Mechanisms Underlying
Neurocognitive Aging Lab

We're here to work collaboratively, leverage each other’s strengths, celebrate and appreciate differences, and serve our community in a unified fashion. Some of us are more experienced than others, but we all grow and do science together.

Dr. Clark welcomes all members of our community and is an ally to BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, first-generation, low SES, neurodiverse, and visibly/non-visibly disabled persons.

We welcome students from multiple disciplines interested in psychology, neuroscience, biology, and public health. RA’s have the opportunity to participate in aspects of research including reviewing key literature, recruitment, data collection (e.g., cognitive testing, MRI scanning), data analysis, and data entry.

Two semesters of participation in the research team are required. RAs are expected to be available for lab meetings and required to dedicate a minimum of 8 hours/week or more depending on level of study involvement.

If interested, please fill out our RA Interest Form and contact the Lab Manager. Please include a pdf copy of your most recent transcript(s) (unofficial copies are acceptable) and CV/resume in your email. New RAs are typically brought on at the beginning of the academic year.

Prospective applicants should be interested in the divergence of healthy vs. pathological aging trajectories, links between vascular/inflammatory processes and sociocultural factors in racially/ethnically diverse older adults, neuroimaging, and the intersection of TBI and dementia risk.

The Clinical Psychology Training Program at The University of Texas at Austin is broadly based on a clinical science training model. Please see student admissions for details on applying.

I am excited to be reviewing PhD applications for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle and anticipate recruiting 1–2 students in Clinical Psychology and/or Cognition, Brain, and Perception (CBP).

Students who are interested in joining the lab should have research interests that align with our three core research themes, and these interests should be clearly articulated in both the personal statement and research statement. Your statements are extremely important in my review of you material. Templated, non-specific, and AI-generated content will not be given much attention or help you get an interview. You should make a detailed case about your interest in the lab and how you will want to pursue the research topics listed above. Ideal applicants will have interests in areas such as advanced statistics, data science/coding, neuropsychology, and biomarkers, as these are central components of our work.

To ensure fairness in the admissions process, I do not schedule individual meetings with applicants prior to the application deadline and may not be able to respond to all inquiry emails. I strongly encourage prospective applicants to explore the lab website and connect with current graduate students, who can provide valuable perspectives on our research, mentoring style, training opportunities, and life in the program. Applications to the PhD training programs are typically due in November, and I may reach out to selected applicants for a brief pre-screening conversation prior to formal interview invitations, which are generally anticipated in December/January.