Undergraduate Research Opportunities Psychology Faculty and Affiliated Faculty

(Last updated 3/12/2024)

PSYCHOLOGY FACULTY

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Alibali, Martha; Cognitive Development and Communication Lab

Research Foci: Mathematical Cognition & Gesture
Size of Lab: Varies. 5-6 undergrad researchers is typical
Lab website: https://alibali.psych.wisc.edu
Contact: mwalibali@wisc.edu

Auger, Anthony; Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Research Lab

Research Foci: We investigate how biological sex, early life experiences, and epigenetics interact to predict social development and mental health risk. Focused themes include hormonal influences on adolescent social development, early-life adversity, anxiety, depression, and juvenile social play.

Lab website: https://augerlab.labs.wisc.edu

Contact: Antony Auger, apauger@wisc.edu

 

Austerweil, Joseph; Austerweil Lab

Research Foci: Human and Machine Learning; Categorization; Reasoning, Judgement & Decision Making.
Lab website: http://alab.psych.wisc.edu/
Contact: Joe Austerweil, austerweil@wisc.edu 

*Not recruiting any new undergrad research students at the moment.

Bennett, Allyson; Developmental Psychobiology Lab

Research Foci: Our research centers on how the interplay between early environments, experiences, and genes contribute to individual variation in psychological and physical health across the lifespan in nonhuman primates. A central question in our work is how aspects of physical and social environments affect biobehavioral development. Thus, part of our research takes a comparative approach to evaluate specific features of the environments and experiences of laboratory animals. In turn, the work provides empirical evidence to inform evolving standards for animal welfare, particularly those that also affect scientific outcomes.

Contact: Allyson Bennett, allyson.j.bennett@wisc.edu 

Berridge, Craig; Neural Bases of Behavior Lab

Research Foci: Behavioral/Systems Neuroscience.  Actions of neurotransmitters and ADHD-related drugs on cognition and neural.
Lab website: https://psych.wisc.edu/berridge/ 
Contact: Craig Berridge, berridge@wisc.edu

 

 

Brauer, Markus; Brauer Lab Group

Research Foci: Group processes, prejudice, sustainability, social interventions
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Lab Website: http://psych.wisc.edu/Brauer/BrauerLab/
Contact: Kevin Kennedy markus.brauer.lab@psych.wisc.edu
How to Apply: http://psych.wisc.edu/Brauer/BrauerLab/index.php/join-us/prospective- research-assistants/

Buttrick, Nick; Action Research Facility

Research Foci: American society, in a cross-cultural context – how the way we view the world is shaped by cultural, sociological, and historical processes, and what that does to the way we behave.
Lab Website: Coming Soon! For now: www.nickbuttrick.com
Contact: Nick Buttrick (nbuttrick@wisc.edu)
How to Apply: Fill out this form to apply: https://forms.gle/Ya3d33WAe7QkejEs5

Curtin, John; Addiction Research Center

Research Foci: Our program of research focuses broadly on psychological and neural mechanisms that are involved in risk, prevention, and intervention for patients with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders. We focus on the development and implementation of digital therapeutics that prevent, manage, or treat chronic disease including substance use disorders. Our specific emphasis is on algorithm development within digital therapeutics for temporally precise psychiatric risk prediction (e.g., moment by moment relapse risk prediction; efficient and early psychiatric screening) and personalized interventions that adapt to both characteristics of the patient and their moment in time. To this end, we combine analytic approaches from machine learning with novel, highly informative signals (e.g., geolocation; cellular communications) derived by passive personal sensing. 
Minimum GPA: 3.5 (slightly flexible depending on interest and commitment)
Lab website: https://arc.psych.wisc.edu
Contact: John Curtin, jjcurtin@wisc.edu

Davidson, Richard; The Center for Healthy Minds

Research Foci: We study the neural bases of emotion and anxiety and mood disorders; neural, biological and behavioral mechanisms of well-being; interventions to promote well-being; and mindfulness-based interventions.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 (firm) Some lab supervisors may require higher GPAs.

