RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Each semester, the ADJust Lab evaluates a need for Research Assistants. There are three ways to become involved as an RA:
1. The Juvenile Risk Assessment study is an ongoing, large scale project, for which new RAs are selected at the end of every spring semester for a full calendar year. The purpose of the study is to test diagnostics to improve treatment and risk assessment for youthful offenders in Ingham County. Research Assistants are primarily responsible for data entry, literature searches and reviews, analyses and presentations for court personnel, and file management tasks.
2. The Siblings study is an ongoing longitudinal project that tracks the siblings and parents of justice-involved youth. Research Assistants are responsible for managing case files and coding interviews.
3. Short-term RA positions may arise on an as-needed basis throughout the academic year.
All research assistants must have:
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Dedication, motivation, and an interest in psychology, criminal law, juvenile justice, and research
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A GPA of 3.0 or higher
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10 hours per week to commit to lab, including mandatory bi-weekly meetings
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Project-specific requirements. For the Juvenile Risk Assessment study, this includes:
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The ability to devote 12 full, consecutive months (including summer months) to lab
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The ability to work in the Ingham County courthouse
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We maintain a waitlist for applicants interested in joining the lab, whether or not we are not actively recruiting RAs. Interested in applying? Email Dr. Cavanagh (caitcav@msu.edu). You will be notified when positions become available.
CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Meet the 2024-2025 RA team for the Juvenile Risk Assessment study!
Caitlin Reed- Caitlin is a sophomore at Michigan State University, majoring in Psychology. After graduation, Caitlin plans to pursue higher education through graduate school and hopes to work as a forensic psychologist.
Sam Metz- Sam is a senior at Michigan State University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Law, Justice, and Public Policy. After graduating in the spring, he plans on going to graduate school with an end goal of achieving a PhD in Clinical Psychology. His main goal with my degree is to help people with mental health struggles through research as well as still staying involved with academia and the court system.
Sophia Futo
Emily Mason
Ana Murillo
Arden Henderson
Alayna Tisch
Swathi Thiyagarajan
RESEARCH ASSISTANT ALUMNI
Juvenile Risk Assessment Study
Ashley Anderson
Kelsey Bees
Marissa Cortwright
Rebecca Flynn
Alivia Foster
Blake Kocsis
Anastasia Machasic
Taylor Mclaurin
Rojet Morrow
Ema Smith
Jessica Urch
Zarria Bronner
Clare Chie
Kaylie Williams
Makenzie Smith
Karissa White
Angela Altman
Maddie Allen
Samantha Bowers
Mariah Bonfiglio
Jade Elder
Alissa Hakim
Sophy Smithson
Riley Starr
Casey Orr
Autumn David
Sara Sundaram
Natalie Hollis
Crossroads Mothers Study
Sabina Goldstein
Shantanique Jackson
Guadalupe Moreno
Erin Menich
Anna Semidei
Leandra Pinero
Marina Henke
Amanda Osuna