Students are often interested in joining the lab to gain hands-on experience with research. This experience can complement and enhance your in-class education and allows you to apply many of the skills and principles you learn about.

 

IMPETuS lab offers a number of research assistant opportunities each year. Both volunteer and paid positions are sometimes available; please indicate in your application if you are open to one or both types of positions. Committed volunteers are often considered for paid positions as they become available.

 

Working in a research lab gives you important experience and training that can help prepare you to conduct your honours thesis, attend graduate school or other post-graduate education, and pursue a range of careers. We look for research assistants who are reliable and committed, show independence and leadership, work well collaboratively, and who are excited about learning and discovery.

Research assistantships can benefit your education and help you build research, critical thinking, communication, analytic, and professional skills. You will build relationships with senior students and faculty members that provide valuable mentorship opportunities and that can form the basis of a great letter of recommendation.

  

What's involved in being a Research Assistant?

 

Typically, the work assigned to a research assistant depends on his or her research experience and skill set. Research assistant tasks may include any of the following:

 

Coding open-ended or interview data

Assisting in creating and piloting study materials

Conducting literature searches

Co-ordinating and conducting in-lab studies, conducting short telephone or on-campus surveys

Data entry and transcribing

Data analysis (SPSS, R, Excel)

Assistance in preparation and submission of ethics applications

Designing computer-based experiments using data-collection software or web software (Qualtrics, MediaLab, Direct RT)

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How to Apply:

Please email awilsonlab@gmail.com and CC Dr. Wilson with the following information:

1. Your resume/ CV highlighting relevant skills (specific skills not required; most will be trained in-lab).

2. A cover letter explaining reasons for wanting to be a research assistant.

3. Unofficial transcript (all courses and grades to date).

4. Willingness to be considered for (either or both) volunteer or paid positions.

5. Estimated minimum/ maximum number of hours per week you would be available, and (if known) the specific times you would be available. Normal time commitment between 4 - 8 hours/week (at least some available hours must be weekdays 8:30 am-5:00 pm).