The Delta Lab (Δ) will be accepting graduate student applications for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Our PhD program is highly competitive and receives hundreds of applications per year. Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of our program and the number of applications received, we're not available to meet with prospective applicants to discuss future research directions prior to the interview process. You are welcome to email with questions—but please review my research page for current research topics in the lab.
Applicants that are invited to interview with SMU are given the chance to meet with multiple faculty members (including myself) and graduate students to ask questions about the program. Moreover, all accepted applicants will be given the opportunity to visit campus in-person prior to making a decision as to whether to commit to attending our program.
Please note: All applicants should have research interests that roughly align with my own (see my research page for further info). However, the lab's future research directions are frequently decided by graduate students' own interests.
The Department of Psychology at SMU currently offers a PhD program in clinical science (see the graduate program website for more information). Thus, applicants should be interested in earning a clinical degree.
Our program is structured around a mentor model. Therefore, when applying, prospective students identify which specific lab they would like to join. Grad students in the Δ Lab are expected to prioritize research above all else. Thus, the Δ Lab is seeking students who have some existing research experience (e.g., as an undergraduate RA) and who want to pursue a research career in the future—whether in academia or industry. Prospective students should enjoy the research process (e.g., designing and running studies, writing research reports) and plan to devote the majority of their weekly time in grad school to conducting research. Although excellent clinical training is an important component of SMU's PhD program, the Δ Lab is not a good fit for students who are primarily interested in pursuing a practice-based career (e.g., as a therapist or care provider).
One of the most important components of a positive graduate experience is good fit with your lab in terms of research interests. Thus, well-qualified prospective students should be interested in conducting research on topics related to adult personality development and/or adult attachment (click here for an overview of what Δ studies).
Prospective students should apply through SMU's graduate application website. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the lab.
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