Cognitive Science Research at Northwestern University

Travis White-Schwoch Northwestern University

So you're interested in research in cognitive science great! We've prepared this brief guide to give you tips and advice on why to do research, how to start, and, well, what you'll do. The most important piece of advice we can give is this: don't get intimidated and don't get discouraged. Everybody will go through bumps in the road to research, and that's okay. Our hope is that this guide will help make the road a little smoother. Remember, though, that this guide is not comprehensive. What we discuss here is oversimplified and overly generalizedbut we think it can help.

Why do research?
Research is a rewarding and challenging endeavor. It immerses you in "real world" science, free from the abstractions of textbooks and lectures. We all know that learning by doing is both fun and efficient. Moreover, you get to both pursue your own interests and discover new interests. There are also some practical benefits: You can get course credit; It is an illustration of the concepts and principles you learn in your coursework; Cognitive science majors may be able to count it as an advanced elective; It looks great on a transcript and makes you desirable for graduate schools and many jobs; You get to know other undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members; It can set you up for an honors thesis; The University is eager to shovel you grant money; You can build your CV by getting experience in programming, administration, statistics, and maybe even a publication or two!

What kind of research can I do?

Maybe you want to research language. Maybe you want to interview people. Maybe you want to build computer models. And maybe you want to squish-up squid axons. Really, you can do anything you want! Wellreally, anything that a professor (and probably a graduate student) wants, but youd be surprised at the diversity of research interests at Northwestern. (And, if you put in your time, so to speak, you may get to work on your own research). A good place to start is by looking at faculty members websites. A list of faculty member who self-identify as cognitive scientists may be found on the Cognitive Science Programs website (see a link in the Appendix) but you

Prepared for the CogSci Club of Northwestern Universitys website, www.nucogsci.com. Please do not cite or reproduce without written permission. This document is Travis White-Schwoch, 2010 & 2011. I thank Lauren Kahn, Steven Franconeri, Derek Tam, and Andrew Deitch for helpful comments and feedback on various drafts of this document. Version of: April 17, 2011 nucogsci@gmail.com

2 should go beyond that to faculty pages in departments like Psychology, Linguistics, Learning Sciences, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Neurobiology & Physiology, Music Cognition the list goes on! Read their biographies, skim their publications, and pick a few things that pique your fancy. If after a quarter or two of work you find that your interests have changed, dont worry thats supposed to happen! Talk to your friends, talk to your professors, and talk to your TAsyoure bound to find something. You can also e-mail the CogSci Club! The brown-nosing nerds that we are, we have a pretty good sense of the types of research that different faculty members do. So if you come to us and say All my life Ive wanted to take an EEG of somebody staring at floating dots on a computer screen so that I can figure out how they tell right from left, well know where to point you1. Or if you say All my life Ive wanted to create computer narratives of 3D stick figures who model personality subsystems, well have a good idea, too2. Or if you saywell, you get the idea. Also, theres a good chance were friends with an undergraduate or graduate student working in any given lab so if youre still intimidated (even after our insistence that you shouldnt be) we can put you in touch with a student too.

Travis White-Schwoch load. Although many people take it as a fifth class, its probably best to do it as a fourth class the first time around so that you can get a sense of the time commitment youll need to make without your classes suffering. Some people will also start their research more informally, just volunteering in a lab as opposed to enrolling in research for credit. Its a great way to get your feet wet!

How do I start?
This is probably the hardest step, and certainly its what trips people up the most. All the time, we hear people say I dont know how to get started, or I know who I want to work with, but I dont know what you have to do beforehand. Its surprisingly simple: e-mail. Once you find a professor whose work interests you, just shoot them a friendly e-mail. Explain who you are and what interests you. Tell them what experience you have (prior labs, Psych 201/205, etc.) and why you want to work with them. Keep it brief, friendly, and cordial. Now, wait. Dont be surprised and dont be discouraged if you never hear back. Sometimes it takes a while, and sometimes you wont get a response. Thats OK. It might mean that the professor doesnt have room in their lab, so you have to move on. It might mean that your e-mail came the night before they are giving an exam to their hundredperson-lecture and so just lost track of your email. Most of the time, though, you probably will get a response. Once you get a chance, jump on it. Youll probably meet with a professor, post-doc, or graduate student so that they can get to know you and them. Remember: the most important thing is not to get intimidated and not to get discouraged. Believe it or not, it takes guts to e-mail a

When should I start doing research?

