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Brianna
Student
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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What kind of post-baccalaureate positions are available in the field of psychology, and how are the research assistant positions in the Chapel Hill area? #Spring25
What kind of post-baccalaureate positions are available in the field of psychology, and how are the research assistant positions in the Chapel Hill area? #Spring25
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2 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
965
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Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Brianna,
Great question! Post-baccalaureate psychology jobs can be a great way to get experience before graduate school or to explore career paths in the field. The Chapel Hill area is a great place to find these kinds of opportunities, especially with UNC-Chapel Hill and nearby research institutions.
Common Post-Bacc Psychology Jobs:
- Research Assistant (RA): These jobs are very common and typically involve working in university or hospital research labs. Duties can range from cleaning data and writing literature reviews to recruiting participants and conducting studies. Many labs at UNC, Duke, and surrounding institutions post RA positions for recent graduates every spring and summer semester.
- Coordinator of Clinical Research: This role, which is more complex than RA, frequently include managing more extensive research initiatives in settings related to medicine or mental health. If you're considering a career in psychiatry or clinical psychology, this is a fantastic choice.
- Behavioral Technicians and Specialists: These positions typically entail working one-on-one with clients, particularly children, with behavioral therapies; they are frequently observed in environments that concentrate on developmental delays or autism spectrum disorders.
- Case Manager or Mental Health Support Worker: These positions assist people with mental health issues and provide them with resources in community health centers or nonprofit organizations. If you are considering a career in social work or counseling, this is a fantastic experience.
- Lab Manager: To supervise the daily operations of research projects, some psychology labs employ full-time lab managers. These positions can be excellent preparation for graduate school because they combine administrative work with practical research.
Chapel Hill-Specific Info:
Research on psychology and mental health is concentrated in the Triangle region, which includes Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. Post-baccs are frequently hired by a number of research institutions at UNC-Chapel Hill, including the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC Psychiatry, and other departments within the College of Arts & Sciences. Additionally, you might look at jobs at Duke University, which is only a short drive away, as well as in hospitals and public health agencies across the area.
Keep an eye on:
- UNC and Duke job boards
- Idealist.org
- ResearchMatch.org
- Psychology department mailing lists or faculty lab pages
Lastly, make direct contact with lab supervisors or instructors whose work piques your interest. They might be willing to keep you in mind or be aware of future openings even if there isn't a position posted yet.
You're in an excellent position to obtain experience in clinical or research settings in psychology. Continue applying and networking—you're off to a great start!
Best wishes!
Great question! Post-baccalaureate psychology jobs can be a great way to get experience before graduate school or to explore career paths in the field. The Chapel Hill area is a great place to find these kinds of opportunities, especially with UNC-Chapel Hill and nearby research institutions.
Common Post-Bacc Psychology Jobs:
- Research Assistant (RA): These jobs are very common and typically involve working in university or hospital research labs. Duties can range from cleaning data and writing literature reviews to recruiting participants and conducting studies. Many labs at UNC, Duke, and surrounding institutions post RA positions for recent graduates every spring and summer semester.
- Coordinator of Clinical Research: This role, which is more complex than RA, frequently include managing more extensive research initiatives in settings related to medicine or mental health. If you're considering a career in psychiatry or clinical psychology, this is a fantastic choice.
- Behavioral Technicians and Specialists: These positions typically entail working one-on-one with clients, particularly children, with behavioral therapies; they are frequently observed in environments that concentrate on developmental delays or autism spectrum disorders.
- Case Manager or Mental Health Support Worker: These positions assist people with mental health issues and provide them with resources in community health centers or nonprofit organizations. If you are considering a career in social work or counseling, this is a fantastic experience.
- Lab Manager: To supervise the daily operations of research projects, some psychology labs employ full-time lab managers. These positions can be excellent preparation for graduate school because they combine administrative work with practical research.
Chapel Hill-Specific Info:
Research on psychology and mental health is concentrated in the Triangle region, which includes Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. Post-baccs are frequently hired by a number of research institutions at UNC-Chapel Hill, including the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC Psychiatry, and other departments within the College of Arts & Sciences. Additionally, you might look at jobs at Duke University, which is only a short drive away, as well as in hospitals and public health agencies across the area.
Keep an eye on:
- UNC and Duke job boards
- Idealist.org
- ResearchMatch.org
- Psychology department mailing lists or faculty lab pages
Lastly, make direct contact with lab supervisors or instructors whose work piques your interest. They might be willing to keep you in mind or be aware of future openings even if there isn't a position posted yet.
You're in an excellent position to obtain experience in clinical or research settings in psychology. Continue applying and networking—you're off to a great start!
Best wishes!
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
1014
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Brianna, please know that there are a variety of post-baccalaureate positions available in the field of psychology, and they can serve as excellent stepping stones for graduate programs (like Ph.D., Psy.D., or master's degrees), clinical experience, or transitioning into related fields such as public health, social work, or neuroscience.
