Interested in joining a lab?
All labs are recruiting for the upcoming semester unless otherwise specified.
Read about the different labs below.
Alcohol Lab – Dr. Martinetti:
Relevant specializations: Biopsychology, Counseling/Clinical, Developmental, Social
The Alcohol Lab at TCNJ is a multidisciplinary, translational research lab that studies human and animal models of alcohol use. Specifically, our research examines the environmental contexts associated with alcohol consumption, such as alternative reinforcers and alcohol price/availability, using quantitative models of choice (e.g., behavioral economics). My research students learn how to conduct experiments on alcohol self-administration in laboratory rats and some students also learn to conduct human studies using a hypothetical alcohol purchase task. My students also gain experience reading, discussing, and writing about scholarly research on behavioral pharmacology, substance use, and addiction. Basic requirements include PSY101 or equivalent, an interest in working on a research team, and a strong attention to detail. To learn more about the lab and the accomplishments of our lab alumni, please visit our website at http://alcohollab.pages.tcnj.edu/
ALLIANCE Lab – Dr. Wiley:
Relevant specializations: Social, Industrial/Organizational (I/O), Counseling/Clinical
(Formerly the Social Change & Collective Identity Lab.) In the ALLyship, ImmigrAtioN, & soCial idEntity (ALLIANCE) lab, we study when and why people join together in solidarity to challenge oppression, both with members of their own social groups and with members of groups to which they do not belong. We emphasize the role of people’s multiple and intersecting social identities in this process. You can learn more about our research at Dr. Wiley’s Google Scholar profile. Our goal is to contribute to a social psychology that challenges oppression without paving over difference. Students in the lab learn about intergroup relations, social identities, and political psychology. They gain experience honing research questions; developing hypotheses; designing correlational, longitudinal, and experimental studies; analyzing data; making sense of results; and communicating those results to others. Any student who has passed PSY 121 may apply. Lab meetings are Tuesday nights from 5:30pm to 8:20pm.
Cognitive Development Lab – Dr. Stahl:
Relevant specializations: Cognitive, Developmental
The Cognitive Development Lab studies learning and memory in infants and children. Students recruit local parents to participate in our research, regularly interact with young children between 0 and 5 years old in our on campus lab, learn to conduct experiments, code and analyze data, and present research findings. Students must have experience/interest in working with young children, the ability to communicate well with others, be available to work in the lab for approximately 6 hours a week, and attend our weekly lab meeting on Wednesdays 9:30-10:50. I give preference to students who have completed PSY 121 with a B or higher; first year students may apply. See the “For Students” section of our website for more information: www.tcnjcogdevlab.com
Decision Making Lab – Dr. Ruscio:
*The Decision Making Lab is no longer recruiting for Fall 2025.
Relevant specializations – All
In the decision making lab, we explore a wide range of topics related to judgment and decision making, such as ways to examine processes and optimize outcomes. Topics span individual and collective decision making, and concepts can be applied in many domains (e.g., professional psychology, sports, education, law, criminal justice, environmental issues, public policy). Students can expect to work closely with Dr. Ruscio at all stages of a literature review or empirical research project, from the conceptualization of key questions through the reporting of findings. All students are eligible to apply. For more information, please visit the Decision Making Lab Web Page.
Emotion Lab – Dr. Kim:
Relevant specializations: Social, Developmental, Counseling/Clinical, Industrial/Organizational (I/O)
The Emotion Lab at TCNJ researches topics including cultural variation in the experience of emotion, effect of emotion on behaviors, and individual differences in emotions. Lab Members help plan, design, run, and evaluate experiments. Along the way, students learn research methods and statistical analyses, and hone their writing and oral communication skills. We present our research findings at regional and national psychology conferences. We can be found in the Social Science Building 017, and the webpage is here: http://emotion.pages.tcnj.edu/
ERP Lab – Dr. Leynes:
Relevant specializations: Cognitive, Biopsychology
This lab investigates the neuroscience of memory by recording brain activity (ERPs). We study different kinds of memory including how we recognize something we have seen before or how we identify where we learned some information. Research Assistants (RAs) develop their social skills working with research participants and in small teams. RAs learn how to collect set up and collect electroencephalographic (EEG) data, develop data processing skills using MATLAB toolboxes (EEGLAB, ERPLAB), develop data analysis skills using R, and some advanced students some programming skills (e.g., Python). Students do not need any particular skills except an interest in neuroscience, a willingness to learn, reliability, and attention to details. Follow us on Instagram (erplab_tcnj) or look for more information on our website: http://erplab.pages.tcnj.edu/research-opportunities/
Identity Development across the African Diaspora – Dr. Onyewuenyi:
*The IDAD Lab is not recruiting for Fall 2025/Spring 2026.
