Research Assistants: Evolution and Development of Music Cognition
Prof. Max Krasnow, Dr. Samuel Mehr, and Prof. Steven Pinker, The Music Lab, Psychology/FAS
fall 2019


If you are reading this, you are probably doing so on a device that plays music. You are probably able to hear and understand that music. You probably can also produce music of your own, even if you've never had music lessons. You probably engage with music on a regular basis, regardless of your cultural background, location in the world, or socioeconomic status. You have probably been this way your whole life. In the Music Lab, we're figuring out why the human mind is designed in such a way that all of the above is true. Responsibilities: This semester we are recruiting undergrad RAs to contribute to the following projects, potentially including experimental design, data collection (with human subjects in lab and online in citizen science experiments), data analysis, recruitment, and more, including (1) massive-scale online studies about music perception, using http://themusiclab.org; (2) lab-based studies about how infants respond to lullabies from various cultures, using psychophysiology and looking time measures; and (3) longitudinal studies of the effects of music on infant and parent mood, temperament, and well-being, which use both in-lab and online measures. Students will work at least 10 hours per week in the lab with a diverse team of researchers from a range of backgrounds, from cognitive science to developmental psychology to music to web development. The Music Lab is a highly collaborative environment in which undergraduates take a leading role in designing and carrying out research. The 2357r RAs are also encouraged to pitch their own research projects to their labmates and to the PI, with the idea that the 2357r semester or year can help to set up a future independent project or even an honors thesis. Requirements and Expectations: One-semester commitment minimum, but longer is preferred. Additional Information: See lab website at https://themusiclab.org/. The Music Lab is located in Vanserg Hall.  Positions are volunteer or work-study. Academic credit is available. For questions, contact lab manager Mila Bertolo at mila_bertolo@g.harvard.edu or prinvcipal investigator Dr. Samuel Mehr at sam@wjh.harvard.edu. To Apply: Please fill out the google form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D7L65z124yRVBlU8hJAdl4sA6Su--mXoMcvg5V9iJks/edit. (posted 8/2019)