Yes! I likely will accept a student to work in the area of
Peer Influence and Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors. Traditionally, I have worked with
both clinical and developmental students; however, I am only involved
in reviewing applicants who apply to the clinical doctoral program.
Students who generally are interested in child
or adolescent peer relationships would be a good match for my
lab, particularly if interested in one of my main programs
of research. However, sometimes quite interesting and productive
collaborations have resulted from the integration of new theories
and methods in a graduate student's area of expertise that offers
a complement to type of research typically conducted in my lab.
Ideally, students initially will be interested in gaining experience
with ongoing research to help develop expertise in relevant literature
and methods. Over the course of graduate training, students naturally
are expected to develop novel research hypotheses that can help
to establish skills as an independent scholar. Students in lab
typically have substantial opportunities for presentation and
publication of research findings.
Like most doctoral programs in psychology,
graduate applicants typically are selected based on their academic
record, research experience, and demonstrated potential for a
successful career as an independent researcher. To the extent
possible, it always is good to emphasize relevant experience,
enthusiasm for your chosen area of study, and some capacity for
developing novel, creative, and impactful hypotheses that can
advance developmental psychopatholigy science and the prevention
or treatment of psychopathology among youth. For some general
advice regarding the graduate application procedure, download
"Mitch's
Uncensored Grad School Advice"
