Interested in joining the team?

The Learning and Brain Development Lab is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. Our research is a collaborative project that requires people of all backgrounds to meaningfully contribute. Therefore, we want all members to feel that they belong to our team, regardless of their background, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

Graduate students

PhD Program in Human Behavior and Sustainability Sciences (PDF):

We invite applicants interested in understanding the intersection of cognitive development and environmental issues. Understanding the complex interrelations among geophysical systems, socio-ecological systems, and global environmental change processes is critically important for designing a more sustainable future. Understanding human behavior is also critically important for both illuminating the drivers of anthropogenic climate change, and in designing and executing feasible and effective solutions to ensure sustainability.

Because an understanding of human cognitive processes, and the social and cultural contexts in which humans operate, is a necessary but often ignored component of successfully developing and deploying sustainability solutions, we have launched a PhD program that combines training in cognitive, behavioral, and social sciences with training in environmental, ecological, and sustainability sciences to produce boundary-breaking scholars who can accelerate sustainability solutions that are robustly informed by trans-disciplinary science.

The program is aimed at students with undergraduate and/or masters backgrounds in Psychology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, Ecology, Biology, Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, and a wide variety of other backgrounds who are interested in obtaining skills in conducting interdisciplinary research in the psychology of sustainability, and who could go on to careers in academia, NGOs, government, and industry.

Deadline: January 1, 2024 – Apply here: https://cos.northeastern.edu/admissions/graduate-programs/how-to-apply/

PhD Program in Psychology:

We will be reviewing applications for PhD students for the 2023 application cycle (to start in Fall ’24).

The Learning & Brain Development Lab seeks curious, talented, diverse individuals to pursue doctoral studies on the development of learning and goal-directed behaviors across adolescence.

Apply here: https://cos.northeastern.edu/admissions/graduate-programs/how-to-apply/. Select Dr. Davidow’s name from the drop-down menu; otherwise, your application may not be reviewed. If the application fee poses a barrier, please email gradcos@northeastern.edu.

The PhD program at Northeastern is selective, admitting only a handful of students each year. In your application, please be sure to address:

How your academic, professional, and personal experiences have prepared you for PhD study
The research you would hope to conduct during your PhD
Why the Learning and Brain Development Lab is the right place for you to pursue this training

We look forward to reviewing your application!

Dr. Davidow will not meet with candidates before reviewing their submitted application materials. You are welcome to email Dr. Davidow to let her know your application has been submitted in advance of the December 1 deadline. Applications submitted after December 1 may not be reviewed.

Here are resources you might consider as you prepare your application materials:

The Application Statement Feedback Program offers constructive editorial feedback, emphasizing support for underrepresented group members and individuals without the support of a research lab: https://www.asfp.io/
This article gives a great brief overview of factors to consider when applying: https://www.science.org/content/article/applying-phd-these-10-tips-can-help-you-succeed .
Even though this series of videos is developed for a different university, the 3rd video in the series has very useful information which absolutely applies to how Dr. Davidow will evaluate applicants: https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/pro-tip

Postdoctoral research fellows

We are hiring a postdoc. For more information, please reach out to Dr. Davidow (j.davidow@northeastern.edu) to discuss the opportunity.

Research assistants (post-baccs, undergraduates, high school students, etc.)

Please fill out the form here if you are interested in joining the lab as a part-time or summer research assistant. During the academic year, we ask that undergraduate research assistants commit to working in the lab for at least 2 consecutive semesters, and we expect that they maintain a weekly schedule working 8-10 hours per week in person in the lab (this may include evenings/weekends as needed). RA responsibilities include completing trainings, posting flyers around campus, screening potential study participants over the phone, completing literature reviews, attending weekly lab meetings, data cleaning, and running participants through our behavioral and fMRI experiments. RAs who work in the lab for a longer period of time (such as thesis or co-op students) may eventually have the opportunity to delve into the “deeper” aspects of research such as study design, data analysis, and posters/manuscripts.