It is now Summer of 2024. I have been writing this blog off and on for about 10 months. I'm glad to hear that students are reading it, and I'll continue to announce it at the beginning of each semester. I hope all of you are having a good summer break.
Currently, there are four undergraduates working in my laboratory over the summer. None of them, however, are enrolled in the honors program and engaged in thesis study (I won't have any honors students this year, although I already have multiple inquiries for the class of 2026). If you are a rising junior, now is a good time to start the process of thinking about the possibility of engaging in research for an honors project in the senior year. Elsewhere, I have written about how research, more than ANY other facet of your CV, is critical for admission into Ph.D. programs and other forms of advanced study. Given that Brown excels in research opportunities, this is a good way to solidify your experience and overall scholarship.
However, it is also the case that Brown does not have a clinical program, and many students want clinical research. I want to make you aware of the following program, which is relatively new from APA (American Psychological Association)
https://www.apa.org/science/programs/super-fellowship
The SUPER fellowship seems to allow students to gain access to a mentor and engage in a summer research experience. Basically, it's seems like it's a UTRA for anyone (at least anyone who meets the eligibility requirements) at any institution - it doesn't seem like you have to be working with a mentor at the same institution. The program is closed for Summer of 2024, but will open for Summer of 2025. This is a great way to start a research experience, even if it does not blossom into an independent study or thesis.
MOREOVER, this is a terrific opportunity for students who have a mentor, as the program (a) IS MUCH MORE PRESTIGIOUS THAN A UTRA and (b) Pays more than the UTRA and (c) really requires you and your mentor to plan out what you want to do and how you're going to do it.
I cannot encourage students to apply for this more strongly if they are interested in research. Of course, this would involve first acquiring a mentor and a research project idea, which I have written about elsewhere.