* Research Assistant (RA) – These are among the most common post-bacc roles and often found in university labs, hospitals, and research institutions. RAs assist with data collection, participant recruitment, literature reviews, running experiments, and sometimes even manuscript preparation. These roles are highly valued for Ph.D. applications.
* Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) – CRCs typically manage and oversee clinical trials or applied research studies. These roles may involve interaction with patients, informed consent processes, and working under Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols.
* Behavioral Technician / ABA Therapist – Focused more on applied work, especially with children with autism or developmental disorders. These roles are common in clinics and schools and can be full-time or part-time.
* Case Manager / Mental Health Technician – Found in hospitals, residential programs, or nonprofits. These roles offer direct service experience in mental health settings, which can be great if you’re aiming for a counseling or clinical psychology route.
* Post-Baccalaureate Research Programs – Some institutions offer structured post-bacc research fellowships. These are competitive, full-time programs lasting 1–2 years, such as:
* NIH’s Postbac IRTA Program (link)
* PREP (Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program) – Funded by NIH to increase diversity in biomedical Ph.D. programs (link)
The Chapel Hill area, anchored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), is an exceptional location for psychology and neuroscience research. UNC is home to multiple nationally ranked programs and affiliated research centers, such as:
* UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (psychology.unc.edu)
* Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (fpg.unc.edu)
* UNC School of Medicine – houses labs in behavioral health, psychiatry, and developmental psychology.
Research assistant roles in these centers are competitive but attainable for recent graduates, especially if you have prior lab or research experience. Many labs are looking for 1–2 year commitments, and positions typically open between February and May for summer or fall start dates.
A good strategy is to:
* Regularly check UNC's HR portal (https://unc.peopleadmin.com) for staff RA positions.
* Look on Handshake (if you're a recent grad), Idealist.org, or Indeed.
* Email PIs (Principal Investigators) directly if their lab interests you. Include your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your interest and background.
Labs at UNC focusing on areas like developmental psychology, clinical psychology, substance use, anxiety/depression, and neuroimaging are particularly active and often hire post-baccs.
Brianna, if you’re targeting a psych grad program, especially Ph.D. or Psy.D., a post-bacc RA position in Chapel Hill could provide the mentorship, research publications, and professional development needed to stand out. Aim to get involved in data analysis (e.g., SPSS, R, or Python), poster presentations, and manuscript writing if possible.
* Research Assistant (RA) – These are among the most common post-bacc roles and often found in university labs, hospitals, and research institutions. RAs assist with data collection, participant recruitment, literature reviews, running experiments, and sometimes even manuscript preparation. These roles are highly valued for Ph.D. applications.
* Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) – CRCs typically manage and oversee clinical trials or applied research studies. These roles may involve interaction with patients, informed consent processes, and working under Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols.
* Behavioral Technician / ABA Therapist – Focused more on applied work, especially with children with autism or developmental disorders. These roles are common in clinics and schools and can be full-time or part-time.
* Case Manager / Mental Health Technician – Found in hospitals, residential programs, or nonprofits. These roles offer direct service experience in mental health settings, which can be great if you’re aiming for a counseling or clinical psychology route.
* Post-Baccalaureate Research Programs – Some institutions offer structured post-bacc research fellowships. These are competitive, full-time programs lasting 1–2 years, such as:
* NIH’s Postbac IRTA Program (link)
* PREP (Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program) – Funded by NIH to increase diversity in biomedical Ph.D. programs (link)
The Chapel Hill area, anchored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), is an exceptional location for psychology and neuroscience research. UNC is home to multiple nationally ranked programs and affiliated research centers, such as:
* UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (psychology.unc.edu)
* Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (fpg.unc.edu)
* UNC School of Medicine – houses labs in behavioral health, psychiatry, and developmental psychology.
Research assistant roles in these centers are competitive but attainable for recent graduates, especially if you have prior lab or research experience. Many labs are looking for 1–2 year commitments, and positions typically open between February and May for summer or fall start dates.
A good strategy is to:
* Regularly check UNC's HR portal (https://unc.peopleadmin.com) for staff RA positions.
* Look on Handshake (if you're a recent grad), Idealist.org, or Indeed.
* Email PIs (Principal Investigators) directly if their lab interests you. Include your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your interest and background.
Labs at UNC focusing on areas like developmental psychology, clinical psychology, substance use, anxiety/depression, and neuroimaging are particularly active and often hire post-baccs.
Brianna, if you’re targeting a psych grad program, especially Ph.D. or Psy.D., a post-bacc RA position in Chapel Hill could provide the mentorship, research publications, and professional development needed to stand out. Aim to get involved in data analysis (e.g., SPSS, R, or Python), poster presentations, and manuscript writing if possible.