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Research often comes with new terms that can feel unfamiliar at first. Here are a few key words and phrases you might encounter as you begin exploring labs or communicating with professors:
Principal Investigator (PI): The faculty member who leads a research lab and oversees all projects, staff, and students.
Graduate Student: Advanced researchers (master’s, Ph.D., or postdoctoral fellows) who help manage lab projects and mentor undergraduate students.
Postdoctoral (postdoc) Student: An individual who has already earned their Ph.D. and is conducting advanced research training under the supervision of a senior researcher or faculty member.
Lab Manager: An individual hired to oversee the daily operations of a research lab, including administrative responsibilities and research support. This role is often a 1–2 year “bridge” position before graduate school, though some lab managers stay in the role longer.
Research Assistant (RA): An undergraduate student who helps with research tasks such as recruiting participants, collecting data, coding, social media posts, and many other tasks.
Institutional Review Board (IRB): A committee that reviews and approves research involving human participants to ensure it meets ethical and safety standards.
Mentorship: A supportive relationship where an experienced researcher helps guide your academic and professional development.
Professional Development Meeting: A one-on-one meeting between a student and a faculty member, advisor, or mentor to discuss the student’s academic and career goals. These meetings are often used to ask for guidance on joining research labs, applying to graduate school, or developing professional skills. These meetings are a great opportunity to build relationships with professors and showcase your personality outside of the classroom.
Resume: A resume is a brief, organized document that highlights your skills, experiences, education, and accomplishments relevant to a job, internship, or research position. Its purpose is to show employers or faculty why you are a strong candidate and to give them a quick snapshot of your qualifications.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed academic document, similar to a resume, that highlights an individual’s educational background, research experience, publications, presentations, relevant skills, and academic or professional achievements. For undergraduate students, a CV is commonly used when applying for graduate programs or lab roles are is often longer and more comprehensive than a resume.
Cover Letter: A cover letter is a short, professional letter that accompanies your resume and explains why you are interested in a specific position or opportunity. It provides context for your experiences, shows your interest, and demonstrates how your skills and experiences align with the position’s needs.
Tip: To learn about the various Psychology subfields, check out this link.
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