Graduate Students
Accepting PhD applications for Fall 2026
Undergraduate Research Assistants
How do I get involved in the lab?
We periodically have openings for undergraduate research assistants (RAs). Students from any major are welcome to apply (including but not limited to Psychology, Neuroscience, Engineering, Computer Science). This is a great way to explore whether you might be interested in a research career. We typically receive many more inquiries about positions than we have available. So, the process is competitive in the sense that we require a short application (via Google Form below) and an interview to determine if our lab is the right fit for your interests and career goals.
We’re looking for students who are enthusiastic about the neuroscience of attention, memory, and perception. No prior lab experience is necessary since RA positions are usually one’s first foray into conducting research. A significant part of the application process is determining whether your schedule matches our schedule. So, if we don’t have a position for you in the upcoming semester, please feel free to apply again for an upcoming semester.
What do RAs do in the lab?
A lot of things! Learning to run EEG experiments requires mastering a variety of skills, an eye for detail, and a lot of practice. Initially, students in the lab learn the basics of EEG data collection and processing. As you master these skills, you’ll have opportunities to get more involved with more challenging tasks like data analysis, research design, and learning to program. Because there is so much to learn, we prefer that RA’s spend 8 – 10 hours per week in the lab their first semester and can commit to 2 consecutive semesters (assuming the lab is a good fit after your first semester).
How do I apply?
Please fill out this short Google form (tiny.utk.edu/AmpLabRaApplication) to indicate your interest after you know your class/work/life schedule for the upcoming semester.
We typically review responses on a rolling basis in November and April until positions are filled for the coming semester.
Do you accept thesis students?
We consider research-based thesis students who have worked in the lab as RA’s and have mastered data collection and processing. Often this takes several semesters. A thesis involves designing a publication quality experiment in collaboration with Dr. Sutterer and graduate students in the lab. This involves collecting new data, programming tasks and analyses, and presenting your work. So, if you know you want to do a thesis, get involved in the lab as early as possible, and start learning how to program!