The Neuropsychology Research Training Program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute was developed to offer experience in clinical psychological and neuropsychological research to undergraduate and master’s students. Each volunteer trainee is paired with 1-2 primary staff or faculty mentors within the Center for Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment who have ongoing research with which they have requested support. Through this program, research trainees often receive experience in many aspects of human subjects research, including:
- literature review
- IRB application preparation
- recruitment of participants
- data collection
- data management and analysis
- preparation of manuscripts and poster presentations
Trainee research projects often focus on developmental conditions such as ADHD and learning disabilities, and in some cases may also include genetic, medical, and neurological conditions.
In addition to the experiential research training offered, research trainees are encouraged to participate in didactic offerings within the Institute. All trainees are strongly encouraged to attend weekly clinical rounds within the department, as well as topical seminars offered to doctoral and postdoctoral trainees in clinical psychology and neuropsychology. Attendance at Pediatric Neuropsychology Journal Club is required of trainees and offers experience in critical evaluation of scientific writing, study design and methodology, and statistical analysis.
Due to the time-intensive nature of research, and in order to ensure the highest quality research training experience, a commitment of 2 consecutive semesters is required to participate in this program (i.e., summer and fall, fall and spring, or spring and summer). Trainees are expected to devote a minimum of 10 hours per week over the course of both semesters. Course credit (e.g., independent study, field work) can often be obtained for participation in the research training program, if desired.
Application Guidelines
Eligible applicants are current undergraduate or master’s level students who have an understanding of basic research design and statistics, as well as an interest in psychology and strong interpersonal skills. Applicants are selected based on their prior research experience, experience with children/families, and fit of this program with potential career goals; thus, highlighting these areas in a cover letter is very helpful. There are typically one to two volunteer (unpaid) positions available per semester, and positions are competitive. Offers are usually extended during the semester before the intended starting semester, as the onboarding process can take several weeks. If an applicant is not selected for a particular semester but continues to be interested in consideration for a subsequent semester, they are encouraged to re-apply. For questions, please contact Jessica Modderman at Modderman@KennedyKrieger.org.
Please apply no later than November 1 for the Spring semester start (January - April), no later than March 1 for the Summer semester start (May - August), and no later than July 1 for the Fall semester start (September - December). Applicants must be able to be on site as needed (i.e., we cannot accept any remote-only applicants).