Thank you for your interest in our lab! This page is kept up-to-date with open positions and funding information. If you have any questions, want more information, or are interested in applying for an open position, please contact the lab director, Dr. Erin Smolak at esmolak@mailbox.sc.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!
Undergraduate Research Opportunites
We are currently accepting students for volunteer undergraduate research assistantships. There is no minimum GPA requirement for volunteers, and we accept volunteers from any degree program. Students are required to commit to at least 2 semesters in the lab, working at least 9 hours per week. Undergraduate RA duties typically include recruitment for studies, assisting in data collection, data coding, and data entry. RAs also have the opportunity to get more involved in specific research projects if they complete more than 2 semesters in the lab.
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Although this is a volunteer position, we strongly support undergraduate students in applying for funding to support their research activities. If you are interested in working in our lab, but finances are a barrier, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Smolak and she will work with you to find possible funding sources. For more information on Undergraduate Research Funding at USC, check out the Office for Undergraduate Research website: https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/undergraduate_research/apply_for_funding/index.php
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Additionally, volunteers have the opportunity to receive course credit: You can earn 1-3 hours of Independent Study credit, which requires 6-12 hours of work in the lab per week. Find more information about this process here.
COMD Master's Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology
Graduate Assitantships
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Carolina offers a master's degree program in speech-language pathology. You can find more information about this program and how to apply on the USC COMD website. As part of this program, students can procure a graduate assistantship working in one of the research labs at USC. These assistantships require 10 hours of work per week. Graduate assistants receive in-state tuition as well as a stipend for their work. If you are interested in a graduate assistantship in the COMD Master's Program, you can state your interest in your application. Please also feel free to reach out to Dr. Smolak or our Graduate Admissions Counselor, Teresa Boyett, for additional information. We generally accept 1-2 students for assistantships each year.
COMD Doctoral Program
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Carolina offers a Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. You can find more information about this program and how to apply on the USC COMD website. Dr. Smolak will be accepting applications for Ph.D. students who wish to begin the program in or after Fall, 2024. If you are interested in the USC COMD Ph.D. program and have experience or interest in child language development and disorders, please contact Dr. Smolak directly for more information and funding availability.