ANCHOR Lab

Get involved · Applications open for future cohorts

Join the lab

Lab members work on real research, from designing a study to presenting what it found. Join for 1 to 3 credits a semester through MGT 491 (fall) or MGT 492 (spring) Directed Study, or as a volunteer. No prior research experience is needed.

Apply now

What you’ll do

  • Help design surveys, experiments, and assessments on leadership, motivation, burnout, and training
  • Collect and manage data, including studies run in the College of Business Behavioral Lab
  • Analyze data in R or SPSS and help write up results
  • Meet regularly with Dr. Hanson and other lab members

A typical first semester

  1. Weeks 1–3Lab onboarding and CITI research-ethics training, completed before you work on any study or data
  2. Weeks 4–8Read up on a project’s topic and help build a survey or study materials
  3. Weeks 9–12Help collect or clean data and learn to analyze it
  4. Weeks 13–15Present what you worked on at a lab meeting

Every project is different; this is the general shape.

What you’ll gain

  • Skills in research design, survey and assessment development, data management, statistics, and clear scientific writing
  • Course credit, if you choose: 1 to 3 credits a semester through MGT 491 (fall) or MGT 492 (spring) Directed Study, up to 6 credits in total
  • Experience presenting research, with opportunities to contribute to posters and presentations. Members who make a substantial contribution are credited as co-authors.
  • A mentor who knows your work well. Members who contribute for two or more semesters can ask for a detailed letter of recommendation.

Questions

Do I need research experience?

No. Curiosity, reliability, and attention to detail matter most. We’ll teach you the rest.

How does course credit work?

Lab work counts as a directed study with Dr. Hanson: MGT 491 in the fall and MGT 492 in the spring. You can take 1 to 3 credits a semester, up to 6 credits in total. If you choose credit, we’ll walk you through the short directed-study form together before the add/drop deadline. You can also volunteer, which involves the same work without the course.

Is there training before I start?

Yes. One of the first things every member does is CITI training in research ethics and human-subjects protection. It is completed before anyone works on a study or with data.

Can I do this if I work or have a busy schedule?

Yes. Most tasks can be done on your own time, and lab meetings are scheduled around members’ availability. Tell us your constraints on the form; they won’t count against you.

Can graduate students join?

Yes. Master’s, MBA, and doctoral students interested in research collaboration are welcome to apply.

How much time does it take?

Plan on at least 3 to 5 hours a week during the semester. Some members commit more for a larger role on a project.

How are students selected?

Dr. Hanson reads every application and replies by email. We look for curiosity and reliability, not grades or experience, and we’ll match you to a project based on your interests.

Apply

Our founding cohort joined in Fall 2026, so new applications are for future cohorts. The form takes about five minutes, and Dr. Hanson will be in touch as the next cohort takes shape.

Use your @uri.edu or @my.uri.edu address. Not a URI student? Email matthew.hanson@uri.edu instead.

Which topics interest you? Choose any
How would you like to participate? required

A few sentences is plenty: what draws you to this research and what you hope to get out of it.

Your application goes to Dr. Matthew Hanson through this website’s host (Netlify) and is used only to consider you for a position in the lab. It is not shared outside the lab and is not part of your academic record. Applications are removed from the host after each review cycle, and applications not selected are deleted within 60 days after the term starts. To withdraw or delete your application, email matthew.hanson@uri.edu.