9/11/12

The inside scoop on staying engaged and up-to-date with the Psychology major!
The psychology undergraduate newsletter provides a weekly update on the latest course information, upcoming events, and currently available job, internship, and research opportunities relating to your major! Find past issues here. If you would like to start receiving the Psych Scoop directly to your inbox, send a request to: psyadvis@umn.edu.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
PSYCHOLOGY ADVISING ANNOUNCEMENTS
--1.Fall 2012 Walk-In Hours for Psychology Undergraduate Advising
CAMPUS RESOURCES
--2.Want to Fine-Tune Skills in a Supportive Environment? Attend Group Sessions!
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
--3.UGRAs for Educational Psych Reading Comprehension Lab--Course Credit Option
--4.UGRAs for Conflict Mediation Project--For Credit
--5.UGRAs for Political Communication Project--For Credit
--6.UGRAs for School Psych Lab on Math & Reading Assessments--Credit Option
--7.UGRA for Health & Social Psych Lab--For Credit
--8.UGRAs for Assistance on 'After Deployment Adaptive Parenting Tools' Lab--For Credit
JOB/INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
--9.Work as a Youth Program Specialist in Minneapolis! 3/4-Time Position Available
--10.Full-Time Positions with Americorps in Portland, Oregon--Begin November!
--11.Work with Youth Policy & Research as a Nonpartisan Policy Intern
LEARNING ABROAD
--12.Info Session: Volunteer Abroad over Winter Break or Spring Break 2013!
--13.Want to Study Abroad? Take the First Step and Attend the Learning Abroad Fair
--14.Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Scholarship for Abroad Experience!
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PSYCHOLOGY ADVISING ANNOUNCEMENTS
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1.Fall 2012 Walk-In Hours for Psychology Undergraduate Advising
Psychology Undergraduate Advising has designated walk-in hours. While other units may have advisors available at all times, each advisor in our unit holds walk-in hours once a week and cannot address walk-in issues outside of these. While it may seem like a quick issue (such as signing a research contract), it often takes more time than expected and adds up when considering our large student population. To run efficiently and serve our students best, it is important that we recognize and respect these specified walk-in times. Due to the high student demand the first two weeks of the term, we will have an advisor available from 8:00am - 4:30pm each business day (except Thursday from 8 - 9:30) for 5 - 10 minute issues. Our normal walk-in hours will take effect after Monday, September 17th. This semester's walk-in hours for the Psychology Advisors can be found on our website at the following link: http://www.psych.umn.edu/ugrad/walkin.html
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CAMPUS RESOURCES
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2.Want to Fine-Tune Skills in a Supportive Environment? Attend Group Sessions!
University Counseling and Consulting Services (UCCS) will be offering a number of groups fall semester, including Understanding Self and Others, Assertive Communication, International Circle, and more. To schedule a group orientation appointment, please call the UCCS front desk at 612-624-3323 or email joh07032@umn.edu.
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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
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3.UGRAs for Educational Psych Reading Comprehension Lab--Course Credit Option
The Department of Educational Psychology is looking for six to ten upper-level undergraduate students to help with a grant-funded research project. In this second year of the grant, the research team is continuing development of a teaching intervention to improve reading comprehension by struggling fourth grade readers. Applicants should be interested in working with children's learning data and experiencing educational research. Selected undergraduates will provide research assistant services including transcribing recordings of children's spoken thoughts during a reading exercise, scoring, coding, entering and other data-handling tasks, and producing teaching materials. Most of the work will be performed in the Education Sciences Building during regular M-F daytime hours. Spring semester there may be opportunities to tutor elementary school students. Undergraduate research assistants may receive course credit (PSY 4993) or volunteer 3, 6 or 9 hours per week. The study continues into spring semester, if the undergraduate research assistant is interested and available to continue. To apply, email Bonnie Janda (jand0015@umn.edu), who will reply with an application and the schedule for group information sessions and individual interviews.
