We meet every Wednesday afternoon during the academic year for two hours, during which we discuss current research literature, develop research ideas, and brainstorm solutions to specific project-related issues.  The first hour consists of a discussion among graduate and undergraduate students, usually a journal club discussing a recent research article.  Many of our undergraduates become integral team members and assist the research progress in many critical ways.  Undergraduates are frequently authors on papers and chapters published from the studies in our lab. The second hour of lab, Grad Lab, is just for Dr. Park and the graduate students.  In this meeting, we discuss and brainstorm about nascent research ideas, current difficulties or issues in our work, or ongoing manuscripts.  In addition to these meetings, we frequently have ad hoc meetings during the week, conference calls, and nearly constant email communications. Many of the graduate students develop their own mini-teams from the larger lab and meet with their own smaller groups of students dedicated to their specific project.

We publish our work frequently and in a variety of journals, including, recently, Journal of Clinical Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Psycho-Oncology, Journal of Positive Psychology, and Psychology & Health. In addition, we frequently present at conferences: Most graduate students presents posters and presentations at several national conferences each year.  We typically present at the Division 36 Midyear Conference, the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Symposium on Yoga Research.

Dr. Park accepts one graduate student to join the lab as part of the UConn Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program every year. Most graduate students receive partial or full funding through external research grants. Recent funding sources include grants from the Templeton Foundation, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Livestrong Foundation, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and faculty research grants from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention.  Graduate students also receive teaching fellowships as teaching assistants or serve as instructors of record, teaching their own undergraduate course.

If you have questions for Dr. Park, please email her at: Crystal.Park@uconn.edu

If you are interested in applying, please visit the program’s webpage for applicants: https://clinical.psych.uconn.edu/applicants/