Navigating Neuropsychology Undergraduate Internship Opportunities

An undergraduate internship in neuropsychology provides invaluable real-world experience, complementing academic knowledge with practical skills. These opportunities can significantly enhance a student's prospects for graduate studies or a career in related fields. This article explores the landscape of neuropsychology undergraduate internships, highlighting various options and key considerations for prospective applicants.

Academic Internships for Course Credit

Many universities offer students the chance to earn course credit through field internship experiences. For example, the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences provides an opportunity to earn course credit by participating in field internship experiences. The foundation of the internship is work completed in an approved mental health, school, industrial, or experimental setting.

Grading and Hour Requirements

These internships are often graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. A significant time commitment is usually required, with students needing to complete a specific number of internship hours per credit. For instance, students must complete at least 40 hours of internship work PER CREDIT. So, students who take this course for three credits are expected to complete at least 120 hours of contact time at the internship (i.e., on site, engaged in the internship work) in the semester.

Application and Approval Process

To participate, students typically need approval from both a work supervisor and the instructor of record. In order to register for PBSI 484, students must seek approval from a work supervisor before being approved by the instructor of record (Dr. Edens). Setting up a consultation with the instructor may be necessary to discuss individual needs and project expectations. Participation in these experiences requires that you and the instructor (Dr. Edens) complete a contract that details the expectations for working on the project.

Research-Focused Internships

Research internships offer students the chance to work in labs, contributing to ongoing studies and gaining hands-on experience with research methodologies.

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University Research Labs

Numerous universities have research labs that actively seek undergraduate interns. These labs cover a wide range of topics within psychology and neuroscience.

Princeton University: The Department of Psychology at Princeton University is seeking a full-time research specialist, under the supervision of Dr. Casey Lew-Williams. The successful candidate will work in the Princeton Baby Lab, and have frequent contact with a wonderful group of postdocs, graduate students, senior thesis students, and research assistants, as well as various faculty members who study development and learning, such as Drs. This position is at the Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), a multi-disciplinary center for research to advance the science of learning by bringing together leading researchers in the cognitive, developmental, social, and educational sciences. Each summer, PNI hosts a vibrant community of undergraduate researchers exploring the brain from molecules to behavior. Students - both Princeton undergraduate students and visiting scholars - gain hands-on research experience, mentorship from faculty and trainees, and opportunities for professional development through shared programming across all summer research tracks. PNI has two routes for summer research internships: 1) PNI Summer Internship Program (SIP) For non-Princeton undergraduates interested in pursuing graduate studies in neuroscience or related fields. Funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Applications are submitted through the Leadership Alliance SR-EIP or NSF’s ETAP portal. 2) Princeton Undergraduate Research Internships For current Princeton students pursuing independent or mentored research in PNI laboratories. Participants are able to participate with the majority of SIP programming, courses, workshops, and other events. Through both routes, PNI provides education and immersive research opportunities that help students experience what it’s like to be a neuroscientist.
Northeastern University: The Department of Psychology and Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University invites applications for a full-time Research Technician.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: A full-time (40 hours per week) academic hourly position in clinical psychology is available at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, beginning in Summer 2026. We are looking to hire a staff member to conduct and coordinate research for ongoing longitudinal study in the Brain and Cognitive Development Lab at University of Illinois in Champaign, IL.
UCLA: A reliable, highly organized, and independent individual is sought for a full-time Staff Research Associate (SRA) Position in the Brain and Body Lab (BABLab) and Social Affective Neuroscience and Development Lab (SAND Lab), in the UCLA Department of Psychology, under the joint supervision of the Principal Investigators Dr. Bridget Callaghan and Dr. We are excited to share a job opening for a Staff Research Associate / Administrative Assistant in Dr. Catherine Lord’s Lab at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. This position involves providing administrative and clinical support in a fast-paced academic environment focused on autism research and care. You will work closely with Dr.