Relevant specializations: Developmental, Social, Educational
The Identity Development across the African Diaspora (IDAD) or Black Identity Lab examines identity development and social inequity in educational attainment and access for Black adolescents and emerging adults across the African Diaspora (African immigrant, Black American, Caribbean immigrant, and Afro-Latinx). Students can expect to work with teens, young adults, and community members at TCNJ and the surrounding communities. Students will learn to: read and synthesize literature, collaborate with community partners, develop research protocols, recruit participants for projects, data collection (surveys and face-to-face interviews), assist with data entry & analysis, present research findings, and write publications. Students wanting to join the IDAD Lab must be interested in Developmental and/or Educational Psychology, working with youth and communities, interested in conducting research off-campus, and be available for lab meetings on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm. This lab has no restriction concerning academic level; freshman may apply.
Latinx Liberation Lab – Dr. Sosa:
Relevant specializations: Counseling/Clinical, Social, Developmental
The Latinx Liberation lab explores how liberation psychology components, such as critical consciousness (i.e., ability to be critically aware of systemic inequities, engage in advocacy, and become agentic and hopeful) are associated with psychological well-being, educational, and career outcomes among people of color, particularly (but not exclusively) among Latinx and immigrant people. Liberation psychology centers around the premise that marginalized people develop mental illness as a result of systemic inequities, therefore centering the problem on our society and not on the individual. You can learn more about our research at Dr. Sosa’s Google Scholar profile. Students will learn about liberation psychology theory, read and synthesize literature, build community partnerships, develop research protocols, recruit participants (on and off campus) for projects, participate in data collection (surveys and face-to-face interviews), assist with data entry and analysis, present research findings, and write publications. Lab meetings are Thursdays 2:00-3:20 PM in the Spring 2026 semester.
Memory Lab – Dr. Bireta:
Relevant specializations: Cognitive, Social, Developmental, Counseling/Clinical
Our lab focuses on why it is easy to remember some things but not others. Our current focus is on memory in younger adults (we aren’t running studies with older adults at this time). Students are involved in helping design studies, collecting data (running participants), analyzing data (with training!), getting a little introduction to computer programming, and participating in weekly lab meetings. Our lab runs every semester (Fall and Spring), and we take new students every semester. All students may apply regardless of class standing or former coursework. See our website for more information: https://memory.pages.tcnj.edu/
Organizational Psychology Lab – Dr. Dahling:
Relevant specializations: Industrial/Organizational, Social
The average person spends about 90,000 hours of their life at work! In the Organizational Psychology Lab, we study the psychological experience of working. We focus on topics such as leadership, emotion management, performance coaching, and diversity in the workplace. Students will learn to read and critique research, collect data, and develop research ideas of their own. I have no eligibility restrictions except for PSY101; lab meetings are weekly on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:50am. See our lab website for more information: https://orgpsychlab.pages.tcnj.edu/
Psychodynamic Lab – Dr. Vivona:
*The Psychodynamic Lab is not recruiting for Fall 2025.
Relevant Specializations: Counseling/Clinical, Developmental, Social, Cognitive, Biopsychology
Many forms of psychotherapy are based in the idea that a special kind of conversation between therapist and client allows the client to change lifelong patterns and ways of being. What is it about speech and language that makes such changes possible? This lab considers this question from the perspective of the nature of language that is revealed through examination of the processes of language development in infancy. The method is a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical and research literature on infant relational and language development. In this lab, you will use and enhance your abilities to analyze complex ideas from the professional literature, develop your own scholarly ideas, communicate those ideas in writing and orally, and contribute to the development of others’ scholarly work. This lab does not involve designing studies or gathering data. Eligible students must enjoy reading, writing, and talking about complex ideas and have an interest in language, infant development, and the psychotherapy. Preference is given to students who have knowledge of clinical psychology (e.g., PSY 217, PSY 216, PSY 331) and/or psychological development (e.g., PSY 220 or equivalents), although all interested students are eligible and encouraged to apply.
REACH Lab – Dr. Chung:
Relevant specializations: Counseling/Clinical; Developmental
Our lab integrates theories and practices in Clinical/Counseling, Developmental, and Community Psychology, as well as Prevention Science. We take an interdisciplinary approach to understand factors that promote well being. We are particularly interested in how social contexts (e.g., families, peer groups, schools, neighborhoods, afterschool programs) influence outcomes. We conduct most of our work with community partners in Trenton, NJ and try to identify resources that help people and communities thrive. Examples of community partners include Millhill Child and Family Development Center and Urban Promise Trenton. Skills that students can expect to learn include: developing campus-community partnerships, conducting mixed-methods research, collaborating with youth and important adults in their lives, and disseminating research to community and scientific audiences. All students are eligible to apply. For more information, visit the REACH Lab website: https://reachlab.pages.tcnj.edu/.
