Thank you for your interest in the CoNNeCT Lab!
We are not hiring for any lab positions at this time. Please check back at a future date!
For Prospective Graduate Students:
Will you be accepting graduate students for the 2024-2025 application cycle?
For the 2024-2025 application cycle (entry in Fall 2025), I will not be reviewing applications for the clinical psychology PhD program, but I may be reviewing applications for the Graduate Program in Neuroscience for a neuroscience PhD student. We will have more information in November 2024 prior to the application deadline.
What makes a prospective graduate student a good fit for your lab?
We are looking for students who are interested in social cognitive affective neuroscience, computational modeling, adult psychopathology (particularly in the area of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive related disorders but not exclusively), and translating findings for clinical application. This is typically evidenced by strong undergraduate coursework in psychology, biology, or neuroscience, as well as multiple years of postbaccalaureate research experience in related research areas. Students who have strong interests in integrating measures across levels of analysis (behavior, self-report, neural) and across STEM and social science disciplines will feel comfortable in our lab. We are not looking for students who are purely interested in conducting treatment efficacy or effectiveness research, as well as students who have no interest in the clinical applicability of their research. We are also interested in students who are diverse in their personal backgrounds and training experiences, which can complement those of current lab members. For further information on the general admissions process at UW, please visit the “Guide to Admissions” for detailed questions and answers on the UW clinical graduate admissions website: https://psych.uw.edu/graduate/areas/clinical/faq.
What are the mission and values of your lab?
Our lab’s mission is to understand the neural, psychological, and social contributions to mental illness to conduct innovative and creative research that translates into meaningful differences in the lives of our patients and their families. To serve this mission, we value the well-being of our research participants and research team, research integrity and rigor, cultural humility and structural competence, and individual self-assessment of our personal and scientific biases. We also value each other as individuals and strive to create an environment that allows everyone to be fully themselves in the workplace. To read more about our core mission and values, and get a better sense of our lab culture, please review our lab manual (CoNNeCT Lab Manual_v2.0_Sept2023).
Should I email you in advance of applying to introduce myself?
No, given the volume of emails we receive each year regarding admissions, I am not able to respond to emails with the level of individual attention that I would like. Please do not be discouraged if I do not respond to your very thoughtful email! I assure you that we review each application carefully and we will invite you to do an initial phone/Zoom interview should your application move on past the initial review stage. By extension, please also do not email the graduate students requesting an individual meeting to review your application.
Can we set up a meeting to discuss my application?
No, given the number of applications we receive, I am not able to meet with prospective students individually to discuss their application.
How do you make admissions decisions for your lab?
Applications that list me as a top choice or second choice mentor go through a rigorous three stage review process that holistically assesses factors related to diversity, quality of written statements, letters of recommendation, research preparation and experience, and aptitude based on academic preparation. Each application is reviewed and scored by two members of the lab using a standardized rubric. Top scoring applications are discussed as a group to identify the top 8 candidates who would be invited for a Zoom interview. Zoom interviews follow a standardized, structured format and are scored according to a co-created rubric for the lab. Scores for each candidate from the Zoom interviews are combined and top scoring candidates are given formal invitations to interview in-person during recruiting week (typically held in February). Interviews during recruiting week are re-scored using the same rubric as for Zoom interviews, scores are combined across lab members again, and decisions for final offers of admission are made jointly as a lab. Also, please note that UW has recently waived the GRE requirement for all applicants so please do not mention GRE scores anywhere in the application (whether in the online application or in any of the required statements or letters of recommendation), as this would create inequities in the review process.
What is your mentorship style?
I try to adapt my mentorship style to the individual needs of each student, which can vary quite a bit, but in general, I lean toward having a hands-on approach to mentoring. I have 30-minute weekly individual standing meetings with each student to discuss research and career development progress. It is not uncommon that we spend our time reviewing data, interpreting results, running through details of analysis steps, preparing abstracts, manuscripts, and grants, as well as discussing strategies and plans for meeting broader programmatic requirements and professional goals. I am also open to diverse career goals both within and outside of academia and help connect students to people and resources to drive their individual career path.
For Prospective Undergraduate Students:
Dr. Fang will be accepting a new undergraduate student in the Honors Program for the 2024-2026 cohort. She is not currently accepting other PSYCH498/499 students or undergraduate research volunteers outside of the Honors program.
Revised June 7, 2024