Psychology Research Opportunities

The Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is an opportunity for students who have completed their first year at Stonehill to perform full-time, high-quality research over the summer months under the guidance of an expert faculty researcher. A student in the SURE program spends 8-10 weeks of the summer collaborating with a professor - and sometimes other students - on an original research project that fits into the faculty member’s overall research program.

The experience includes postgraduate career seminars, program-wide outings, weekly lunches, and a student poster session in the fall. SURE students generally live on campus and receive a stipend for their summer work.

Some students have presented their work at regional, national and international psychology conferences.

Recent Examples

• Leslie Clapp ’20 worked with John McCoy, Professor of Psychology, on Role of Sleep Spindles in Memory Consolidation (Part 2).
•  Sarah Jacobson ’20 conducted research with John McCoy, Professor of Psychology, on Sleep Spindle Dysfunction in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.
•  Alana Johnston ’20 worked with John McCoy, Professor of Psychology, on the Role of Interleukin -18 in Sleep Homeostasis.
• Abigail Bosse ’19 and Lauren Wallace ’19 worked with Rebecca Babcock Fenerci, Assistant Professor of Psychology, on Maternal Attachment Coping & Health (MATCH).

The External Research Program was created specifically for students who may be interested in applying to graduate school for psychology after graduating from Stonehill College. Students who are part of the program work for a full year at large universities or medical schools with professors who are doing large-scale, federally funded, cutting edge research. Over the years, most of the students have completed their work at Brown, Harvard, or UMASS medical school.

Students must commit to working two semesters at their site, working 9 hours per week, and this program can meet the capstone requirement for the psychology major. This program is open to juniors and seniors and involves an application and interview process, which occurs in the spring.

A student has the opportunity to engage in a faculty-guided study of a topic for which the Department does not offer a course or serve as a research assistant working as a member of a faculty member’s research team. The student is able to earn from 1 to 4 credits, depending on the total hours devoted to the study or research.  Number of credits earned is based on 45 hours of work per credit.

To register for a Directed Study, a student must have the approval of the faculty member with whom the project will be completed as well as the approval of the Department Chair and the student must submit the online Directed Study Application and Contract to the Registrar’s Office.

Examples of Directed Studies with Professor Michael Tirrell: Advanced Statistical Techniques and Psychology and Spirituality.

A student has the opportunity to research a topic of personal interest under the guidance of a Psychology faculty member. This research may build on a faculty member’s research program, but this research opportunity is for students to pursue their own research ideas. The student is able to earn from 1 to 4 credits, depending on the total hours devoted to the project.  Number of credits earned is based on 45 hours of work per credit.

To register for Independent Research, a student must have the approval of the faculty member with whom the project will be completed as well as the approval of the Department Chair and the student must submit the online Independent Research Application and Contract to the Registrar’s Office.

The psychology faculty at Stonehill College are actively engaged in research aimed to better understand human thoughts and behavior.

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