Reactivity Lab – Dr. Herres:
Relevant Specializations: Counseling/Clinical
The Reactivity Lab investigates the role of emotional reactivity in the development and treatment of emotional disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Recently, the lab has begun to examine risk of post-traumatic stress (PTS) following campus sexual assault (CSA). Students will gain experience with most aspects of conducting research, from developing research hypotheses and designing studies, analyzing data, and preparing and presenting research reports. Students will also develop their teamwork skills and learn about various aspects of professional development, including CV building and networking. Although there are no requirements for admittance to the lab, preference will be given to students who have completed PSY121 and PSY203 with a grade of B or better in each. More information is on our website: https://reactivitylab.pages.tcnj.edu/
Replicat Lab – Dr. Crawford:
Relevant specializations: Social
The Replicat Lab primarily conducts meta-science research in the fields of social and personality psychology. Following a crisis of confidence in psychology in roughly 2010, the field has seen fits and starts as it grapples with how to improve psychological science. In the Replicat Lab, we empirically examine a variety of issues in meta-scientific psychology, including but not limited to conducting replications; participating in large-scale meta-science efforts; evaluating psychology’s past and current research practices; and recommending improvements to psychology’s research practices. See Dr. Crawford’s website for more information: http://crawford.pages.tcnj.edu
Sexual Health and Reproductive Education Lab – Dr. Barnack-Tavlaris:
*The Sexual Health and Reproductive Education Lab is full and no longer accepting students for Fall 2025.
Relevant specializations: Social, Biopsychology, Counseling/Clinical
In our lab, we are interested in understanding the complex factors that influence reproductive and sexual health attitudes, knowledge and behaviors. We aim to inform interventions and public health campaigns aimed at improving reproductive well-being. We currently research topics such as attitudes toward menstruation, infertility, and motherhood. Students will gain experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analyses, and be involved in several aspects of research design and analysis. Students will also be able to hone their critical thinking and writing skills. All students may apply regardless of class standing or former coursework. See our website for more information: https://sexualhealth.pages.tcnj.edu/home/
Social Emotional Learning and Development Lab (SELD) – Dr. Graham:
Relevant specializations: Developmental, Educational, Industrial/Organizational (I/O),
Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, the lab merges developmental psychology, social cognition, and educational theory to provide insight into how children (5 – 11 years old) understand, regulate, and express their emotions and social behaviors. The SELD Lab collaborates with local schools (mainly Trenton City Public Schools) and community/school programs to disseminate its research findings and integrate evidence-based SEL practices into curricula, programs, and digital platforms. Currently, our research projects revolve around (1) Emotional Awareness, (2) Social Interaction and Relationships, and (3) SEL Program Intervention and Evaluation in educational settings. Students work directly with children, parents, teachers, and staff in school and community settings. Emotional Awareness, (2) Social Interaction and Relationships, and (3) SEL Program Intervention and Evaluation in educational settings. Students work directly with children, parents, teachers, and staff in school and community settings. Additionally, students are involved in the central core of research, which includes activities such as research planning, writing, data collection, data entry, data analysis, and presentation. To join this lab, you must be at least a sophomore and have completed PSY121 and PSY220 (or equivalent – ECE 201, ELE 201, SPE 203, or NUR 110). Lab meetings are weekly on Tuesdays from 12:30pm – 1:50pm.
TAP Lab – Dr. Kirnan:
*The TAP Lab is not recruiting for Fall 2025.
Relevant specializations: Industrial/Organizational (I/O), Social, Educational
TAPLab uses the scientific process and a measurement lens to answer research questions in applied settings. The lab team often collaborates with internal and external partners on their measurement and research needs. We are currently involved in the following projects: 1) Program evaluation of mental health education programs in local schools with our community partner, AIR (Attitudes in Reverse); and 2) documentation of the process and outcomes of school therapy dog programs with our community partner, the Calais School. Students in this lab develop skills in survey design, Qualtrics online survey software, SPSS, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, reading and writing scholarly work, teamwork, and professional development such as networking and working with various constituencies. At a minimum, students must have completed PSY121 with a grade of B or better. Depending on the stage of research for our various projects, in some semesters successful completion of PSY203 (grade of B or better) will also be required. Our lab meeting times vary by semester. Check PAWS for up-to-date meeting times.