Interested in joining the HBCL?

Many of the best learning experiences happen outside the classroom and getting involved in research provides students with the opportunity to gain new skills and insight that will further their education and provide needed background for postgraduate study in medicine, physical and occupational therapy, and kinesiological psychology.

The Health Behaviors and Cognition Laboratory is currently looking for highly motivated undergraduate students to assist with on-going research projects.

Undergraduate research assistants (URAs) in the HBCL engage in activities such as administration of maximal exercise tests and neuropsychological assessments, preparation and measurement of neuroelectric activity, and data processing. Additionally, URAs from the HBCL will have the opportunity to present some of the lab’s research findings at MSU’s annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum; and some URAs, who have played a significant role, will have the opportunity to present at national meetings and earn co-authorship on publications in scientific journals. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with graduate students and Dr. Pontifex. Most students spend the first semester in the lab learning research methods for neuropsychological and metabolic assessments. Once mastered, students are able to begin their own research projects. If you are interested in learning more about undergraduate research opportunities in the HBCL, please contact Dr. Pontifex.

Graduate students in the HBCL are given numerous opportunities to be involved in research, teaching, and the writing and presentation of papers, and be exposed to the process of grant writing. It is expected that students will be actively involved in scholarly research ranging from smaller projects to randomized controlled trials, depending on the research objective. Students completing a doctoral degree will generally have several publications in peer-reviewed journals, have presented numerous papers at national conferences (e.g., American College of Sports Medicine, Society for Psycophysiological Research), and be prepared to continue as an independent investigator. If you are interested in learning more about graduate research opportunities in the HBCL, please contact Dr. Pontifex.