Get Involved!

By volunteering with SPRINT, you will gain transferrable skills for several domains, including research, teaching, alternative academic careers, and non-profit/EDI work.

RESEARCH

• Gain experience grant writing & reporting

• Assist in conducting, analyzing, and reviewing findings related to HS student pedagogy & volunteer training

  • Example outcomes:

    • 2023 & 2024 - Longitudinal study following SPRINT participants up to one-year post participation

    • 2025 - UG, Grad, Postdoc volunteer assessment pre & post SPRINT

    • Access to rich qualitative & quantitative datasets spanning over 5 years 

    • 1 -2 manuscripts (In Prep) to be published in academic journals

    • 4 conference presentations (3 talks, 1 poster)

TEACHING

• Develop & apply pedagogical practices for HS students & volunteers

• Develop lectures and slide decks

• Develop & coordinate workshop series aimed at pedagogy & mentorship

• Gain experience translating research into accessible language

ALTERNATIVE CAREERS (consulting, management, non-profit work, etc.)

• Gain management & reporting skills

• Develop training documents

• Organize multiple volunteers

• Work with people at varying career stages (HS students, UGs, grads, post-docs, professors, university faculty/ staff)

NON-PROFIT & EDI WORK

• Learn about EDI practices informed by the university & Ontario Human Rights Commision

• Help counter anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and colonialism within psychology

• Build connections and inspire future psychology researchers

• Mentor HS and undergraduate students

Undergraduate students can join either the executive team or help during the SPRINT program.

Roles open to undergraduate students include the following:

Executive Team:

• Committee Member

During SPRINT:

• Program assistant: Help leading up to and during the SPRINT program (e.g., taking attendance, tech support, answering HS student & volunteer questions, ensuring the program runs smoothly).

• Assistant Mentor: Meet with small groups of high school students to help them develop a novel research proposal (Ratio: 1-2 mentors to 5 HS students)

• Assistant Lecturer: Assist a graduate student or postdoc in creating and delivering a lecture on a psychology topic (e.g., social psych, cognitive psych, neuro psych)

• Panelist: Answer HS student questions during a 30 min - 1 hour session.

Undergraduate volunteers may receive a stipend/honorarium at the end of the program (funding dependent).

Graduate students & post-docs can join either the executive team or help during the SPRINT program.

Executive Team:

• High School Coordinators: Recruit & sort through HS student applications

• Volunteer Coordinators: Recruit & hire UG, grad, post-doc lecturers & mentors 

• Communications Coordinator: Manage social media & website

• Events Coordinators: Help plan events for SPRINT participants & volunteers

• Finance Coordinators: Manage grants & reimbursements

Roles during SPRINT program

• Mentor: Meet with small groups of high school students to help them develop a novel research proposal (Ratio: 1-2 mentors to 5 HS students)

• Lecturer: Deliver a one-time, 40 minute lecture on a psychology topic (e.g., social psych, cognitive psych, neuro psych)

• Tutorial leader: Lead a 1-2 hour tutorial session (e.g., how to conduct a literature review, how to use R)

• Panelist: Answer HS student questions during a 30 min - 1 hour session.

• Data blitz presenter: Deliver a one-time, 20 minute talk on your research.

All volunteers may receive a stipend/honorarium at the end of the program (funding dependent).

To date, SPRINT has been an entirely graduate student & postdoc led EDI initiative in the department. However, we appreciate and encourage support from both psychology faculty & staff members! 

If you are interested in writing a grant, conducting pedagogical research, delivering a workshop to volunteers, or giving a talk to high school students please email us: uoftpsycomm@gmail.com

Though we prioritize volunteers who are affiliated with the University of Toronto, we will assess inquiries for volunteers, lecturers, and panelists from other universities on a case-by-case basis. Please email us with your CV/resume and explain why or how you would like to get involved with SPRINT. 

Email: uoftpsycomm@gmail.com