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Research Involvement Event RECAP! UP NEXT: Let's Discuss!

Kiana Gee - Friday, October 8, 2021
 General 

Hello Everyone!

Thank you to those who were able to attend our Research Involvement Event tonight! A big thank you to Professor Srinivasan and Dr. Lee for a great welcoming speech, as well as our amazing student research assistant guest speakers, Yingqi, Taylor, Shaida, Grace, and Dean for sharing about their experience. In case you were unable to make it, here are some of the main takeaways from today's meeting:

Identifying Research Interests:
Want to get involved in research but don't know where to start?

  • Think about what subjects interest you the most and what you want to get out of this experience. 
  • Talk to professors or TAs during office hours about their research interests
  • Attend seminars, talks, and presentations to have a better understanding of the current research being done in your field of interest
Applying to Labs:
Before applying, do some research on potential labs you would be interested in so you can see if you would be a good fit:
  1. Browse lab websites. Take some time to learn about some professors and their research through the CSA's own Professor Spotlights and Research Resources page. 
  2. Read research papers.
  3. Check out the lab’s website or contact the lab’s PI for more information on openings.
Research Assistants - Qualities and Life in a Lab: 
Professors are generally looking for students who are motivated, interested in their field of research, and possess skills relevant to their lab, which included but are not limited to:
  • Communication
  • Technological Literacy
  • Data Analysis
  • Programming

Some labs may require a resume, CV, prior experience in coding or statistics, etc. but many are willing to teach you the skills you need to succeed.

As a research assistant, you may be responsible for tasks like recruiting participants, running studies, utilizing computer software, analyzing data, or programming experiments. 

Joining a lab is by no means required but it is a great opportunity for advancement as long as you put in the time and effort. Most RAs typically spend 8-12 hours/week; this includes doing this such as attending lab meetings, working with grad students on a research project, or completing tasks assigned in a timely manner. 

Again, thank you to our wonderful speakers for sharing their experience and advice for participating in research labs. For more information on our speakers and the other information that was shared tonight, check out our Research Involvement Event Presentation Slides.

Up Next: Let's Discuss! 

Join us next Tuesday (Oct.12) at 7:00pm in SSL 152 for our next meeting: Let's Discuss! During this meeting, we'll be having some friendly "pick a side" debates on some controversial topics in cognitive science: What is consciousness? Should we even be studying the brain? Is technology progressive or does it make us worse off? Does the push towards higher education limit opportunities for people who want to enter a trade?...and more! This discussion is a safe space for everyone to share their thoughts and ideas, so bring any ideas, questions, and relevant evidence you have to discuss! RSVP today!

Important Links

** If you're not already a member on campusgroups, please follow this link and click "join"

CSA Discord Server - Follow this link and click "accept invite" to chat with members and the board anytime!

Interest Form - Required all members fill this out. We use these responses to create specific meeting topics and activities, as well as recruit guest speakers according to your interests.

Our Facebook Page - Post to see who you share classes with and interact with the Cognitive Science community!

UCI Cognitive Science Colloquium - This is a student-run speaker series on various hot topics in cognitive science. This series is more aimed toward graduate students so don't worry if some words/concepts sound like Latin

Cognitive Science Research Labs - A list of all the research/labs being done in the cognitive science program. A great place to find labs that you'd be interested in partaking in! 

Psych Research List - A website with a compiled list of internship opportunities and grad school information for psych and cog sci students. 

CSA Goodie Bag! - A site of various resources made by the CSA; Includes news in the field of cognitive science, activities to help students relax and study (word searches, podcasts, Spotify playlists, etc.), and zoom backgrounds to help you get through the quarter! 

CSA Resume-Builder Resources - A document of resources compiled by CSA’s Opportunities Committee. This doc contains links to videos and courses to help you build up skills that are useful in the many areas of cognitive science, and will look great on your resume!

Virtual Technical Resume Writing Webinar

Want some help on your resume? Check out the Virtual Technical Resume Writing webinar hosted by the Division of Career Pathways. This webinar aims to provide attendees with tips on how to highlight the most relevant portions of their skills and extra-curriculars to make a good impression when applying for technical positions. RSVP via handshake. 

Participants for fMRI Study

Hello Everyone 

I am Xiaojue, 4th year graduate student at Cognitive Sciences (advisor Emily Grossman). I am looking for participants now for my fMRI study at UCI located at SBSG. This is a one session ~1hr study that will pay you $30 upon completion, in which you will watch short videos and click buttons. Participation in the study is completely voluntary and does not offer SONA credits for Abnormal Psych Psych 120A.  If you are interested in learning about fMRI (and get an image of your brain!), please see the flyer attach and fill out a quick screening survey. 

Have a great day,

Xiaojue

 

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