Good question. The simple answer is: when youre ready. Some people start their freshman year, and some wait longer. A lot of it depends on the professor, the culture in their lab, and the type of research they do. But mostly, it depends on you. Talk to your advisor and talk to your professors. Formal independent study is a class unto itself, so youll want to find a balance in your course
1 2

Steve Franconeri Ian Horswill cmon, these are too easy

3 professor out of nowhere and ask if theres space in their lab, and theyll appreciate it. Dont be surprised if they simply do not have the space for another student. If they dont, still be friendly and gracious because they may reconsider in the future. Also, get advice from your friends, but recognize that everybodys experience is different. Some people will be able to schedule meetings with sixteen different labs, and some people will send sixteen e-mails and get one meeting. Dont worryit isnt a reflection on you! Rather, its a reflection on how fluid labs needs are, and how the only way to get into a lab is to persevere.

Travis White-Schwoch Professors also have a lot of experience with this sort of thing, and are eager to help you with a proposal. Realize, though, that you often have to have identified an advisor, and so this is the sort of thing which oftenbut not alwayscomes after spending a little bit of time working in a lab.

Every Lab is Different

I cant say this enough times. Every lab different. Every lab is different. Every lab different. Every lab is different. Every lab different. Every lab is different. Every lab different. Every lab is different. Every lab different. Every lab is different. Every lab different. Every lab is different. Every lab different. And thats a good thing! Some labs have twenty-five RAs. Some labs have weekly two-hour meetings. Some labs have students work completely independently. Every lab is different. When you meet with a professor, think about this. Realize that the point of an independent study isnt to socialize, but for some people this might be an important factor. Also realize that because Every lab is different, there is no standard for what a research assistant does in terms of workload, with whom they work, and what level of attention they get. Some RAs work directly under the professor, some work primarily under a graduate student, and some vacillate in between. Take, as an example, CogSci Club Founding Co-presidents (through June, 2011) Travis and Lauren. They both got into a lab very early on as cognitive science majors, and stuck in those labs through graduation (they even wrote honors theses!). Travis spent about two years working directly with a graduate student, and switched to work exclusively with the is is is is is is is

Didnt you say something about money?

Yes! The University is eager to support undergraduate research and offers grants and fellowships. There are three units which offer these: the Provosts office (University-level), the Deans office (college-level) and a department/program (in this case, the Cognitive Science Program). As youve already guessed, the university-level grants are open to just about anybody, the schoollevel are open to just about anybody in the school, and the department/program-level are open to just about anybody in that department/program. These grants are competitive, but theres lots of money to go around, and many people benefit from them. Some are meant for certain demographics, and some are open to anybody. Some are meant to cover costs of living (mainly summer grants) and some are meant specifically to support research costs. Theres lots of good information online, at http://www.northwestern.edu/undergradresearch/.

4 professor for his thesis. Lauren spent her whole time working directly under the same professor, eventually completing a thesis. And they both loved it, and got a ton out of it (including jobs)!

Travis White-Schwoch

Some Dos and Donts

Do be honest about why you want to work in a lab, even if its Im just curious what its like to do research. Dont dress like a slob (but you probably dont have to wear black tie). Do anticipate how much time the meeting(s) will take. Dont assume that the professor has a position they can offer you that instant. Dont assume that youre going to be published within a month of working in the lab. Do be friendly, interested, and try your best to come off as sane. Do ask about current projects in their lab. Do ask about time commitment and what type of work youd be doing. Dont be a jackass. Do ask about whom youd be working with. Do feel free to ask if you can meet some other RAs.

