or experimental psychology
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to team goals
• Reliable attendance at weekly meetings

How to Apply
To Apply: Contact Dr. Deborah Schneider (deborah.schneider@uconn.edu) with:
• Brief statement of interest
• Current CV or resume
• Availability for weekly meetings

Mentor: Deborah Schneider, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department: Psychological Sciences
Email: deborah.schneider@uconn.edu
Timing: Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Undergraduate Research Assistants Needed: Systematic Review of Neuroimaging & Autism Intervention Research

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Autism Intervention Research
Lead Investigator: Deborah Schneider (deborah.schneider-richardson@uconn.edu), Department of Psychological Sciences
Project: Systematic Review of Neural and Behavioral Changes Following Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Credits: 1-2 credit hours (3-6 hours/week commitment)

Opportunity Description

Project Overview: This systematic review synthesizes neuroimaging studies to understand the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying intervention effectiveness. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with systematic review methodology while contributing to research that could improve interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

What You’ll Learn
• Research methodology: Systematic review processes following PRISMA guidelines
• Data extraction and synthesis: Deep understanding of peer-reviewed neuroimaging and behavioral studies
• Critical analysis: Evaluating research quality and synthesizing data across studies
• Scientific writing: Contributing to manuscript preparation
• Collaboration: Working as part of a research team

Responsibilities
• Extract and code data from research articles that have already been screened
• Participate in weekly online team meetings
• Maintain detailed records using structured data collection forms
• Assist with data synthesis and quality assessment of included studies

Recognition Opportunities: Research assistants who demonstrate sustained commitment and make meaningful contributions will be eligible for:
• Acknowledgment in the published manuscript
• Potential co-authorship based on level of contribution
• Recommendation letters for graduate school or future research opportunities

Time Commitment
• 2-5 hours per week of research work
• 1 hour per week online team meeting
• Flexible scheduling around your academic commitments

Student Qualifications
What We’re Looking For
• Highly motivated students committed to seeing the project through completion
• Interest in autism research, neuroimaging, or intervention studies
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to team goals
• Reliable attendance at weekly meetings

How to Apply
To Apply: Contact Dr. Deborah Schneider (deborah.schneider@uconn.edu) with:
• Brief statement of interest
• Current CV or resume
• Availability for weekly meetings

Mentor: Deborah Schneider, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department: Psychological Sciences
Email: deborah.schneider@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026, Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Undergraduate Research Assistant in REINVENT-PT Lab

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Opportunity Description

The REINVENT-PT lab (REhabilitation INnoVations & Emerging Novel Technologies in Physical Therapy, PI: Dr. Sudha Srinivasan) at the University of Connecticut (UConn) is interested in understanding developmental trajectories of individuals with developmental disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, etc. across the lifespan.
The REINVENT-PT lab is interested in understanding developmental trajectories of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, and Intellectual Disability across the lifespan. We are interested in studying how infants and children with developmental disabilities explore their physical and social environment compared to typically developing peers and the cascading effects of motor difficulties on a child’s social communication and cognitive development. We are also interested in assessing health-related outcomes in adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities, including their physical activity and physical fitness levels. Based on our understanding of the developmental trajectories of individuals with disabilities, our goal is to develop multi-system, engaging, evidence-based, behavioral interventions and assistive technologies to empower the lives of people with disabilities.

At present, the lab has 1 federally funded (funded through the National Institutes of Health) research project: a randomized control trial exploring the feasibility and efficacy of a novel upper extremity home-based training program using ride-on toys and navigational games to improve upper extremity function and spontaneous use in children with hemiplegia. Specifically, we are interested in comparing our novel ride-on toy intervention (called SPEED training) with a program based on conventional occupational therapy involving seated arts and craft activities (called CRAFT program).

