Join the Lab

We are currently recruiting undergraduate research assistants. Interested students should have completed PSYC 218 as well as at least one of the following: PSYC 303, PSYC 359, PSYC 417, or a regression course taken outside the department. The lab does not consider remote research assistants. Applicants should be UBC students who have introductory experience with statistical computing and data analysis software. If interested in applying to work in the lab, please email Malina Lemmons at malina.lemmons@ubc.ca and include your unofficial transcript and CV. 

We will be reviewing graduate student applications for the Fall 2027 admission. For general information on the application process examine the information here. For specific information about applying to the quantitative area go here. Co-supervision may be possible if a primary supervisor accepts the student at UBC. Due to the high volume of lengthy emails written by AI, Dr. Flake will only reply to answer direct questions that are not answered on this page (but should be and she will update this page).

Frequently asked questions we receive:  

• Are international students accepted? 

  • Yes the lab can accept international students.  

• Is the program at UBC funded?

  • Yes. The program at UBC is fully funded, the length of funding depends on admission into a Masters or Ph.D. program. There is more information on funding here.  

• I saw the GRE is optional at UBC, do I need to take it?

  • Generally, Dr. Flake does not consider applicants without a GRE score, to maintain fairness across applications. It is strongly recommended that students applying to UBC's quantitative specialization take the GRE. The GRE provides necessary information about preparedness for the program, particularly in the absence of advanced course work and extensive research experience. Some students have a strong interest in studying quant methods but developed this interest too late to take advanced coursework or complete independent studies. 

• What kind of research interests are a good fit?

  • See the publications page of this site with an eye to papers authored by students and Dr. Flake's Google Scholar page for recent published projects in the lab. 

  • In general, the lab works at the intersection of psychometrics and open science.

  • The lab does not take the lead on projects to develop measures of specific constructs. If your primary interest is to develop measures for a specific area or application, that is not a good fit for the lab.

• I want to be a clinical psychologist but am also interested in statistics, is that a good fit for your lab?

  • The lab does not have expertise in clinical research or practice and is not able to provide primary supervision of a clinical psychology graduate student, but co-supervision may be possible. 

• What kind of experience and skills do I need to join the lab?

  • The minimum requirement for the lab is to have an interest in developing and refining methods for use in psychological measurement. Applicants are not expected to be experts in the methodologies when they apply, so a specific set of courses or training is not required. However, students who have taken advanced statistics or math classes generally tend to be more prepared for the program than those without.  Experience analyzing data using statistical software is a strength (e.g., R or SAS programming skills) as well as strong written and oral communication skills. 

• Are there GPA requirements and what if I don't meet them?

  • UBC has eligibility requirements for graduate admission: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/application-admission/check-your-eligibility and the Department of Psychology follows these. If a student has a strong application in general, but is under the GPA requirement, there is a process for an exception within the department to consider and admit the student. 

Dr. Flake does not pre-interview/meet with graduate candidates or provide application feedback ahead of the application due date to ensure fairness across applicants. If you are short-listed as an applicant, you will generally be contacted for an interview and to learn more about working in the lab in the winter following the application deadline (in January or February). If you want to learn more about studying quant methods, check out this website: https://canadianquantpsych.wordpress.com/    

We do not currently have funding for postdoctoral researchers or visitors. If you are interested in applying for funding to work as a post-doc in the lab, email Dr. Flake with a description of the funding source including due dates, a CV, and an abstract for the proposal. Dr. Flake does not consider proposals that focus on substantive, clinical, or applied projects. Dr. Flake only considers inquiries that are about the evaluation or development of measurement or methodological practices using traditional methodoloical research methods like simulation or metascience and research synthesis. Only serious inquiries will receive a response.