(Updated March 2024)
Prospective PhD Students
Please see the Prospective PhD Students page for details and video recordings of past information sessions hosted by Dr. Lauren Ng and current TRUST Lab Graduate Students.
New Undergraduate Volunteer Research Positions Available
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting April 1st through April 12th.
We are currently recruiting UCLA undergraduate volunteer Research Assistants to help with multiple current and upcoming research projects in the TRUST Lab.
The Treatment and Research for the Underserved with Stress and Trauma (TRUST) Lab, directed by Lauren Ng, Ph.D., is recruiting volunteer research assistants (RAs) to work on a feasibility and effectiveness studies led by Dr. Ng, and TRUST Lab clinical graduate students and staff. Our current projects focus on adapting, implementing, and evaluating Trauma and PTSD treatments and interventions for youth and adults in underserved communities and populations in Los Angeles, nationally, and globally. We are conducting systematic reviews of current scientific landscapes of trauma screening for youth and roles of race and ethnicity and clinical science research.
RAs are asked to commit to serving as an RA for at least one year and volunteering for 7-12 hours per week. RAs will split their weekly hours across multiple projects to assist with research goals and gain a breadth of research knowledge and experience with the opportunities for independent lead research after the first quarter.
To apply, please submit: a letter of interest or cover letter, your CV/resume, your unofficial transcript, and a writing sample (i.e. literature review for psychology/science course or research report/paper) to Gray Bowers at Graybowers@ucla.edu. In the Subject Line of your application email submission, please put ‘TRUST Lab RA Application’.
In your letter of interest, please state why you are interested in gaining research experience, why you are a good fit with the TRUST lab and our research area, and any relevant experience you may have and future goals. The application deadline is April 12th and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting April 1st. Applicants will be notified via email regarding interview invitations and all applicants will receive an email regarding their application status once RA positions are finalized.
RAs can expect to receive graduate-level mentorship in academic, career, and professional development (i.e. career advice, help with graduate school applications, developing independent research questions). RA’s also participate in lab wide professional development including workshops and presentations as well as access to individualized support and resources for continuing their research and academic interests! If interested, research assistants will also have the opportunity to be involved in manuscript preparation and/or research poster presentations.
No prior experience is required. More information regarding current TRUST Lab research can be found
A brief description of the projects and RA duties are below with more information on our current research here:
Trauma and PTSD Screening and Treatment implementation for communities in Los Angeles County
These studies use rapid innovation to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a new intervention for PTSD in youth, adolescents, and their families. We will use quantitative and qualitative analysis of both feasibility and effectiveness outcomes from data collected from youth, their parents, and the therapists delivering the intervention. RAs will attend weekly lab meetings and can be expected to be involved with all stages of the research.
RA responsibilities may include assisting with literature reviews, helping manage data collection and organization and assist in analysis. Additional responsibilities may include Qualtrics data management and survey reminders, quantitative and qualitative assessments with participants including surveys, interviews and focus groups, transcribing interviews with participants (e.g., youth, parents, therapists), tracking participant task completion. These studies are implemented in both Spanish and English, bilingual RA applicants are encouraged to apply; please indicate in your application email you are fluent in Spanish.
Systematic Reviews:
Identifying and Evaluating Current Implementation Strategies for Improving Psychological Trauma Screening in Healthcare Settings. &
Race, Ethnicity, and Racism: Exploring More Accurate Mental Health Risk Factors in Clinical Science Research
RAs will attend weekly lab meetings and can expect to: search for peer-reviewed articles, screen abstracts, and code articles for quality/relevance for the systematic review, and write summaries of research findings. RAs will also learn how to conduct quality assessment of studies. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment though online platforms and in group settings.
Questions of interest: What strategies have been used to implement PTSD and trauma screening in healthcare settings? How effective are organizational strategies in measuring accurate clinic and system-wide trauma rates? How have researchers used race and ethnicity as factors relating to mental health outcomes is published research? How can clinical science as a field move in a better direction by conceptualizing racism, instead, as a mental health risk factor?
If you have any questions regarding the position or application please contact our Lab Manger, Gray Bowers at Graybowers@ucla.edu.
Future Research Positions
If you would like to join our mailing list to receive announcements on lab activities and research openings please fill out the form below.
As of right now there are no other paid or post-bacc volunteer positions available. Interested UCLA students and others wishing to join the lab as a volunteer or paid research assistant in the future, please fill out your name, student status, major and expected graduation (if applicable), and contact email address below.
You will be added to our mailing list and notified when research positions become available.
Interested UCLA students should not email Dr. Ng directly and instead fill out this online form.