Undergraduate RAs

Thank you for your interest in joining the SRCH lab!

AVAILABLE POSITIONS

We currently do not have any openings for undergraduate research assistants for the 2024-2025 academic year. You are welcome to still apply via the Google Form for future consideration if an opening becomes available. Please see below for more information about what to expect in an undergrad RA position, the types of skills we emphasize, how to apply, and other commonly asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of things to undergraduate research assistants (RAs) do in the SRCH Lab?

Generally, undergraduate RAs are integrated into to the entire research process by assisting SRCH Lab Members on their research projects or grants. Unless they are coming in with extensive prior experience, often, undergraduate RAs start at the beginning of the research process by working on literature reviews and syntheses, data entry, and learning about open science practices. Then, once these foundational research skills are developed, undergraduate RAs have the opportunity to become involved in other parts of the research process such as collecting data, coding in R, and scientific writing.

What types of skills will I learn in the SRCH Lab?

General

critical thinking
written and verbal communication
problem-solving
leadership
collaboration and teamwork
time and project management

Content

temperament and personality
self-regulation
sociocultural contexts
mental and physical health
longevity
lifespan development

Technical

literature review and synthesis
data entry
data collection
coding in r
advanced statistics and data analysis
manuscript and grant writing
open science research practices

Does the SRCH Lab accept Senior Honors Thesis students?

Yes! If you are interested in conducting a Senior Honors Thesis in the lab, please contact Dr. Atherton directly at olivia.atherton@ucr.edu.

What types of expectations do you have for undergraduate RAs?

All undergraduate RAs who are brought into the lab are required to read and fill out a Research Assistant Contract with their primary supervisor in the lab. This is a shared document that outlines all expectations for undergraduate RAs and their role(s) on the assigned research projects. To see a sample Research Assistant Contract, please see here.

How do I apply to be an Undergrad RA in the SRCH Lab?

To apply, please fill out the following Undergraduate RA Application Form here.

What should I do if I still have questions?

Please email the lab at srchlab@ucr.edu.