​LIBR Accelerated Summer Research (LASR) Internship

The LASR Internship Program is open to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers related to mental health research. The program provides an opportunity to spend a summer working in an environment devoted exclusively to research. Interns work eight weeks between June and July with a variety of research participants, scientists and research professionals. This position is a full time (40-hour/week) paid position. All interns will complete a collaborative research project culminating in a poster presentation at the end of the program. Experiences also include professional development and trainings related to graduate school application and conducting research.

Applicants from underrepresented populations in the U.S. biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences research enterprise as defined by the National Institutes of Health are strongly encouraged to apply.

Underrepresented Populations

​The internships will run approximately June through July. Given the limited time of the internship and accelerated nature of the program absences should be kept to a minimum. Candidates with extended vacation plans over summer should not apply. Candidates who are selected are expected to have their CITI training completed prior to starting at LIBR, as well as the paperwork associated with being a Saint Francis Health System employee. The schedule will be full-time (40-hours per week). The onboarding process includes a background check and drug screening. It is the responsibility of the intern to secure housing in Tulsa for the internship.

Application Procedure

The LASR Internship Program is highly competitive, there are 3 openings per summer. Applications for Summer 2023 were due by April 1st, 2023. Applications are currently closed for 2023. 

An application should include:   

• Curriculum vita
• Cover letter explaining your interest in mental health research and career goals
• Names and contact information for two references
  
  

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applications should be sent via email to Dr. Ricardo Wilhelm with the subject line LASR internship application.

Email Dr. Ricardo Wilhelm

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Internship Activities

Interns will be involved in these activities:

• Monitor behavioral and neuroimaging testing sessions
• Assist participants with self-report surveys and questionnaires
• Assist with data collection
• Assist calling/texting appointment reminders
• Assist with recruiting visits and outreach activities
• Assist with taking new calls to LIBR recruitment lines
• Call past subjects and schedule for re-assessment
• Attend LIBR educational opportunities (Journal Club, visiting scientist lectures, Brown Bag talks)
• Analyze a dataset, create poster to convey findings, draft paper for publication, present data
• Shadow in other research labs, assessment team, MRI facility, etc. 

2023 LASR Interns

Athena Klein

Athena graduated from Northeastern State University in May 2023 with a bachelor's of science in psychology and a minor in political science. Her interest in research propelled her to become a research assistant under her professor concerning the topic of Native American students and their retention rates in higher education. She also has served as a volunteer research assistant at LIBR in Dr. Aupperle's NEUROCaTT laboratory. She is drawn to social psychology, as her research interests include investigating gender role traits and LGBTQ+ populations. Athena plans to get her doctorate in Experimental Psychology and aspires to conduct research out of an institution or a university in the future.
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​Mentor: Robin Aupperle, Ph.D.

Catherine Scales

Catherine will be graduating in the Fall of 2023 from The University of Arkansas with a major in psychology and a minor in philosophy. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Cognition of Depression and Anxiety Lab, as well as Arkansas's Stress, Cognition, and Affective Neuroscience Lab. Catherine's research interests focus on neurophysiological predictors of affective and other psychiatric disorders, as well as predictors of treatment success or barriers. After
graduation, she will be pursuing post-baccalaureate positions prior to applying to clinical psychology Ph.D. programs.

​Mentor: Robin Aupperle, Ph.D.

Ethan Cheraghpour

Ethan graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a bachelor's in psychology in May 2023. Through his lab and volunteer work, he has gained clinical and research experience working with individuals with diverse backgrounds. His research interests include affective neuroscience, eating pathology, substance use/addiction, and PTSD. His ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D.
in clinical psychology with a neuroscience concentration to further the scientific community's understanding of the brain concerning behavior and mental illness.

Mentor: Maria Ironside, D.Phil.

2022 LASR Interns

Nicole Baughman

Nicole is a rising senior at The University of Tulsa studying psychology with a minor in biology. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Psychophysiology Lab for Affective Neuroscience, which has strengthened her interests in studying the neurobiology of mental illness, electroencephalography, and identifying specific risk and protective factors in underserved populations. In the future, she will be applying to clinical psychology programs and working toward her Ph.D. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and trying new recipes. She is looking forward to growing as a scientist and expanding her research experience.
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​Mentor: Evan White, Ph.D.

Sherille Bosfield

Sherille is from Los Angeles, California. She will graduate from Pepperdine University in June 2022 with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology. Since her undergraduate career, she has been involved in various research labs that have focused primarily on enhancing trauma-based treatments for children and adults in marginalized communities. She is currently researching the predictors of child mental health services utilization and developing interventions to improve clients’ adherence to treatment. Sherille’s experiences have strengthened her desire and commitment to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

​Mentor: Robin Aupperle, Ph.D.

Allie Murphy

Allie will be graduating in the spring of 2023 at Oklahoma State University with a major in psychology and a minor in neuroscience. She has always had an interest in studying the human brain. Allie is a research assistant in two pediatric focused labs on campus that involve child-parent relationships and resilience. She has also been employed at a child learning center where she was responsible for the care and developmental growth of young children in her community. Her goal is to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an emphasis in child development. She hopes to continue her career engaging in research relating to mental illness in adolescents while incorporating neuroscientific evidence. 

Mentor: Evan White, Ph.D.

2021 LASR Interns

Grace Cardenas

Grace is from Dallas, TX. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis majoring in cognitive neuroscience. She is currently in the process of applying to medical school. She has experience working in a research lab studying Parkinson’s disease at the Washington University School of Medicine. Grace looks forward to expanding her experience through studying psychiatric disease treatment and diagnosis with respect to neurobiological processes.

Mentor: Salvador Guinjoan, M.D., Ph.D.

Jayla Melvin

Jayla graduated from Oklahoma State University with a major in psychology and a minor in social justice. Since her freshman year, she has been involved in various research labs, during which time she has had the chance to explore several fields within psychology. Her overall goal is to attend a Ph.D. program in developmental psychology, focusing on risk factors, learning, and neuroscience. She is looking forward to staying in the world of research and academia, always learning and asking more questions.

Mentor: Namik Kirlic, Ph.D.

Samantha Ramirez

Samantha graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2021 with a bachelor’s of science in psychology. Her interest in research sparked while working as a research assistant for the Laboratory of Emotion and Psychophysiology between 2018 and 2019. Her research interests include investigating psychophysiology among LGBTQ+ populations, mindfulness, and the relationship between mirror neurons and mental illness. In the future, after earning her master’s degree in counseling in the pacific northwest, she aspires to practice counseling and research in either Oregon or Washington while tending to her garden and chickens in her free time. 

Mentor: Evan White, Ph.D.

2022 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Summer Research Internship

Megan Posey

Megan Posey is from Lawrence, KS. She is going into her senior year at The University of Tulsa, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education and Health Science. Her overall goal is to attend a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology, with a special interest in trauma and addiction research. She hopes to eventually go into research and counseling- helping people and making a difference in others’ lives. Megan looks forward to expanding her research experience throughout her time at LIBR. She has a strong desire to learn and ask questions.

Mentor: Jennifer Stewart, Ph.D.