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4.UGRAs for Conflict Mediation Project--For Credit
The Conflict Mediation Lab is looking for undergraduate research assistants to start work during the fall semester, earning research credit for PSY 5993. RAs will be assisting with coding conflict mediation videos and data analysis in a study examining the effect of verbal and non-verbal behaviors on conflict mediation outcomes. Responsibilities include watching and coding videos as well as attending a weekly team lab meeting, held on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. The position runs during the fall semester, with the opportunity to continue into the spring semester. RAs will be expected to work approximately 10 hours per week (may vary across weeks). Strong candidates for this position will be conscientious, bright, motivated students interested in the research process. If you would like to apply for an RA position, send an email with the subject line "Mediation Research Assistant Position" to Ally Williams (will3621@umn.edu) by 1pm on Friday, September 14th, containing the following information: Name; Email; Class Year; GPA; Reason for applying (no more than one sentence, please).
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5.UGRAs for Political Communication Project--For Credit
The Political Communication Lab is looking for undergraduate research assistants to start work during the fall semester, earning research credit for PSY 5993. RAs will be assisting with literature reviews and data analysis in a study examining the relationship between different types of verbal accounts (e.g., excuses or denials) and political scandal. Responsibilities include conducting literature reviews as well as attending a weekly team lab meeting, held on Wednesdays from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. The position runs during the fall semester, with the opportunity to continue into the spring semester. RAs will be expected to work approximately 10 hours per week (may vary across weeks). Strong candidates for this position will be conscientious, bright, motivated students interested in the research process. If you would like to apply for an RA position, send an email with the subject line "Political Communication Research Assistant Position" to Ally Williams (will3621@umn.edu) and Pierce Ekstrom (ekstr076@umn.edu) by 1pm on Friday, September 14th, containing the following information: Name; Email; Class Year; GPA; Reason for applying (no more than one sentence, please).
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6.UGRAs for School Psych Lab on Math & Reading Assessments--Credit Option
The lab of Dr. Ted Christ in the Department of Educational Psychology is looking for responsible, proactive, and detail-oriented students to help with data entry, organization, and other lab activities related to School Psychology and reading or math assessment research during the fall semester. Some students may have opportunities to gain experience working in schools. Credit (PSY 4993) and short-term volunteer options are available. Opportunities for continuation into spring semester available for outstanding students. Please contact Mary Jane White by email if you are interested (whit0782@umn.edu).
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7.UGRA for Health & Social Psych Lab--For Credit
A health and social psychology laboratory is looking for an undergraduate research assistant to assist with several projects this semester. Projects touch on topics such as eating and snacking, decision-making, and goal setting. The successful applicant will be responsible for and gain experience in running participant sessions, tracking participant compensation, scheduling participants, literature searching and data entry. The successful applicant will receive credit for PSY 4993, which requires a 9 hour per week commitment. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Burns at burns398@umn.edu. Please include a brief resume and the times that you are available to run participant sessions this semester.
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8.UGRAs for Assistance on 'After Deployment Adaptive Parenting Tools' Lab--For Credit
The After Deployment Adaptive Parenting Tools (ADAPT) program has for-credit research opportunities for select undergraduate students. The ADAPT study, funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, is a randomized clinical trial developing evidence-based programming for families that builds resilience, is strengths-focused and sustainable after this study has been completed. Led by clinical psychologist, Dr. Abi Gewirtz, ADAPT has partnered with the Minnesota National Guard and Reserves to develop and test parenting resources for military families with school-aged children who are dealing with the deployment process. Minnesota has been a National leader in creating and supporting programs for soldiers and their families. Find out more about the program, click here. Please email skhanson@umn.edu if you are interested in becoming involved in the ADAPT project. Send a resume if you have one available or a summary of your qualifications and interests.
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JOB/INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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IMPORTANT: Organizations listed below are not necessarily affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Psychology or Psychology Undergraduate Advising. Please exercise the same discretion you would in viewing any other source.
