RA Application

Hi [name here],

My name is [name here], and I'm the lab manager of the Frank Lab. Thanks for your interest in joining us as a research assistant! I've copy/pasted our undergrad RA "job call" below. If you decide to apply, please send back your responses at your earliest convenience.

The Laboratory of Neural Computation and Cognition, under the direction of Dr. Michael Frank, is looking for undergraduates interested in gaining research experience in reinforcement learning, decision-making, and cognitive control. Some of our lab's core research interests include: 1) working memory and cognitive control, 2) computational psychiatry, and 3) Parkinson's disease research.

Ideal candidates are intrinsically motivated, independent workers, critical thinkers, eager learners, and team players. Previous lab experience is preferred, but not required. Applicants should either be familiar with basic computer programming, or be willing to learn. Applicants should also have some basic familiarity with statistical analysis.

Once the application process is complete, there will be a "trial period" (akin to an add/drop period) to make sure that both mentors and students are satisfied with the working relationship. If it seems like a good fit, research assistants are expected to contribute at least 10 hours/week towards lab research and attend weekly lab meetings.

We are looking for research assistants to start [insert ideal start time here]. Please note that we are only considering candidates who are willing to make a year-long commitment.

To apply, please email your responses to the following questions to the Frank Lab Manager at [email address here]:

1. Why do you want to work in our lab?

2. What is your programming expertise (Matlab, JavaScript, Python, etc.)? Could you program a computerized experiment? If so, what language would you use?

3. What is your statistical expertise? Can you take a dataset and conduct ANOVAs, regressions, and/or correlations on that data?

4. Which one of our 3 research areas are you most interested in getting involved with, and why?