Lab Basics
What does PELICAN stand for?
Psychology of Ethics, Leadership, Innovation/Creativity, and Narratives
Who is the faculty/PI?
Dr. Logan Watts
Which two platforms should RAs regularly check for lab communication?
Email and TEAMS
What is informed consent?
Participant agreement after receiving study information.
What bird is the lab named after?
Pelican.
How many hours per week are RAs expected to contribute?
6-9 hours/week
Who should RAs contact for general onboarding, lab logistics, and semester expectations?
Lab Manager; Kortney
True or false: “I am not on Teams very often” is an acceptable reason for missing important lab information.
False
What is more important: speed or accuracy?
Accuracy
Name one thing you're excited to learn.
Open Response.
Name one place where lab documents are stored.
Sharepoint/Teams
Name two Fall 2026 PhD coordinators.
Any two of Pete, Kortney, Ellie, Nguyen, or Megan
What should you do when instructions for coding or data collection do not make sense?
Ask questions immediately rather than guessing.
What does accountability look like in the lab?
Tracking hours honestly, meeting commitments, communicating problems, and completing assigned work.
What is one research interest of the lab?
Open to Psychology of Ethics, Leadership, Innovation/Creativity, and Narratives.
What should you do if you cannot attend a meeting?
Notify the lab manager/project coordinator as early as possible.
What is one way a project coordinator can support an RA?
Providing training, answering project questions, reviewing work, giving feedback, or helping solve problems.
When should you tell your coordinator that you may miss a deadline?
As early as possible, before the deadline.
Can you discuss identifiable participant information with friends or classmates outside the lab?
No
If you could study any workplace or psychology topic, what would it be?
Open Response.
Daily Double: Why does consistency matter in research?
Because standardized procedures improve research quality.
Which PhD coordinator previously worked as an EMT?
Ellie Tran.
What is the best way to introduce a new idea for changing a research procedure?
Discuss it with the project/PhD coordinator before implementing it.
Name one possible benefit of undergraduate research experience.
Research skills, faculty mentorship, graduate-school preparation, teamwork, presentations, stronger writing, or career exploration.
Final challenge: Create a team motto in 30 seconds.
Celebrate!