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9.Work as a Youth Program Specialist in Minneapolis! 3/4-Time Position Available
This grant-funded position will assist youth ages 12-18 with their participation in youth development programs and leadership opportunities. Working in conjunction with a dedicated team of library staff, the Youth Program Specialist will be a primary contact for youth after school and during evening hours. Duties include: Assess needs and interests of young people and align related programming opportunities at the library; promote teambuilding and cultivate leadership skills among youth participating in library programming; foster a safe, positive, and supportive environment for youth; work closely with program coordinator to manage youth employees, monitor skill development and advocate for youth; provide support and supervision for adult volunteer mentors; perform administrative duties including maintenance of participation records; and assist library staff with program evaluation and make program recommendations. Successful applicants must possess: high school diploma and two years of either experience in youth development field/similar experience working with youth in an urban setting or associates degree with youth coursework (combination of skills and experience totaling 2 years okay); ability to work with youth from a wide range of backgrounds and socio-economic statuses; ability to work as part of a team; interest in digital literacy and its applications in the field of youth work; creativity and innovation to apply youth development practices to a library setting; ability to organize, plan, implement and manage several projects at the same time; and ability to handle the demands of a constantly changing work environment and workload. This is a part-time, one-year contract position (32 hours per week, hourly rate $17.50). Hours will include some evenings and weekends. Earliest start date Fall 2012 (most likely late October/early November). Please send letter of interest and resume to: Bernie Farrell, Hennepin County Library--Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or email to bfarrell@hclib.org.
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10.Full-Time Positions with Americorps in Portland, Oregon--Begin November!
College Possible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit making college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. After-school services include: academic support through ACT/SAT test preparation; college application assistance; financial aid consulting; guidance in the college transition; and support toward college degree completion. As an AmeriCorps organization, College Possible is recruiting college graduates to serve for one year to help make a college degree possible for low-income students. With AmeriCorps VISTA positions ranging from building infrastructure to communications and writing grants, there are many opportunities offered. Not only do College Possible AmeriCorps VISTA members make a difference in their community, they gain valuable experience for their next job or graduate school endeavor. College Possible's current AmeriCorps VISTA opportunities are in the newest site: Portland, Oregon! These positions will give you the exciting opportunity to help build College Possible's Portland site from the ground up! You will work in specific areas, depending on position, but will also gain valuable experience in building the infrastructure of a start-up site. The positions are full-time and start November 2012. To see the positions available at this site and how you may fit in, compensation information, and to apply, please visit here. College Possible was recognized in Princeton Review's 2008 edition of Best Entry-Level Jobs--become a part of something meaningful and enjoyable!
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11.Work with Youth Policy & Research as a Nonpartisan Policy Intern
The Children, Youth & Family Consortium (CYFC) is an intermediary organization that connects research, teaching, policy and community practice to organizations that, in turn, apply that information in direct service to children and families. CYFC seeks a Policy Intern to assist with critical aspects of CYFC's nonpartisan policy program activities. While they learn about various ways to engage in the policy arena, the Intern will utilize their advanced communication and organizational skills to assist with a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded qualitative research project and national translational efforts, and assist with day-to-day operations. Click here to view the full internship description and requirements. To apply, visit GoldPass (Job ID# 81815).
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LEARNING ABROAD
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12.Info Session: Volunteer Abroad over Winter Break or Spring Break 2013!
Friday, September 21; 3:00 - 4:30pm
214 Heller Hall
Volunteer in Ecuador, Guatemala, or Ghana through service projects in community homes, schools, and orphanages while learning a lot about culture and life outside of your own. Visit the links above to learn more about each program, or attend the info session!
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13.Want to Study Abroad? Take the First Step and Attend the Learning Abroad Fair
Wednesday, September 19; 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
West Bank Plaza (Willey Atrium as rain backup)
The Learning Abroad Fair is designed for students to learn about the variety of learning abroad options available at the University of Minnesota. Students will have the opportunity to meet Learning Abroad Center staff, affiliated program staff, college advisors, and many other departments from around the U that will help with the decisions and steps needed to participate in an education abroad experience.
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14.Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Scholarship for Abroad Experience!
The International Undergraduate Research Opportunities (UROP) Scholarship is designed to promote learning abroad opportunities to undergraduate students by providing critical funding to students enrolled in select credit-bearing learning abroad programs involving a research project. The learning abroad program must be a semester or academic year in length involving a minimum of 100 hours dedicated to research that occurs onsite. For more information, click here. Application deadline for Spring 2013 is October 17th, 2012. The award amount is $1500. Funding is provided by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Learning Abroad Center (LAC), and the Office of Undergraduate Education.