Participate in USC Study on How Genes and Emotions Influence Response to Medications

If you are healthy and between the ages of 18 and 35, you may be eligible to participate in a research study conducted by University of Southern California investigators examining how genes and emotions influence response to medications. Participation involves taking a FDA approved drug that may affect mood on two occasions, as well as completing interviews and questionnaires. Compensation is available. To learn more about this study and to complete the first part of this study, please go to our website using the following link: http://ipr6.usc.edu/gem/. Otherwise, please call (323) 442-2598 if you have any questions.  Email USCHealthResearch@gmail.com for more info.

Best,
The HEAL Team

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Participate in USC Study on How Genes and Emotions Influence Response to Medications

If you are healthy and between the ages of 18 and 35, you may be eligible to participate in a research study conducted by University of Southern California investigators examining how genes and emotions influence response to medications. Participation involves taking a FDA approved drug that may affect mood on two occasions, as well as completing interviews and questionnaires. Compensation is available. To learn more about this study and to complete the first part of this study, please go to our website using the following link: http://ipr6.usc.edu/gem/. Otherwise, please call (323) 442-2598 if you have any questions.  Email USCHealthResearch@gmail.com for more info.

Best,
The HEAL Team

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Full-Time Paid Research Position at UCSD Child & Adolescent Services Research Center

Gregory Aarons, Ph.D. of the University of California San Diego Psychiatry Department and Child & Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC) is currently seeking a research assistant to work on his research studies regarding implementation of evidence-based practice. The implementation of evidence-based practice into real-world human service settings is an important priority for improving the quality of services and outcomes for families. However, little is known about what factors facilitate or impede implementation, and how implementation of an evidence-based practice affects organizations and staff. Our lab investigates what it takes to effectively implement clinical practices in community-based settings. We focus on organization and policy factors that affect whether clinical interventions are used effectively with clients and patients. Our studies aim to identify and support the organizational factors that improve evidence-based practice implementation, including organizational culture, organizational climate, and leadership. The research also focuses on adaptation of evidence-based practice for health, mental health, and social service settings. Data is collected from mental health and social service agencies in the states of Oklahoma and California. Study participants include administrators, supervisors, service providers, and their clients.

Under supervision, the incumbent will work as a Research Assistant for the Child & Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC) in the Department of Psychiatry. The main duties and responsibilities will include: coordinating research participant retention and tracking, preparing and administering survey instruments, managing longitudinal data using SPSS and web-based data collection programs, conducting data coding and analysis, and assisting with preparing reports and presentations. Other duties will be assigned as needed.

The ideal candidate will have completed college level coursework completed in psychology, psychiatry, or a related field or equivalent knowledge or experience, possess knowledge of public sector mental health and social service organizations, and have demonstrated experience managing survey data and performing basic descriptive analyses using SPSS or SAS software.

The position is full-time, starting salary ranging from $2,484 - $2,703 per month. Full benefits available.

Interested applicants should send their resume to nshapiro@ucsd.edu and apply using the following link:

http://jobs.ucsd.edu/bulletin/job.aspxcat=search&sortby=rank&jobnum_in=56990&search=56990

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Journal of Young Investigators Staff Recruitment

Since 1997, JYI has published over 500 research and features articles reviewed by members of our staff, who currently represent over 50 academic institutions from six countries. Featured in Nature, The New York Times, and Science, JYI aims to promote undergraduate science research through monthly publications of scientific manuscripts, features and news articles, and information pertinent to careers in science.

Students interested in joining our staff are encouraged to submit applications for available positions. All JYI staff members contribute their time on an unpaid basis, so a strong passion for promoting scientific research is desired. For more information on joining our journal's staff, please go to: http://www.jyi.org/participate.php. We are currently actively seeking candidates for the following positions:

Executive Board (average commitment of 10 hours/week)

• Director of the Career Center
• Director of Human Resources
• Chief Development Officer
• Chief Technical Officer
• Director of Public Relations
• Managing Editor
• Senior Research Editor

General Staff (average commitment of 3-5 hours/week)

• Science Journalist
• Research Associate Editor
• Career Researcher

We are also soliciting submissions for our research departments, which include Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, and Psychology and Social Sciences. Our editorial staff members carefully review and consider manuscripts for publication on our website. Senior honors theses and summer research papers are especially welcomed.

