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More to think about

Doing research with a faculty member may be one of the best ways to further your education — alongside an expert. Not only will you get more experience, but you can also get paid to do it! As this is one of the most accessible, important areas of our department, we strongly encourage every student to participate. Our faculty members are enthusiastic to get students involved in their current work. If you want to know how you can get involved with research, chat with a faculty member or contact the department.

Neuroscience majors in research lab

Research opportunities on day one

UW-Eau Claire’s affiliation with Mayo Clinic Health System and its focus on undergraduate research are among the reasons Bailey Imhoff chose to attend the university. Still, even she is in awe that as a first-year student, she is already part of a research team that collaborates with Mayo Clinic scientists. 

From providing animal care to running experiments to collecting data, Bailey is helping investigate a mutation on ethanol-induced spatial memory impairments, something that is helping Bailey see more clearly what her future might look like in the field of neuroscience. 

“I have learned a tremendous amount in a short period of time, and I can’t wait for what is ahead,” Bailey said. “I see all the steps it takes to run a successful lab, and the teamwork as well as communication that must be present. With experience comes emotion, knowledge and ‘aha’ moments, so I am taking the train in the right direction and seeing where it leads me." 

 Current research

  • Assessing preferences for typical children and children diagnosed with a developmental disability.
  • Investigating motivation (i.e., motivating operations).
  • Communication (i.e., verbal behavior) for children with autism.
  • College students' academic motivation.
  • Assessing differences in impulsivity in an animal model of risk taking.
  • The impact of dopamine agonists on learning and response acquisition.
  • Reducing student food waste on college campuses.
  • Factors contributing to the efficacy of skill acquisition in canines.
  • Behavioral factors contributing to speed of adoption in shelter dogs.
  • The impact of study abroad on personality, attitudes and values.
  • How experiences with diversity impact prejudice and intergroup relations.
  • Racism and racial discrimination and mental health outcomes.
  • Minority mental health.
  • Racial/ethnic identity development, and mental health and academic achievement.
  • Overparenting and college student well-being.
  • College students' attitudes and knowledge surrounding disabilities.
  • The impact of addictions.
  • The study of individual and group experiences.
  • How environmental variables affect behavior.
  • Behavioral pediatrics.
  • Routine problems of childhood and adolescence that have potentially negative consequences, including enuresis (bed-wetting), temper tantrums and childhood anxiety.
  • Helping parents and teachers solve problems involving disruptive behavior problems (including ADHD) and learning.
  • Beliefs about child psychology myths and promoting skepticism of pseudoscience in psychology.
  • Adult age differences in memory function and confidence.
  • Early math intervention and the development of early numeracy skills.
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