Undergraduate Research and Practicum Opportunities

This is a great way to get started in research. Many of the labs in the UTM Psychology department offer introductory research opportunities to those who are interested and qualify. Typically, volunteers might be involved in:

• Participating in lab/project meetings
• Piloting experiments
• Preparing an Experiment for data collection
• Collecting Data
• Entering Data Entry and/or pre-processing Data 6) Conducting literature reviews on research topics
• The experience as a research volunteer is often required or highly- regarded for more advanced research opportunities (e.g., ROP, IRP, Thesis).

• This position is similar to a volunteer research position, but it is generally more project-based.
• The ROP is a University-run program in which qualified students earn course credit by obtaining intermediate-level research experiences in research labs on specific lab projects.
• General information for the application process can be found here.

The IRP is a 4th-year course (offered as a semester-long and year-long course) in which qualified students conduct an independent research project under a faculty supervisor affiliated with the UTM Psychology department.

• This position usually allows for more independence than a research volunteer and an ROP in that students either lead their own project or one chosen by a faculty member. As such, it often requires prior research experiences as a research volunteer or an ROP student.
• General information for the application process can be found here.

A year-long research project lead by the student under the supervision of a faculty researcher.

• Conducting an honour’s thesis is the most advanced form of research experience since students will be a leader of a research project.
• The Honours Thesis program is a year-long course in which highly qualified undergraduate students conduct an independent research project under a faculty supervisor affiliated with the UTM Psychology department. Admission to this program is highly competitive and general requirements can be found here. 
• More general information can be found here.

PSY401 is a year-long, half-credit course in which undergraduate students will produce and present deliverables for a faculty supervisor affiliated with the UTM Psychology department. 

• Students will participate in seminars to learn to communicate effectively about scientific discoveries and engage in the process of knowledge translation. Students will also work with a Psychology faculty supervisor to create and deliver knowledge translation products.
• More general information can be found here.

PSY442Y5 is a year-long seminar and practicum on issues relating to the life-long development of individuals with disabilities. 

• The course combines academic material (readings, weekly seminars, assignments, and field trips) with practical experience in a community-based setting with exceptional children, youth or adults. The practicum portion involves an 80 hour supervised placement in a school or social service agency, with emphasis on developmental delay, physical disability, and/or hearing and visual impairment.

Objectives of the Field Placement:

1. To provide students with direct experience working with exceptional children, adolescents and/or adults in the context of a school, clinic, community agency or other setting approved by the Course Instructor.  
2. To stimulate philosophical and practical discussions of disability issues based on students’ experiences.
3. To enable students to evaluate their suitability for a variety of careers involving exceptional people, including education, counselling, rehabilitation, advocacy, research and writing.

Work-Study is a University-run program that offers qualified students paid opportunities to obtain hands-on research experiences. Many research labs in the UTM Psychology department participate in this program to offer various opportunities throughout the year.

• The qualification varies across opportunities and is described in program specifications for each opportunity. The research experiences also vary across opportunities and may include but are not limited to the same activities as the unpaid positions.
• General information for the application process can be found here.

• On some occasions, a paid research assistantship may be available for highly-qualified students.
• The qualification for this position is specific to each lab, but it almost always requires extensive prior research experience in a specific field of research. The research experiences also vary across opportunities and may include but are not limited to the same activities as the unpaid positions.
• For more information, please contact the lab of your interest.