Tim Xu
Director of Public Relations
Journal of Young Investigators
http://www.jyi.org

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Earn Money in a Political Science Experiment

If you are a current USC undergraduate, you have an opportunity to earn money by participating in an experiment. In this experiment, you will be paid for the decisions you make. You're guaranteed to earn at least $12/hour, and you are likely to make more. The experiment will last about 1 1/2 hours, so you will earn at least $20.

http://networkscience.usc.edu/

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Part-Time Research Assistants Needed for PTSD Study

We are conducting an IRB approved study on the genetics of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on-site in the Department of Emergency Medicine at LAC+USC Medical Center (Colin P. Dias, M.D., Principal Investigator, IRB #HS-10-00623).
We are seeking part-time volunteers who wish to gain research experience by joining our research team.  This is an opportunity to cultivate research and clinical skills in an exciting environment while receiving training and supervision from our professional research team members.

Undergraduate students majoring in psychology or social work:

• Support the study by preparing clinical interview materials and entering data in SPSS.
• Provide support for the clinical interviewers.
• Completion of HIPAA and Good Clinical Practice training is available (optional).
• Opportunity to participate in weekly research team meetings.

If you’re interested in participating in this study, please email your CV along with a brief cover letter/statement of interest

Randye J. Semple, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Keck School of Medicine
email: semple@usc.edu

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Pre-Doctoral Fellowship at Yale Child Study Center

The Toddler Developmental Disabilities Clinic at the Yale Child Study Center in the Yale School of Medicine is interested in recruiting highly qualified students from USC for an exciting new pre-doctoral fellowship for current graduates or graduating seniors. The position will commence June 2011 and will be 2 years in duration.

Successful applicants will be involved in a 2-year program of training involving clinical and research experiences. Fellows will be responsible for assisting in a variety of research activities in the lab and for completing experimental protocols with infants and toddlers and their families. With research mentorship, selected applicants will be expected to guide a pre-determined project of research from the point of data collection through analysis and publication of results.
Interested students should send materials no later than March 30th in order to be considered for the position.

Additional information can be found on our website: childstudycenter.yale.edu/autism/fellowship/developmental-computational.aspx

Questions regarding the Yale Fellowship in Developmental and Computational Social Neuroscience may be directed to Dr. Suzanne Macari at suzanne.macari@yale.edu.

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Institute of Cognition and Culture at Queen’s University Belfast

1. WHO ARE WE?

The Institute of Cognition and Culture (the ICC) is one of the world's first multidisciplinary centres for research in the cognitive science of culture. It is based in the School of History and Anthropology at Queen’s University Belfast. Our specific areas of concentration are social cognition, evolutionary psychology, and the cognitive science of religion, though we often pursue and support research that falls outside of these domains.

Further details...

Further details for prospective students can be found here:

www.qub.ac.uk/icc

For further details about applying to the ICC for postgraduate studies, please contact the Acting Director, Paulo Sousa,  by E-mail: p.sousa@qub.ac.uk

2. WHAT POSTGRADUATE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE?

A.) MA STUDIES IN COGNITION & CULTURE
The School of History and Anthropology at Queen's University, Belfast is offering the following:

1.  Up to 3X MA bursaries to pay fees for UK/EU applicants and;

2.  Up to 3X bursaries to pay 50% of fees for international students. 

B.) PHD RESEARCH IN COGNITION & CULTURE

There is also a DEL studentship available for UK/EU research applicants to the School’s programmes, including the PhD in Cognition and Culture.

Further details about funding...

