Below are some answers to the most frequent questions that we receive about becoming involved in Psychology & Neuroscience research as an undergraduate student at Duke.
Q1: Why would I want to get involved in research in the first place?
A1: Becoming involved in research is often a highly rewarding experience for undergraduate students. You are given hands-on opportunities to work on building critical professional development skills, including project management, how to work in a team environment, and critical thinking. You may also be given the chance to develop your technical skills by learning to read and evaluate scientific literature, code and program computer tasks, and analyze behavioral and neuroscientific data. And ultimately, by directly engaging in the research process, you can learn whether this a type of career that you might be interested in pursuing long-term.
Q2: How do I decide which type of research to pursue?
A2: We recommend that you talk to professors and graduate student teaching assistants in your classes, when something sparks your interest. Research takes a lot of time, and it is best to spend that time working on something that interests you, especially if this is topic that you are considering pursuing further in graduate school. The DIBS faculty network and Psychology & Neuroscience faculty pages are excellent places to learn about potential faculty advisors.
Q3: What research opportunities are available to me?
A3: In addition to the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Internship (CNRI), there are several other formal programs that offer research opportunities to undergraduates, all of which can be found on the DIBS website. Some specific examples are provided below:
MUSER: A reliable, up-to-date resource to find open positions in labs, with five separate application cycles per calendar year.
Summer Neuroscience Program: A paid, eight-week long summer position that may be used to promote independent study projects.
Bass Connections Brain and Society: A collaborative, interdisciplinary research opportunity that clusters into distinct themes and project teams.
Q4: What is the expected time commitment of a research assistant?
A4: Expected time commitments are lab-dependent. Many labs will want 8-10 hours per week, but depending on the lab, it often doesn’t have to be at specific times. We understand that research assistants are simultaneously carrying a full course load, and that your availability varies each week. It is important to be proactive when planning your research commitments and being a good communicator about potential changes to your availability.
Don’t see the answer to your question above? Please feel free to contact the program coordinators via email and we will help get your question answered ASAP!