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Brown University: The position is for 2-3 full-time Research Assistants (RA) at Brown University Health. The RAs will work with Jennifer Wolff’s research team and the Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative. The E.P. Bradley Hospital Sleep Research Laboratory, led by Dr. Mary Carskadon and affiliated with Brown University in Providence, RI, has opened the Dement Fellowship summer apprenticeship application for 2026. We are seeking undergraduate students or recent graduates with a strong interest in behavioral sciences research and who demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment to, and availability for the full program. The Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project is looking to hire research assistants (RAs), with a potential start date of May/June 2026. Candidates should be recent or upcoming college graduates with a psychology or neuroscience degree and an interest in going to graduate or medical school.
UC San Diego: We are seeking up to 3 full-time research assistants (RA) to join the Pelham Lab at the UC San DiegoDepartment of Psychiatry. The PI is a licensed clinical child and adolescent psychologist. The RAs will work onprojects related to externalizing problems, substance use, and parenting in children and adolescents. The Visual Learning Lab in the Department of Psychology at UC San Diego is hiring two full-time Laboratory Coordinators to start in Summer 2026. The lab is broadly interested in the development of perception and cognition, with a focus on understanding how learning occurs in naturalistic contexts.
UC Davis: Professor Yuko Munakata seeks to fill a full-time lab coordinator junior specialist position in the Cognition in Context Lab in the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis, to begin Summer 2026 (start date flexible). This position is for 1-2 years with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding.
UC Irvine: The Development of Social Cognition Lab at UC Irvine (Director: Dr. The Development of Social Cognition Lab (directed under Dr. Nadia Chernyak) at the University of California, Irvine is searching for a lab manager to begin July 2026.
Virginia Tech: The Cognition, Affect, and Psychophysiology Lab (CAP Lab) at Virginia Tech, headed by Dr. Martha Ann Bell, is seeking 2 full-time Research Assistants for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study at Virginia Tech.

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Texas A\&M University: The Moral Development Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A\&M University invites applications for a full-time lab manager position to start July 15th, 2026.
Ohio State University: This position serves as the Research Senior Technician in the Deepest Beliefs Lab (DBL) within the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University under the direction of Dr. Kurt Gray, Weary Foundation Endowed Chair in Social Psychology.
University of Chicago: The TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Chicago that advances a novel public health approach to prevent early cognitive disparities and achieve impact at scale. This position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing studies related to early autism identification, remote assessment, infant and toddler development, and community-engaged research.
Georgetown University: The Georgetown Laboratory for Relational Cognition, directed by Adam Green, anticipates hiring a research coordinator. The position will focus on NSF- and foundation-funded research investigating creativity and learning. In conjunction with the project team, the research coordinator will contribute to large-scale data collection efforts involving multiple institutions.
Yale University: The Yale Social Cognitive Development Lab (PI: Yarrow Dunham) is looking to recruit highly motivated undergraduates or recent graduates with a serious interest in future study in psychology to work as research assistants this summer. The Emotion, Health, and Psychophysiology (EHP) Lab at Yale University invites applications for its Summer 2026 Undergraduate Internship Program, an immersive, eight-week research experience focused on the mind-body connection and the embodiment of emotion. The position would last 1 year with the possibility of renewal and will receive full benefits.

Specific Research Areas

Internship opportunities span a wide array of research areas, including:

Cognitive Development: Focuses on how children's thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills develop over time. The Development of Social Cognition Lab at UC Irvine.
Social Cognition: Explores how people process and apply information about others and social situations. The Yale Social Cognitive Development Lab (PI: Yarrow Dunham).
Neuroimaging: Utilizes brain imaging techniques to study brain structure and function in relation to behavior and cognition. The summer undergraduate program at Barrow Neurological Institute is a paid, 10 week internship program offered to undergraduate students from all colleges and universities, nationally and internationally. The mission of the Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center is to transform patient care through innovative neuroimaging solutions.
Sleep Research: Investigates sleep patterns, sleep disorders, and the impact of sleep on cognitive and physical health. The E.P. Bradley Hospital Sleep Research Laboratory, led by Dr. Mary Carskadon and affiliated with Brown University in Providence, RI.
Autism Research: Aims to understand the causes, characteristics, and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. We are excited to share a job opening for a Staff Research Associate / Administrative Assistant in Dr. Catherine Lord’s Lab at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

Summer Research Programs

Many universities offer structured summer research programs specifically for undergraduates.

PNI Summer Internship Program (SIP) at Princeton: This program is designed for non-Princeton undergraduates interested in pursuing graduate studies in neuroscience or related fields. It is funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Applications are submitted through the Leadership Alliance SR-EIP or NSF’s ETAP portal.
REU ASL-English Bilingual CENTRE Summer Internship Program at Gallaudet: At Gallaudet’s Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) Research Center, undergraduates will join us on campus for 8 weeks during the summer. In this program, students learn about neuroimaging and get hands-on experience with research in our labs.

Summer Internship Program Details

These programs typically include:

Placement in a research laboratory headed by a faculty member.
Conducting an original research project.
Group educational activities such as lectures and summer courses.
Professional development workshops.
End-of-summer poster session.
Financial support, including travel costs, housing, a meal plan, and a stipend. The Summer Internship Program offers: Travel costs to and from Princeton Housing on campus Meal plan Stipend (actual amount varies by year).

