Undergraduate Research Opportunities
The Emotion Development Lab is not accepting applications at this time.
Description of Research
Research interests in the lab involve developmental affective neuroscience, individual differences in emotional reactivity, regulation, and temperament, the dynamics of behavioral and biological expression of emotion, and the effects of context on emotional behavior and physiological reactivity during adolescence and emerging young adulthood. The current projects are designed to explore the roles of temperament in social-emotional development, while understanding who is at risk for generalized and social anxiety, and identifying patterns of symptom course. Research assistants will also be trained to discriminate affective behaviors, code and enter data, and work with related software programs: SPSS, Databrary, Qualtrics, etc.
Methods of Compensation
Research assistants may apply for PSYCH 494 course credit or work on a volunteer basis. Students eligible for work-study may be able to work in the lab for compensation after having worked in the lab for at least one semester. Participation provides a valuable experience and reference base for those considering graduate studies.
Requirements and Qualifications
Because of the nature of the work and the training involved with the study, we ask for a minimum overall GPA of 3.3 and a minimum commitment of at least 2 semesters (although the majority of our undergraduates stay on the project longer than the minimum requirement). Students should plan to spend 10 hours per week involved in lab-related activities, including a one-hour weekly lab/coding meeting which research assistants are required to attend. Unique research opportunities are often available during summer sessions, too.
Opportunities are available for completing a Senior Honor Thesis in the lab. Please discuss this opportunity with Dr. Buss well in advance of your junior year. Most students pursuing this option already work in the lab but the option to join the lab as a Thesis student is also possible. Thesis students are required to work in the lab during their junior and senior years and this entails work on the larger project(s) and thesis work.
In addition, the new Penn State’s/Liberal Arts’ Human Resources policy requires background checks be completed for all students who will have contact with children and/or access to identifying information. These checks/clearances will be processed by the university upon acceptance into the lab. Students may not begin actual lab work until this process is completed.
To Apply
Applications should be submited through the Google Form below. To ask a question or request more information, please contact Stacey LeVan.
Graduate Research Opportunities
The Emotion Development Lab is not accepting graduate student applications for Spring 2023 positions.
Learn more about the graduate degree in the Developmental Area and Child Clinical Psychology.
Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities
Graduate students interested in pursuing a Post-Doc in the Emotion Development Lab should have graduate training in developmental psychology, child clinical psychology, human development, or related fields. Expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred: temperament, emotions, emotion regulation, anxiety, HPA-axis, and/or psychophysiological methods (ECG, EEG/ERP). Experience with basic statistical methods is required. Additional experience with advanced statistics (e.g., multilevel modeling, growth modeling) would be ideal.