Research Assistant Positions
RA applications for Winter 2027 are now open! Please use this link to fill out the application.
Applications are due Tuesday, November 24th by 12 PM. Submissions after this deadline will not be reviewed.
We are seeking motivated students to assist with research on the development of cooperative behaviors in young children. As a research assistant, you will participate in a variety of research activities, including recruiting and scheduling families, testing children online and in the lab, coding and analyzing data, and helping with study design. No previous research experience is required, but interests in psychology and in working with children are essential.
RAs are required to commit 9-12 hours weekly, including some weekends, to participate in research. Additionally, RAs are required to attend weekly lab meetings (for Winter 2027: Wednesdays, 1-2PM). Prospective applicants should be willing to commit to participating in the lab for at least 2 consecutive semesters (i.e. Winter 2027 and Fall 2027).
If you have any questions, the best point of contact is our lab manager. Please reach out to them at [email protected].
Courses for Winter 2027
Dr. Warneken teaches courses on the evolution and development of social cognition that are good starting points to understand and get involved in our research.
PSYCH 250 – Intro to Developmental Psychology
PSYCH 326 – Faculty Directed Early Research for Psychology
Research assistants can earn course credits through many tasks and activities designed to strengthen their knowledge of child development and research.
Courses for Fall 2026
Dr. Warneken is not teaching courses this semester.
See what past students had to say about working in our lab
“I love working with people who have similar passions for working with children, understanding human nature, and moral development. This lab has given me the incredible opportunity to learn from some of the top researchers in our field as well as meet other students pursuing a similar path. I love working with the children in all formats, but our in-person testing for our Living Lab in the Hands-On-Museum has been so much fun. I feel truly supported and encouraged by all the senior members of this lab and I am excited to continue working with the lab this year!“
“I have enjoyed having the opportunity to work on a variety of projects in-depth with different senior lab members. Through these experiences, I have gained insight into multiple aspects of moral development as well as the vital components that come together behind the scenes to form successful experiments. Being involved in research has enhanced my understanding of and appreciation for psychology, and I look forward to continuing to learn in the Social Minds Lab.“
“I enjoy the friendly and collaborative relationship between the senior members and the research assistants, the attention to the needs and goals of the undergraduates as a part of the team, having an active role in study visits with children, and playing with puppets as part of research!“
“Being a member of the Social Minds lab has been one of my favorite experiences here at Michigan. Working with children is already entertaining, but being able to assist on different studies instead of just one, makes it all the while better. The graduate students were always willing to hear the RAs input on testing techniques and other important details in their study, and they really valued our insight. This was really encouraging. This is definitely an environment in which you are heard and your interest in developmental psychology will absolutely increase!”
“At the start of the semester, as someone who had barely any research experience, I was not sure what to expect by working in the Social Minds Lab. However, over the course of past few months, I have been able to gain a solid understanding for how research is actually carried out through attending lab meetings, participating in museum shifts and recruiting for lab visits. A key component to my own development has been the emphasis on open communication within the lab: everyone is made to feel like they have a voice. Ultimately, I would absolutely recommend working at the Social Minds Lab to anyone who is looking to get involved in research.”
“As a part of the Social Minds lab we participated in recruiting potential subjects to participate in our studies, coded video recordings of the experiments, and helped out the lab instructors by assisting them with running the actual experiments. Being a part of this lab was an incredible experience because it taught me valuable lessons about research and what it is all about. To anyone out there who has the slightest interest in extremely fascinating research this is the lab for you. It has given me one of the best experiences of my college career and I’d recommend it to anyone!”