The Interview Meeting

This comic strip really says it all. After emailing a professor, youll probably set-up a meeting with them to discuss joining their lab. The meeting might be with just them, it might be with a graduate student, and it might be with the entire lab. First of all, remember: its not a job interview. Nobody expects you to have a pre-defined set of interests or research questions. If you do, thats great! But you should in no way, shape, or form, feel pressured to go in with a research agendum. The best way to prepare is to peruse their website and some publications. If the publications listed on their website seem out of date, do a Google Scholar search. You should have some idea of what their lab doesyou dont want to tell a professor who studies dating that youre interested in schizophrenia drug discoverybut you also dont have to be an expert on their work.

And remember, the professor is meeting you but youre also meeting the professor. If you just dont like the people you meet, then dont feel that you have to work with them! Also, you dont have to inflate or lie about your experience or aptitude. Professors recognize that smart, motivated people reach out to them about working in labs.

Travis White-Schwoch

Some General Comments

Each professor is different, each graduate student is different, and each lab is different. (Remember: Every lab is different!) Our general advice and tips can only take you so far. Whether or not youre a good fit for a lab is dependent on that labs research and the time you ask. If theyre between projects, or if theyre working on the end stages of several projects, there might not be a good place for you. Some professors will require certain coursework (see below), some will require specific work some of the time, and some wont require any at all. The only way to know is to ask. Once youre involved in a lab, be curious, confident, and courageous. Ask lots of questions, read up on the topics being considered, and look to your colleagues for advice. There is a definite hierarchy in each lab, but its there for a reason; take advantage of it to learn as much as you can about the topics youre researching and academic research culture. Dont be intimidated to ask for help, to ask for more work, or to ask for less work. And remember that were talking about cognitive scientists, herepeople who are reasonably well adjusted, and quite friendly. Finally, recognize that the people whom youll be working with have dedicated their lives to their materials. Graduate students, post-docs, and junior faculty have their careers riding, in part, on the work they do. If people get anxious, frustrated, or testy, try not to let it get to you.

F.A.Q.
n.b.: Since much of undergraduate independent studies are done through the Department of Psychology, we will use course numbers from this department herein for the sake of argument. We will also address some specific questions about research in this department, but much of this discussion may be expanded to other programs.

I havent taken Psych 201 and/or Psych 205 can I still do independent research? Probably! Different professors will have different expectations, but in our experience most do not require these. Its a good thing to mention when you talk to a professor, but dont use this as an excuse not to get involved. (Its lame as all get out.) What is the difference between all the different independent study classes? Good question. Generally speaking, there are three classes of class: independent study for one quarter; a two-quarter independent project; and a two-quarter honors thesis. The honors thesis is exactly what it sounds like: a project some people choose to do during their senior year as a culmination of their undergraduate coursework. What youre probably interested in is one of the independent study classes. These are for undergraduate research assistants who are not work-studies and will earn credit. In Psychology, these classes are Psych 3971/2 and Psych 399. There is a lengthy discussion of the differences on the psychology department website, but Psych 397 is a two-quarter sequence typically dedicated to a specific project. People rarely go into these without first doing Psych 399, which is a general independent study you can take as many times as you like. Be sure to check out this website for more detailed information on these classes as well as information on how to register: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/und

6 ergraduate_studies/research_opportunities/res earch_for_course_credit.html. (You should note that, generally, the blessing of your professor is sufficient, but there is nevertheless paperwork.) There are similar classes, with similar distinctions, in all departments. But you should explore these in-depth with your professor, the departments Director of Undergraduate Studies, and the departments undergraduate program assistant for details. Can I take Psych 397 or Psych 399 (or another such class) as a fifth (overload) class? Many people do. As we said above, it may be a good idea to try it once as a fourth class. Be sure to check your schools requirements and procedures on registering for an overload, and leave plenty of time to do so. In WCAS, you need to have a GPA of at least 3.0 from the previous quarter (or your advisors written permission), and take the class number and permission number to the WCAS Undergraduate Advising Office. A receptionist will check CAESAR and then give you a slip to take to the registrars office (in Rebecca Crown Center) and a receptionist there will manually enroll you. All of this must be during the first week classes (the add period). Whew! Needless to say, it takes time (and walking), so its best to do this ASAP. How do I register? The Psychology Undergraduate Program Assistant, Maria Candelario (mcandelario@northwestern.edu) has a form you must fill out and your professor must sign. Bring it to her and shell give you a permission number. Then read the little diatribe in the preceding paragraph, if its an overload.

