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How to Get Involved in Research

This is a resource page with links to information about becoming involved in Social Psychology research here at Rutgers! There are also other resources available on this page.

Research in Psychology at Rutgers: This webpage has links to required forms for receiving course credit as a research assistant at Rutgers. There is also information about the Rutgers Psychology Honors Thesis Program.

Undergraduate Research Labs at Rutgers: This webpage has information about the various undergraduate research labs at Rutgers where you may apply to be a research assistant. There is also information about opportunities for paid research and information on fellowships, internships and fieldwork available on this webpage. The core Social Psychology labs, and their respective faculty advisors, are listed below. Click the drop-down arrow next to each lab’s name for more information:

Diversity Science Lab – Dr. Calvin Lai
  • Research Overview:
    • We study how people create, interpret, and maintain group distinctions. We are particularly interested in how to reduce subtle or hidden forms of prejudice and discrimination.
  • Lab Website:
  • Instructions and timeline for undergraduates who want to get involved:
    • Reach out via the instructions at https://www.calvinklai.com/join-the-lab. Applications are accepted year-round for the upcoming semester. Depending on lab need, we will conduct RA interviews at the end of a semester and/or the start of the next.
Stereotyping and Social Interactions-Virtual Reality (SSI-VR) Lab – Dr. Valerie Jones Taylor
  • Research Overview:
    • Our lab examines three distinct but interrelated issues: how people 1) engage in interracial interactions, 2) experience and perceive race and gender in academic and workplace contexts and in racialized physical spaces, and 3) learn about and engage in social justice action. Across these areas, we examine virtual reality (VR) as a tool to reduce bias and systemic racism in individuals, interracial interactions, and institutions.
  • Lab Website:
  • Instructions and timeline for undergraduates who want to get involved:
    • Please see the contact page on the lab website (https://ssivrlab.wixsite.com/ssivrlab/contact). Submit an application following the instructions towards the end of the page. Interviews will take place towards the middle/end of each semester for the following term. Please contact a lab manager with additional questions.
Social Human-AI Impressions & Representations (SHIRE) Lab – Dr. Gandalf Nicolas
  • Research Overview:
    • At the SHIRE Lab we study how people think about the social world and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) models learn and reproduce these social representations. Our research is at the intersection of social cognition and interdisciplinary quantitative methods (e.g., computer vision and natural language processing). More specific topics include linguistic social cognition, intersectional perceptions, social biases in AI, and human-computer interaction.
  • Lab Website:
  • Instructions and timeline for undergraduates who want to get involved:
    • To apply to the SHIRE Lab, please submit the Online Application Form (https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_abhb58Kv8rJG9o2). While applications are accepted year-round, we primarily consider students for Fall semester start dates. We review submissions in July and early August, with decisions shared by August 20th.
Social, Health, and Interdisciplinary Psychophysiology (SHIP) Lab – Dr. Richard Contrada

 

Undergraduate Psychology Advising: This webpage has contact information and other relevant resources (e.g., advising hours, tutoring information) for undergraduate students seeking advising about the Rutgers Psychology major or minor.

Rutgers Social Psychology: This webpage has information about the Social Psychology graduate program at Rutgers and information about the faculty advisors in our program.