Dr. Prakash will be accepting graduate student applications for Fall 2025! Here is a message from Dr. Prakash for prospective students:

September 10, 2024

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Dear Colleague,

Thank you for your interest in working with me and in potentially joining my lab as a doctoral student. I am thrilled that you are interested in our area of research and are considering spending time doing research and training in clinical/cognitive neuroscience. I would highly recommend checking out our website, especially the pages on research projects to learn more about the ongoing projects in the lab. I would also highly encourage you to read some of the lab’s recent publications as well as our pre-prints to get a better sense of our study design, the methods that we employ, and in general, the kind of manuscripts we disseminate. I have also written up a more detailed version of our research contributions and plans for the immediate future. If you are interested in getting a copy of that document, please email me and I would be happy to share that document with you.

In writing this “brief” note, I also thought I would share a few of my thoughts on mentoring, teaching philosophy, and my commitment to diversifying academia. I am happy to discuss any of these points when we get the opportunity to meet in-person.

First, over the years I have spent a considerable time reflecting on my experiences as a mentor, tuning in to the needs and requests of my mentee, learning from instances where things did not go well, and educating myself on the various aspects of mentoring. I take this role very seriously and appreciate the importance of doing this job well. As a mentor, you will have my full commitment, and all that comes along with it. This includes but is not limited to understanding your goals and priorities, providing timely feedback, helping you build a programmatic line of research, training you in the skillsets I have, and finally, appreciating your space as an individual with intersecting identities. I am also committed to sponsoring you. This will include getting you involved in projects in the lab, helping you build community (both internal to OSU but also outside of OSU), and bringing up your name and skills in rooms where you may not be present. I may not succeed every time but know that I will try.

Second, I approach my teaching and mentoring from the perspective of empowering my students. My teaching philosophy and methods, over the years, have evolved from a Eurocentric perspective that has a laser focus on performance, grades, evaluative methods, to a more decolonized teaching and mentoring style that centers students’ learning, their experiences, backgrounds, and the values that they bring to the classroom settings, and the challenges and obstacles that may hinder their learning experiences. It takes time, effort, a strong work ethic, and dedication to do the science that we do. In the process, we also make mistakes. So, on my end, to the extent I can manage it, I will give you considerable space and time to learn, make mistakes, and learn again. 

And, finally, a value that is core to me, is my commitment to diversity and inclusion in academia. As a member of my lab, you will be valued for who you are, and we strongly believe that diversity (broadly defined) is what makes our team excellent. As a lab, we engage in and sponsor several initiatives that help us put action behind our values. For example, our lab organizes the Early Career BIPOC Neuropsychology Seminar Series where we invite BIPOC scholars to present their research. Our lab also participates in the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging’s diversity initiative (read more here). And, in our clinical trials, we are actively committed to recruiting and engaging participants from minoritized communities. If you are interested in reading my diversity statement, please email me and I am happy to send it to you.

Good luck with your application process! And I look forward to meeting with you!

Ruchika Prakash, PhD.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

The Clinical Neuroscience Lab is not currently accepting undergraduate RA applications for the Summer semester of 2025. 

Research Assistants (RAs) are vital members of our research team.

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RA Requirements Include:

• At least a 3.5 GPA

• Minimum of a two semester commitment (fall & spring semesters)

• A weekly 9-hour time commitment

• Highly recommended: An interest in clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, neuropsychology, and/or neuroimaging methodology

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Primary RA Duties:

• Data entry and coding

• Organization duties, which could include assembling research materials, making copies, developing protocol materials, etc.

• Potential opportunities to assist with or conduct behavioral assessment sessions with participants

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Benefits of Becoming a RA:

• In-depth exposure to the research method

• Hands on experience working with research participants and data

• Exposure to graduate school -- you are welcome and encouraged to meet with staff or graduate students to discuss grad school, research ideas, or post-graduation plans

• You may also receive PSYCH 4998 credit (prior approval from Dr. Prakash required)

• A letter of recommendation (if you successfully complete your year commitment) 

• The depth of your experience in the lab is dependent on your personal interest and motivation to seek out opportunities to become more involved in the research process

• Opportunity to work in a fun, motivating environment with other students who have similar interests