Get Involved
Research assistants are the heart of the lab. You'll work directly with infants and families, learn cutting-edge methods, and see developmental science in action. No prior experience is required — just genuine curiosity and reliability.
RAs are eligible for academic credit through the UCI Psychology Department's research practicum. After your first YEAR, you may propose independent research projects with faculty mentorship.
I anticipate interviewing Ph.D. students applying for the Fall 2026 admission cycle through the UC Irvine Department of Psychology. I look for students who are intellectually curious, motivated by questions about how early environments shape development, and committed to rigorous and inclusive science.
Students in the lab will receive mentorship in experimental design, neuroimaging and physiological methods, advanced statistical modeling, and science communication. You will be supported in developing your own research program and in pursuing funding and career goals.
The WILD Lab is committed to research that reflects the communities it serves. We actively seek partnerships with organizations that work with children and families in Orange County — because those relationships make our science more relevant, more equitable, and more impactful.
If your organization works with children, families, or pregnant individuals in Orange County — or if you're a researcher whose interests align with ours — we'd love to start a conversation. Partnerships can take many forms, from participant recruitment to co-designed community studies.
We collaborate with OB/GYN clinics, pediatric practices, and maternal health programs to expand our reach to families and to better connect our research with real clinical contexts.
We partner with early childhood educators, family resource centers, and community-based organizations to ensure our findings reach the families who stand to benefit most from them.
We collaborate with other researchers — particularly those focused on under-served populations, novel assessment methods, or translational applications.
Whether you are a prospective RA, a PhD applicant, or an organization interested in partnering with us, fill out the form and someone from the lab will respond within a few business days.There's no commitment in reaching out — just a conversation. We welcome questions of all kinds.
