The LeGACy program

LeGACy (BLack Girls From Alabama for Computing) is funded by the NSF Innovative Technologies for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program. ITEST is a collaborative effort among the University of Alabama, Tuskegee University, and Oakland University. This program aims to increase motivation and persistence of young women of color in computer science, specifically targeting strategies that foster their involvement and persistence in AP CS principles. The program involves an intensive summer experience and academic-year support activities. The first cohort of LeGACY students will begin the program in June 2019.

Joining the lab

Dr. Escobar is currently accepting graduate students for the MS and PhD programs, as well as undergraduate students in the BS/MS program. The lab also has research assistants positions for undergraduate students. Please, see below for information on requirements and expectations.

Graduate Students
The Oakland University Psychology Department offers MS and PhD degrees in Psychology. Dr. Escobar is part of the Cognition, Perception and Biological Psychology, and Evolutionary and Comparative areas. MS students are expected to complete their degree within 2 years or admission, and PhD students are expected to complete their degree within 4 years of admission. Requirements for application, information on financial resources, and requirements for degree completion can be found in the Psychology Department's website. Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree under Dr. Escobar's supervision should contact her prior to submitting an application at [email protected].

BA/MS students
The Oakland University Psychology Department offers an accelerated BA to MS program. Current undergraduate students considering pursuing this accelerated track under Dr. Escobar's supervision should contact her prior to submitting an application at [email protected]. Interested students are also encouraged to contact the director of the Psychology Department graduate program for information on application requirements at [email protected], or the undergraduate advisor at [email protected].

Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students needing to complete a research requirement or generally interested in exploring research are encouraged to contact Dr. Escobar to determine fit to the laboratory. There are several requirements that need to be met in order to be eligible for research assistant positions, including a minimum GPA of 3.0, and availability of at least 6 h/week to work in the laboratory. Click on the link below to download the Undergraduate Research Assistant Application Form. Undergraduate research assistants typically attend a weekly research meeting, assist in literature review, experimental design and conduction, data analyses, and dissemination of results. Most of Dr. Escobar's former research assistants have continued their education in graduate school (Psychology, Neurobiology, Neuroscience, Behavioral Health), medical school, law school, or engineering (Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction), and several have successfully obtained funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Psi Chi, and private foundations. If you would like to inquire about lab membership, please use the Contact Us Form. You can drop off printed applications at the Psychology Department's main office, 130 Pryale Hall.

There is a wait list for students wishing to join the lab in the 2021-2022 academic year. If you submitted an application, we will contact you if opportunities open in Spring or Summer 2022.