Prospective Students

 

* The REACH Lab IS currently accepting new graduate student applications to enroll Fall 2025. *

* The REACH Lab IS currently accepting new undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student research assistants [but response may be delayed until the beginning of next semester].*

  • Students in the REACH Lab work on a variety of research activities, including data entry, behavioral coding of assessment videos, literature reviews, cleaning cardiac assessment data, providing assistance during data collection with participant families (including controlling video equipment and/or child care for participant siblings), and conducting telephone interviews with participants.
 

  • The lab runs on a system whereby undergraduate students earn increasing responsibilities by completing work on time and to a high standard of quality, as well as by remaining committed to the lab for an extended period of time. Joining the lab entails a minimum two semester commitment, and a minimum six hours per week of work.

  • Given an extensive commitment and exceptional work, undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students may earn the opportunity to participate in conference presentations analyzing data collected in the lab, mentored by Dr. Berzenski.
  • Graduate students can expect to work extensively on data collection, data management/coding, and preparing conference presentations and publications, in addition to their coursework and thesis preparation.

 

Interested prospective graduate students should have at least a 3.0 GPA, prior research experience, and the ability to demonstrate a sincere interest in and commitment to research in the area of risk and resilience, child maltreatment, and/or emotional development. Strong applicants to this lab will be students with the ultimate goal of pursuing a PhD in Developmental or Clinical Psychology, and maintaining a dedicated commitment to academic research. Contacting Dr. Berzenski prior to submitting an application is encouraged.

Information regarding graduate admissions

 

Interested prospective undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students should have a least a 3.0 GPA. You need not have taken a class with Dr. Berzenski, but if you have, you must have received at least a B in that class to apply to work in the lab. You do not need to have prior research experience, or any idea of what you'd like to do with yourself after you graduate. You must, however, demonstrate a sincere interest in the research being conducted by the REACH lab. If this research does not interest you, you will likely not be happy or successful in the lab. It is likely you'll be able to find another lab doing research that is more relevant to your interests and career goals, if you browse the list of current Psychology full time faculty on the CSUN website. If you feel you meet these qualifications, and the information at the top of this page says that the lab is currently accepting undergraduate research assistants, you can apply to the lab by filling out the application below. The lab interviews and accepts new research assistants only at the beginning of a semester. If you apply after the first two weeks of a semester, your application will be placed on hold until applications for the following semester are considered. Please do not expect a reply to your application until that time.

Undergraduate Research Assistant Application

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