Being able to initiate my own research project and learn hands-on how to design experiments in cognitive psychology. Frequent communication with PI, and great community of graduate students and post-docs. Opportunities to audit or take graduate courses from similar field.
What I wish was different
More opportunities to discuss literature around the topic of research.
Advice
Be proactive and develop your own interest in the given field you would like to volunteer within a lab for. You need to be able to have good reasons as to "why" you chose one particular research area over another; those questions are best answered with prior experience under your belt (if it means taking an advanced class, going to talks, reading on your own etc).
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
September 2017 - June 2019 • Davis, CA
What I liked
Working with my team on the variety of projects we had going on.
What I wish was different
I wish I sought out an individual project.
Advice
Find a lab environment that suits your personality. If you like animals, work with animals. If you don’t, try something else. Don’t settle on one lab just because you got an offer for it.
