Prospective Students
The Cognitive Development Lab may admit new students at the start of each semester. Students may work in the lab for Psychology 4998 course credit or as a volunteer. For every 3 hrs a week student works in the lab, they will be eligible for 1 Psych 4998 course credit (ex. 6 hrs a week would equal 2 Psych 4998 credits). Students who participate in 4998 research are from a wide array of majors including psychology, linguistics, and pre-med. Students working in the lab are involved in a variety of research activities such as recruiting subjects, maintaining a participant database, running studies with undergraduate participants, interacting with parents and children, and using eye-tracking technology. Additional research opportunities are available to students who make a greater commitment to the lab and demonstrate responsibility as a member of the lab. We encourage undergraduates to be actively involved in the intellectual life of the lab, and to that end we have various workshops in which students can learn graduate school application tips, interview techniques, and scientific reading and writing skills. To see if the lab would be a good fit for your research interests, please read about our current research and check out our recent publications before applying.
We have filled all positions in our lab for the Summer ’25 semester. If you are interested in applying for Autumn’25, please contact our lab managers, Michaela Miller.9171@osu.edu and Anzhelika Parenchuk.1@osu.edu, in late July. We won’t be able to offer AU’25 positions before SU’25 semester is over. If you are only interested in the semantic position please email Meares.7@osu.edu. Please attach your course schedule to your e-mail to apply, and fill out our interest form (linked). (updated 4/15/25).
We have several different positions in our lab; with varying responsibilities and time-commitments.
- In-Lab Position: These researchers work in the lab, conducting studies with children and adults (consisting of computerized games or eye tracking games) in addition to doing recruitment and administrative work. They schedule, run, and follow up with participant appointments. They have many different duties and allow the lab to run efficiently.
- Shifts can be scheduled from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday – Friday.
- Minimum of 6 hours per week.
- 3-4 weekend day shifts per semester are required.
- For new RAs: 3+ semester commitment preferred (returning RAs, 2+ semesters preferred).
- VERY LIMITED spots available for SU’25 semester.
- Shifts can be scheduled from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday – Friday.
- Semantic Position: Your role will be multifaceted, involving direct participation in experiments with infants, children, and adults, as well as handling essential recruitment, scheduling, and administrative tasks. These responsibilities ensure our lab runs smoothly and efficiently, allowing us to focus on pioneering research. These researchers work in the lab, conducting language development studies with infants, children, and adults (consisting of computerized games or eye tracking games) in addition to doing recruitment and administrative work.
- Shifts can be scheduled from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday – Friday.
- Minimum of 6 hours per week.
- 3-4 weekend day shifts per semester are required.
- For new RAs: 3+ semester commitment preferred (returning RAs, 2+ semesters preferred).
- VERY LIMITED spots available for SU’25 semester.
- Shifts can be scheduled from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday – Friday.
- Schools Position: These researchers drive to schools and conduct studies with children at the school (consisting of computerized games). These RAs are paired with specific graduate or post-doctoral researchers to run their studies.
- Morning availability required; shifts are scheduled from ~9:00am to 11:00am Monday – Friday.
- Previous childcare experience (including babysitting) preferred.
- Travel required (milage reimbursement provided; must have car or willing to carpool).
- 2+ semester commitment preferred.
- Community Outreach Position: These researchers drive to COSI and various other community centers (libraries, Franklin Conservatory, etc.) to recruit participants and play a few of our shorter research games with kids. They will inform parents about our studies and our research process, then return to the lab to enter contact information into our database.
- Several weekend (Saturday) shifts per semester are required.
- Travel required (milage reimbursement provided; must have car or willing to carpool).
- 2+ semester commitment preferred.
- REP/Adult Data Collection Position: These researchers run adult studies (consisting of computerized games or eye tracking games) with adult participants. This position typically will involve running REPs, which are undergrad OSU student participants that will be given course credit for participating, or Paid Adult Participants, which are adults from the general community who sign up.
- Shifts can be scheduled from 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday – Friday.
- 2+ semester commitment preferred.
Current Students
If you are a current undergraduate RA and need to update your paperwork, please go to the following site:
Student Website