Kenzie Delposen | Class of 2021
I entered the Emotions and Aging Lab with high expectations. To say my experience thus far has exceeded those expectations is an understatement. I’m currently in my 3rd semester as a research assistant working under Dr. Stanley and the graduate students in the lab. I have gained a breadth of knowledge and hands-on experience in the research environment. I came from simply reading research in class, to then analyzing and discussing it during lab meetings, and then took it one step further by being an active part of the research. I have worked closely with Doctoral Candidate, Jennifer Turner, in her research. I’ve had the opportunity to pilot test studies, do data entry, and even run participants. I’ve also gained valuable experience working with SPSS and the eye-tracking device, giving me an edge with technological skills. Through the lab I received an invitation to speak in front of The University of Akron’s President to present research currently being done in our lab. Working in the lab has presented different challenges that required effort and teamwork among members. These challenges have created an environment that promoted my growth in active communication and critical thinking. Being a research assistant is a hands-on experience that allows me to take my studies one step further to truly understand what goes into completing a study and publishing research. I take great pride in being a research assistant for the Emotions and Aging Lab. I hope that anyone who has the opportunity to join the lab, takes it. This is truly an experience I won’t soon forget.
Jacob McClellan | Class of 2020
I have worked in the Emotions and Aging Lab at The University of Akron for a little over 2 years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. I work as a Research Assistant (RA). which means that I help graduate students with their research projects. I started off by watching videos of couples and coding them for target behaviors, then I moved on to data entry information collected from participants, I have also ran participants, or in other words I guided them through an experiment. One of the most beneficial things that I have learned by being an RA was seeing all of the work that goes into one study/research topic, it really takes a team of people to get from question to results in research. I liked meeting the other RA’s and graduate students as they helped make our weekly lab meeting not boring, and most times fun. (there was also a lot of candy sharing these meetings so that always helps). This lab gave me a better understanding of how to read research papers and what to look for to make sure they are credibly conducted.I would recommend this lab for anyone who wants to learn about research, or to get that sweet experience for resumes and graduate schools. Or you could just do it because you think it is cool (which it is!!).