Prospective Research Assistants

Do you want to gain research experience?
**NOTE: We are currently not accepting any more applications for a Spring 2026 start. You may still complete the application form and indicate a later start date.

At the Comprehensive Assessment and Intervention Program (CAIP), we conduct research trying to understand the best ways to assess behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents and caregivers.

Our lab is currently conducting a study involving behavioral lab tasks with adolescents and their parents. In addition to hands-on training with participants, RAs have the opportunity to contribute ideologically and logistically through three committees—Recruitment, Dissemination, and Instrumentation—which play key roles in study design and execution. While this particular position does not currently include data handling or analysis, it provides valuable experience in the operational and participant-facing components of the research process, primarily through training on behavioral laboratory tasks and participant interactions. 

Current studies:   
  • CONTEXT II: Testing new ways of assessing mental health in adolescents 14-15
Duties Include: 
  • Recruiting and assisting in the completion of assessments for the study (e.g., explaining study to participants, supervising their completion of assessments, conducting interviews and administering tasks on the computer)
  • Learning and executing different roles that utilize standardized manuals for use in assessing adolescents and their parents
  • Assisting with administrative duties at CAIP
  • Assistance on evenings and weekends for running recruitment events and study events, with training on the behavioral tasks at regular intervals during the week
Skills: 
  • Gaining experience and confidence with participants in clinical research contexts
  • Standardized interviewing skills
  • Survey/measure development and exploration of construct validity
  • Recruitment of participants
  • Dissemination of research materials
Requirements:
  • A minimum of a 2 semester commitment 
  • 10 hours per week is required (6 hours in-person, 4 hours virtual)
  • The 6 hour requirement primarily occurs during weekdays. The lab is not open before 9am and not open past 6pm
(NOTE: CAIP Lab makes exceptions for weekend availability based on religious observances).

If you are interested in attaining research experience, please use the link below to apply for a volunteer research assistant position:

For current undergraduates, please click here.
For post-undergraduates (post-baccs), please click here.
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For many of our research assistants, CAIP lab is their first formal research experience. Despite this, we train research assistants to carry out some pretty high-level duties in the lab. Those receiving research training at CAIP learn about conducting diagnostic and treatment research in adolescence. Receiving training at CAIP means learning that research has many “moving parts.” Laboratory studies are the byproduct of extensive efforts in connecting with the community, raising public awareness about our research, and mentoring research assistants to excel in their work. As such, research assistants at CAIP receive training and opportunities to lead efforts in each of these aspects of the research process.

Contact: 
Dr. Andres De Los Reyes ([email protected]) or the lab at [email protected].