Frequently Ask Questions
Frequently Ask Questions
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Will you be considering applications this year?
Will you be considering applications this year?
Yes, I will be considering applications for our PhD program.
What research interests are a good fit for the lab?
What research interests are a good fit for the lab?
Applicants would be a potentially good fit for the lab if they are primarily interested in studying risk for psychopathology (C/PTSD and suicidality) and HIV prevention/risk in emerging adulthood (~18-30) with an emphasis on social exclusionary risk factors (primarily marginalization and discrimination), stress and stress appraisals, emotion regulation and coping styles, and more. The list keeps growing because (a) it’s complicated, and (b) lab members bring their own interests and good ideas! That said, if your interests lie significantly outside of this list or are focused on age groups other than emerging adults, I may not be the best fit for you.
We often conduct large longitudinal studies because the types of questions we want to answer require large samples (several hundred or more) and the ability to test temporal precedence (i.e., what predicts what over time). We also often use structural equation modeling (SEM).
Methods we use include qualitative interviews, social media analysis, intensive longitudinal methods (e.g., EMA), and clinical measures (diagnostic interviews, self-reports).
I suggest also reading some recent papers from the lab* to get a clear understanding of our work. You can find all my papers here.
* A quick decoder for author order: The last author on the paper is generally the faculty member whose lab the work was done in (this is the “senior author” position), while the first author is generally a trainee in that lab. Sometimes potential applicants say they are particularly interested in my work on a topic based on some paper I’m a middle author on– those are often papers on which I’ve collaborated but have not played a central role and aren’t topics we focus on in the lab. Nor are papers from many years ago a good indication of work we are currently doing. So if you want to find papers representative of the work you might do as a trainee in the lab, look for papers published in the last few years where the faculty member you are applying to work with is the last author, and the first author is someone with the same university affiliation (who will generally be a trainee in their lab).
We often conduct large longitudinal studies because the types of questions we want to answer require large samples (several hundred or more) and the ability to test temporal precedence (i.e., what predicts what over time). We also often use structural equation modeling (SEM).
Methods we use include qualitative interviews, social media analysis, intensive longitudinal methods (e.g., EMA), and clinical measures (diagnostic interviews, self-reports).
I suggest also reading some recent papers from the lab* to get a clear understanding of our work. You can find all my papers here.
* A quick decoder for author order: The last author on the paper is generally the faculty member whose lab the work was done in (this is the “senior author” position), while the first author is generally a trainee in that lab. Sometimes potential applicants say they are particularly interested in my work on a topic based on some paper I’m a middle author on– those are often papers on which I’ve collaborated but have not played a central role and aren’t topics we focus on in the lab. Nor are papers from many years ago a good indication of work we are currently doing. So if you want to find papers representative of the work you might do as a trainee in the lab, look for papers published in the last few years where the faculty member you are applying to work with is the last author, and the first author is someone with the same university affiliation (who will generally be a trainee in their lab).
What are the admissions criteria and how do I apply?
What are the admissions criteria and how do I apply?
Our department website has detailed information about the application process and the evaluation criteria:
All applications are reviewed by an admissions committee based on these rubrics (i.e., I don’t personally select who to admit).
Shortlisted PhD applicants are invited for in-person interviews, usually in January (with Zoom interviews for those who are outside of the US).
- MA/PhD program: MA/PhD in Family Social Science - University of Minnesota
- We encourage applicants to look carefully at the evaluation rubrics and do an honest self-assessment before deciding to apply. For example, applicants lacking extensive and strong previous research experience in relevant areas would be unlikely to be admitted to the PhD program and might want to consider the masters program instead, or gaining some additional experience and applying the following year.
- Address the evaluation criteria in your statement of purpose, including clearly describing how your experiences, interests and goals align with your proposed mentor(s) and the program.
All applications are reviewed by an admissions committee based on these rubrics (i.e., I don’t personally select who to admit).
Shortlisted PhD applicants are invited for in-person interviews, usually in January (with Zoom interviews for those who are outside of the US).
What is it like to work with you/in the lab?
What is it like to work with you/in the lab?
Our Norms and Expectations document provides a good overview, including of my mentoring style and expectations for trainees. We periodically update this document collaboratively in the lab, so it should give you a good idea of our lab culture.
Can you meet with me and/or review my application materials?
Can you meet with me and/or review my application materials?
Many prospective applicants ask for this, and I have to gently decline. There are two reasons for this. Most importantly to me, doing so would make the admissions process less fair and equitable. Why? Because not all applicants would know to, or feel comfortable with, asking for these things, potentially giving an unfair advantage to certain applicants. Instead, our program is committed to evaluating applicants equitably using only their submitted application materials with rubrics linked above. That way, the process is kept transparent and consistent across all applications. Secondly, I simply don’t have the time to do this given the high number of requests and all the other demands on my time.
That said, if you have any specific questions that aren’t answered by any of the documents linked above and that you need the answer to to decide whether to apply, please do feel free to contact me and ask!
I’d also encourage you to take advantage of the many resources for helping you craft strong applications and navigate the application process. E.g., although geared to clinical psychological programs, this comprehensive guide mostly applies to all grad programs and includes links to many examples and additional resources. This is another great resource. The Application Statement Feedback Program is another great way to get feedback on your statement of purpose for PhD programs, if you do not have mentors that can do this for you.
That said, if you have any specific questions that aren’t answered by any of the documents linked above and that you need the answer to to decide whether to apply, please do feel free to contact me and ask!
I’d also encourage you to take advantage of the many resources for helping you craft strong applications and navigate the application process. E.g., although geared to clinical psychological programs, this comprehensive guide mostly applies to all grad programs and includes links to many examples and additional resources. This is another great resource. The Application Statement Feedback Program is another great way to get feedback on your statement of purpose for PhD programs, if you do not have mentors that can do this for you.
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