Ericka Anschutz is from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Being a part of the REU program has given me invaluable research experience and allowed me to meet and establish relationships with prominent professors and researchers in the field of Psychology and Law. Before I entered the program I thought I just wanted to go to law school and not get any kind of graduate degree in Psychology. However, I have changed my mind now that I've seen first-hand the kinds of things that I could do with a Psychology and Law degree. I am currently working on a study in Dr. Bornstein's lab that looks at the effects of religiosity on certain legal decisions. I am going to be able to use the research experience to create an Honors Thesis and to graduate with Highest Distinction. The important thing to know is that research experience is absolutely crucial for someone who sees graduate school in his/her future and the REU program provides the best research opportunities for someone interested in Psychology and Law.
Mirna Barba is from California State University, Fullerton
During the summer I utilized data compiled by Dr. Wiener and his research team on the effectiveness and efficacy of Nebraska's 2-1-1 online database. I presented this research at the 13th Annual California McNair Scholars Symposium, University of California Berkeley. I worked in Dr. Wiener's legal decision making research lab and was involved in the 2-1-1 online database, generic prejudice, hate study, disclosure study and affirmative action study. The Psychology and Law REU program has allowed me to contribute to ongoing empirical research studies. I have been intimately involved in every aspect of research, from proposal to data collection and analysis. I was also able to propose and complete projects of my own under the direct and close supervision of my mentor.
Ashley Bohnet is from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln
I work with Dr. Richard Wiener on a project that evaluates generic prejudice in potential jurors. In his lab, I run participants, enter and analyze data, and do other odd jobs for the study. I am a senior and will graduate in May. My future plans include attending law school at the University of Nebraska. The REU program is a program that is very beneficial for students who are thinking about attending graduate school because it gives them an idea of what graduate school is like and helps students to realize if graduate school is a viable option for them.
Juan Cangas is from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln
The REU program has given me a chance to get a great experience on research. The program allowed me to work through the research loop, starting from building a hypothesis, to organizing the materials necessary to run a study, and finding the meaning behind the data obtained. Through the REU program I've learned the essential components of conducting research, but most importantly it has given me the confidence necessary to believe that I too can do research. One of the most advantages things about the program was being able to work with Dr. Wiener just as he would work with one of his graduate students, so you really got a good look at what it would feel like to be a graduate student. More than anything else the REU program gave me the resources necessary to facilitate a productive and efficient research experience.
Carrie Cheloha is from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln
When evaluating the past four years of my undergraduate education, I would have to say that my involvement in the REU program tops the list in regards to academic growth and achievement. Currently, I am working with Dr. Wiener looking at sexual harassment situations in the workplace. Not only am I obtaining first-hand experience in developing, organizing, and running a study among faculty and graduate students, but I also have been given a rare opportunity to develop and carry-out research of my own. Beside the fact that I am gaining valuable experience on the research front, there are so many additional benefits to participating in the REU program. I interact with significant faculty members on a daily basis, and this alone has gotten me involved in other research opportunities that I find particularly interesting. You come in contact with great mentors and graduate students that have beneficial advice when it comes to transiting to after school plans, placement tests, and managing the stress that comes with being a college student. It's reassuring to know that I have a competitive edge in the research field, valuable resources, and irreplaceable faculty guidance and reference.
Joe Hamm is from the University of Northern Colorado
The REU program has been everything that I hoped it would be. I am currently sorting through five graduate school offers from very competitive schools in Psych/Law and that is largely due to the networking and experience I have gained in this program. If you want to get the most out of it, you have to hit the ground running but the opportunities are certainly there. I am currently working with Dr. Brian Bornstein and Cindy Laub on a study investigating earwitness identification jury instructions. The experimental manipulation evaluates the effect of standard Telfaire instructions, standard Telfaire instructions with the legally relevant factors as determined in U.S. v. Angleton (2003) and the Telfaire instructions as modified in Greene (1988) on the verdicts, comprehension and subjective satisfaction of mock jurors.
Teresa Kulig is from the University of Akron
The REU program has offered me everything that I hoped it would and more. I had the honor of working with Dr. Mario Scalora and Valerie Gonsalves on research concerning social anxiety and sexually coercive behavior. This program has given me the opportunity to meet members of an outstanding faculty who I would not have had the honor of meeting otherwise. I am completely grateful for the time that they took out of their day to work with me. Not to mention that the guidance that they had to offer was indispensable to my knowledge in the field. I would also like to thank Leah Skovran who listened, encouraged, and went out of her way to make sure that this program and year went as smoothly as possible. I am privileged that I was able to be included in such a wonderful program offered at the University of Nebraska. This experience has not only given me the resources I need, but also the confidence to help me succeed in the future.
