Prospective Undergraduate Research Assistants

What is expected from an undergraduate research assistant?

We welcome valuable contributions that our undergraduate students make as key members of the lab. Undergraduate RAs are expected to commit minimum of one year to the lab (including the summer). Our lab provides opportunities to be trained in many aspects of research, including data entry, recruitment, running participant visits, coding, and many other skills. We generally ask our undergraduate volunteers to commit to working in the lab for about 9 hours each week so that everyone benefits from the experience. We expect undergraduate RAs to enroll in Independent Studies or Advanced Research Seminar with Dr. Kang in order to receive course credit for their involvement in the lab.

Our lab offers undergraduates a unique opportunity to be deeply involved in high-level research on autism and neurodevelopment. Students don’t just assist—they take ownership of key aspects of our work, including data collection, and contributing to lab operations. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic undergraduate RAs who can work well independently and as part of a team. Experienced undergraduates may also have opportunities to mentor newer team members as team/project leads.

This is a fast-paced and collaborative environment best suited for students who are self-driven, highly organized, and eager to grow in a research-intensive lab. You’ll gain invaluable experience and can get a lot of things out of the experience—but only if you’re ready to meet the challenge. If you’re looking for meaningful engagement in research and are prepared to take initiative, we welcome your application.

What if I don’t have any prior research experiences?

That’s okay! No prior research experience is necessary to join our lab. As an undergraduate student this is your time to gain research experience and we are committed to training you on the ins and outs of the process. However, as noted above, this is not a typical entry-level position. We are looking for exceptional students who are highly motivated, detail-oriented, and ready to challenge themselves. The learning curve is steep, but the rewards are significant—many of our undergraduates go on to competitive graduate and clinical programs.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in our research and/or interested in working with children and families, please fill out our Interest Form to get started. We will review all applications and request additional materials, and then extend interview offers via email during each RA recruitment round.

Note: We are not currently considering RA applications. Please check back in the future!