RAAP stands for Research Assistant Application Program, but the main priority of the program is coordinating research opportunities between students and professors.
RAAP can help you network with professors to obtain valuable research experience. It is a volunteer program provided by psychology students for fellow students. In order for this program to benefit you, you need to be a current San Diego State University student with either a psychology major or minor. Additionally, the professor you wish to work with must be looking for research assistants at this time. To find out which professors are currently looking for research assistants, you may download the list off of the Blackboard "Homeroom" under the “RAAP” tab.
RAAP cannot assist you if a specific professor does not have openings in his or her lab. We do not have any say in whether professors are accepting students or not. They contact us if they are interested; RAAP does not provide a more direct approach than simply contacting the professor. In the case that the professor is not in need of research assistants at the time being, we do not maintain a waiting list to get into labs in the future.
How does the process work? If you are a San Diego State University student, and looking to get involved in research, please download the RAAP application off of the Blackboard homeroom, which is located under the “Research 499” tab, and give us more information about your interests and qualifications. Send the application to the e-mail address provided under contacts, and we will get back to you within a timely manner. Once we have been told if the professor you want to work with is interested or not, we will contact you.
Note: Research can be done either for class credit if there is an agreement between a student and a professor, or on a voluntary basis. To receive credit for Psychology 499 (PSY499), a student must retrieve a contract from the Psychology Undergraduate Advising office, which is located in LS 105. This contract must be filled out both by the student and professor, and then be returned to the department (LS 110) to obtain an add code for the course.
For any questions not answered in the above description, please contact us at
RAAP cannot assist you if a specific professor does not have openings in his or her lab. We do not have any say in whether professors are accepting students or not. They contact us if they are interested; RAAP does not provide a more direct approach than simply contacting the professor. In the case that the professor is not in need of research assistants at the time being, we do not maintain a waiting list to get into labs in the future.
How does the process work? If you are a San Diego State University student, and looking to get involved in research, please download the RAAP application off of the Blackboard homeroom, which is located under the “Research 499” tab, and give us more information about your interests and qualifications. Send the application to the e-mail address provided under contacts, and we will get back to you within a timely manner. Once we have been told if the professor you want to work with is interested or not, we will contact you.
Note: Research can be done either for class credit if there is an agreement between a student and a professor, or on a voluntary basis. To receive credit for Psychology 499 (PSY499), a student must retrieve a contract from the Psychology Undergraduate Advising office, which is located in LS 105. This contract must be filled out both by the student and professor, and then be returned to the department (LS 110) to obtain an add code for the course.
For any questions not answered in the above description, please contact us at