The Tobacco Research & Intervention Lab (Director: Dr. Marc L. Steinberg) focuses on tobacco use and dependence, including tobacco dependence treatment development, tobacco use in smokers with psychiatric comorbidity, the relationship between smoking and task persistence/distress tolerance, and motivational interviewing as an approach to encourage smokers to make a quit attempt.

We have used human laboratory designs to study predictors of initiation of quit attempts (i.e., task persistence / distress tolerance) and clinical trials to develop treatments to encourage and facilitate quit attempts (i.e., variations of cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and reduction-to-quit strategies). We have also recently been looking at medicinal cannabis use and tobacco use together.

The Tobacco Research and Intervention Lab  is currently recruiting volunteer undergraduate research assistants to work with our lab this summer and continue into the 2019-2020 Academic Year. Our lab is located in downtown New Brunswick on George Street (close to Rockoff Hall). Hours would vary, but will primarily be on weekdays between the hours of 9am-6pm (although there may be some weekend events on occasion.

We are looking for students who can commit 10 hours weekly but will make exceptions for those interested in participating in research, but who may have outside work responsibilities. Students should have related knowledge, experience, or taken coursework in psychology, sociology, social work, or related human/social services field. Students must be responsible, detail-oriented, mature, self-motivated, and interpersonally skillful.

Research assistants would assist in study related activities for a randomized clinical trial to help smokers with schizophrenia quit smoking, with potential opportunities to assist in other research projects, including research on medicinal cannabis. Research assistants would be responsible for recruiting participants within Middlesex County (i.e. attending community events and going to mental health treatment centers), completing phone screens and in-person interviews, scheduling appointments, data entry and management, and attending weekly research meetings. You may be trained in the administration of research assessments and data management. Some local travel may be required, although it is not mandatory for all open volunteer positions

If you are interested, please complete an application at: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4G6Cnb0DZJGQk9D

For questions or additional information, please contact research coordinator, Jessica Ortiz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.