JOIN THE LAB
We are happy that you're interested in applying to support our lab! The Social Identity Laboratory explores the intersection of self and social identity, particularly when the worth of one's social identity is called into question by stereotypes, discrimination, and threats to status.
Current availability: We are not currently taking applicants for 2026. We will likely hire new RAs in the Fall of 2026.
Check the Psych 499 posting →
Students Will Gain:
Interactive Research Experience
Career Development in Psychology
Graduate School Resources & Support
As an RA, you will:
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Run participants through behavioral experiments
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Enter and code research data
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Conduct campus surveys and assist with recruiting
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Assist with literature review
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Provide feedback for studies and surveys
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Participate in weekly lab meetings
Time Commitment:
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5-10 hours per week
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2-quarter minimum (UW students)
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6-month minimum (non-UW students)
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1-hour weekly lab meeting required
What we're looking for:
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Motivated, hard-working students
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Interest in the research process
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Ability to work independently and on a team
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All majors and backgrounds welcome
OUR MENTORING APPROACH:
01 · MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE
Every student arrives with a different background, different goals, and a different relationship to academia. I try to understand each person's starting point — their knowledge, their anxieties, their ambitions — and build from there so that everyone gets the opportunities they are looking for.
02 · TEACH THE PROCESS, NOT JUST THE PRODUCT
Research is full of false starts and unexpected detours. I try to demystify that process — talking openly about uncertainty, sharing work in progress, and modeling how to think through hard problems rather than just presenting finished answers.
03 · SUPPORT GOALS BEYOND RESEARCH
Not every student wants an academic career, and that's entirely okay. I actively support students exploring careers in industry, policy, clinical practice, education, and other paths. The skills you build doing research are genuinely transferable — I want to help you see that.
04 · CREATE A PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE SPACE
Good science requires being able to say "I don't know" or "I was wrong." I try to build mentor relationships where students feel safe asking questions, admitting confusion, and changing their minds — because those are signs of growth, not weakness.