Prospective Graduate Students
*UNC Clinical Program Ranked #6 in the Nation (2008 rankings here)*
Graduate students in the UNC Clinical Program who work with me typically come with interests in anxiety disorders. While working in our program, they conduct research and learn how to conduct effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Typical research studies focus on examining the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms underlying anxiety disorders, the treatment of anxiety, and descriptive studies of anxiety in pregnant and postpartum samples. Students and posdtoctoral fellows that I trained have conducted, presented, and published research on the following topics: needle anxiety; anxiety sensitivity; the relationship between social anxiety and hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating); the treatment of social phobia; treatment of panic disorder; medical utilization among anxiety patients; neuroimaging studies of OCD patients; the relationship between religiosity and OCD; health anxiety (hypochondriasis); and the relationship between OCD and anger.
All graduate students in the Anxiety Disorders Program become full members of my research group from the first semester they arrive. Even while they start to gain familiarity with the research and clinical literature, they also begin to get hands-on experience working in the lab, either helping design a new study and/or collecting data on a study already underway. This work in turn usually leads to the development of a Master's thesis proposal. In the process of conducting research, graduate students also become active participants in the laboratory, joining meetings where all current and planned projects are discussed. In addition to attending lab meetings, they also meet individually with me on a regular basis, to discuss the development of their research skills and the ideas they generate.
Undergraduate Students and College Graduates
Undergraduate students and college graduates play an important role in the Anxiety Disorders Program. The typical undergraduate is a psychology major with an interest in research and future graduate studies. Recent college graduates who are taking time off from school after graduation and before applying to graduate school may also find gaining research experience valuable. Students who work in my lab typically get involved in all aspects of the research, from preparing study materials, to interviewing research participants, to scoring and interpreting data. Everyone is involved in lab meetings where we discuss ongoing projects and plan future studies. Over the course of a year, all members of the lab get a chance to see multiple studies through from start to finish. They get a good appreciation of the entire research process. I am always looking for talented and motivated undergraduates and college graduates with an interest in anxiety disorders who wish to gain research experience. There are a number of ways to get involved:
1. The first step is to contact me. If you find my work interesting just send me an e-mail prior to the beginning of the semester you'd like to volunteer. (Contacting me the preceding semester is ideal!) Let me know a little about yourself and why you are interested in working with me. Sending a resume is also useful. Then we can set up a time to talk.
2. Another way for undergraduates to volunteer is by registering for Independent Research. This is usually a 3-credit course, requiring about 10 hours a week. In addition to contributing to the research effort, students complete a set of readings (book chapters and empirical articles) and write a paper.
3. From time to time there are might be paid Research Assistant positions available. These involve a minimum 12-month commitment.
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