Student Qualifications
We are looking for passionate, energetic, and empathetic undergraduate students interested in working on projects involving infants, children, and adults with disabilities. Students can pursue research at the lab for credit, for work study, and with the potential of converting a subset of the research into an honors Thesis. Students are required to commit to pursuing research in the lab for at least 2-3 semesters for the experience to be meaningful for students. Students are required to complete CITI training given that our research is with human subjects (details will be provided by the study PI).

How to Apply
Students from diverse backgrounds including but not limited to psychology, physiology and neurobiology, biology, exercise science, communication sciences, allied health, and education are encouraged to contact Dr. Sudha Srinivasan at sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu. Please attach your CV/Resume and your unofficial transcript to your email.

Mentor: Dr. Sudha Srinivasan, Assistant Professor
Department: Kinesiology
Email: sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu
Timing: Summer 2025, Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Research Assistant for a Summer Field Survey Project

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Opportunity Description

Project: Dr. Steven Mellor (PSYC) has a model of psychological predictors of the decision to voluntarily leave one’s union. To test the model, data are needed from actively employed union members, in which the survey asks members to tell their union story. Field sites for data collection include open community events and local union meetings, in which survey participation is strictly voluntary and anonymous.

Responsibilities: In coordination with Dr. Mellor, student research assistants are expected to seek and find survey sites for data collection, and once found, to distribute and collect surveys.

Time commitment: The hours per week are not set. Devoted hours are dependent on how many sites can be generated and when survey administration is scheduled. The number of weeks is open, but could include June, July, and available weeks in August.

Pay: This is an unpaid assistantship, although Psyc 3889 course credit is available (Undergraduate Research-Independent Study).

Student Qualifications
Required qualifications: (a) Interest in developing basic skills in survey field research (assistantship includes one-on-one training and IRB certification) and (b) a valid drivers license and a car or ready access to a car (all survey sites are located off-campus).

How to Apply
Apply by emailing me (steven.mellor@uconn.edu) for a day and time to meet in my office (156 Bousfield Psychology Building, located on the Storrs campus); no resumé or application material is necessary.

Mentor: Steven Mellor, Associate Professor
Department: Psychological Sciences
Email: steven.mellor@uconn.edu
Timing: Summer 2025
Campus: Storrs & Remote work

Research Assistant in Child/Adolescent and Mood Program (CAMP) Lab

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Opportunity Description

Researchers in the Child/Adolescent and Mood Program (CAMP) Lab in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health are seeking undergraduate students to assist with their on-going research studies.

Primary responsibilities include:
➢ Participant Recruitment
➢ Helping study coordinators with administrative duties
➢ Contact with families and school personnel
➢ Data entry
➢ Scholarship opportunities
➢ Other duties assigned by the CAMP Lab

Student Qualifications
We are looking for volunteers who can commit to work a minimum of 8-10 hours per week for 1 year, which includes 1 in-person workday at our West Hartford location. This can be taken for course credit (PSYC 3889/3899).

How to Apply
Students should send an email describing their interest in working in our lab, their CV with current GPA, and a list of two references to Emilie Butler (ebutler@uchc.edu).

Mentor: Emilie Butler, Postdoctoral Fellow
Department: UConn School of Medicine
Email: ebutler@uchc.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
Campus: Remote opportunity with a commitment of 1 in-person workday in West Hartford, CT

• Congratulations, 2025 SURF Award Recipients!

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The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce the selection of 46 undergraduate students to receive SURF Awards in support of their summer undergraduate research projects.

Click here to view the full list of Summer 2025 SURF awardees.SURF logo 2

Congratulations, SURF awardees! Your curiosity, initiative, and motivation were evident in your applications and you have an exciting summer of deep engagement with the process of academic inquiry ahead of you. We look forward to hearing about all you learn and discover!

We thank the faculty members who supported SURF applicants in a range of roles: mentors, letter writers, and faculty review committee members. SURF represents a collaborative effort between students and faculty. This program would not be possible without the support and participation of the UConn faculty!

