NSF-REU Site: Comparative and Developmental Origins of Social Cognition at Yale

Dates: June 4- August 10, 2018

The Canine Cognition Center and Social Cognitive Development Lab are seeking applicants for a summer 2018 NSF-REU program. The REU program is supported by an award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (Award #1659085) to Yale University as part of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program.  The broad goal of the Comparative and Developmental Origins of Social Cognition REU Site is to provide students from under-represented backgrounds with joint training in developmental and comparative psychology research. Students will gain experience investigating the origins of human social cognition from two different but related perspectives: developmental studies testing human children’s social understanding and comparative studies examining social cognition in domesticated dogs. The REU is coordinated by Psychology professors Dr. Laurie Santos and Dr. Yarrow Dunham.

REU students will have a rare opportunity to participate in all aspects of the research process: research design, subject recruitment, stimulus generation, data collection, data entry, coding, and statistical analysis. In addition, students will have the opportunity to interact as colleagues: participating in weekly lab meetings, reading current literature, contributing to theoretical discussions regarding the comparative and developmental origins of social cognition, and attending a professional development series focusing on topics such as applying to graduate school, getting the most out of your undergraduate career, etc. Students will meet weekly with a graduate student mentor, and the PI and co-PI will attend bi-monthly social events. The REU Fellowship includes a $500/week stipend and can cover limited travel costs.

To be eligible for the Yale REU program, applicants must:

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• be a full-time student
• have experience or be comfortable working around dogs
• commit to the full 40 hr/ week 9-week internship, which will include at least some weekends

Women and members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. NSF defines underrepresented groups as Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, and Persons with Disabilities. Applicants who are first generation college-going (neither of their parents graduated from college) and/or geographically isolated (separated by geographic barriers or distance) are also of special interest.

For more information and for our application, visit https://doglab.yale.edu/NSF-REU. For any specific questions, feel free to email canine.cognition@yale.edu.