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 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.
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 each lab’s name for more information:
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- Research Overview:
- Our research aims to explore the complexities and underlying factors associated with close relationships, identity and stigma. We explore stigma and identity considering both the experience of those possessing stigmatized identities as well as those perceiving stigmatized identities. We also conduct research to identify ways to improve close relationships.
- 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.
- Research Overview:
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- 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.dianatsanchez.com/get-involved-in-research. Applications are accepted between March – April for the upcoming school year. Depending on lab need, we will conduct RA interviews at the end of spring semester.
- Research Overview:
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- Research Overview:
- How do people overcome obstacles and difficulties in order to successfully meet the goals they set? How do they resist temptations, regulate emotions, ignore distractions, and disengage from unworthy pursuits? In the RAMP Lab, we explore the social cognitive and perceptual processes that predict and promote effective goal pursuit. Our exploration cuts across multiple contemporary social issues, testing self-regulatory processes that are implicated in health and fitness, romantic relationships, political polarization, pro-environmental behaviors, gender equality, and intergroup interactions.
- Lab Website:
- Instructions and timeline for undergraduates who want to get involved:
- Please see the “join us” page on our lab webpage (https://www.ramplab-rutgers.com/join) for an application and information about when applications are due. We typically review applications and conduct interviews toward the mid/end of the semester for the following semester start date.
- Research Overview:
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- Research Overview:
- The Social Complexity Lab studies how cognitive complexity, social identity, and social power relate to social justice issues.
- Cognitive complexity is the number of dimensions used to hold a mental image of a set of objects. More dimensions = more complexity.
- Social identity is the importance of a group membership to the self.
- Social power is the ability to block other people from meeting their needs.
- The Social Complexity Lab studies how cognitive complexity, social identity, and social power relate to social justice issues.
- Lab Website:
- Instructions and timeline for undergraduates who want to get involved:
- Please see the get involved page on the lab website (https://sites.rutgers.edu/rob-foels/get-involved/). To be eligible, applicants must have demonstrated a strong performance in one of Dr. Foels’s courses (Social Psychology, Self and Identity, Motivation and Emotion, Stereotyping and Prejudice). Applicants must attend an information session prior to course registration as a prerequisite to joining the lab (for more information, check the get involved page on the lab website). Applicants must be committed to 9 hours of lab work per week.
- Research Overview:
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- Research Overview:
- We study psychological aspects of physical disease with an emphasis on the role of stress and emotion.
- Lab Website:
- Instructions and timeline for undergraduates who want to get involved:
- Contact us about research opportunities any time. Send an email message to Prof. Contrada after completing this application: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_54HAQsoOUNXi8hD
- Research Overview:
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- 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.
- Research Overview:
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- Lab Website:
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- 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.
- Research Overview: