Research and Summer Opportunities
This page is designed to be a collection of opportunities for undergraduate and recently-graduated students. To submit an opportunity, please contact Shawn Harriman. The most recent posting submitted appears at the top of the page.
If you are an MBB student looking for information about MBB’s summer thesis research awards, please click here.Research Assistantship on the Development of Facial Emotion Processing during Childhood (Benjamin Balas / Professor Charles Nelson, Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Children's Hospital / Harvard Medical School)
This study is focused on determining how children between the ages of 3-10 years of age extract emotions from face images. Specifically, we will be conducting several experiments designed to assess the extent to which emotion recognition involves "holistic" processing (where the face is processed as one large pattern) vs. "featural" processing (in which individual parts of the face like the nose and mouth can be isolated for recognition). All of these experiments involve "composite" faces that are made by gluing the top half of one face to the bottom half of another. Children will be asked to recognize which emotion such faces are expressing while behavioral responses (and possibly eyetracking data) will be recorded. All testing will take place at the Boston Museum of Science as part of the "Living Laboratory" exhibits. Duties: The position requires interacting with children and their parents both during the actual test and afterwards to explain the goals of the research to participating families and answer any questions they might have. The student would be responsible for running subjects at the Museum of Science, assisting with data analysis, and creating images for use in the task. Time commitment: 6 hours per week on average. Experience: None required; experience with young children helpful. To apply, contact Ben Balas at benjamin.balas@childrens.harvard.edu. (posted 12/2008)
Research Assistantship on Language Development (Human Speechome Project, MIT)
The Human Speechome Project is a research effort at MIT to observe and analyze the longitudinal language development of a single child at an unprecedented scale. The project has attracted widespread attention in the child development, linguistics, and computer science research communities and has been featured in the media ranging from BBC World News to Science Magazine and Wired Magazine. While most language acquisition studies only observe or record children for at most a few hours a week, the Human Speechome Project has pioneered a method for ultra-dense longitudinal recordings. In this pilot project, approximately 70% of the child’s waking hours have been recorded using multiple cameras and microphones, leading to a corpus of well over 100,000 hours of audio-visual recordings. To enable analysis of this massive dataset, researchers at the MIT Media Lab are developing new software tools to semi-automate speech transcription and video annotation. The Speechome team is looking for help with speech transcription using experimental tools. Excellent listening and typing skills required. Should be a native English speaker, or consider English their primary language. An interest in linguistics and child development is preferred. Interested candidates please contact brewster@media.mit.edu. For more information please visit our website http://www.media.mit.edu/cogmac/index.htm. (posted 12/2008)
Research Assistantship on Depression and the Brain (Visual Neurocognition Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital)
Like to be the brain behind someone’s smile? We all know how difficult, yet important, it is to put a smile back on someone who is depressed. But we can’t just stop trying can we? Well, we at the Visual Neurocognition Lab, have been working hard at this using state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques. From measuring brain activity to checking out the connectivity between brain structures in people suffering from depression, we do it all. Our goal is to figure out what exactly is different about the brain of depressed individuals functionally and structurally, so that we can change it using some cool behavioral tasks (think games). But we could use some smart brains to help us on this adventure. If you have read this far, we are looking for students like you who are motivated, independent, and willing to commit at least 8-10 hours per week. This would be a part-time, volunteer opportunity and as much as we would like to pay you, we are not in a position do so. What would you be doing for 8 hours per week you wonder. Well, if you like all the brain-related stuff, you can help run brain imaging experiments and learn a lot about it on the way. If you have programming expertise you can help design some of the games or even come up with your own games. We also have other projects in the pipeline that are not related to depression as such, where we ask deep questions like: how do we know that a table is a table in under 26 milliseconds. Sounds like fun? If you think it does, you could check out more details about us at http://barlab.mgh.harvard.edu/index.htm or just google Moshe Bar. And if you’d like to be one of the brains, just write to bar@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu. (posted 12/2008)
Undergraduate Internship on Genetics and Psychiatric Disorders (Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital)
The Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit is looking for part time interns to work on studies investigating genetic risk factors for psychiatric disorders. Duties will include sample tracking, transfers, and quantification as well assistance with genotyping. Schedule is flexible, but applicants should be able to work for 4 to 8 hours per week. This position is a great opportunity to learn skills and procedures in a dynamic, and cutting edge genetics laboratory. Ideally the internship will continue into the summer as either full or part time. Send a cover letter and CV to Allan Guiney (aguiney@pngu.mgh.harvard.edu) or Allan Guiney, PNGU-CHGR, 185 Cambridge St, Boston MA, 02114. (posted 11/2008)
Research Assistantship in Pediatric Neuroscience (Professor Nadine Gaab, Developmental Medicine Center, Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Children's Hospital Boston / Harvard Medical School)
The Gaab Lab is looking for a Research Assistant to join the Gaab Lab (http://www.childrenshospital.org/research/gaablab) to assist with day-to day operations and functions and development and implementation of research procedures. This includes subject recruitment for pediatric research studies, scheduling of research subjects, database maintenance, pediatric testing and data analyses (psychometrics, psychophysics and functional magnetic resonance imaging), stimuli design and administrative work (e.g.; preparation of internal review board proposals) required. Must be self-motivated and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment and must like working with children. Several volunteer or credit positions are available; at least eight hours weekly. Please send CV to Nadine Gaab (Nadine.Gaab@childrens.harvard.edu). (posted 11/2008)
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Summer 2009 (Aachen University, Germany)
Interested in doing a research internship while spending a summer abroad? - No problem. Just join UROP International offered by RWTH Aachen University, Germany. UROP, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, fosters research partnerships between qualified undergraduate students from US and Canadian universities and professional researchers at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. RWTH Aachen University is one of the top universities of science and engineering in Germany and worldwide. In the university's research facilities or labs, students conduct their own independent research project for a period of eight to ten weeks, becoming thus an integral part of the research team and being mentored by academic staff. Additional program components include continuous German language classes, intercultural training, and a workshop "Fit for UROP" to familiarize students with research processes in general and in Germany, in particular. In addition, a wide variety of research-related field trips and leisure activities will be offered throughout the program, thereby completing the students' international experience in Germany. The program dates for UROP International 2009 will be from May 25th till July 31st, 2009. Application deadline is January 31st, 2009. For more information about UROP, the data base and available scholarship, please visit the university's website: http://www.rwth-aachen.de/urop, http://www.exzellenz.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/sav/lang/en for English, or contact the program coordinator, Ms. Beate Wassenberg at urop@rwth-aachen.de. We look forward to hearing from you. (posted 10/2008)
Research Assistantships in Childhood Development (Professor Paul Harris, Graduate School of Education)
Paul Harris and his graduate students seek students to assist with research projects this year on a voluntary basis. The topics of active research projects are varied, but generally involve the study of early childhood development (social, moral, and cognitive) and how children learn from other people through verbal and non-verbal communication. Additional information on the lab is available at http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k32581. No research experience is needed, though prior work with young children is a plus. Hours are flexible and typically range from 2 to 6 hours per week. Anyone interested should contact Paul Harris at harrispa@gse.harvard.edu. (posted 9/2008)
Research Assistantships for Honors Thesis Students: Kravitz Neurobiology Lab (Professor Edward Kravitz, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School)
