Teaching

Graduate Courses

PSYC 932: Quantitative Methods for the Behavioral Sciences II, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

PSYC 971: Data Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

PSYC 971: Graduate Writing Group, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

EDUC 465: Developmental and Psychological Sciences Faculty Student Seminar, Stanford University

Undergraduate Courses

PSYC 289: Developmental Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

PSYC 392: Data Management and Analysis for the Social Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

CHAD 165: Risk and Resilience in a Community Context, San Jose State University

Mentoring

Undergraduate Research Assistants

We are not currently hiring undergraduate students. We encourage you to check back in August 2025 to see if we are hiring for next year.

Generally, undergraduate RAs are expected to volunteer 8 hours per week, including a 1-hour lab meeting, for a minimum of 2 semesters. We frequently work with students to find funding for their research with the lab, including through the FYRE, UCARE, and Ronald E. McNair programs. Students who have been with the lab for at least a year can also conduct thesis projects. Please see the Alumni page to learn more about what our lab alumni have pursued after graduation.

Graduate Research Assistants

Dr. Finch is accepting applications for doctoral students to begin in Fall of 2025. Graduate students are admitted to the Developmental Psychology Program.

My lab puts a strong emphasis on producing science. I am best prepared to train students for research careers in academic and non-academic settings. I review applications holistically, and look for students who express curiosity and passion for conducting research. Ideal candidates are those who have prior research experience, are interested in applied research focused on the development of children's self-regulation skills, and are excited about learning complex quantitative methods. I encourage prospective students to clearly state how their prior experiences led to their decision to pursue a Ph.D. and how their specific research interests align with current work being conducted in the LADR Group.

I consider myself to be a “hands on” mentor and meet regularly with my graduate students. I view graduate students as junior colleagues and look forward to opportunities to co-create students’ research agendas. The Department guarantees a stipend for five years via teaching assistantships (TA) during the academic year, though I try to augment these with research assistantships (RAs) that fit with students’ interests. I encourage students to apply for fellowships and grant funding and will happily support students in preparing these applications.

In unique circumstances, there may be opportunities for co-mentorship with another faculty member in the Psychology department.

For equity reasons, I will not meet with students before the application deadline. However, I will reach out to applicants who are a good fit with the lab after applications have closed to answer any questions they may have and share more about new and upcoming projects in the lab.

Letters of Recommendation

I am always happy to write letters of recommendation for students who have worked in my lab. Occasionally, I will write letters for students who have taken multiple classes with me and I have gotten to know them and their career goals well. I write very detailed letters of recommendation to give my students the best chance possible to get accepted/hired. I ask for 2 months of notice to write letters, to ensure I have enough time. I will need the following documents/information:

  • A draft of your personal statement.

  • A draft of your CV/resume.

  • Your transcript (unofficial ones are just fine).

  • A list of what you did in the lab and detailed information on how it links to your intended graduate school/job.

    • Please include general dates and timelines. Every application will ask how long I have known you. Please make this clear somewhere, as it all blurs together for me.

    • Describe how your work in the lab demonstrates skills or personal characteristics that would be valuable to your work in your intended graduate program/job.

  • A list of anything else you want me to include in the letter, such as other activities you did outside of the lab.

    • Please highlight any skills or experiences you have that make you a particularly good fit for the program.

  • If you took a class with me, please summarize your performance in the class and highlight any work you are proud of.

  • A link to a Google document that I can edit with each of the schools you are applying to, the name of the program/degree, and due date for the letter. I will track the submission of your letters on the Google document.

  • Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or reminders as deadlines approach!