THE INSPIRE LAB
Future Students
Are you a potential graduate or undergraduate student looking to get involved with the INSPIRE Lab? Read on to learn more!
Graduate Students
Dr. Suzuki is planning to interview students for the Fall 2026 incoming class (Applications due December 2025).
This page is intended to provide information to prospective graduate students interested in joining the INSPIRE lab and working with Dr. Suzuki. The hope is to aid in prospective applicant's decision on whether hey would like to apply to train in the INSPIRE lab.
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Experience in the areas emphasized below will better prepare prospective students to train in the INSPIRE lab, but they are not required. For example, opportunities for hands-on experience in EEG are not available at many institutions. I understand that students may not have had the opportunities, and I focus on what we can achieve together in the future within the INSPIRE lab. I strongly encourage prospective students to reach out to discuss their interests and/or apply if they are interested in working with us.
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Research Training
Research will be the most emphasized training and activity areas in the INSPIRE lab. Therefore, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to review the research conducted at the INSPIRE lab. Prospective applicants are encouraged to think about how their interests and career plans align with the training opportunities in the lab.
Generally, graduate students in the INSPIRE lab can expect to gain competence and conduct research using electroencephalogram (EEG; e.g., event-related potentials, time-frequency decomposition) and some advanced statistical analyses (e.g., factor analyses, structural equation modeling, item-response theory, multilevel modeling, Bayesian analyses). Ambulatory assessment is another methodology employed in the lab and an area of potential training. All areas will require acquiring programming skills in various software, such as MATLAB and R. My content expertise is in utilizing the transdiagnostic dimensional approach to study personality disorders and psychosis spectrum disorders. However, students in the lab may explore research in other forms of psychopathology. One reason I enjoy mentoring is because I learn from students at the same time, and the breadth of my research areas reflect my eagerness to learn new areas.
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Clinical Training
My mentorship during graduate school will primarily focus on research. Therefore, INSPIRE lab may not be the best fit for applicants who are primarily interested in clinical careers at the time of their applications. However, I am a licensed psychologist (in Michigan) and recognize the importance of clinical training and experiences in clinical research. This is why the INSPIRE lab is housed within the Clinical Psychology program, with clinical faculty and supervisors who will provide clinical training. Therefore, the INSPIRE lab is not a good fit for applicants who are not interested in any clinical training, either.
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Please see this page for more information about the program:
https://artsandsciences.utulsa.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology-graduate-programs/
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Co-Mentoring with LIBR Investigators
Dr. Suzuki may serve as a secondary co-mentor for graduate students whose are primary research interests align with the investigators at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR; https://www.laureateinstitute.org/). We have ongoing collaborations and prospective applicants who see fit at the intersection of LIBR investigator's and Dr. Suzuki's research are encouraged to reach out to the LIBR investigator they wish to have as their primary mentor. If you are interested in Dr. Suzuki as a co-mentor, you will be expected to join the INSPIRE lab at least part-time and engage in ongoing research at the INSPIRE lab. Prospective applicants interested in co-mentoring are encouraged to consider how their research interests align with both the INSPIRE lab and the potential LIBR primary mentor for a synergistic and enriching training experience. For the 2025 cycle, LIBR investigators with whom Dr. Suzuki may co-mentor include: Drs. Hanna Berg, Emily Choquette, Salvador Guinjoan, Maria Ironside, and Evan White.
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Undergraduate Research Assistants (RAs)
We are recruiting motivated undergraduate students who would like to join our team and gain hands-on research experiences as RAs. This will be a particularly great opportunity for students interested in clinical and/or neuroscience research.
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Responsibilities
Assisting in data collection, processing of collected data, and other miscellaneous tasks essential to conduct research in the lab. All RAs will be trained and will assist in electroencephalogram (EEG) data collection and preprocessing. Other trainings may be provided as needed. The primary requirements to have to join the lab are: being highly motivated, reliable, and detail-oriented.
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Expectations
RAs are expected to commit 6-9 hours per week to the lab and remain with the lab for at least three semesters. We generally require RAs in their first semester with the lab to enroll in an independent study class and commit to 9 hours per week, because it will be training- and learning-intensive. Due to the nature of the data collection, we require RAs to send us multiple 4-hour blocks of availability per week at the beginning of the semester. We will also likely require flexible hours, including between classes and some evenings or weekends, to accommodate potential participant schedules. Students will be expected to complete the EEG and other research trainings, complete book and manuscript readings, and attend weekly team meetings.
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Application
If you are interested in joining our lab, please submit a one-page resume and a few sentences about why this opportunity interests you below. Recruitment for the Fall 2025 semester is complete. Recruitment and admission to the lab is currently open for Spring 2026. Interviews for the Spring 2026 positions are expected to start October 2025.
Please submit your application and one-page resume below
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