Join the lab!

About the Lab

The lab works on feminist/queer science and scholarship about gender/sex and sexual diversity, sexuality, and social neuroendocrinology. We use multiple methods, including those that are quantitative (e.g., experiments, group differences, correlations, questionnaires, etc.), qualitative (e.g., thematic analysis, content analysis, focus groups), and/or straddle or extend beyond these.

The lab, processes, and engagements are also rooted in pragmatic, empirical, and situated feminist/queer values. These include attending to trans lives, racial/ethnic marginalization, ableism, colonialism, class, settler colonialism, body size and fatness, ageism, and more. We have a >100 page lab guide that details lab guidelines, practices, and norms, as well as over 100 lab protocols about the doing of research, including statistics, interviews, ethics, using technology, and more. We have weekly lab meetings (often people's favourite part of the lab, true story!); additionally, Dr. van Anders meets one-on-one weekly or biweekly with all graduate students, post docs, and honours thesis students. We work with an apprentice model, and Dr. van Anders is very hands-on with trainees' research and academics.

Our lab attends to diversity not only in what we do, but who is doing it; our social locations and lived experiences inform our work (as they do all researchers') and our lab's critical engagement with these also lead to better work. Our lab has been recognized as one of two examples of "EDI in Action in STEM".

In general, the lab is - and is full of diverse people who are - curious, passionate about feminist/queer research, intense, fun, and joyful. We love what we do; join us!

Grad Students for Next Fall?

Interested in applying for next September? I encourage you to contact me ahead of your application. It helps me to hear about your interests, and being in contact will help you figure out if I am the right supervisor/mentor for you. When you email me, please let me know how you feel our research interests overlap and include a copy of your CV/resume and transcript (an unofficial copy is fine).

Grad students who are a great fit for our lab are those who are: (a) passionate about research topics and methods within the lab's research program; (b) detail-oriented and able to work on multiple projects; (c) interested in feedback, learning, and growth; (d) excited about joining and working with(in) a dynamic and close-knit team; (e) happy to work with(in) existing structures and guidelines (like our awesome lab's set-ups!) to succeed at goals; and (f) committed to and interested in feminist and/or queer approaches to research!

Please note: if you are interested in clinical populations, non-human animals, or hormonal influences on behavior (as opposed to bidirectional associations or social modulation of hormones), my lab is not the right fit for you but I would be happy to recommend some excellent colleagues! Please see the research page to learn more about our lab.

Applicants to my lab should strongly consider applying to a postgraduate scholarship (i.e., funding for being a grad student), to add to/top up what they would receive as funding here at Queen's. There are many options, and the most common ones to check out are Tri-Council funding from NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR (which one may depend on your interests as our lab can fit all of them), the Vanier Scholarship (PhD only), the Ontario Women's Health Scholar Award, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Please note that, even if you're not from Ontario, you can apply to the last two to attend university in Ontario. Most (if not all) of these are only for Canadians, so check the guidelines if you are an international applicant!

You can apply to work with me through the graduate program in the Department of Psychology, in any of these areas:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Social-Personality
• Developmental
• and only rarely Clinical

You can also apply to work with me through the graduate program in the Department of Gender Studies.

Undergrads

Interested in joining the van Anders lab? We're looking for undergraduates who are:

• Interested in the research we do specifically, and research in general;
• Comfortable working with people;
• Very detail-oriented and good at balancing multiple tasks;
• Dependable;
• Happy to take feedback and adapt in response to it;
• Motivated;
• Able to work in a team environment and individually/independently;
• Studying in fields like Psychology, Gender Studies, Sexual and Gender Diversity, Cultural Studies, Biology, Health Sciences/Studies, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Sociology, etc.;
• Interested in social science (and have taken some social science);
• Comfortable working in a lab that addresses sexuality;
• Familiar and engaged with feminism;
• Comfortable working with gender/sex and sexual diversity;
• 18 years or older, given the lab focus.

Involvement in the lab means:

• Interesting and engaging discussions about the research we do :)
• Testing participants, offering thoughts on research design, responding to participant inquiries and questions, postering and online advertising for recruiting participants, helping with study management through data entry and sample pickups.
• Administrative tasks like photocopying, picking up books from the library, proofreading, etc. As lab folks show themselves to be sophisticated, dedicated, and interested, they are given increasing responsibility and involvement in the more creative aspects of research!
• Being in the lab during scheduled hours per week either remotely or in-person, as negotiated, including a 1.5hr-hour lab meeting. This may vary throughout the semester, but lab folks will have strong time management skills that allow them to set and stick to a schedule generally.
• Reading articles suggested by Dr. van Anders or other lab members to provide background or keep current (if you groan at the thought, this lab unfortunately is not for you!).
• Working professionally and collegially with Dr. van Anders and the other lab members; being respectful to each other, to visitors, and to participants; promoting a positive lab atmosphere.
• At least one lab social event per semester for lab folks :)

To Apply:

• Send an email with your materials (listed below; there is no application form) to Dr. van Anders (sva5 @ queensu.ca) and cc the lab coordinator (vananders.labcoordinator @ queensu.ca ).
• Include a cover letter with your contact information (including queensu email). Address why you're interested in the lab, relevant skills, and other non-course time commitments. Indicate in a sentence that you are 18 years of age or older. Also indicate any past relevant experience, if applicable. Indicate whether you are applying for an RA or volunteer position (or both). RA positions require experience, volunteer positions do not.
• Include a CV/resume with your past experience (including non-academic jobs).
• Include a transcript (please highlight relevant courses, e.g., sexuality, writing, stats, gender, hormones, etc.). An unofficial transcript is fine!
• Include contact information for two academic references; if you are new to university and/or do not have two academic references, feel free to include other important referees who can speak to your performance (e.g., an employer or coach). If Dr. van Anders considers you for the lab, she or the lab coordinator will contact your referees.

We look forward to your applications! If you have questions about your application, please contact our lab coordinator (vananders.labcoordinator @ queensu.ca).