Who Should Apply

These programs are ideal for:

Undergraduates with a strong passion for scientific research.
Students seriously considering graduate studies in neuroscience.
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, especially those with limited research experience.
Students from institutions with limited research programs.

Clinical and Applied Internships

These internships focus on direct patient care and support within behavioral health settings.

Behavioral Health Settings

Interns may find opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and specialized treatment centers.

Maimonides Health: We’re Maimonides Health, Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, serving over 250,000 patients each year through the system’s 3 hospitals, 1800 physicians and healthcare professionals, more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. At Maimonides Health, our core values H.E.A.R.T drives everything we do.
TrustPoint Hospital: TrustPoint Hospital is hiring Full-Time & Part-Time Behavioral Health Associates!
Grafton Integrated Health Network: At Grafton Integrated Health Network, we’re united by a shared purpose: helping individuals with complex needs live their best lives. As a Summer Intern, you’ll be part of a mission-driven team providing compassionate, evidence-based support to children and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and other complex behavioral needs.

Roles and Responsibilities

Common roles and responsibilities include:

Providing direct patient care and support. Provides direct patient care and support within a behavioral health setting, working under the supervision of a nurse.
Assisting with daily living activities.
Monitoring vital signs and reporting changes in patient behavior. Responsibilities include assisting with daily living activities, monitoring vital signs, reporting changes in patient behavior, participating in treatment planning, and ensuring patient safety.
Participating in treatment planning.
Ensuring patient safety and maintaining a therapeutic environment. The Mental Health Technician functions as an active part of the multidisciplinary treatment team to ensure the safety, dignity, and respect of all patients by providing continuous patient care, observation, direct interaction, de-escalation support and role modeling of coping skills to patients.

Specific Positions

Behavioral Health Technician: The Behavioral Health Technician provides direct patient care and support in a behavioral health setting, assisting in the implementation of treatment plans, monitoring patient behavior, and ensuring a safe and therapeutic environment.
Mental Health Technician: The Mental Health Technician works under the direction of the RN Charge Nurse, and shares responsibility for providing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu through supervised therapeutic activities. The Mental Health Technician facilitates and provides direct care for patients of all ages; supports the therapeutic milieu; ensures the safety and well-being of patients.

Specialized Programs

Summer Program for Children with ADHD at the Child Mind Institute: The Child Mind Institute is looking for accomplished and motivated individuals to join our team as interns for our Summer Program for children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, and related learning, social, and behavioral challenges. The program is offered as a four-week immersive summer therapy camp session each year.

Neuropsychological Testing

Some internships involve assisting with neuropsychological testing under the supervision of a clinical neuropsychologist.

Psychometrist: Psychometrists are responsible for the administration and scoring of neuropsychological and psychological tests under the direct supervision of a clinical neuropsychologist. Neuropsychological testing primarily involves the administration and scoring of paper-and-pencil cognitive tests (e.g., tests of memory, attention, language, problem solving) and mental health questionnaires.

Other Related Internship Opportunities

Neuro-Rehabilitation

Barrow Neurological Institute offers positions in their Neuro-Rehabilitation Center, focusing on helping people who have experienced complex brain and spinal cord disease, injuries, and conditions return to normal functioning or regain as much function as possible.

Speech Pathology

Internship opportunities may also be available with speech pathologists who support patients with swallowing, language, and cognitive disorders. In addition, we offer positions with our team of speech pathologists. This group supports patients who have acquired new swallowing, language, and cognitive disorders during their hospitalization. The team uses advanced imaging technology to assess swallow physiology.

Neurosurgical Innovation

Barrow created a residency training program in neurosurgical innovation-The Barrow Innovation Center.

Healthcare Marketing

The Marketing Department at Barrow offers students a broad exposure to all facets of healthcare marketing. From content creation and strategy to analytics and measurement, the marketing team strives to tell the Barrow story in a way that informs and educates prospective patients.

Key Considerations for Applicants

Academic Background

A strong academic background in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field is generally required.

Research Experience

Prior research experience, while not always mandatory, can significantly strengthen an application.

Skills and Qualities

Essential skills and qualities include:

Strong organizational and communication skills.
Attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
A genuine interest in neuropsychology and related fields.

Application Materials

Typical application materials include:

Resume or CV.
Cover letter.
Transcripts.
Letters of recommendation.

Networking

Networking with professors, researchers, and professionals in the field can help students discover internship opportunities and gain valuable insights.

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