OUR also extends thanks to SURF supporters in the UConn community. We are grateful to the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and to the Deans of the Schools and Colleges of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources; Education; Engineering; Fine Arts; Liberal Arts and Sciences; Nursing; and Pharmacy, who all pledged funding to the SURF competition this year. Alumni, parents, and friends of UConn also helped fund SURF awards. This collaborative funding effort ensures that SURF supports a diverse array of undergraduate research endeavors. We are grateful to all of our program partners for making intensive summer research opportunities available to students seeking to enrich their undergraduate experience in this way.

Once again, congratulations to the recipients of 2025 SURF awards, and good luck with your summer projects!

Research Assistant Needed for a Weight Loss Research Study

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Opportunity Description: We are seeking undergraduate student(s) to assist with a digital behavioral weight loss intervention targeting postpartum Black women. The study focuses on promoting changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors, with social support delivered through a private Facebook group. The undergraduate research assistant will be involved in managing REDCap surveys, creating infographics using Canva, and designing PowerPoint presentations. All duties will be conducted online, and weekly progress updates will be expected. This position offers a valuable opportunity for students interested in digital health, behavioral interventions, and health equity research. 

Student Qualifications

  • Students from any discipline with an interest in health research may apply
  • Must be available to work during summer
  • Remote work
  • Biweekly meetings
  • Basic knowledge of Canva
  • Interest in learning new technology

    How to Apply
    Please email your interest or any questions to Snehaa Ray at snehaa.ray@uconn.edu

    Mentor: Snehaa Ray, Doctoral Candidate
    Department: Department of Nutritional Sciences
    Email: snehaa.ray@uconn.edu
    Timing: Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: All campuses (remote work)

    The Proactive vs. Reactive Process: Beginning Your Research Journey

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    By Krithika Santhanam, Peer Research Ambassador

    Picture of Jonathan the Husky in the UConn Storrs library with text: "Student Research Blog: The Proactive vs. Reactive Process: Beginning Your Research Journey, By PRA Krithika." with link - https://ugradresearch.uconn.edu/2025/03/20/proactive-reactive/.Are you interested in getting involved with research but have no idea where to begin? Have you applied to programs and are unsure where to go from here? Are you interested in finding a different research opportunity that aligns with your WHY? Then you are definitely in the right place! Welcome to a crash course on the proactive versus reactive processes that students tend to take when finding a research opportunity that truly aligns with their passions. Continue reading →

    Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Balancing Research, Jobs, Clubs, & Schoolwork

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    By Michela Brown, Peer Research Ambassador

    Picture of Swan Lake and the Chemistry Building on the UConn Storrs campus with text: "Student Research Blog: Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Balancing Research, Jobs, Clubs, & Schoolwork, By PRA Michela."As a senior in college, I’ve come to know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to juggle classes, jobs, club commitments, and leadership roles – let alone adding research to the mix. Some days, it seems like there just aren’t enough hours to get everything done, and the pressure to succeed can feel intense. But let me assure you – everything will be okay. The key is finding balance and giving yourself grace along the way. Here are some strategies that have helped me navigate this journey and a reminder that you are not alone. Continue reading →

    Research Assistant in Survey Research, Substance Use

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    Opportunity Description

    Research assistance with literature reviews, article revision, and/or statistical programming sought. Practical, hands-on experience in searching primary literature, study design, statistical programming, and/or writing articles. Five hours weekly commitment sought. Currently working on analysis of substance use (i.e., cannabis, alternative tobacco use) using nationally representative survey data.

    Student Qualifications
    Interested students should have at minimum an introductory statistics, econometrics or equivalent class. Basic familiarity with statistical programming from such coursework is needed; a desire to learn additional techniques is a bonus.

    How to Apply
    Please email me explaining interest. Provide a resume and please note any relevant coursework.

    Mentor: Stephen Amrock, Assistant Professor
    Department: Medicine
    Email: amrock@uchc.edu
    Timing: Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
    Campus: UConn Health, Other – virtual possibility