Research Assistant, UMass Eyetracking Lab

This is an opening for undergraduate Research Assistants (Psych 398B) in the UMass Eyetracking Lab.  In this lab, we study how fluent reading works:  How do we recognize words and interpret sentences so quickly and automatically? We study these processes by tracking the movements of readers' eyes.  As an RA in the Eyetracking Lab, you will learn to operate the equipment that tracks eye movements, you will run subjects in experiments, and as you gain more experience in the lab, you may also have the opportunity to develop materials for experiments and to analyze data.  You also attend a lab meeting each week where we discuss the progress of ongoing projects. 

In your application, please include your resume, a list of relevant coursework and skills, and several paragraphs explaining why you are interested in this position.  In particular, please explain why you have chosen to apply to a lab that studies the cognitive science of reading.

Name of research group, project, or lab
UMass Eyetracking Lab
Why participate in this opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone with an interest in cognitive psychology in general, or reading in particular, to learn how research is done in this area.   It provides a hands-on introduction to the research process.  If you stay in the lab for multiple semesters, you may be involved in the full timeline of the research process, from conceptualization of an experiment to analysis and writeup.

Representative publication or further information
Logistics Information:
Subject Category
Bioinformatics/Data Science
Psychology
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Student ranks applicable
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Student qualifications
  • Background in cognitive psychology, statistics, and/or linguistics is helpful.
  • Background in computer programming is also helpful, though not required.  
  • Attention to detail, follow-through, and responsible completion of assigned tasks are absolutely essential.
  • Ability to work with a team is also essential.
Time commitment
8-10 h/wk
Position Types and Compensation
Research - Independent Study or Research Assistant credit
Number of openings
3
Techniques learned

You will learn to run human subjects in laboratory experiments.  Depending on how long you stay in the lab, you may also learn programming skills (using either PsychoPy or special purpose eyetracking software) and data analysis skills (using R).  

Project start
Fall 2025 semester
Contact Information:
Mentor
astaub@umass.edu
Principal Investigator
Name of project director or principal investigator
Adrian Staub
Email address of project director or principal investigator
astaub@umass.edu
3 sp. | 28 appl.
Hours
8-10 h/wk
Project categories
Bioinformatics/Data Science (+2)
Bioinformatics/Data SciencePsychologySpeech, Language, and Hearing Sciences