The Kravitz laboratory at Harvard Medical School has openings for 1-2 undergraduates interested in carrying out honors thesis studies in the behavioral genetics of aggression in a fruit fly model system. Check out http://www.hms.harvard.edu/bss/neuro/kravitz/ for more information about our research. We will have room for new students beginning in the spring semester 2009, although we are happy to interview students before that time. We use a recently established fruit fly model of aggression in behavioral and genetic studies that examine the relative roles of genes and experience in determining how complex patterns of behavior, like aggression and courtship, get established in nervous systems. Projects underway in the laboratory are examining the learning and memory accompanying the establishment of hierarchical relationships in male fly fights and the nature of a "loser" mentality that develops; how a single gene (fruitless of the sex determination cascade) determines whether flies fight like males or females; the roles of amines like serotonin and dopamine and various peptides in the social behavior of flies focusing on courtship and aggression; how flies choose between behaviors like courtship and aggression. These and other challenging questions can be addressed in this model system with the wealth of powerful genetic methods that are available for behavioral studies in flies. We prefer students who have taken introductory neuroscience and genetics courses, and encourage sophomore or junior undergraduates who are interested in writing a senior honors thesis to contact edward_kravitz@hms.harvard.edu to arrange a visit to our laboratory in the Neurobiology Department at Harvard Medical School. (posted 9/2008)
Volunteer Research Assistantship: Dreaming, Sleep, and Memory (Dr. Erin Wamsley and Professor Robert Stickgold, Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess)
Our laboratory (The Center for Sleep and Cognition, at Beth Israel Medical Center) is always on the lookout for motivated students who would like to get some hands-on experience in sleep research. Our work focuses on understanding how the brain “consolidates” recent memories during sleep – In particular, my research addresses the possible relationship of these processes to dreaming. Prior experience is not required, but it is critical that you be enthusiastic, independent, and good at working with people. A specific interest in sleep or dreaming is a plus. This would be a part-time volunteer position (unpaid). For this to be a useful venture, you must be willing to devote at least 8-10hrs a week to research, reading, and meetings. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Erin J. Wamsley (EWamsley@bidmc.harvard.edu or 617-667-8486) to discuss the possibilities. (posted 9/2008)
Volunteer Research Assistantship: Sleep and Cognition (Dr. Edward Pace-Schott, Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess)
I am an HMS investigator in the Center for Sleep and Cognition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Psychiatry Department. I am looking for a volunteer research assistant who would be interested in participating in a study comparing the effects of a night's sleep versus a day's waking on acquisition of rule knowledge in a cognitive task. This study will run through the Fall '08 and likely also the Spring '09 semesters. For each research subject studied, about 4 hours of a student investigator’s time will be required: two hours in an evening (~8 to 10 PM) and two hours in a morning (e.g., 7-9 AM or 8-10 AM). Depending on a particular subject’s group assignment, these two times will occur in the morning and evening of the same day or the in the evening of one day and the morning of the following day. A student researcher can choose which weekdays to run subjects based upon his/her schedule. Currently, studies are currently carried out at the BIDMC East Campus at 330 Brookline Ave. (accessible via the M2 Shuttle). However, subjects could be studied equally well on the Cambridge campus pending our securing testing space. I am specifically seeking a highly motivated individual who, once trained, would be able to work independently much of the time and who will agree to run at least two subjects per week. This project would be a good opportunity to gain research experience for a student with a strong interest in the cognitive neuroscience of emotion, decision-making or sleep. Because this is a volunteer situation, a student would need to provide their own support. This project would also be ideal for a student planning to do a senior thesis in psychology or neuroscience. However, since it is already the fall of '08, a thesis student would probably need to be a senior during the 09-'10 (vs. '08-'09) academic year. I can provide technical instruction and research advising, however, the student would need to obtain approvals and make administrative arrangements for a thesis with their academic department. Interested individuals can email me at epacesch@bidmc.harvard.edu with a brief description of their interests and academic or research goals. We can then arrange a time to chat. (posted 9/2008)
Research Assistantship: Reducing Health Risk Behaviors (Laboratory for Clinical and Developmental Research, Irene Janis and Professor Matthew Nock, FAS/Psychology)