Location: The Center for Healthy Minds (625 West Washington Avenue), The Waisman Center, and Brogden Psychology Building.
Lab website: https://centerhealthyminds.org/
Contact: Jane Lambert, Jane.lambert@wisc.edu

How to Apply: https://centerhealthyminds.org/about/employment

Devine, Patricia; Prejudice and Intergroup Relations Lab

Research Foci: Our lab researches how people manage the challenges associated with overcoming unintentional bias, prejudice, and stereotyping in contemporary society. Our efforts are aimed at mitigating bias by using evidence-based interventions to empower individuals to regulate their behavior and break the prejudice habit. More specifically, we focus on developing effective strategies for addressing unintentional biases related to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, and more in every day life.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants:  Psychology 202; enrolled or completed Psychology 225
Lab website: https://devinelab.psych.wisc.edu
Contact: Addison Carriere, alcarriere@wisc.edu 

How to Apply: https://devinelab.psych.wisc.edu/join-our-lab/

Ferrigno, Stephen; Cognitive Origins Lab

Research Foci: Comparative animal & developmental cognition – What makes human thinking unique? And how do these abilities develop?

Lab website: https://cognitiveoriginslab.psych.wisc.edu/

Contact: cognitiveoriginslab@psych.wisc.edu

How to Applyhttps://cognitiveoriginslab.psych.wisc.edu/undergraduate-students/

 

Gernsbacher, Morton Ann; Gernsbacher Lab

Research Foci: We research cognitive neuroscience of human communication and attention. We’re also interested in atypical communication and cognition, as well as electronically mediated communication (including electronic interaction for online learning and education).
Lab website: http://www.gernsbacherlab.org/

Contact: Christie Seyl,  gernsbacherlab@psych.wisc.edu

How to Applyhttps://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7NwLRMWxFq2T2TA 

 

Gooding, Diane; PATHS Lab

Research Foci: Our primary research focus is on schizophrenia and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: 3.2 GPA, Psychology 405 (Abnormal Psych ) and 225 (can be taking it concurrently)
Lab website: https://psych.wisc.edu/gooding/pathslab/
How to Apply: Contact Professor Gooding, dgooding@wisc.edu

Green, C. Shawn; Learning and Transfer Lab

Research Foci: Our research interests focus on human learning – particularly in the perceptual and cognitive domains.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: minimum GPA of 3.0 (although flexible depending on interest, courses taken, etc).
Lab website: https://greenlab.psych.wisc.edu/
Contact: Levi Kasten lakasten2@wisc.edu 

How to Apply: https://greenlab.psych.wisc.edu/prospective-lab-members/#prospective-undergraduate-researchers

Harackiewicz, Judith; Goal Setting and Intrinsic Motivation Lab

Research Foci: We are interested in human motivation, specifically intrinsic motivation, interest, and achievement motivation.
How to Apply: Contact Professor Judy Harackiewicz, jmharack@wisc.edu

Hawkins, Robert; Social Interaction Lab

Research Foci: We are interested in the cognitive mechanisms that allow people to flexibly communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with one another in social interactions. Our work includes computational models of human cognition, large-scale web experiments, and neuroimaging studies.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: 3.5 GPA preferred, coursework in Cognitive Psychology, Language Science, and/or Computer Science
Lab website: https://rdhawkins.com/

How to Apply: Send resume, unofficial transcript, and a brief letter of interest to Prof. Robert Hawkins (rdhawkins@wisc.edu)

Jerald, Morgan; Intersectionality & Marginalization (I.AM) Lab

Research Foci: Intersectionality, racialized and gendered stereotypes, gender and sexual socialization, media use, self-objectification, racial/ethnic identity
Lab website: https://www.jeraldiamlab.com/
Contact: Morgan Jerald, iamlab@psych.wisc.edu

How to Applyhttps://forms.gle/xREnjLcKnUY7gRL98

Jordan, Ashley; Developmental Intergroup Social Cognition (DISC) Lab

Research Foci: My lab studies how children’s understanding of social life develops, with particular emphasis on how children think about gender diversity and how messages about similarity guide their social preferences.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: No minimum, GPA above 3.0 preferred
Lab website: http://ashleyelizajordan.com/
Contact: Ashley Jordan, aejordan@wisc.edu 

How to Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxeYLPYojWVb52N8UPACXZpqXPQlGlLwtEmQvgAzbuKa7TOA/viewform 

Li, James; Social and Behavioral Development Lab

Research Foci: We investigate genetic and environmental factors that contribute to individual differences in the development of child ADHD and other externalizing disorders (i.e., oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder).
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: Minimum GPA of 3.5, at least sophomore standing.
Lab website: https://lilab.waisman.wisc.edu
Contact: Olivia Swartz, childstudy@waisman.wisc.edu

How to Applyhttps://lilab.waisman.wisc.edu/students/#undergraduate-research-assistants

Lupyan, Gary; Lupyan Lab

Research Foci: Effects of language on thought; evolution of language; categorization and reasoning; cultural evolution; neural network modeling.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants:
 Minimum GPA: 3.0
Lab website:
http://sapir.psych.wisc.edu
Contact:
 Gary Lupyan (lupyan@wisc.edu)
How to Apply:
 
https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b73PomUkwUbvZbL

 

