I have long been interested in psychology research, but prior to college, my opportunities were limited primarily to in-class activities involving peer-distributed Google Forms. Despite entering Rice with only foundational experience, I’ve discovered limitless opportunities to conduct high-level research here. During O-Week, my O-Week “parents” introduced me to the Texas Medical Center, where they perform biomedical research or shadow at hospitals. And last year, in my neuroscience course, my professor invited us to her lab to dissect sheep brains and study brain structure firsthand.

To find research opportunities, I reached out to professors to actively express my interest. Professors at Rice know that students want to get involved, and they’re extremely willing to guide us through the journey of growing into professional researchers. After emailing five professors in the Psychology Department, I received responses from all of them within a week. This led to my involvement in an Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology lab during my freshman spring (along with two other undergraduates) despite not having prior formal experience. Since Rice has such a low student-to-faculty ratio, there’s no need to compete with other students for research opportunities. Professors are always looking for enthusiastic, responsible students who wish to grow, not someone who is “better” than everyone else.

My past two semesters in the I/O Psychology lab have been extremely rewarding. Not only have I gained hands-on experience in psychology research, I’ve also been able to attend a local conference, receive professional development guidance from graduate students, and gain writing and presentation skills. I also met other passionate students who are passionate about research, and we were able to work together to contribute to ongoing research in the lab.

Additionally, I served as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for General Chemistry I last semester. Not only did this role give me comprehensive training in peer education skills, it also taught me how to facilitate discussions and help students take ownership of their own learning. Regardless of interest or experience, Rice provides limitless opportunities and comprehensive training to not only make us successful students or researchers, but also to become contributing members of the community.

-Jessie, Duncan ‘28 (Published on 1/27/26)