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Prospective Undergraduate Research Assistants

The CHANGE Lab currently has 3 different positions for Undergraduate RAs. Please check out the descriptions below, and feel free to email us if you have any additional questions! 

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  • Requirements for Student Applicants: 

    • ​Major in Psychology or a health-related or child-related field 

    • Growth mindset and openness to learn

    • Good academic standing 

    • Organized, dependable, empathic, timely 

    • Likes a collaborative work environment, “team player” 

    • Experience(s) working with children and/or mothers 

    • Interested in working on campus and “in the field” (i.e., interviewing and recruiting off campus)

    • Available to attend lab meetings on Fridays from 11-12pm

  • Application Process:

    • Complete the CHANGE Lab RA Application (found here)

    • Meet with the CHANGE Lab Manager 

    • Meet with Dr. Idia Thurston 

  • Hours Per Week: 10-15 (based on availability)

  • Start Date: Fall 2018

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PaTH Kids

Examining Resilience in Youth Exposed to Adversity 

  • Project Description: The Parenting Through Hardships (PaTH Kids) Study examines the relationship between hardships mothers face (including substance use, relationship violence, and HIV) and their children’s ability to handle these adversities. The PaTH Kids Study explores whether maternal mental and physical health affect resilience in their children. Students engaged in this project will have opportunities to interview mothers and children about their life experiences, risk behaviors, and resilience characteristics, assist with data entry, conduct literature reviews, and engage with community partners to recruit families. Students will also have opportunities to actively participate in lab meetings, interact with multiple team members including other undergrads, graduate students, and faculty, as well as contribute to poster presentations and publications

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SOAR

Stress in Obese Adolescents and their Resilience 

  • Project Description: Teens with obesity are at risk for a number of serious health complications due to poor metabolic control, which can significantly increase health care costs. However, not all youth with obesity develop these metabolic complications. The Stress in Obese Adolescents and their Resilience (SOAR) study examines differences in stress and resilience among teens with and without obesity-related metabolic complications. Our goal is to develop effective strategies for promoting metabolic health in adolescents. Students engaged in this project will have opportunities to interview teenagers and their parent about their health behaviors, stress, and resilience characteristics. Students will also be able to assist with the collection and storage of salivary samples for cortisol assays, conduct chart reviews for health history, assist with data entry, conduct literature reviews, and recruit teens and families at Le Bonheur Children’s hospital. Students will also have opportunities to actively participate in lab meetings, interact with multiple team members including other undergrads, graduate students, and faculty, as well as contribute to poster presentations and publications.

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  • Requirements for Student Applicants:

    • ​Major in Psychology or a health-related or child-related field 

    • Growth mindset and openness to learn

    • Good academic standing 

    • Organized, dependable, empathic, timely 

    • Likes a collaborative work environment, “team player” 

    • Experience(s) in the healthcare field (i.e., working in a biology lab, volunteering at a hospital, etc.)

    • Experience(s) working with teenagers and families 

    • Interested in working on campus and “in the field” (i.e., at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital)

    • Available to attend lab meetings on Fridays from 11-12pm

  • Application Process:

    • Complete the CHANGE Lab RA Application (found here)

    • Meet with the CHANGE Lab Manager 

    • Meet with Dr. Idia Thurston 

  • Hours Per Week: 10-15 (based on availability)

  • Start Date: Fall 2018

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Playback Memphis 

  • Project Description: This is a collaborative project with the theater company Playback Memphis to evaluate two violence-reduction programs. The 1st program, called Be the Peace!, is a school-based anti-bullying program that aims to promote kinship, safety, and hope by creating a respectful, trusting, and empathic environment in schools. The 2nd program, Performing the Peace, provides cultural awareness trainings and community-building workshops for Memphis police officers and new recruits, as well as members of a re-entry program for individuals with criminal convictions (lifeline to success). Through both of these programs, students, officers, and lifeliners in the Frayser community learn and perform Playback theater techniques to foster an empowering atmosphere of mindfulness, social bonding, and community building through the sharing of personal stories. Students engaged in this project will have opportunities to interview and administer surveys to elementary school students, teachers/administration, police officers and new recruits, and lifeliners about mindfulness, stress, and coping. Students will assist with data entry, conduct literature reviews, attend community events and playback sessions, and engage with non-profit organizations. Students will also have opportunities to actively participate in lab meetings, interact with multiple team members including other undergrads, graduate students, and faculty, as well as contribute to poster presentations and publications.

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  • Requirements for Student Applicants: 

    • ​Major in Psychology or a health-related or child-related field 

    • Growth mindset and openness to learn

    • Good academic standing 

    • Organized, dependable, empathic, timely, flexible 

    • Likes a collaborative work environment, “team player” 

    • Experience(s) working with children/in schools or with community organizations

    • Interested in working on campus and “in the field” (i.e., collecting data at schools in the Frayser community, attending meetings and events throughout Memphis)

    • Available to attend lab meetings on Fridays from 11-12pm

  • Application Process:

    • Complete the CHANGE Lab RA Application (found here)

    • Meet with the CHANGE Lab Manager 

    • Meet with Dr. Idia Thurston 

  • Hours Per Week: 10-15 (based on availability)

  • Start Date: Fall 2018

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