Join Us

Join the Health Motivation Lab

We welcome students who are excited about motivation, health behavior change, and using psychological science to improve physical health and well-being.

Graduate Students

Dr. Richards hopes to admit two or more graduate students in the upcoming admissions cycle.

Applications are due November 15, 2026 for Fall 2027 admission. Applications should be submitted through the Brain and Behavioral Sciences area. More information about applying can be found on the UGA Psychology Brain and Behavioral Sciences page.

Students interested in working with Dr. Richards should:

• mention Dr. Richards by name in their cover letter
• discuss how their interests and experiences align with the lab’s research

Students who are a particularly good fit will have interests related to motivation, health behavior change, alcohol use, multiple health behavior change, and related topics in health psychology.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Each semester, the lab generally has 5–10 undergraduate research assistant positions available.

Enrollment in PSYC 4800/4850 or CURO research courses (4960R, 4970R & 4980R) for course credit is strongly encouraged, provided prerequisite and other departmental conditions are met.

Students interested in applying psychology to improve physical health are especially encouraged to apply. The lab is not a good fit for students interested in gaining experience with neuroscience methods. We prioritize students who can dedicate one year or more to working in the lab.

Apply here: Undergraduate RA Application Form.

Deadlines

• July 1 for the Fall semester
• December 1 for the Spring semester

We do not follow up with every applicant. Students who move forward in the process will be contacted for an in-person interview.

Questions?

If you have questions about graduate or undergraduate opportunities in the lab, please feel free to email Dr. Richards.