Research Programs
Innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research
For graduate and undergraduate students, research is integral to the Psychological and Brain Sciences academic programs at the University of Delaware. We provide rigorous training experiences that span coursework, scholarship, instruction and community involvement.
Our students work alongside faculty recognized for their published research and roles with prestigious organizations and editorial boards around the world. Our faculty have consistently attracted major funding from leading national agencies.
UD faculty and students in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences are advancing research and scholarship in psychology and neuroscience through the department's partnerships with research centers, which facilitate collaborations across disciplines, agencies, and organizations. Our faculty direct three major research centers at UD that fuel collaborative work across the University and beyond.
Research Centers at UD
The Center for Biomedical and Brain Imaging houses the first research fMRI scanner in the state of Delaware, serving researchers campuswide, statewide and throughout the region. The center is advancing research on psychopathology, cancer, stroke, cerebral palsy, osteoporosis and other diseases and disorders.
UD’s Center for Training, Evaluation and Community Collaboration (C-TECC) partners with multiple community agencies and organizations to conduct research and evaluation, train mental health providers in evidence-based practices, and build capacity in mental health care systems.
Supported by grants from the National Institute of Health, the Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research is a joint effort between Delaware State University and the University of Delaware to strengthen and support neuroscience research across the state.
UD's Center for Biomedical and Brain Imaging, an 11,600-square-foot, two-story extension to the Life Sciences Research Facility, houses the first research fMRI scanner in the state of Delaware. The fMRI can map brain activity, as well as provide remarkably detailed images of muscles, discs, bones and organs. Serving researchers campuswide, statewide and throughout the region, the center will advance research on psychopathology, cancer, stroke, cerebral palsy, osteoporosis and other diseases and disorders.
The center's collaborators are UD researchers from departments and centers across the University, including Biomedical Engineering; Communication Sciences & Disorders; Kinesiology and Applied Physiology; Linguistics and Cognitive Science; Mechanical Engineering; Nursing; Physical Therapy; and Psychological & Brain Sciences. The director is Keith Schneider, professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences.
Founded in 2012, the Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research is an interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, virtual center linking Delaware State University and the University of Delaware in a joint effort to strengthen and support neuroscience research across the state.
Under the direction of Dr. Melissa A. Harrington at DSU and Dr. Anna Klintsova at UD, the Center brings together a multidisciplinary group of neuroscientists. Supported by grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH), it leverages the neuroscience community and research infrastructure in Delaware for the following objectives:
- Propel advancement in our understanding of the brain and nervous system.
- Provide innovative, interdisciplinary programs of doctoral-level research training and professional development.
- Engage the next generation of researchers through undergraduate and graduate research training.
The Center for Training, Evaluation and Community Collaboration (C-TECC) is an innovative program established at the University of Delaware to advance clinical science in academic, public, and community settings. In partnership with multiple community agencies and organizations, C-TECC conducts research and evaluation, trains mental health providers in evidence-based practices, and builds capacity in mental health care systems.
One of C-TECC’s principal missions is training the next generation of mental health professionals. Post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate trainees learn to build productive working relationships with diverse community partners. Through collaboration with these partners, C-TECC faculty, professionals, and students work to apply scientific methods to the analysis and solution of challenges facing mental health services.
Research opportunities for undergraduates
Research is an integral element of the Psychology & Brain Sciences undergraduate program. Our students have opportunities to build communication and technical skills in research labs, working alongside graduate students and faculty. They also can earn academic credit for research and complete their studies with a senior thesis.
Why consider research?
The hands-on experience allows you to apply your classroom knowledge to the real world and develop your qualifications. You will build a strong resume with concrete examples of work experience during an interview.
It also helps you decide how to specialize within the psychology or neuroscience disciplines. If you plan to go to graduate school, it is useful, if not essential, to participate in research.
The transferable skills you learn from working at a research lab or internship site help you in multiple careers, not just psychology. Your experience in a research lab tells a prospective employer that you work well with others in a disciplined environment and have acquired good analytical skills.
