The Thompson-Schill Lab does not currently have any open slots for post-docs. We are accepting applications for graduate students starting in Fall 2022. Applications for a research specialist position will be accepted starting in January 2022.
If you’d like to join the lab in another capacity or time frame, don’t hesitate to email schilllab@gmail.com to see what opportunities might be currently available!
Paid Positions and Volunteering
If you are an undergraduate interested in our work, there are three options: paid positions, independent study, and joining just for enrichment. Independent study students work in the lab on a largely independent project, are mentored by one lab member, and are given credit for their work; look here for more information.
Most undergrads in the lab are in paid research assistant positions. Research assistants typically work 10 hours a week and get experience on multiple projects. These positions are available during the school year and over the summer. Even if we are not currently advertising for a position, if you are interested in this work, reach out! We can help you find funding opportunities and apply for them.
We believe that every research assistant should be paid fairly for their time, so we do not allow volunteering. That being said, there are some cases where you might be interested in our lab’s research but unable to work for some reason, such as visa issues or a lack of free time. In that case, email us to ask about joining our lab meetings, talking to one of the lab members about their work, or other similar options.
Lab Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Thompson-Schill Lab is actively committed to working towards equity and justice for all its members and potential members, as well as for those in the larger community. We believe that our team is strongest when its members bring a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to their work (and there’s research to back that up!).
We encourage people of all backgrounds to join our lab, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, culture, religion, ability status, or socioeconomic status. We are committed to ensuring the lab is a safe and positive place to work for all its members. We do not tolerate any harassment or discrimination, no matter what the intentions are behind it. We continually strive to improve, to learn and to do more, and to rigorously examine ourselves and our actions.
We are involved in ongoing activities to make our lab and our community a more just and inclusive place, including:
- Professional development and education
Web-based resources can provide professional guidance to individuals that do not have the same level of access to a traditional network of support. They can also be used to spread information on actions that trainees can take, now and as future PIs, to enhance the diversity and acceptance of their lab environment. We are working with MindCORE, Penn’s hub for the integrative study of the mind, to develop and maintain web content addressing both of these points. This includes a webpage of professional resources with the goal of aiding underrepresented minority students in gaining access to career opportunities. It also includes content targeting a broader academic audience that gives recommendations for how to improve academic labs with respect to diversity issues. - Revising trainee recruitment practices
Opportunity imbalances in science begin long before the undergraduate level. While our lab cannot eliminate these forces, we can adjust our trainee recruitment practices in recognition of their existence. We are changing our recruiting practices in order to advertise to a wider pool of applicants and specifically encouraging those from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. We are also establishing objective criteria upfront for all applicants. - Continued monitoring
A commitment to working for justice and equity is not just a one-time promise—it is a consistent effort. As such, we have implemented a working group within the lab that meets on a regular basis to monitor our progress on our goals and to track inclusivity efforts in academia, like those from Spark Society and Black in Neuro. We also discuss issues in the broader community, such as anti-Asian sentiments, racial inequities in the justice system, and disparities in rights and protections for international scholars. We understand that these issues sometimes influence our lab members and we do our best to provide support and solidarity.
