Opportunities

For Potential Graduate Students

We are seeking motivated, energetic and bright students to join our research program. Our laboratory is part of a highly individualized graduate training program in Behavioral Neuroscience within the Psychology Department at Binghamton University. Through one-on-one meetings and personalized training objectives, each graduate student in the laboratory is encouraged to develop exceptional skills in research, theoretical, analysis, and writing. It is expected that each graduate trainee in our group will also contribute in significant ways to the scientific literature through publication of the research she or he conducts in the laboratory.

The number of available openings in our laboratory varies from year to year, depending on when students complete their studies and funding opportunities. Support during graduate training typically comes primarily from research assistantships from grants, and occasional teaching assistantships from the Department of Psychology. After completion of their master's project, some students may elect to write their own predoctoral research proposal as well. Collectively, these various funding sources help students explore and prepare for a variety of post-doctoral career options.

If you decide to formally apply to the graduate program in Behavioral Neuroscience you can download an application form through the Graduate School homepage at: http://gradschool.binghamton.edu. Initial review of applications may begin shortly after the time applications and supporting information (reference letters, GRE scores, etc) are received.

For Undergraduate Students

A highly select cadre of 4-6 undergraduate students typically participates in our laboratory each semester. These undergraduate research assistants typically receive 4 hours of research credit (PSYC397) per semester for these research activities. Students are generally accepted into the program for the fall semester for a two-semester commitment (assuming enthusiastic participation in the lab, excellent lab skills and impeccable reliability). Many students opt to stay an additional year. Particularly outstanding laboratory researchers with excellent academic credentials may apply to the honor's program that involves proposing, conducting, analyzing and defending a senior honor's research project. Our last honor's student, Abigail Agoglia, received the John Fuller award for outstanding undergraduate research in Psychobiology, went on to receive her Ph.D and is currently in post-doctoral training at UNC Chapel Hill.

Undergraduate students interested in becoming involved in our research program are encouraged to fill out an application for our laboratory. Applications should generally be submitted during the pre-registration period of the semester prior to the one in which you would like to begin working in the laboratory, with interviews held shortly thereafter.

The expectation is that students will work 8-12 hours per week for 4 hours research credit. Due to the inherently cyclical nature of laboratory research (and the tendency for rat pups to be born at maximally inconvenient times), the timing and amount of hours you spend in the lab will vary each week, with the laboratory generally as busy on weekends as during the week. You are expected to be as flexible and accommodating as possible. Individuals with time commitments beyond regular course loads or inflexible schedules may have difficulty fitting our laboratory into their activities.