Full details of all our funding competitions is also available on our webpages at:
www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofHistoryandAnthropology/ProspectiveStudents/PostgraduateFunding/SchoolPostgraduateFunding/

Applicants should note there is no separate application for funding. All applications for the MA/PhD Cognition and Culture received by the closing date of 16 March will be considered for any funding for which they are eligible. Apply through the online portal at: www.qub.ac.uk/home/ProspectiveStudents/PostgraduateStudents/ApplyingtoQueens/

Many US students who are unable to secure a scholarship opt to finance their studies at Queen's through US Federal Loans.  Queen's is approved by the US Department of Education for participation in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programme. Full details at: www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/StudentPlus/InternationalOffice//USLoans/

For further details or information about funding please contact the Head of Postgraduate Administration, Catherine Boone, by E-mail: c.boone@qub.ac.uk

Regards,

Claire White, clairejwhite81@gmail.com

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Yale Child Study Center Fellowship

The Toddler Developmental Disabilities Clinic at the Yale Child Study
Center in the Yale School of Medicine is interested in recruiting highly
qualified students from USC for an exciting new pre-doctoral fellowship
for current graduates or graduating seniors. The position will commence
June 2011 and will be 2 years in duration.

Successful applicants will be involved in a 2-year program of training
involving clinical and research experiences. Fellows will be responsible
for assisting in a variety of research activities in the lab and for
completing experimental protocols with infants and toddlers and their
families. With research mentorship, selected applicants will be expected
to guide a pre-determined project of research from the point of data
collection through analysis and publication of results.
Interested students should send materials no later than March 30th in
order to be considered for the position.

Additional information can be found on our website here:
childstudycenter.yale.edu/autism/fellowship/developmental-computational.aspx
Questions regarding the Yale Fellowship in Developmental and
Computational Social Neuroscience may be directed to Dr. Suzanne Macari
at suzanne.macari@yale.edu.

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Academic Research Fund from USG

All USC undergraduates conducting research in any field are welcome and encouraged to apply for funding from the Academic Research Fund. Funding will be provided to help undergraduates conduct research projects, attend academic conferences, and pursue other academic extracurricular activities. Now is the optimal time for students to apply for a research grant to be utilized during the summer.

With the end of the year fast approaching, the USG Funding Boards are running out of funds for the remainder of this academic semester. Students are advised to apply as soon as possible.

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Research Assistant for Virtual Interface Study

Current Research Topics Under Investigation

We are investigating how team performance is affected when people have to interact and follow directions via a virtual interface. Our project will involve participants partaking in an interactive game wherein they are given instructions on performing various actions by another person.

Specific Qualifications for Research Assistants

RA duties would include the administration of the experiment for participants and collecting/compiling user data. Experience with gaming or programming would be a plus but not required. Flexible schedules (esp. mornings) would be great.

Benefits

• Gain valuable hands-on laboratory experience in conducting social psychological research. This will be highly beneficial especially if you are planning on applying for graduate school in the future.
• Recommendation letter from a professor.

Contact
Gurveen Chopra
gchopra@usc.edu

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Assistants Needed for Student Achievement Research

Dr. Katharine Strunk, an assistant professor in the Rossier School of Education, is hiring 5 undergraduate researchers to assist with a study entitled "The Impact of Teachers' Unions on Student Achievement in California."  The study will explore the important and under-researched relationships between teachers' unions and student performance in California. Results from this study will be helpful to national, state and district policymakers as well as to teachers' unions as they work together to efficiently utilize scarce resources and improve student outcomes.

The undergraduate research assistants will learn a great deal about education policy as it relates to collective bargaining agreements and teachers' unions in California. In addition, the research assistants will become familiar with qualitative content analysis research strategies. The RAs will have the following research responsibilities:

• Receive training in content analysis techniques necessary for the project
• Analyze the content and code California teachers' union collective bargaining agreements
• Meet with the research team at regular intervals to report on progress and share learnings
• Work together with the research team to provide an overview report of the frequency of individual contract regulations in California school districts.

The ideal candidate must be detail-oriented and have an analytic approach to research. The RAs must be at least somewhat familiar with Excel. In addition, the ideal candidate will have some basic statistics background (introductory level) and familiarity with at least one statistical software (Excel, SPSS, Stata). This familiarity with statistics is preferred, but not required. The position is open to work study applicants as well as to students who are not on work study.
We are seeking two undergraduate researchers who can consistently work 15-20 hours/week during the remainder of the spring 2011 semester. These students will be paid $10/hour. For interested students, there will also be the opportunity to continue on the project during the summer. The position will begin immediately.

