Participate in a Research Study

Overview of our studies

At the Memory and Perception in Schizophrenia (MAPS) Laboratory, we are interested in understanding why people with serious mental illness often experience problems with attention and memory.  We use techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the relationship between certain brain processes and performance on tasks of memory and attention. By understanding the brain-behavior relationship, we hope to one day be able to develop treatments that target those brain processes more effectively.

See if you’re qualified! Here’s how:

We are looking for people with and without a history of mental illness to participate in our paid research studies! Earn anywhere from $180 to $450 for your participation. If you are between the ages of 18-59 and have one of the following conditions, you may be eligible to participate:

  • Schizophrenia

  • Schizoaffective Disorder

  • Bipolar Disorder

  • Major Depressive Disorder

    OR:

  • No history of mental illness

Click the button below to begin a brief screening form. You may additionally contact the lab directly by email (ucmapslaboratory@gmail.com) or by phone (‪773-242-9235‬) and a member of the research team will respond to you as soon as possible.

Become an Undergraduate Research Assistant

Your Role:

Undergraduate Research Assistants (URA’s) are accepted into the MAPS Laboratory on a volunteer basis, with the opportunity to expand their roles in a paid position following a probationary period of two consecutive quarters. As a volunteer member of this lab, you will have the opportunity to develop skills in one of two specific areas: the clinical specialization track or the EEG specialization track. You will be expected to commit 7-8 hours per week (clinical track) or 10 hours per week (EEG track) for a minimum of two consecutive quarters on a probationary basis. Volunteers will be accepted into the lab under their preferred specialization and will focus on becoming proficient in the track’s skills for the first two quarters in the lab. Contingent on good performance, there will be opportunities to expand your role in the lab to other advanced activities as well as promotion to part-time paid status at the conclusion of your two-quarter commitment. Check out descriptions of each track and find answers to frequently asked questions below!

  • “My time as a URA at the MAPS Lab allowed me to develop and hone a number of foundational research skills. I was able to work with a diverse population of participants and gain experience with each step of the research process, from participant recruitment to data collection and analysis to compiling and presenting results. Dr. Erickson and the rest of the MAPS Lab team were committed to supporting my professional growth. With Dr. Erickson's guidance, I was awarded a grant to work on an independent research project and presented my findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium during my senior year. These experiences meant I was well-equipped to continue my career in research post-graduation as well as ensuring my success in applying to graduate school.” -Haley S.

    “I owe my current passion for psychiatric neuroscience to the nurturing and dynamic learning environment of the MAPS Lab! From day one, Prof. Erickson and RAs Charlotte and Nicole guided me through hands-on training in EEG set-up and data analysis, which has fast-tracked my Master's research in the neuroscience of consciousness. My mentors at the MAPS Lab made an impact on me broader than these technical skills, though––they immersed me in the collaborative nature of laboratory work, the neuropsychology research process, and key concepts in abnormal psychology, inspiring me to pursue neuroscience graduate study. If you are eager to explore neuroimaging, memory, perception, or abnormal psychology, the MAPS Lab is an intellectually enriching and exciting space to develop your skills and interests. I am incredibly fortunate to have been part of the MAPS Lab family, and I hope you will have the chance to as well!” - Ethan R.

    “My time as an undergraduate research assistant at the MAPS lab was one of the most important parts of my undergraduate career. I gained clinical experience working with participants, critical thinking skills in journal club and through the design and execution of my undergraduate thesis, and a number of hard skills such as coding in multiple languages, EEG preprocessing, and data analysis. Both Dr. Erickson and the full-time RAs provided me with so much guidance and support over my two years at the lab, from my first phone call to my ongoing work attempting to publish the results of my thesis. The experience I gained at the lab was instrumental in my search for research opportunities after graduation and the skills I gained have served me immensely at my current position as a Clinical Research Coordinator in Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. My decision to pursue clinical psychology is in many ways attributable to my experience at the lab and I would absolutely recommend the experience to anyone interested.” - Phoebe H.

Clinical Track

  • Conducting clinical screening interviews with potential participants who may have Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, or no psychiatrics illness

  • Becoming familiar with and scoring neuropsychological tests

  • Consenting participants and completing preliminary data acquisition

  • Must have morning availability 2-3 days per week

EEG Track

  • Becoming independent on EEG data collection procedures

  • Assisting with EEG data preprocessing

  • Learning to program EEG analysis scripts using self-guided tutorials (once proficient in all EEG preprocessing steps)

  • Must have minimum 4-hour blocks of time at least 2 days per week.

Undergraduate Research Assistants will also complete the following activities:

  • Become familiar with all study protocols

  • Become familiar with clinical diagnostic criteria characterizing our study populations

  • Develop proficiency in handling all phone-based communications with participants

  • Critical analysis of journal articles

  • Miscellaneous administrative tasks

  • Weekly check-ins with your respective mentors

FAQs:

Can I volunteer as a research assistant if I am still in high school or have not yet started college?

Undergraduate research assistant positions are only offered to current University of Chicago undergraduate students.

Can I complete a summer internship with the MAPS Lab?

Currently, the MAPS Lab does not offer internships or summer-only positions. All undergraduate research assistants must be willing and able to complete 2 consecutive quarters in the MAPS lab in order to be considered for a position.

Do Undergraduate research assistants get paid?

Undergraduate research assistant positions are volunteer-based for the first 2 quarters which makes up the probationary period. URAs may be offered part-time paid positions after this period if they display proficiency in all tasks described above.

Do I need to be on site/in person to be a URA in the MAPS Lab?

Yes, all positions offered in the MAPS Lab are in person. We do not offer remote opportunities.

Can I schedule my lab hours for evenings and weekends?

All activities in the MAPS Lab are conducted during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm). No evening or weekend hours are available.

I’m not sure what my course schedule will be next quarter. How do my lab hour requirements work with my class schedule?

You can send your tentative class schedule to the URA Coordinator Charlotte Li (charyli@bsd.uchicago.edu) along with a message about what classes are finalized and what may change. When scheduling your lab hours, we will work around your class schedule to ensure that your lab hours never overlap with your classes.

Am I eligible for Metcalf Funding during my probationary period?

At this time, Metcalf funding is not available for undergraduate research assistants during the probationary period. As described above, following the first two volunteer quarters, you may have the opportunity to move into a part-time paid position funded by Dr. Erickson for the following quarters.

I’m interested in the EEG track, but I don’t have any prior programming experience. Can I still apply?

Absolutely! We provide full training on EEG data preprocessing in the form of self-guided tutorials. The EEG Track Mentor as well as other senior EEG Track URAs will also be available for any questions!

Can I get my name on a publication by working in this lab?

URA’s have had the opportunity to get their names on publications in the past; however, these have typically been URA’s who have been with the lab for two years or more, and have therefore learned enough skills to earn authorship on lab publications. Advanced URA’s may also have the opportunity to present their work as posters at local and regional conferences.

The MAPS Lab is currently accepting applications for the Clinical and EEG Tracks for the Winter and Spring 2025 quarters. Fill out an application by clicking below: