New (updated on Jul 29 2025) 

Introduction

Our lab frequently receives inquiries about joining in various capacities—postdocs, PhD students, Masters, Honours, or volunteers. This document outlines a general procedure for those interested, though specific details can vary by individual.

Volunteering as a Path to PhD Candidacy

The most common inquiries are from prospective PhD students. If you wish to pursue your PhD with us, please follow these steps:

1. Review Our Lab’s Publications.
   Familiarize yourself with our papers, especially those where a member of our lab is the first author or where Nao is either the first or last author. These works reflect the overall direction of our research.

See also this page for our Research Statement. 

If your interests do not align with ours, we encourage you to consider other labs around the world.

Most volunteer projects involve one of the following areas:

1. • Online psychophysics task programming (e.g., PsychoPy, jsPsych) and related data analysis (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB).

   • Neural data analysis (e.g., MATLAB, Python).

2. Contact Nao via email (naotsugu.tsuchiya@monash.edu) 

   • Explain how your research interests align with ours.

   • Attach your CV.

   • Describe your level of programming experience.

(If you are a prospective PhD student, please see Nao's blog entry here as well)  

Guidelines for Volunteering

If you and Nao identify a mutual research interest, you may begin a volunteer research project. The aims of this volunteering period are:

Skill Development for Potential PhD Work

• Communication skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

• Presentation skills: summarizing hypotheses, data analysis, and insights.

Lab Participation 

• Attending lab meetings proactively (e.g., asking questions) 

• On Zoom, we ask you to put your camera on by default 

• Joining journal clubs and presenting topics you are interested in

• Providing project updates and having follow-up meetings with Nao and other lab members.

• Understanding our culture through joining our informal “Gather” meeting (without Nao) for open discussions.

Time and Project Management

• Declare how many hours per week you plan to dedicate.

• Estimate the total hours you intend to invest (20–40 hours is recommended).

• Schedule a check-up meeting around six weeks in with Nao (and possibly a co-supervisor). Please reflect on the projects and future directions. 

• Create a project plan (e.g., on Google Slides) outlining goals, tasks, and timelines to share with Nao.

• Note that background reading time should not be counted toward your project hours.

Assessment of Fit

For the lab (and Nao) to evaluate whether your interests, working style, and goals are compatible with our environment.

Once these details are agreed upon, we will invite you to join our communication channels (e.g., email list). The timing for this may vary.

Progressing from Volunteer to PhD Candidate

If both you and the lab are satisfied with your potential for a PhD, the next step is ensuring you are competitive for an Australian PhD scholarship. Generally, if you apply through School of Psychological Sciences:

• Domestic Applicants

  • A High Distinction in your Honours project often provides a strong chance at securing a scholarship.

• International Applicants

  • A Master’s degree (thesis graded as High Distinction) and at least one first-author paper in a Q1 journal, or

  • Two first-author papers in Q1 journals.

  • (Exceptions exist, but these criteria are common.)

If you do not satisfy these requirements, it may be best for you to continue the volunteering research for publications, or work with other people or apply for other options (including getting a Master’s degree). In extremely rare situations, our lab may be able to offer monetary compensation. 

Desired Lab Members

We aim to work with individuals who 

• Help others without expecting anything in return.

• Freely share knowledge.

• Provide introductions and mentorship.

• Offer support without hidden motives.

• Self-management is likewise essential.

(These traits are called the “Giver” mindset, as described in Adam Grant’s Give & Take. If you are interested, please read the book. Grant’s book also describes Takers (primarily self-focused) and Matchers (who believe in balanced reciprocity). We avoid takers and hope that matchers in our lab aspire to become givers. ) 

Version 1.0 by Nao Tsuchiya 2025 Apr 6

1.0.1 comments by Francesco, Chuyin, Aniko