Travis White-Schwoch What will I do as a research assistant? Thats a question best answered by your professor or graduate student. Most undergraduates help by running subjects and with data entry. Although this can sound tedious (and can be) youll really learn a lot by doing this. For example, if youre helping a graduate student run subjects, youll probably learn about the study youre running and the rationales behind the design of the experiment particularly if you ask! And before you know it youll find your mind wandering, curious why they arent running a certain condition or coming up with an idea for a new study altogether. Are there any written requirements or assignments? Again, ask your professor. Some will ask you to write a paper on a topic similar to your lab work, but its pretty painless . What if I dont know what Im interested in? Thats okay! Whats important is to keep taking a diverse set of classes and to start doing research immediately. There a few things you can do if you have no idea what interests you. The easiest thing is just to ask a professor or graduate student whom you know and think is smart and nice. Youll figure out pretty quickly whether or not you like the research youre doing, and if you decide to go in another direction, at least youll have had good experience. You can also peruse lists of labs needing a research assistant, and go into one of those. If none of those work, we can find an Ouija board. Can I count Psych 399 (or similar) as a cognitive science advanced elective? Most of the time. If youre a major or minor and would like to count this as an advanced elective, write to Professor Steve Franconeri (franconeri@northwestern.edu), the Director of Undergraduate Studies for details.

7 I heard that Professor X is a big jackass! Not a question, but okay, frankly, I doubt it. Granted, some people just dont get along with each other, but you wont know how you work with any given professor or graduate student until you try. And whats the worst that could happen? After a quarter or two you stop working in the lab? Cmon, thats not so bad. Rest assured that undergraduates move in and out of labs all the time.

Travis White-Schwoch I finally got in a lab and was given a task but I screwed it up! Also not a question, but dont worry everybody makes mistakes, especially the first time they do something as bizarre and obtuse as, say, code data. Be honest with your lab colleagues and move past it, having learned something.

Travis White-Schwoch

Appendix: Some Links & Contacts

COGNITIVE SCIENCE PROGRAM Website: http://cogsci.northwestern.edu Program Administrator: Benjamin Dionysus cogsci@northwestern.edu Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Steve Franconeri franconeri@northwestern.edu List of affiliated faculty: http://www.cogsci.northwestern.edu/people.html COGSCI CLUB Website: www.nucogsci.com E-mail: nucogsci@gmail.com DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY Website: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/ Undergraduate Assistant: Maria Candelario m-candelario@northwestern.edu Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Karl Rosengren k-rosengren@northwestern.edu Labs Needing a Research Assistant: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/research/become_a_research_assistant/ (not inclusive) List of faculty: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/people/ DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS Website: http://www.linguistics.northwestern.edu/ Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Stefan Kaufmann kaufmann@northwestern.edu Department Administrator: Irene Sakk i-sakk@northwestern.edu List of faculty: http://www.linguistics.northwestern.edu/people/faculty.html DEPARTMENT OF LEARNING SCIENCES Website: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ls/ List of major research projects in the department: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ls/projects/ DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE (EECS) Website: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/ List of research groups: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/research/faculty_groups/ Undergraduate research stories: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/research/ugrad_research/ Undergraduate Director: Professor Alan Sahakian sahakian@eecs.northwestern.edu MUSIC COGNITION AT NORTHWESTERN Website: http://kodaly.music.northwestern.edu/index.html Coordinator: Professor Richard Ashley r-ashley@northwestern.edu DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS Website: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/ List of faculty: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/faculty/directory.php List of labs: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/research/ (contd)

Travis White-Schwoch

COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AT NORTHWESTERN Website: http://cogns.northwestern.edu/ List of faculty, including research interests: http://cogns.northwestern.edu/faculty/ Director: Professor Ken Paller kap@northwestern.edu DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY Website: http://www.philosophy.northwestern.edu Mind and Language Research: http://www.philosophy.northwestern.edu/research/MindandLanguage.htm Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Rachel Zuckert r-zuckert@northwestern.edu **Check program websites for up-to-date contact information.