Joining the lab
As an undergraduate
Thank you for your interest in joining our lab! Our success depends on the participation of bright and motivated research assistants, both current students and recent graduates. Work in this lab involves projects looking at emotions, social perception, and personality. You can read more about what we do on the research page.
As a research assistant, you will be an active team member in ongoing research. We conduct a variety of different kinds of studies, including both experimental laboratory-based studies of social interactions and field studies. Hands-on experience is the best way to learn more about how psychological research works and to get the experience necessary to pursue an advanced degree in the field.
The most important qualifications are a strong motivation to learn about empirical research and good organizational skills. Because of the amount of training necessary, you should be prepared to commit at least 9 hours per week for at least two quarters. Currently enrolled students can receive course credit. If all this sounds interesting to you, please contact Sanjay Srivastava (sanjay at uoregon dot edu) to arrange an interview.
As a graduate student
The University of Oregon offers a rigorous training program for students interested in careers in research. Graduate students in this lab have opportunities to pursue research on a variety of topics in the areas of emotions, interpersonal and self-perception, and/or personality (see the research page for details). You will be able to take advantage of a wide range of resources to support laboratory-based and field studies of individuals, dyads, or groups; computerized testing; experience sampling; Internet-deployed studies; and more. In addition, there are many outstanding opportunities in the broader intellectual community, including the UO psychology department and a number of research institutes located in Eugene.
Application materials for the UO psychology graduate program are available on the department website. Be sure to list me (Sanjay Srivastava) as a potential faculty advisor on your application, and social-personality as one of your areas of interest. (If you plan to list another program -- clinical, cognitive neuroscience, or developmental -- as your top choice but would like to work with me as a research mentor, please contact me before you submit your application. I will make sure that I get to review your application.) Prospective graduate students may be interested in this article, How to Apply to Graduate School, reprinted from the APS Observer.
As a postdoc or visiting scholar
If you are interested in projects in the lab or if you have some ideas that would be fun to collaborate on, get in touch (sanjay at uoregon dot edu). The UO psychology department and Eugene more broadly provide a wonderful intellectual, social, and physical environment to support creative and productive scholarship.