Jennifer Mosley

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Cognitive Psychology

As an undergraduate Psychology major at UB, I felt that the opportunities were endless and that my potential was infinite. I went into the major with a murky idea of what I wanted to do with my education—all I knew was that I was interested in the mind and that I wanted to gain research experience in Psychology, as I was eyeing an eventual research career. As I took more advanced classes and made more connections with faculty in the department, my ideas became clearer. My faculty and graduate student mentors within the department were so patient and supportive as I explored the many avenues of psychological research. My mentors were not only patient and supportive, but also assertive in truly preparing me for a research career in psychology. Leading independent research and being a student in the Psychology Honors Program have been tremendously transformative experiences in both my personal life and my academic/professional life. Without these experiences in the department, working with amazing faculty and graduate students, I would not be the person I am today!

My BS in Psychology, and some of the research I did to graduate, has well prepared me for where I am currently and will be going. I am currently a graduate student in a PhD program, focusing on social cognition and cognitive neuroscience. The research I conducted as an undergraduate has been the foundation for my current work in self-concept, self-memories, and identity. I regularly use the skills that I learned in the lab, and in the Psychology Honors seminar. I thank UB Psychology for these skills, everything ranging from literature review tips and fMRI data analysis to peer communication and self-advocacy.

Talk to faculty and make connections within the department if you are looking to maximize the value of your education at UB! The advanced classes within the department, especially for the Psychology Honors Program, were very useful. But some of the hardest, yet most rewarding, lessons I’ve learned were through extracurriculars: being a research assistant, running research participants, tutoring students in research methods and statistics, going to conferences, and more. If you are considering reaching out to a professor or mentor to talk about research or other extracurriculars, I would implore you to send them an email or talk to them during their office hours.” –Jennifer Mosley