QUEST Lab

Rooted in the Applied Psychology Department’s mission to advance equity through interdisciplinary research and community partnership, the Q.U.E.S.T. Lab extends the impact of the Quality Undergraduate Education and Scholarly Training (Q.U.E.S.T.) program far beyond the summer. While the 10-week program develops critically engaged scholars, the QUEST Lab operates year-round as a research, training, and community-engaged hub dedicated to expanding access, cultivating belonging, and generating justice-oriented scholarship committed to social transformation.

Outside of its core summer program, the QUEST Lab leads ongoing activities that sustain and deepen its impact:

• Assessment & Evaluation: We design and implement pre- and post-program assessments to measure learning outcomes, track student growth in research confidence and belonging, and guide continuous program improvement.

• Knowledge Translation & Outreach: We develop curriculum-based social media campaigns that translate the QUEST research curriculum into accessible guidance, offering undergraduates practical tools for research, graduate school preparation, and understanding activism as a scholarly practice.

• Research Projects: We conduct qualitative research on the QUEST social justice curriculum, explore applied research methodologies, and document the experiences of marginalized communities in academic settings, contributing to broader conversations on equity and inclusion in higher education.

Together, these efforts ensure that the spirit of QUEST continues throughout the year, supporting students, building community, and nurturing pathways into justice-oriented research.

If you are an Applied Psychology Undergraduate Student interested in working with QUEST for your fieldwork requirement please email quest.nyu@nyu.edu with your resume and coverletter of why you are interested in working with QUEST, and what type of projects you would like to work on.