Networking connections such as supervisors can write a letter of recommendation or a reference. In fact, one of the most common ways of finding a job is through networking.
Earn credit for research with Psychological & Brain Sciences
Psychology and neuroscience majors typically get credit for research as Independent Study (PSYC366). The credits can vary from one to six credits. Students and their faculty mentors agree on the number of credits based on the number of hours worked per week. Students who continue to work in a lab for a longer period of time could potentially enroll in Advanced Research (PSYC466).
Neuroscience majors also often get credit for research as NSCI368 (Research) which is a variable credit course (one to six credits) that involves a weekly seminar as well as participation in a research lab. Students who continue to work in a lab and have completed NSCI368 could potentially enroll in Advanced Research (NSCI468).
Registration
Students CANNOT register themselves for research credit courses. Your faculty mentor or a designated lab representative must provide the registration information to the Psychological & Brain Sciences advising office to be enrolled. Make sure that you and your lab have the following information for registration purposes:
- Your full name
- Your UD ID
- The research course you need
- The number of credits
Please note that you can only enroll in these independent study or research courses if your faculty mentor is in or officially affiliated with our department.
Culminate your studies with a senior thesis.
Please note that BEFORE you pursue a senior thesis or thesis research, you should have participated in a faculty member's lab for at least two semesters at the PSYC366 or NSCI368 level. These research courses help you get acquainted with working in a lab, gain basic research skills, and begin to develop your own research questions.
There are two options for completing a thesis:
- PSYC468 (Thesis Research) — Pursue an advanced, independent research project under faculty supervision. At least two semesters of PSYC366 is the prerequisite to enrolling in this course. In addition, you must have a written thesis proposal, that is agreed to by your faculty research mentor, prior to the start of your thesis research. Students in this course must write a formal research report of their work. Students give their final written paper to the Psychology Undergraduate Committee.
- UNIV401 & UNIV402 (Senior Thesis) —Highly-motivated students can elect to conduct a senior thesis to earn a degree with distinction. In addition to designing, conducting, and writing up the research, it requires a committee and an oral defense. This process mirrors what students would experience when creating and defending a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. Read more about this experience.
Summer Research Awards for Undergraduates
Two generous donors have provided funds for two major summer research awards for undergraduates in Psychological and Brain Sciences. Each award offers $5,000 to one student each summer, with $4,000 of this amount to be used as the student’s stipend and the remaining $1,000 to be used for research-related expenses
The Carol Mueller Plasket Award honors Dr. Carol Mueller Plasket (UD ‘71) and is designed to provide a summer research experience for one undergraduate psychology or neuroscience major at the University of Delaware each year.
The Mind, Brain, and Behavior Summer Fellowship Award, established by Blue Hen parents BethAnne and David Reynolds, and daughter Rachel (2020 Honors College alumna), is also designed to provide a summer research experience for one undergraduate psychology or neuroscience major at the University of Delaware each year.
Application Process
Students must apply by preparing the following materials and submitting them via the application portal. We will advertise the opportunity in mid-December via an email to psychology and neuroscience majors. The application portal will request:
A research proposal: What is the primary research question? Who is the faculty advisor? What are one or two background sources relevant to this question? What research and statistical methods will be used? What are the anticipated outcomes of the research? (1000 word limit) Please save the proposal with a title that includesyour last name.
A budget: How will the $1000 research-related expenses portion of the award be allocated? (This budget is an estimate and not binding.)
A timeline: What portions of the project will happen when? (Note: it is acceptable if some of the elements of the timeline occur during the spring semester preceding the target summer)
Outcomes: What do the student and faculty member plan to do with the results? Will they be written up for a journal? Provide the basis for future study? Will they be presented at a conference?
Preregistration and open science statement: Do the student and faculty member plan to preregister the work, for example, using the OSF site or the aspredicted.org site? Do the student and faculty member plan to make data open eventually? (If so, how?)
Student demographic information, including GPA, year in school, a description of the student’s experience working in the faculty members’ laboratory, a list of the PSYC and NSCI courses the student has completed, and any other relevant information about academic background. The student should also briefly describe their current educational and career goals.
