Research Assistant and Directed Undergraduate Research Opportunities in the Program in Cognitive Affective Neuroscience (PICAN)

Research assistants can be involved in any of the program's projects. Typical research assistant roles include collecting data (e.g., running experiments involving collection of behavioral, physiological and functional neuroimaging data as well as self-report measures), screening subjects for research eligibility, clinical interviews, data management, preparing data for analysis (e.g., tracing brain structures on MRI's), helping to analyze collected data (if you want to... you don't have to), and helping to prepare lab research for publication. Research assistants are welcome to suggest new insights into experiments and modifications to experimental designs; these are taken very seriously and often lead to new directions in the research we are conducting.
   Useful Skills and Qualities. We're particularly looking for people who have a BA in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field or are in their 3rd or fourth year of a relevant undergraduate program, who aren't afraid of computers, who have good interpersonal skills, and who are willing to learn new tasks. Research assistants who are most successful in this environment enjoy teamwork, are detail-oriented, responsible, flexible, and are interested in research.

Undergraduates doing directed research in the lab can participate in any of the activities above and are also helped to pursue a new research question for their directed research project. Their project can involve re-analyzing already collected data to answer a new question of interest to them, or can involve creating a new manageable project (e.g., involving pilot physiological data collection or self-report measures).
   Requirements. Undergraduates are requested to commit to at least 6 hrs/week. Participation in the lab for a full semester is requested.
   Useful skills and qualities.   Undergraduates who are most successful working in this environment are working towards a degree in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field, aren't afraid of computers, are willing to learn new tasks, enjoy teamwork, and are responsible and interested in research.

Our Commitment to Training. While this all may sound very advanced, DON'T WORRY! We put a lot of time into training and will make sure you're comfortable, competent, and supported in any procedure before you try it alone!

We have biweekly administrative/planning/project-review lab meetings and weekly scientific lab meetings which all RA's and undergraduate research assistants should attend.

If you're interested in being a research assistant or completing directed undergraduate research, please send us the following information: A statement of why you're interested in being involved in the lab, a summary of your academic/professional background (a resume or vita would be perfect but not necessary), your GPA in your major, contact info, and when would be best to contact you.
Information can be sent by e-mail to me at: pican@msx.upmc.edu or by US-mail to: Greg Siegle, Ph.D., Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

 


 Program in Cognitive Affective Neuroscience links

Biometrics Research Program

Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Lab

Depression Treatment and Research Program

 

Program in Cognitive Affective Neuroscience (PICAN)

Directions to labs
Ongoing projects