Michelle MacBain is from the University of Missouri, Kansas City
As a member of the REU program, I receive a hands-on, challenging and invaluable experience in Law/Psychology research. My knowledge of the logistics of research grows daily with my involvement in Dr. Wiener's Legal Decision Making laboratory. In addition, I've found great mentors in Leah Skovran and Dr. Wiener as I make my transition from undergrad to "grad hopeful". I am grateful for this opportunity to advance my knowledge and gain a greater understanding of my place in the field of psychology.
Trinidad Mascote is from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
I was excited to be accepted into the Psych and Law REU program at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. I never imagined the amount of knowledge I would gain in such a short amount of time. I have the great privilege of working with Dr. Cynthia Willis-Esqueda. While in her lab I participate in such activities as running participants, coding and putting a study up online. I have been involved with every step of the process from beginning to end. I have the opportunity to work closely with graduate students, giving me a feel for what my future will be like as I hope to enter graduate school. I have found many great mentors that have helped me get closer to my dreams for the future, including Dr. Willis-Esqueda, Dr. Wiener, and Leah Skovran. I look forward to taking my knowledge back to my home institution and continuing to use the skills and experience I have gained in the REU program.
C.J. Meager is from Muskingum College
Since August I have had the privilege of working under Dr. Mario Scalora and a number of graduate students in his research lab. My study aimed at looking at how clinicians appraise inpatient violence, specifically identifying which variables clinicians felt were the most prevalent in their personal experiences with inpatient violence and which variables they felt were the most reliable in predicating future cases of inpatient violence. I would also like to thank my graduate advisors Valerie Gonsalves and Leah Skovran, as well as the Lincoln Regional Center for their cooperation. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to come to the University of Nebraska and being able to obtain some of the skills that will be necessary for graduate school. I look forward to being able to present my findings at next year's APLS conference.
Stacie Nichols is from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
I worked with Dr. Richard Wiener on a project that evaluates generic prejudice in potential jurors. In the lab, I helped gather information to prepare for an experiment, run studies, and analyze data after it was collected. The REU program offers undergraduates the opportunity to design and run their own experiments and analyze the data that is collected afterwards. This experience has been very valuable because it helped prepare me for graduate school. Since completing the REU program at UNL, I was accepted to several graduate programs in Psychology and Law, and ultimately enrolled in Dr. Wiener's lab here at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Kristin Sams is from Berea College
I decided to participate in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's year-long Psychology and Law REU for my senior year. The REU program granted me the opportunity to work one-on-one with a top researcher in the area of psychology and law, conduct my own research study pertaining to my own interest. My mentor is Dr. Cynthia Willis-Esqueda and my research project was an online study that dealt with participants reading a sexual assault scenario in which the alleged rape victim's race and body size was varied. Being a REU fellow has allowed me to produce a research study that I hope to publish in the future and present at conferences in the Fall to make me an attractive candidate to graduate schools.
Seth Shannon is from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa
Being able to participate in the REU program has given me the opportunity to gain experience I just couldn't have gained any other way. I can interact with several different grad students, so I can see what their work is like, and see grad life more personally. I helped some of the Ph.D./M.L.S. students work on putting a survey on-line which will look at differences in considering inadmissible evidence for people of different backgrounds. I got a great feel for the kind of research being done by grad students. Plus my advisor helped some other undergrads and I design a study comparing the burden of proof with people of differing gender stereotypes. I had access to professors who are really at the top of the field who are taking an interest in my work. It's been a privilege to be involved in this program to help me plan my future and give me the experience and knowledge that will be beneficial in future work in the field.
T. Renee Smith is from Dartmouth College
The REU program has helped me fill a void in Native American literature by defining discrimination from an intergroup perspective. I will present the findings of my study at the American Psychological Society Conference this May along with my adviser, Dr. Willis-Esqueda. The REU program has also given me the opportunity to gain experience in gathering, analyzing, and presenting empirical data which is advantageous when applying to graduate programs. Because of the skills I gained in managing my own study, I am confident in applying my talents in the field of clinical psychology as the cession of the program.
Elizabeth Uhl is from Bradley University in Illinois
While in Nebraska I worked on a research project investigating jury decision making. This experience has given me an opportunity to explore my research interests and find direction for applying to graduate schools. I have since accepted a position in the University of Texas, El Paso's PhD program in Experimental Psychology.
Jenny Webster is from Ohio State University
The opportunity to participate in the REU Program at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln has been an advancing and developmental experience. I came here for my senior year from The Ohio State University where I was working on psychology research, but at UNL, I was afforded the chance to work on research in the Psychology and Law field, which I would not have been able to do at my home institution. I worked in Dr. Brian Bornstein's cognitive psychology lab, and I worked one-on-one with graduate students and their research in his lab. Though I decided to attend law school, Dr. Bornstein was very helpful in assisting and advising me, and I have been admitted to The George Washington Law School. However, I feel this experience, and a greater understanding of Psychology and Law Research, will prove to be enriching to my career as the Social Sciences impact the Legal System to an ever greater extent.