Each applicant should provide the name of the faculty advisor via the application portal. Then the applicant should ask their faculty advisor to submit a confidential statement or letter about the student to the undergraduate committee director (Dr. Morling, morling@udel.edu) The faculty advisor's statement should address:
a) how long the student has been active in the advisor's lab
b) a description of the tasks the student has been responsible for and a statement about the quality of the student's work in the lab;
c) a statement about how the proposed project will benefit both the student and the faculty advisor;
d) any other relevant comments about the project, its significance or feasibility, or the student's academic background.
Deadlines
Proposals must be received by February 20 (midnight). If this date falls on a weekend the due date will be the following Monday.
Decisions will be made by February 27 by discussion followed by majority vote of the undergraduate committee. If this date falls on a weekend the date will be the following Monday.
All decisions made by the committee are final.
Criteria
Preference will be given to rising juniors and rising seniors who already have experience working in the proposed faculty advisor’s laboratory. We will consider proposals to work with a full-time faculty member of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
Higher priority will be assigned to proposals that:
Are judged to represent high-quality science that tests an important question.
Are feasible to conduct during the summer.
Are likely to simultaneously benefit both the student’s development as an independent researcher while also being integrated with the overall research program of the supporting laboratory.
Are proposed by students with a strong academic background (evaluated in terms of GPA, number of advanced courses the student has completed, the student’s amount of lab experience).
Funding
Each award offers $5,000 to one student each summer, with $4,000 of this amount to be used as the student’s stipend and the remaining $1,000 to be used for research-related expenses including, but not limited to, laboratory equipment, participant payment, software acquisition, or travel to academic conferences to present the research. The advisor will be expected to administer the $1,000 expense account on behalf of the student. If used for conference travel, the $1,000 portion of the award may be used for travel occurring up to August 31 of the year following the summer of the primary award. The stipend will cover the student’s work for a period of June 1 to August 15 of the award year.
Students who apply will be considered for both awards simultaneously.
Responsibilities of the awardee
Between June 1 and August 15 of the award year, students must commit at least 10 weeks of full time effort (at least 40 hours per week) to working on their proposed research.
Students must present their work, either in poster or talk form, at the Undergraduate Research and Service Scholar Celebratory Symposium, at the end of the summer of their award period.
When presenting or publishing their work, students must acknowledge that their research was supported in part by the Dr. Carol Mueller Plasket Summer Research Award or by the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Summer Research Award.
Students may not accept one of these awards and a university-level “Summer Scholar” or “Summer Fellow” Award.
Undergraduate Student Poster Presentations
The Ventral Midline Thalamus Mediates Successful Deliberation By Coordinating Prefrontal and Hippocampal Neural Activity: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_xe4kid6u/
Video Presentation — The Ventral Midline Thalamus Mediates Successful Deliberation by Coordinating Prefrontal and Hippocampal Neural Activity
2021. Stout, J.J., Hallock, H., Adiraju, S.S., Griffin, A.L. (Faculty Sponsor: Amy L. Griffin)
Fidelity and Effectiveness of ABC Implemented Through Telehealth: A Response to COVID-19: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_tqfggq7v/
Video Presentation — Fidelity and Effectiveness of ABC Implemented Through Telehealth: A Response to COVID-19
2021. Kipp, E., Schein, S.S., Roben, C.K.P., & Dozier, M. (Faculty Sponsor: Mary Dozier)
Hostile attributional bias and self-esteem as mechanisms linking earlier peer victimization and later internalizing symptoms: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_jbxk49rq/
Video Presentation — Hostile attributional bias and self-esteem as mechanisms linking earlier peer victimization and later internalizing symptoms
2020. Osicky, J. & Hubbard, J. (Faculty Sponsor: Julie Hubbard)
Preventative effects of valproic acid on outcomes associated with caregiver maltreatment: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_msmsy71g/
Video Presentation — Preventative effects of valproic acid on outcomes associated with caregiver maltreatment
2020. Zimmerman, C., Collins, N., & Roth, T. (Faculty Sponsor: Tania Roth)
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