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 interviewing students for the Fall 2024 incoming class.
This page is intended to provide information and transparency to prospective graduate students interested in joining the INSPIRE lab and working with me (Dr. Suzuki). I hope this aids in prospective applicant's decision whether this is an opportunity worthwhile for them to invest their time and effort into applying to work in the INSPIRE lab.
While having some experience in areas emphasized below will make the applicant stronger, they are not required. For example, hands-on experience in EEG is not possible at many institutions. I understand that past opportunities may not have been equally accessible to everyone, and I'm keen to focus on what we can achieve together in the future within the INSPIRE lab. I strongly encourage prospective students to reach out to me or apply if they are interested in working with us.
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. Areas we research are relatively broad, but there are common threads and prospective applicants are encouraged to think through how their interests align with the research that we conduct in the lab.
Generally, graduate students in the INSPIRE lab will be expected 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, 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 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 areas 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 this eagerness to learn new areas.
Clinical Training
My mentorship during graduate school will primarily focus on research. As a result, applicants who are primarily interested in a clinical career at the time of application may not be the best fit for the INSPIRE lab. 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 exceptional clinical faculty and supervisors who can provide superb clinical training. Therefore, applicants not interested in clinical training may also not be a good fit for the lab.
Please see this page for more information about the program:
https://artsandsciences.utulsa.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology-graduate-programs/
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.
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.
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.
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 2024 semester is complete. Recruitment and admission to the lab is currently open for Spring and Summer 2025. Interviews for the Spring 2025 positions are expected to start October 2024.
Please submit your application and one-page resume below