Marler, Catherine; The Marler Lab

Research Foci: Our research centers around bi-directional interactions between endocrinology, animal behavior and the social environment.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: Some biology coursework
Lab website: https://marlerlab.psych.wisc.edu/
Contact: Professor Marlercamarler@wisc.edu
How to Apply: https://marlerlab.psych.wisc.edu/join-us/

Niedenthal, Paula; Neidenthal Emotions Lab

Research Foci: Our lab studies the perception, social function, and cultural shapers of human emotion expression.
Lab website: https://www.niedenthalemotionslab.com
Contact: Professor Niedenthal, niedenthal@wisc.edu 
How to Apply: https://www.niedenthalemotionslab.com/join_lab

Pollak, Seth; Child Emotion Lab

Research Foci: Our research focuses on the influences of social risk factors on children’s brain and behavioral development, with particular focus on emotions, learning, and children’s health.Lab website: https://childemotion.waisman.wisc.edu/
Contact: Anna Bechner, ambechner@wisc.edu
How to Apply: https://childemotion.waisman.wisc.edu/for-students/

Postle, Brad; Cognitive Neuroscience of Visual Cognition

Research Foci: Our interests in human memory and cognition encompass the cognitive and neural bases of working memory, attention, control, and consciousness.
Location: Brogden Psychology Building and Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute for and Clinic (6001 Research Park Boulevard)
Lab website: https://postlab.psych.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Jacqueline Fulvio, jacqueline.fulvio@wisc.edu

Rogers, Tim; Knowledge and Concepts Lab

Research Foci: We are interested in understanding human semantic memory; that is, our knowledge about the meanings of words, objects, and events.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: 3.5 GPA or higher, a course in Cognitive Psychology
Lab website: http://concepts.psych.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Professor Tim Rogers, ttrogers@wisc.edu

Ryff, Carol; Institute on Aging & MIDUS

Research Foci: Our research is strongly multidisciplinary and focuses on how various aspects of psychological well-being are contoured by broad social structural influences such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and culture as well as how psychological well-being is linked with biological factors (e.g., neuroendocrine regulation, inflammatory processes, cardiovascular risk)
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: sophomore or junior standing preferred
Lab websites: http://www.aging.wisc.edu/ and  http://www.midus.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Professor Carol Ryff, cryff@wisc.edu

Saffran, Jenny; Infant Learning Lab

Research Foci: We study how infants and young children do such things as learn language, learn the meanings of words, find the patterns in language and track the properties of speech.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: Minimum GPA: 3.0 (with exceptions), some coursework in psychology and/or communication sciences preferred
Lab website: https://infantlearning.waisman.wisc.edu/

Contact: Send resume, unofficial student record, and a brief letter of interest to the lab manager at babies@waisman.wisc.edu
How to Apply: https://infantlearning.waisman.wisc.edu/for-students/

Schloss, Karen; Schloss Visual Reasoning Lab

Research Foci: The Visual Reasoning lab studies how people interpret meaning from visual features, with the goal of making visual communication more effective and efficient. With a primary focus on color, our lab addresses fundamental questions in information visualization and visual cognition. We also develop educational tools in virtual reality (VR) to help make science more accessible and engaging.
Lab website: https://schlosslab.discovery.wisc.edu/
How to Apply:  Send a brief note of interest to the lab: schlosslab@wid.wisc.edu

Shutts, Kristin; Social Kids Lab

Research Foci: We study social cognitive development, with a particular interest in the development of social categories and intergroup bias in infancy and early childhood.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: No minimum, above 3.0 preferred
Location: Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue
Lab website: https://socialkids.waisman.wisc.edu/

Contact: Natalie Sarmiento nsarmiento@wisc.edu
How to Apply: https://socialkids.waisman.wisc.edu/students/

Walsh, Kate; PIVOT (Preventing Interpersonal Violence and Overcoming Trauma) Lab

Research Foci: Our lab researches risk factors for and outcomes of interpersonal violence, particularly sexual violence. We study reasons why people might be more likely to be aggressive with the goal of developing better prevention programming and informing policies; however, we also work on projects, particularly early interventions, to reduce suffering (posttraumatic stress disorder, substance misuse) among people who have experienced violence.

Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants Psychology 202; enrolled or completed Psychology 225

Lab websitehttps://pivotlab.psych.wisc.edu/

Contact: Kate Walsh, klwalsh2@wisc.edu

How to Applyhttps://pivotlab.psych.wisc.edu/join-us/prospective-research-assistants/

AFFILIATED FACULTY

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Atir, Stav; School of Business

Research Foci: When do people think they know more than they do? Why do students hate the most effective learning strategies? How much can you learn from a casual conversation with a stranger? In the Knowledge Lab, we tackle these and other questions by studying how people think about their own knowledge and learning. The lab also studies issues of gender in a work context.
LocationWisconsin School of Business (Grainger Hall)
Website: Stav Atir: https://stavatir.com/
How to Apply: Fill out the application at the bottom of this page and email it to Prof. Stav Atir at stav.atir@wisc.edu

Bolt, Daniel; Educational Psychology

Profile: https://edpsych.education.wisc.edu/staff/bolt-daniel/
Research Foci:
My interests are in the theory and application of psychometric methods in education and psychology.
How to Apply: Contact Professor Daniel Bolt, dmbolt@wisc.edu

Costanzo, Erin; Psychiatry; Psychosocial Oncology Lab

Research Foci: Our research focuses on the role of psychological factors in the health and well-being of adult cancer patients. Investigations focus on psychological, biological, and behavioral factors that affect recovery from cancer treatment.
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Contact: Erin Costanzo, ecostanzo@wisc.edu

Dilworth-Bart, Janean; Human Development and Family Studies

Profile: https://sohe.wisc.edu/staff/janean-dilworth-bart-2/
Research Foci: My scholarship revolves around how early developmental contexts help or hinder children’s development into competent, productive members of society.
Location: Waisman Center
How to Apply: Contact Professor Janean Dilworth-Bart, jedilworth@wisc.edu

Herringa, Ryan; Psychiatry

Profile: https://www.psychiatry.wisc.edu/staff/herringa-ryan/
Research foci: Using neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry, we are exploring brain-body mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience to childhood trauma.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: 3.0 GPA
Location: WisPIC
Lab website: BRAVE Research Center: https://brave.psychiatry.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: https://brave.psychiatry.wisc.edu/join-the-lab/ or contact braveyouthlab@psychiatry.wisc.edu

Johnson, Sterling; Medicine

Profile: https://www.medicine.wisc.edu/people-search/people/staff/449
Research Foci: Dr. Johnson is a clinical neuropsychologist with research interests in brain function in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Location: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Clinical Science Center (J5/1M) – MC2420. 600 Highland Ave. Madison, WI, 53792
Website: Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) Study website: https://wrap.wisc.edu/
Website: Wisconsin Alzheimers Disease Research Center: http://brainmap.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Professor Sterling Johnson (scj@medicine.wisc.edu), or Amy Hawley: 265-2201

Kalin, Ned; Psychiatry

Profile: https://www.psychiatry.wisc.edu/staff/kalin-ned/
Research Foci: The Kalin Lab combines molecular, preclinical animal models, and human functional imaging studies to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying anxiety and mood disorders.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: No requirement, but averages above 3.5, sophomore standing
Location: WisPIC building, 6001 Research Park Boulevard
Website: https://kalinlab.psychiatry.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Patrick Roseboom, PhD at e-mail: roseboom@wisc.edu

Kirkorian, Heather; Human Development and Family Studies

Profile: https://humanecology.wisc.edu/staff/kirkorian-heather/

Research Foci: Our lab focuses on child development in the context of digital media, including the impact of media on early learning and parent-child interactions.
Location2208 Nancy Nicholas Hall (Human Ecology building)
Website: Cognitive Development and Media Lab: https://sites.google.com/site/kirkorianlab/home
How to Apply: Complete the survey on our website: https://sites.google.com/site/kirkorianlab/get-involved/undergraduate-volunteers

Koenigs, Michael; Psychiatry

Profile: https://www.psychiatry.wisc.edu/staff/koenigs-michael/
Research Foci: The goal of our research is to identify and characterize the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying deficits in human emotion, decision-making, and social behavior.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants: 3.2 GPA
Location: WisPIC, Psychology, and/or prison
Website: Koenigs Lab: http://koenigslab.psychiatry.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Professor Michael Koenigs, mrkoenigs@wisc.edu

Litovsky, Ruth; Communication Sciences and Disorders

Profile: https://csd.wisc.edu/staff/litovsky-ruth/
Research Foci:
In the Litovsky lab, we study binaural hearing in persons who have normal hearing and in persons who are deaf and use cochlear implants (CIs). We are interested in whether CI users can benefit from having two (bilateral) CIs and whether, for children, having bilateral CIs at a young age offers unique advantages.
Location: UW Waisman Center
Website: Binaural Hearing & Speech Lab: https://bhsl.waisman.wisc.edu
How to Apply: Contact Shelly Godar, godar@waisman.wisc.edu

