Dates: June 4- August 10, 2018
The Canine Cognition Center and Social Cognitive
Development Lab are seeking applicants for a summer 2018 NSF-REU
program. The REU program is supported by an award from the U.S. National
Science Foundation (Award #1659085) to Yale University as part of the Research
Experiences for Undergraduates Program. The broad goal of the Comparative
and Developmental Origins of Social Cognition REU Site is to provide students
from under-represented backgrounds with joint training in developmental and
comparative psychology research. Students will gain experience investigating
the origins of human social cognition from two different but related
perspectives: developmental studies testing human children’s social
understanding and comparative studies examining social cognition in
domesticated dogs. The REU is coordinated by Psychology professors Dr. Laurie
Santos and Dr. Yarrow Dunham.
REU students will have a rare
opportunity to participate in all aspects of the research process: research
design, subject recruitment, stimulus generation, data collection, data entry,
coding, and statistical analysis. In addition, students will have the opportunity
to interact as colleagues: participating in weekly lab meetings, reading
current literature, contributing to theoretical discussions regarding the
comparative and developmental origins of social cognition, and attending a
professional development series focusing on topics such as applying to graduate
school, getting the most out of your undergraduate career, etc. Students will
meet weekly with a graduate student mentor, and the PI and co-PI will attend
bi-monthly social events. The REU Fellowship includes a $500/week stipend and
can cover limited travel costs.
To be eligible for the Yale
REU program, applicants must:
· be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
· be a full-time undergraduate student and return to
their institution after the internship
· have experience or be comfortable working around dogs
· commit to the 40 hr/ week 9-week internship, which will
include at least some weekends
Women and members of
underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. NSF defines
underrepresented groups as Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Blacks or African
Americans, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, and
Persons with Disabilities. Applicants who are first generation college-going
(neither of their parents graduated from college) and/or geographically
isolated (separated by geographic barriers or distance) are also of special
interest.
For more detailed information
and for our application, visit https://doglab.yale.edu/NSF-REU. For any specific
questions, feel free to email canine.cognition@yale.edu.
