Research training in the SHB Lab

The SHB Lab is an experimental, research-based lab in Carleton University’s Department of Psychology. Our work seeks to understand the onset, maintenance, assessment, and prevention of sexually harmful behaviours. We collaborate with academic, government, correctional, forensic mental health, community, and industry partners so that rigorous research can inform policy and practice.

Current areas of research

What training can involve

Depending on a student’s program, stage, and goals, training may include contributing to ongoing projects; developing independent questions; working with complex or sensitive datasets; completing literature reviews and evidence syntheses; learning quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods; preparing ethics applications; presenting at conferences; writing manuscripts; collaborating with partners; and mentoring junior lab members.

Students are encouraged to develop their own research identity within the lab’s broader program. Strong supervision fit is not about proposing an identical copy of an existing SHB Lab study. It is about identifying a feasible question that connects meaningfully with the lab’s expertise, data, partnerships, and current direction.

Applying to the SHB Lab

Is the SHB Lab a good fit for me?

The lab may be a strong fit if you want an experimental, research-intensive degree; your interests align with one or more current SHB Lab areas; you enjoy learning research methods and statistics; and you want your work to inform prevention, assessment, policy, or practice. Research on sensitive topics also requires care, professionalism, respect for affected communities, and attention to precise, non-stigmatizing language.

What makes a strong application?

Applications are reviewed through Carleton’s formal admissions process. Strong applicants typically demonstrate:

• the academic preparation required by the relevant program;
• meaningful research experience and an understanding of the research process;
• a clear explanation of why the SHB Lab is a good intellectual and methodological fit;
• one or more focused, feasible research questions—not only a broad topic;
• evidence of careful, collaborative, and dependable work; and
• interest in developing skills beyond the minimum requirements of a thesis or dissertation.

Preparing for research-based graduate school

Graduate applications are easier to navigate when you treat them as a research project: define your goals, gather reliable information, compare options systematically, and leave enough time for feedback.

1. Clarify the career you want. Decide whether you need research training, professional clinical training, or another pathway. A research PhD and a clinical psychology PhD are not interchangeable.
2. Identify programs and potential supervisors. Read program requirements, faculty pages, recent publications, current lab projects, funding information, and student outcomes.
3. Assess fit realistically. Compare your academic preparation and research experience with formal requirements. Then ask whether a supervisor’s current work, methods, and available opportunities can support your questions.
4. Prepare a coherent application. Your statement, CV, transcript, writing sample, and references should collectively show research readiness and fit. Use concrete examples of what you did and learned.
5. Apply for funding. Check institutional and external awards early. Deadlines and eligibility rules change, and institutional deadlines may precede agency deadlines.
6. Evaluate mentorship as well as admission. If interviewed, ask about supervision, feedback, lab expectations, funding, authorship, workload, student well-being, collaboration, and where graduates go next.

Useful application resources

• Carleton Psychology: prospective graduate students — official program, application, and admissions information.
• Carleton Psychology graduate application FAQs — answers about eligibility, GPA, GRE requirements, supervisors, and the application process.
• Canadian Psychological Association: experimental psychology graduate programs — a starting point for identifying Canadian research programs.
• AP-LS guide to graduate programs in legal and forensic psychology — programs and training opportunities in psychology and law.
• Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology — useful guidance on degree choice, applications, interviews, and fit, even for many non-clinical applicants.
• Psychin’ Out / Project SHORT — free resources and mentorship intended to make graduate admissions more accessible.
• Harvard GSAS CVs and cover letters guide — examples and advice for academic CVs.
• Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Master’s (CGRS M) and CGRS D — official federal scholarship information.

Learning about forensic psychology

Forensic psychology is broader than profiling and broader than clinical assessment. It examines how psychological science intersects with law, legal decision-making, policing, courts, corrections, victimization, offending, risk assessment, forensic mental health, prevention, and public policy.

Some forensic psychologists are clinically trained and provide assessment, intervention, or consultation. Others are experimental researchers who study psychological questions relevant to legal systems without providing clinical services. The education required depends on the work you want to do, so investigate the day-to-day role—not only the job title.

Exploring careers

Research training in psychology can lead to careers in universities, government, corrections, public safety, hospitals and forensic mental health services, community organizations, research institutes, program evaluation, policy, data science, and private or non-profit research. Clinical practice is one pathway, not the only pathway.

Before choosing a graduate degree

• Find people doing work that interests you and examine their actual training and career path.
• Read several current job advertisements and note the degree, methods, software, communication skills, and experience they require.
• Arrange informational interviews and ask what the work looks like on an ordinary day.
• Consider whether you prefer research, direct service, policy, teaching, data analysis, program evaluation, or a combination.
• Do not assume that a program title alone leads to a regulated profession; verify licensure requirements with the relevant provincial or territorial regulator.

• Canadian Psychological Association career resources
• American Psychological Association careers in psychology
• Government of Canada opportunities for students and graduates
• CPA-accredited doctoral and internship programs for students considering clinical psychology training in Canada

Open research and learning tools