Graduate Training

If you are interested in potentially working with Dr. Krafft as a graduate student, please look over the information on this site about our research, and also learn more about the Mississippi State University Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program. You are encouraged to contact Dr. Krafft with any questions or to express your interest (a brief email describing your interests and asking any questions is fine; no novels/portfolios/song-and-dance routines are needed).

jek299@msstate.edu
(662) 325-7490

Fit with the Lab

Our lab is a particularly strong fit for students who are:

  • Interested in ACT or mindfulness-based treatment

  • Interested in hoarding, OCD, and anxiety

  • Interested in self-help and tech-based intervention

  • Eager to engage in research

Mentorship

I am a new professor, and thus, my approach to mentorship is very much a “work in progress.” Generally, some things you can expect from me are:

  • I work from a junior colleague model, with consideration of your individual developmental trajectory. That means I expect to be “hands-on” in helping you develop skills initially, and anticipate that over time, you will develop competence and autonomy appropriate to an emerging professional psychologist and researcher.

  • I will be available to you regularly. Initially, I expect to meet with graduate mentees regularly to discuss training, progress, and your adjustment and well-being. How and when we meet is flexible depending on your goals and stage in the program. I prioritize giving you what you need to move forward (e.g., feedback on thesis, dissertation, manuscripts, etc.). I never want to slow you down.

  • I try to “practice what I preach” as an ACT researcher. That means that I strive (very imperfectly) to do values-based work, to prioritize what matters, to be present, and to be willing to face discomfort in order to do so. If you are my student, I will encourage you to take on new challenges, and to make decisions based on your values. I hope to have space in the lab for complexity, contradictions, and the general messiness of being human.

Undergraduate Research Training

We regularly review applications from undergraduate students interested in getting involved in research through the lab. This can be done on a volunteer basis or for course credit. Undergraduate students who join the lab will be exposed to the process of psychology research and to advanced topics such as ACT, mindfulness, hoarding disorder, research methods, tech-based intervention, and more. If you are able to continue in the lab over time, more advanced opportunities are available such as data analysis, and presentations and publications, that can help you be competitive for psychology graduate programs.

Undergraduates who thrive in the lab are:

  • Reliable, responsible, and communicative

  • Professional and dependable

  • Eager to learn

  • Genuinely interested in research

Undergraduate research assistants may be involved in a variety of roles in the lab, including recruitment, data collection, literature review, and study development. Undergraduate research assistants may volunteer their time (without enrolling in a course) or be enrolled for DIS credit. Students are not generally required to work in-person and applications from online/distance students will be considered.

Requirements to apply: 

  • 3.0 GPA or higher (exceptions may be considered in special circumstances) 

  • Completed PSY 1013 General Psychology with a B or higher 

To apply, email Dr. Krafft (jek299@msstate.edu) with a statement of interest (around 1 page long) that addresses these questions: 

1) Why are you interested in joining the lab? What do you hope to achieve or learn? 

2) Are there any research areas you are especially interested in? 

3) How much time could you dedicate to lab projects on a weekly basis? (3-6 hrs/week is common) 

4) Do you have any past experience with research, or other relevant experience such as clinical experience, or experience managing or working on long-term projects? 

5) What year are you in school? How many semesters would you potentially be interested in being involved with the lab?