The Motivated Cognition lab IS NOT accepting a new graduate student for the 2024-2025 academic year. I only accept applications through Psychology (cognitive science) and the UBC Graduate Program in Neuroscience.
- Here is a link to all the information regarding admissions to the psychology department and a link to the application: https://psych.ubc.ca/graduate/admissions/
- Here is a link to frequently asked questions about UBC psychology’s admissions and application process: https://psych.ubc.ca/graduate/admissions/admission-faqs/
- Here is a link to all the information regarding admissions for Neuroscience: https://neuroscience.ubc.ca/prospective-students/
Lab Mission
We are a cognitive neuroscience lab and, in general, I am looking to recruit students interested in investigating topics related to my lab’s research program focused on interactions between emotion and cognition, including focusing on neural processes and how they emerge in relation to an individual’s history. To that end, our lab has included students with backgrounds in cognitive psychology, biology, neuroscience, and cognitive systems.
What I look for in a prospective graduate student:
- A strong match between my research program and your research interests. While our lab’s research uses a range of methodological approaches, from laboratory tasks and brain imaging techniques from cognitive neuroscience to qualitative approaches to research collected in more naturalistic settings, I only supervise students who are interested in contributing to our lab’s current research programs. I am only able to support student research that falls within my grants.
- Competitive applicants to our program have accrued independent research experience, such as an honours thesis (or equivalent lab experience). They also have experience presenting their research at academic conferences and/or have peer-reviewed publications.
- Past research experience related to cognitive psychology or cognitive neuroscience, and who have experience with methods used in the lab (EEG, fMRI, Psychophysics, qualitative research).
- Strong letters of recommendation. A strong letter typically will be written by someone who knows you well, who can speak to your experience, skills, and abilities, as well as your academic potential for success in graduate school.
- Evidence of strong communication, both written and oral.
- Ability to work well collaboratively and independently.
- Computational/statistical skills or a keen interest in learning these skills and evidence of potential to do so.
- External funding from government agencies. This funding can substantially boost the competitiveness of an application. Eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply for Canadian Tri-Council Graduate Scholarships if they are Canadian or permanent residents of Canada the same year you apply to graduate school. Click here for information about external fellowship opportunities: https://psych.ubc.ca/graduate/funding/
- A fit with our labs core values (see below). As evidenced by past experience/activities and/or commitment to developing these values during graduate school.
Lab Values
- These include commitment to building equity, diversity, and inclusion, commitment to open science, and to a collaborative and generous approach to sharing skills, methods and ideas. Our ongoing goal is to slowly find paths toward a more anti-colonial, less exploitative, way of doing science.