RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Each semester, the ADJust Lab evaluates a need for Research Assistants. There are three ways to become involved as an RA:
1. The Juvenile Risk Assessment study is an ongoing, large scale project, for which new RAs are selected at the end of every spring semester for a full calendar year. The purpose of the study is to test diagnostics to improve treatment and risk assessment for youthful offenders in Ingham County. Research Assistants are primarily responsible for data entry, literature searches and reviews, analyses and presentations for court personnel, and file management tasks.
2. The Crossroads Mothers study is an ongoing longitudinal project that tracks the mothers/female guardians of juvenile offenders from the time of their first arrest to nearly a decade later. Research Assistants are responsible for managing case files and conducting hour-long telephone interviews with participating women.
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3. Short-term RA positions may arise on an as-needed basis throughout the academic year.
All research assistants must have:
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Dedication, motivation, and an interest in psychology, criminal law, juvenile justice, and research
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A GPA of 3.0 or higher
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10 hours per week to commit to lab, including mandatory bi-weekly meetings
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Project-specific requirements. For the Juvenile Risk Assessment study, this includes:
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​The ability to devote 12 full, consecutive months (including summer months) to lab
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The ability to work in the Ingham County courthouse
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We maintain a waitlist for applicants interested in joining the lab, whether or not we are not actively recruiting RAs. Interested in applying? Email Dr. Cavanagh (caitcav@msu.edu). You will be notified when positions become available.
CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Meet the 2023-2024 RA team for the Juvenile Risk Assessment study!
Casey Orr - Casey is a senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Criminal Justice and Anthropology. After graduation, Casey intends on attending graduate school for Library and Information Science.
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Caitlin Reed- Caitlin is a freshman at Michigan State University, majoring in Psychology. After graduation, Caitlin plans to pursue higher education through graduate school and hopes to work as a forensic psychologist.
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Riley Starr- Riley is a junior at Michigan State University, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Human Behavior and Social Services. Riley plans to attend law school after graduation. Her main interests involve juvenile justice and general criminology.
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Sam Metz- Sam is a senior at Michigan State University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Law, Justice, and Public Policy. After graduating in the spring, he plans on going to graduate school with an end goal of achieving a PhD in Clinical Psychology. His main goal with my degree is to help people with mental health struggles through research as well as still staying involved with academia and the court system.
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Autumn David- Autumn is a senior at Michigan State University, she is a double major majoring in Human Development and Family Studies as well as Pre-Med. After graduation, Autumn plans to pursue a higher education through medical school. Her main goal is to work in pediatrics.
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Sara Sundaram- Sara is a junior at Michigan State University studying Criminal justice and psychology. After graduation, Sara plans to pursue higher education in a related field. Her main goal is to have a concentration in juvenile justice.
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Natalie Hollis- Natalie is a senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology with a minor in LGBTQ+ and Sexuality Studies. After graduation, Natalie intends on attending graduate school to achieve a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her main goal is to work as a pediatric psychologist
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RESEARCH ASSISTANT ALUMNI
Juvenile Risk Assessment Study
Ashley Anderson ​
Kelsey Bees
Marissa Cortwright
Rebecca Flynn
Alivia Foster
Blake Kocsis
Anastasia Machasic
Taylor Mclaurin
Rojet Morrow
Ema Smith
Jessica Urch
Zarria Bronner
Clare Chie
Kaylie Williams
Makenzie Smith
Karissa White
Angela Altman
Maddie Allen
Samantha Bowers
Mariah Bonfiglio
Jade Elder
Alissa Hakim
Sophy Smithson
Crossroads Mothers Study
Sabina Goldstein
Shantanique Jackson
Guadalupe Moreno
Erin Menich
Anna Semidei
Leandra Pinero
Marina Henke
Amanda Osuna
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