Navigating research experience for the first time, by Elizabeth Beacon

I completed a research assistant placement as part of the PS3000P: Psychology Work Placement module with Dr Thora Bjornsdottir in the summer between the second and third years of my psychology degree. This primarily involved assisting with studies on preferences for sexual dimorphism in faces (how traditionally masculine or feminine a face is).

 

First, be open minded and upfront about your expectations. Before you apply for research experience, think about what you actually want to gain from it. Having research experience on paper is one thing, but it’s equally (or more) important to be able to talk about what you learned, what you were surprised by, and so on. Do you want to improve your statistical analysis skills? Learn more about the research process? Develop confidence and presentation skills? Whatever it is – think about it in advance and be ready to talk about it in your application or interview.

One of the things that has proved to consistently be important is to show an interest and do your research before you apply! Look up the lab or PI’s (Principal Investigator – the lead researcher of a project) previous research, read about their interests and, importantly, think about how this fits in with your own interests. You might want to start with a website like Pure. Where possible, tailor your application to the specific lab (e.g., mention why their research interests you in the cover letter) and then be prepared to talk about it in an interview. Showing that you are genuinely interested in the research is a big advantage in your application – both directly, and indirectly because it shows that you have already taken the initiative to learn more.

Utilise the many resources that are already available to you. Resources available through your university may give more nuanced and specific information: for example, the Careers and Employability Moodle page has a great list of tips, and an open session recording specifically for RHUL students. There are also many great publicly available resources out there: I personally highly recommend The Psychology Debrief podcast. Looking for and using resources shows that you care about applying for and gaining experience, and that you’re enthusiastic about doing so – it’s important to show that you’re passionate!

Rejection is difficult to deal with for everyone. Research assistant placements can be competitive: if you find yourself in a situation where you are disappointed, use any feedback you may have got to improve your next application, and just keep trying.

 

Once you are successful, don’t be afraid to ask questions. One amazing part of research and academia is that there are always questions to be asked, and a research assistantship is no different. No one knows everything! You won’t be expected to know how to do everything straight away, especially if it’s your first placement. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take notes – you’ll learn a lot!

 

Good luck!