To apply for the position or request further information, please contact Professor Strunk at kstrunk@usc.edu

Katharine O. Strunk
Assistant Professor of Education & Policy
Rossier School of Education and School of Policy, Planning and Development
kstrunk@usc.edu
(213) 740-2190

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The Unruh Update, 2/22/2011

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Summer Course in Archaeology

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The Unruh Update, 2/14/2011

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Blue Kitabu Summer Research Opportunity in Ghana

Join Blue Kitabu (www.bluekitabu.org) for five weeks in June and July as part of our Summer 2011 Research Fellowship Program in Ghana. The theme is Agriculture, Sustainability and Educational Development. Ten fellows will be selected to engage in field research in the rural Central Region of Ghana, utilizing the rich culture and knowledge of the local communities as well as the resources of Cape Coast University. The research products will shape the practices of Blue Kitabu on the ground, and we are looking for individuals with a commitment to responsible development.

Fellows will be responsible for creating their own research topics in collaboration with Blue Kitabu staff and research will result in a final paper to be presented at a USC symposium in the fall. The cost of participation is $2,500 and includes all mentorship, room, board, transport and insurance costs, except airfare. A Blue Kitabu staff member will be onsite at all times for support and to supervise research.

Five USC College students will be supported up to $3000 through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) . Graduating seniors are not eligible for SURF. Also, those who are eligible can apply to the USC Africa Student Fund for additional funding.

Apply to Blue Kitabu on www.bluekitabu.org. The application deadline is April 1st, 2011 for those who wish to be considered for SURF. A separate SURF application is required.

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Volunteer Psychology Research Assistant Position

Hello!  I am a clinical psychology graduate student, and I am looking for student volunteers interested in gaining experience in psychological research.  
The research project is examining psychological outcomes in survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide.  We will be analyzing interviews and genocide testimonies of the survivors and correlating them with depression, PTSD, and other psychological variables.

The student volunteers would help code transcripts of interviews and do data entry.  Training would take approximately two hours, and then the volunteers may work independently on coding and meet with me briefly once a week to check progress.  The time commitment would be approximately 5 to 7 hours per week, and would last until the end of the semester (or until the data is coded and entered).

This positions would be a great fit for psychology majors who would like to learn more about clinical psychology research (although this is not a requirement).  The students must be extremely dependable, responsible, and committed.  The position also requires a high degree of attention to detail.

If you are interested in learning more about the positions, please email me at laurenng@usc.edu. 

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Paid Participation in Political Science Research Studies

You are invited to participate in political science research studies that will be conducted in the coming months. If you choose to take part you will be paid for your participation. Your participation is voluntary and you must be aged 18 or older to be eligible.

The experiments will typically last between one and two hours. If you are interested in participating please send an email to polisciexperiment@gmail.com and you will be added to the subject list and contacted for the upcoming experiments.

Thanks,

Nick Weller
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
School of International Relations

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UCLA Undergraduate Research Conference

All applications must be received in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC), suite 425, by 4pm on Friday, February 11, 2011. Completed applications will be reviewed and qualified applicants will be selected for an interview.  For details about the conference, visit purc.psych.ucla.edu.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at (213) 740-9116 or menciso@usc.edu should you have any questions.

Best,

Martha Enciso, Ed.D.

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Conference on Human Factors

My name is Ariana Kiken, and I am the President of the California State University, Long Beach Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Student Chapter. You are invited to attend the 6th Annual Regional Human Factors Conference at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) on Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 9:00am-3:00pm. The conference will be held in the University Student Union Beach Auditorium (please note the change of location from previous years). Registration is free and includes a free lunch. Anyone who is interested in attending is encouraged to do so.

This year's conference will include speakers, a poster session, and a breakout session allowing attendees to speak with presenters in more detail.

In order to attend, please register for free at our website csulbhfes.com. Online registration will close Wednesday, February 23rd, but registration will still be available the day of the conference. Registration for the poster session will close Friday, February 18.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

Ariana Kiken
HFES Student Chapter President
California State University Long Beach
csulbhfes.com

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