This study is part of a larger project using computer-based approach/avoidance training to improve the prevention and treatment of serious health risk behaviors including self-injury, obesity, and violence. The current study assesses the role of approach and avoidance movements enacted with a computer joystick in altering attitudes and behavior related to healthy eating choices and physical activity. This is an initial pilot study of a task that may eventually be useful in improving the prevention and treatment of obesity. If this simple computer-based behavioral task reduces thoughts and actions associated with obesity, future research will further develop this type of intervention for use in larger studies, with clinical populations, and targeting other clinical health risk behaviors. This is a great opportunity to get involved with a clinical psychology research project with potential treatment applications. Research assistants will help with the recruitment, scheduling, and testing of participants. In addition, interested students may have the opportunity to be involved in designing and running new studies. 10 hours of work per week will be expected. No prior research experience is required, but some course background in psychology would be ideal. Psych 910r or Psych 2461r credit available. To apply: please email Irene Janis at ijanis@fas.harvard.edu. (posted 9/2008)
Undergraduate Research Assistantship: Cognitive Neuroscience (Professor Gabriel Kreiman, Harvard Medical School/Children's Hospital)
We welcome an enthusiastic undergraduate student interested in the cognitive neuroscience of visual object recognition. Our laboratory (see http://klab.tch.harvard.edu/) combines psychophysics, computational models and electrophysiology to study the mechanism responsible for recognizing objects and faces. The undergraduate student will directly interact with graduate students and/or postdocs in the lab to carry out a research project studying visual recognition. The position can be for credit or as a volunteer, with the potential for a paid position in the summer. Expected hours per week: 10 hours for credit, 6 hours for volunteers. Experience in computer programming is a plus. To apply, please send a CV to gabriel.kreiman@tch.harvard.edu. (posted 9/2008)
Research Assistantship: Emotion, Stress and Motivation in Individual and Interpersonal Contexts (Professor Wendy Berry Mendes, Psychology/FAS)
Responsibilities: Research assistants will be actively involved with physiological assessment, learning how to apply sensors for the monitoring of autonomic nervous system activity (blood pressure, impedance cardiography, electrocardiography) and muscle movement (electromyography), as well as how to take samples for hormone assessment. Research assistants learn how to ensemble physiological data, analyze, and interpret the data. In addition to lab experience, Professor Mendes will conduct tutorials in psychophysiological assessment. Requirements: 10 hours per week, for course credit, volunteer or work-study. All training will be conducted in the laboratory, so no experience necessary. To Apply: contact Lab Manager Kristin Concannon at concann@wjh.harvard.edu or 617-496-8159. Comments: Research in the Health and Psychophysiology Lab centers on themes such as the effects of discrimination and stigma on health, the influence of stress and emotion on decision making and performance, and the development of racial bias. These topics are explored using physiological techniques that monitor changes in the autonomic nervous and neuroendocrine systems. Undergraduates interested in medicine, public health, and/or biology are especially encouraged to apply. (posted 9/2008)
Part-Time Research Assistantship: Cooperation Research (Professor Yochai Benkler, Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Law School)
Harvard's Cooperation Research Group, led by Professor Yochai Benkler, analyzes the design of cooperative human systems through a combination of interdisciplinary observational, experimental, and theoretical studies. We are seeking applicants for paid part-time RA positions, working on an experimental/behavioral study of in-group bias and discrimination. Research Assistants will help conduct behavioral experiments, analyze data, design experimental protocols, and have significant ownership of / influence on the evolution of their projects. Job requirements: Flexible schedule, excellent motivation and organizational skills. The minimum time commitment is approximately 15 hours/week. Familiarity with research on cooperation, sociology, economics, and/or social psychology is desired but not necessary - the RA positions will involve a lot of learning by doing. Interested applicants please send resume/CV to David Rand at drand@fas.harvard.edu. (posted 9/2008)
Research Assistantship: Cognitive Neuropsychology (Professor Alfonso Caramazza, FAS/Psychology)
