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Get Involved
Prospective Students
Prospective students are encouraged to explore the lab's current projects and recent publications to get a feel for the work we do and ensure it is a strong fit for your interests and goals. The PLEA Lab is committed to active, hands-on mentorship at every level. Dr. Baker meets regularly one-on-one with all lab members, and newer students also benefit from guidance by more advanced students, creating a collaborative and supportive environment for everyone.
The PLEA Lab is interdisciplinary by nature, and students from a range of backgrounds thrive here. Students seeking degrees in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Pre-Law, Applied Statistics, or Computer Science make a great fit.
Undergraduate Students
How to Join
Undergraduate students interested in joining the PLEA Lab as a research assistant should reach out to Dr. Baker with your CV or resume, a brief introduction, lab application, and a note about why you want to join. If it seems like a good fit, you will meet with Dr. Baker to discuss next steps.
Responsibilities
Undergraduate RAs typically contribute 4-8 hours per week and attend weekly lab meetings. RAs get involved in a range of work, including IRB submissions, preparing study materials, data entry and cleaning, literature reviews, contributing to manuscript drafts, and supporting fellow lab members' projects. We encourage RAs to share their interests and goals, and we do our best to align tasks accordingly, though all lab members pitch in across projects, including the behind-the-scenes work that keeps research moving.
Course Enrollment
Undergraduate RAs will be enrolled in the appropriate independent research course: PSYC 399, 498, or 499: Psychology & Law Research. RAs seeking ambitious and long-term lab experience, at least 3 consecutive semesters, can participate in the Vertically Integrated Projects® (VIP) program and enroll in the VIP section of the course. The number of credits enrolled in depends on the student’s needs (1 credit = 50 hours per semester). Students can also complete the course for capstone and honors credit, including honors theses.
Graduate Students
How to Join
Graduate students interested in joining the PLEA lab should reach out to Dr. Baker with your CV or resume, a brief introduction, lab application, and a note about why want to join. If it looks like a strong fit, you will meet with Dr. Baker to talk through your interests and goals.
Responsibilities
Graduate RAs are expected to contribute 5–10 hours per week. Responsibilities span the full arc of the research process from conducting literature reviews and drafting IRB proposals, to recruiting and communicating with participants, managing databases, collecting and coding data, running statistical analyses, and contributing to manuscript writing. It's a hands-on experience that builds real research skills at every stage.
Graduate RAs will be enrolled in the appropriate independent research course: PSYC 599 or 699: Psychology & Law Research. The number of credits enrolled in depends on the student’s needs.
Course Enrollment
Students interested in working in the PLEA Lab should complete the PLEA Lab Application and email it to Dr. Baker.
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