BrainGate: Demystifying Psychology Research at Western Washington University

Research assistantships during undergraduate study bolster professional expertise and provide hands-on experiences in psychology. Despite the countless research labs at Western Washington University (WWU) that entail creating, executing, and publishing research, many students feel they have no idea how to access these opportunities. Braingate is an attempt to demystify the process. As a website that provides concise and easily-accessible information about current psychology and behavioral neuroscience labs and how to contact the faculty that run them, Braingate bridges the gap between psychology students and their goals. During the development process, I collected self-report survey data from both students and faculty in the psychology department about their experiences assisting in or facilitating research labs to better understand the current system and to identify potential improvements. Of the student respondents (n = 43), approximately 90% were upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors). Over 85% reported wanting to work in a research lab, yet only 37% currently do. When asked if they believe pursuing research as an undergraduate is difficult, the majority of respondents said yes, citing feeling lost or confused about how to go about the process. Many respondents also reported delaying their application to graduate school due to a lack of proper experience. Faculty, on the other hand, reported a lack of streamlined recruitment processes, leading to inadequate sourcing of assistants who possess motivation and drive for the topics being studied. Many of the website’s resources and frequently-asked questions are pulled directly from these testimonies. BrainGate also includes access to other resources relevant to undergraduate psychology students, such as how to write CVs, develop applications, find volunteer opportunities, and bolster research skills. The site promotes resources from within WWU, as well as from organizations or academics outside of our university. I worked closely with those in the psychology department to create a site that would be effective resource for years to come.