The Cognitive Neuropsychology Laboratory is currently seeking undergraduate research assistants interested in experimental research in cognitive science. Research assistants may work on a voluntary basis or for undergraduate course credit (Psychology 910r). Paid positions may also be available depending on experience and work-study eligibility. A minimum commitment of 10 hours per week is required. Research assistants will help recruit participants, conduct experimental sessions, process and analyze data, design new experiments, and conduct library research on a variety of topics including an investigation of cognitive processes underlying object recognition (e.g., how different types of visually presented information influence decisions over different categories of objects). Our current studies investigate how humans represent and process information about a variety of objects and concepts. Ideal candidates will have an active interest in experimental research and cognitive science. Lab experience and knowledge of Matlab is a plus. Coursework in psychology or neuroscience and statistics/mathematics or computer science is also highly desired. To apply, please send your resume or CV, including relevant coursework and a brief description of your research interests, to Petra Pajtas at pajtas@wjh.harvard.edu. Additional information regarding our laboratory as well as a list of publications can be found on the Publications and Research portions of our website http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~caram. (posted 9/2008)
Research Assistantship: Developmental Studies (Professors Susan Carey and Elizabeth Spelke, FAS/Psychology)
Seeking motivated students to assist with research in the Harvard Laboratory for Developmental Studies(http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~lds). Opportunities are available for Psy 1652r credit, Psy 910r credit, $9.50/hr work-study pay, and volunteering. Learn state of the art research methods that provide a window into the minds of children. Research in the lab is focused on exploring infants' basic cognitive capacities, with an emphasis on the development of perception and knowledge. Research assistants will be responsible for recruiting and scheduling child participants and their families, testing children in the lab or at daycares, coding infant responses, and aiding in the design of new studies. Job requirements: An ability to work with young children is essential, and previous research experience is a plus. Students must commit to a minimum of 8-10 hours/week (6 hours/week for volunteers), and must work in the lab for two semesters (summer may count as a semester). This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in the field of psychology. If interested, please contact Lab Coordinator Koni Banerjee at kbanerj@wjh.harvard.edu. (posted 8/2008)
Research Assistantship: Cognitive Neuroscience (Dr. Joseph McCleery and Professor Charles Nelson, Developmental Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston; Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School)
We are seeking a volunteer research assistant to work in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience on all phases of an event-related potentials (brainwave) and behavioral study of young children with autism. Responsibilities would include actively assisting in the behavioral and brainwave testing of 3- to 6-year old children with autism and typically developing children, participant recruitment, and analysis of behavioral and brainwave data. Some weekend and evening hours are likely required. Individuals who are able to make a long-term (e.g., 9 month) commitment would also have the opportunity to work on the design and implementation of future studies. This position is ideal for anyone considering future graduate study in experimental psychology, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, or cognitive neuroscience. Requirements: Currently a junior or senior majoring in a relevant field (e.g., psychology, neuroscience, biology, speech pathology), ability to work with children with and without disabilities, knowledge of basic computer software (e.g., Microsoft Excel). Knowledge of picture and sound editing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, WavePad) or statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Matlab) is a plus. To apply, please send a CV or resume to Alissa Westerlund at Alissa.Westerlund@Childrens.Harvard.Edu. General information about our research program can be found at http://childrenshospital.org/research/brainworks. (posted 4/2008)
Office of Career Services Health & Medicine Career Page
Here you can find a collection of internship and job opportunities for Harvard Undergraduates, as well as links to information regarding application and job search techniques.
Disclaimer: In some cases, the information contained on this webpage was prepared by a third party and has not been independently verified by Harvard or MBB. We do not endorse any particular organization or service described on this page. Harvard makes no claim to the reliability of this information nor is it liable for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, relating to your use of this website, including your use of the information or services described on this page. These listings are not part of the MBB undergraduate program. You may want to speak with your academic advisor if you are uncertain whether a particular position best fits your needs and goals.