Matthews, Percival; Educational Psychology

Lab Name: Math Education Learning and Development (MELD) Lab

PI: Percival Matthews (affiliate; home dept is Ed Psych)

Research Foci: The MELD lab studies how children and adults think about math and numbers. We explore the cognitive underpinnings of mathematical cognition and attempt to merge these psychological insights with perspectives from math education research. Our ultimate goal is to distill findings from basic research that can be used to inform practical pedagogies that can help optimize the learning and transfer of mathematical concepts and skills.

Requirements : Most of our projects are long-term projects, so we require that new RAs must commit to two semesters of 3credits each

How to Apply: Please contact Allison via email to apply

Allison Monday, almonday@wisc.edu

 

Mutlu, Bilge; Computer Science

Profile: http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~bilge/
Research Foci: My research program builds human-centered methods and principles for designing robotic technologies that help people communicate, work, and pursue personal goals and draws on a transdisciplinary design research process that combines aspects of design, computer science, and social and cognitive sciences.
Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Research Assistants:  3.2
Location: Computer Sciences Department (across Johnson Street from Psychology Department)
Website: Wisconsin Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory: http://hci.cs.wisc.edu
Contact: Bilge Mutlu, bilge@cs.wisc.edu
How to Apply: http://hci.cs.wisc.edu/join-us/

Piper, Megan; Medicine

Profile: https://www.medicine.wisc.edu/people-search/people/staff/227
Research Foci: Dr. Piper’s NIH-funded research focuses on understanding and treating tobacco dependence, with an additional interest in different populations of smokers who have more difficulty quitting, such as women and smokers with mental illness. Her research includes helping smokers quit as well as understanding dependence on novel tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).
Location: 1930 Monroe St.
Website: Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention: https://ctri.wisc.edu/
How to Apply: Contact Professor Megan Piper, mep@ctri.wisc.edu; 608-265-5472

Schaumberg, Katherine; Psychiatry

Research Foci: Our mission is to promote valued living and body acceptance at UW and beyond through investigating eating and exercise behaviors at the individual level. 
Lab website: https://embark.psychiatry.wisc.edu/

Embark Lab

Hello! We are the Embark Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our mission is to promote valued living and body acceptance at UW and beyond through investigating eating and exercise behaviors at the individual level.

embark.psychiatry.wisc.edu

Contact: Dr. Katherine Schaumberg, embarklab@psychiatry.wisc.edu

 

Thomas, Alvin; Human Ecology

Research Foci: Research in the Thomas Resilient Youth lab (TRYL) is located at the intersection of positive youth development and father engagement. We explore adolescent mental health with a focus on youth violence, discrimination and negative police experiences, social media use, and ethnic identity among Black youth. We examine father factors related to father engagement and fatherhood experiences for Black men. 
Lab website: https://chttps://thomaslab.humanecology.wisc.edu/hildemotion.waisman.wisc.edu/
Contact: athomas42@wisc.edu
How to ApplyTo inquire about opening in the lab interested students should email Dr. Thomas with the following (All of these pieces should be included in one pdf document): 

  • details of their prior research experiences
  • their research and career interests explaining how they intersect with the work of the TRYL lab
  • their most recent CV

Tsay, Chia-Jung, School of Business

Research Foci: Our research explores the psychology of performance, including the role of perception, expertise, and nonconscious biases. We use a range of methods (surveys, interviews, experiments) to examine how people make judgments and evaluations about others across domains, including business/entrepreneurship, healthcare, the performing arts, and sports. Some of the work also investigates how gender and racial minority status impact people’s judgment of performance and achievement. 
Lab website: https://business.wisc.edu/directory/profile/chia-jung-tsay/

Location: Wisconsin School of Business (Grainger Hall) and/or remote
How to Apply: email Chia-Jung Tsay at c.tsay@wisc.edu 

Vlach, Haley; Educational Psychology; Learning, Cognition, & Development Lab

Research Foci: Cognitive development; Bridging psychological science on children’s learning with education

Minimum GPA: 3.0 (with exceptions)

Location: 452 & 871 Educational Sciences

Lab Website: https://vlachlab.education.wisc.edu/

Contact: uwmadison.lcd.lab@gmail.com

How to Apply: Visit this website for application instructions: https://vlachlab.education.wisc.edu/college-students/