There are several exciting projects that are looking for students to help with laboratory experiments.
These projects include:
Snacks and Screens: This project uses relative reinforcing value (RRV) to compare how children and parents are motivated to gain access to food and screen time.
EFT and Exercise: This experimental study investigates how Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) can improve delay discounting, a measure of impulsivity, in promoting exercise among sedentary undergraduate students.
Trajectories of Activity and Consumption in Kids: This observational study uses delay discounting, a measure of impulsivity, and relative reinforcing value, a measure of motivation, to understand how children’s preferences for food and physical activity change over time.
Past Discounting: Past discounting is a novel idea adapted from delay discounting, a behavioral economic concept that has been studied extensively in relation to health behaviors. We are interested in conducting a laboratory experiment on this novel idea. A student interested in this project would be responsible for developing an IRB protocol and implementing this study over the course of the ’25-’26 school year.
Physical Activity in Children: This study aims to understand more about child physical activity, including the importance of parents in encouraging their child to be active and what makes physical activity reinforcing for some children more than others. A student interested in working on this project would work with a graduate student to conduct literature searches and design and implement a study on this topic.
We are looking for individuals with the following qualifications:
- Organized and detail oriented
- Highly motivated
- Ability to work independently
- Problem solving skills
- Strong GPA
- Strong communication skills
- Multitasking abilities
- Data entry (Excel)
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Flexible schedule-including evenings and weekends
There is the possibility to work directly with families and undergraduates to collect data. You will gain valuable skills in running an independent study and working effectively in a research environment. You will be expected to attend weekly research meetings if you are chosen for a specific project.
To apply: please send your resume or CV and the attached questionnaire to dbmstudentapply@gmail.com
Students will be interviewed on a first come, first served basis.
