The Reflective Component of Experiential Education Requirement follows the practical component and can be filled by enrollment in one of the following courses: Biology Capstone (BIOU701), Seminar in Psychobiology (PSYU656), Seminar in Clinical Case Study (PSYU650), Seminar in Ethics (PSYU652), Experiential Education Directed Study (PSYU951 or BIO954), Independent Study (PSYU934). *Both the practical and reflective components of this alternative must be completed*

Students registered for Junior and Seniors Honors project will fulfill the experiential education requirement by registering for both courses and submitting a written report of their research project. This fulfills both the practical and reflective component of the experiential education requirement.

Students that complete two (2) or more Directed Studies in the same research laboratory will fulfill the experiential education requirement provided they submit a written report of their research project to both their Directed Study advisor and the Experiential Education advisor. This fulfills both the practical and reflective component of the experiential education requirement.

Experential Education Approval Form

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What opportunities are available to me?

Depending upon your area of interest, opportunities are available with faculty on campus and with researchers in the greater Boston area. The type of research these professionals undertake is varied and diverse. In the past, neuroscience students have worked in both experimental (i.e. laboratory) and clinical research settings.

Numerous on-campus opportunities exist with Northeastern faculty undertaking neuroscience research (see list below). In addition, students have participated in research projects off-campus at many institutions across the Boston area including:

• Massachusetts General Hospital-Pediatric Psychopharmacology
• Massachusetts General Hospital-Schizophrenia Research
• Brigham and Women's Hospital Sleep Laboratory
• McLean Hospital-Harvard University
• Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Department of Neurology
• Tufts University/USDA Neuroscience Laboratory
• National Institutes of Health
• St. Andrews University, School of Psychology, Scotland

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Will I get paid for doing research?

Depending upon what opportunity you pursue, funding may be available. In many (but not all) cases, students must get their "foot in the door" either by volunteering or undertaking a directed study project with a faculty member or other researcher.

Unpaid opportunities include:

• part-time volunteer work while in school
• directed study project (research for course credit)
• full-time experiential co-op

Paid opportunities include:

• part-time work-study position while attending classes
• part-time grant/institution funded opportunities while in school
• full-time grant/institution funded co-ops
• full-time work-study funded co-ops

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If I am interested in doing research for co-op, where do I start?

Visit Ms. Israel, your co-op faculty, to discuss options that are available to you. Opportunities for employment exist with both on-campus as well as off-campus researchers. Students often come to visit the co-op office within a few weeks of the resume deadline, requesting a paid research co-op, having done little background "leg work" to increase their chances of securing such a position. The following are some suggested strategies that will increase your chances of securing a paid research co-op position:

• Plan ahead
  If you know early in your Northeastern career (freshman or sophomore year) that you would like to undertake a research co-op at some point during your tenure here, start implementing the strategies here as soon as possible.
  
  
• Get to know your faculty
  Meet with Ms. Israel your freshman year to discuss co-op options. If you take a course and really liked one of your academic faculty, go speak with them during office hours and ask them about their research and tell them about your interests. Ask for articles they have written, taking the time to read and discuss the research with your professor. Not only does this start the networking process for research opportunities, the better faculty know you, the more equipped they will be to write those important letters for graduate school!
  
  
• Volunteer in a research laboratory and/or project on campus
  If you get to know a faculty member, and are interested in his or her research, spend 5-10 hours a week as a volunteer on their projects. Volunteering shows commitment, and this experience could either lead to paid employment with this individual or give you resume building for other work off-campus. See the faculty page for names and contact informations for NU neuroscience researchers.
  
  
• Join professional associations
  Meet other professionals in your field at local, regional and national conferences and association meetings. Professional groups have reasonable student membership rates and welcome students to participate in their activities. See the Professional and Academic Resources page for links to associations.
  
  
• Network with fellow students and alumni
  There is no better source of ideas about managing your undergraduate career than students who have been through the process before you. Meet fellow behavioral neuroscience students at NURON meetings, in class, and in laboratories. Contact alumni of the program (see what you can find in the student lounge). Ask for their opinions about research strategies.
  
  
• Take statistics and methods courses
  Whether you have volunteer research experience or not, having statistics and research methods courses on your resume will make you more attractive to co-op employers. See your academic adviser about course selection.
  
  
• Build your computer skills
  Almost all co-ops (research or not) require that students have strong computer skills. Build your proficiency and comfort with databases, spreadsheets and word processing. Ideally, get yourself exposed to computer-based statistical programs such as SPSS or SAS.

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