Research Opportunities

All students will have the opportunity to build research-relevant skills as part of their regular coursework (especially the research methods sequence, PSY 214 and 215). Students who wish to hone these skills can do so by choosing courses that feature independent research components, including PSY 416 (Mixed methods), PSY 417 (Advanced research methods), PSY 498A (Applied projects), and PSY 499 (Thesis).

In addition to coursework, students may wish to participate in research outside the classroom. Some of these experiences can be arranged at other institutions (such as OHSU) or at organizations in the Portland community (typically structured as internships). Many of the faculty in the department also conduct their own research programs and may be seeking interested students.

Students who work with faculty on research projects can do so on a volunteer basis or can receive upper-division course credit (with a maximum of 3 credits/semester). The details of these courses – including expectations and workload – are arranged individually by each faculty member. Below, you can find a summary of the research projects currently in progress, as well as an indication of whether the faculty member is looking for students, and if so, what qualifications they prefer.

Zach Simmons (simmonsz@up.edu)

Research in Evolutionary Psychology: An interesting theory holds that the experience of being sick should be thought of much like an emotion (e.g., anger), in that it will activate under predictable circumstances and coordinate a range of cognitive and behavioral systems all designed to minimize the costs of being ill. My lab is currently investigating whether the same might be true of injuries – that they might activate the same emotion-like psychological systems, but affecting a different, though related, set of outcomes.

Currently looking for students: YES, in AY 26/27

Preferred qualifications: competed PSY 214, PSY 341 (Evolutionary Psychology)

Mercedes Oliva (oliva@up.edu)

When we attempt to come up with creative ideas or solutions to problems, it is more and more common that the first thing we do is consult the Internet (or related technology). As we consider ideas that other people have come up with for similar problems, this alters our own creative approach. My team investigates (a) the different ways that people use technology during the creative process, and (b) the situations in which technology may help or hurt the creative process.

Currently looking for students: YES, in AY 26/27

Preferred qualifications: competed PSY 214

Mark Pitzer (pitzer@up.edu)

Over the last decade, our lab has shown that the fetal environment plays a significant role in determining the number of dopamine neurons that develop in both the reward circuits of the ventral tegmental area and the motor circuits of the substantia nigra. We are now extending this work by assessing how the intrauterine environment influences a recently discovered population of dopamine neurons that appear to be involved in processing and responding to social isolation.

Each year, I select two students through UP’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program.

Preferred qualifications: Students who have taken, and performed well in, PSY 310, PSY 311, and a chemistry lab course