When evaluating prospective students, I focus on how well their interests, experiences, and goals align with (1) the mission of the lab, (2) our research focus, and (3) my strengths as a mentor.

Generally, applicants who would likely be a “good fit” will:

Have an interest in learning advanced statistical modeling techniques. Don’t worry if you don’t consider yourself strong in math—it’s more about having the willingness to learn. I personally don’t consider myself great at math but have become proficient in statistics.

Show a strong commitment to the HEAL mission, which involves understanding psychopathology and parenting in minoritized groups, especially as it relates to stigma, discrimination, and marginalization. This commitment can be demonstrated through your past experiences, both in research and applied settings, as well as in your personal statement.

Have a genuine interest in research on parenting and psychopathology in minoritized populations, as this is a growing focus of my research and the lab’s work. I encourage those particularly interested in this area to apply. You can explore my most recent publications here: Violeta Rodriguez’s Bibliography.

Be motivated to pursue a research career focused on understanding parenting and psychopathology in minoritized populations.

Have gained independent research experience, such as leading a senior thesis or research project, or having first-authored posters, talks, or papers.

Demonstrate open and honest communication regarding your goals, progress, and challenges, fostering a collaborative environment. When possible, have an agenda when we meet so that we can address your goals, progress, and needs.

Apply for institutional and external funding (e.g., travel fellowships, small research grants, etc.). Competitive grants and awards are important not just in terms of funding you and your research, but also if you have an interest in an academic career.

Display a strong commitment not only to executing projects but also to pursuing excellence, including excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in your work and interactions with others. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just the values of the lab, but my personal values, so it may be challenging to work together if our values do not align.

Stay updated with the latest literature in the field and share relevant articles that you believe would benefit the lab. Feel free to bring such readings to the lab.

Voice any concerns or dissatisfaction early on so that we can address them and find solutions together.

Remember that I am always accessible and approachable, and I encouraged you to reach out whenever needed.

Emphasize the importance of conducting programmatic research across multiple mentors, enhancing your breadth of knowledge.

Strive to develop independence and self-reliance in your work, demonstrating confidence in your abilities.

Play an active and involved role in the execution of your research, avoiding excessive reliance on undergraduate students.

When working with undergraduate students, provide clear expectations, adhere to deadlines, and provide comprehensive training and supervision to ensure their success and your collaborative work environment.

Develop and update an individual personal development plan in consultation with me as your career goals become clearer.

Be open to receiving constructive feedback and use it as an opportunity for growth. Actively engage with feedback by reflecting on it and incorporating it into your work, demonstrating a willingness to improve and evolve in your research and professional development.

Information on application for the UIUC PhD program can be found here: https://psychology.illinois.edu/phd-psychology/phd-program-application-requirements.

Please check back regularly for updated deadlines.

Additional Information for International Applicants:

Information on funding of your graduate career can be found here: https://psychology.illinois.edu/phd-psychology/phd-financial-information. I paste some of this information below for your reference:

The Psychology Department provides financial support for at least six years to all continuing students in the doctoral program who are “in good standing,” even though students often complete the doctoral degree in 4-5 years. Students are in good standing when they are making adequate progress toward their doctoral degrees as determined by the Division in which they are enrolled. This support is typically in the form of an academic year (9-month) 50%-time research or teaching assistantship, traineeship, or fellowship. Students receive a stipend for the nine-month appointment, and tuition and service fee waiver.

If students are interested in obtaining additional aid, more information is available on the Office of Student Financial Aid Website.

Even with the financial support offered by the department to doctoral students, it has been determined insufficient to cover what is needed per visa regulations. At current rates, the department support guarantee is $3,500 short of the funds required. International applicants are required to complete the financial certification section² of the application before an offer of admission can be extended. Applicants may elect to complete this section and upload documentation at the time of application, or wait until the review process has been completed.

Also, keep in mind you can also apply to numerous fellowships and grants as a student, depending on your eligibility. Lastly, there may also be opportunities to be funded using research funds. However, I will have more information about that in the fall.

As an example, two of my current students are currently funded by fellowships, and I have grants to fund research assistantships (though this can of course always change). If fellowship or grant status changes, students can always be funded by our department.

The application process involves a thorough review and evaluation of all applicants by the admissions committee, so I cannot give you specific feedback to determine whether you should apply or not.

However, we do publish data on successful applicants, which you can find here.

Thankfully, we have wonderful people in our field who have put together many materials to help with strenghtening your application. One of my favorites is here.

The best place to find answers to questions about the program and the application is here.

Most frequently, applicants who find success in research orientated program have acquired some form of independent research exposure, either during their undergraduate years or post-graduation, or sometimes both. This experience could originate from completing an honors thesis at the undergraduate level or contributing as a research assistant in a psychological research laboratory. It’s even more advantageous if your research involvement leads to concrete outcomes, such as presenting your work (either as a poster or orally) at a research conference or having your findings published in a peer-reviewed journal. These accomplishments serve as evidence of your potential for graduate-level studies.

However, it’s not mandatory that you conduct research entirely on your own before entering graduate school. However, I believe that the optimal groundwork for a successful application to graduate school is gained by immersing yourself in a research-oriented environment. This setting allows you to work as part of a team and experience various facets of the scientific process, spanning from the inception of an idea to the intricacies of research design and execution, as well as data analysis and manuscript preparation for publication.

Prior exposure to research carries several significant advantages. Firstly, it helps you ascertain whether a research-oriented career aligns with your aspirations. Undertaking research is demanding and time-intensive. Given that a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology can require 5 to 7 years to complete, it entails a substantial commitment. Secondly, this background assists you in identifying research domains, concepts, and inquiries that resonate with you, enabling you to target graduate programs that closely align with your interests. Thirdly, these experiences effectively equip you for the demanding standards of research-focused training at the graduate level, a core focus of our program. Most of our graduates sustain involvement in research activities throughout their professional journeys, whether through formal academic roles, careers in scientific writing, or research-informed contributions within clinical practice at medical centers. Consequently, gaining research exposure prior to admission holds critical importance. Applicants without robust research experiences will therefore be less competitive in the admission process, but having a peer reviewed publication is not always required; you can have clarity about your path and interests without having published.

It’s important to recognize that access to mentors who can facilitate independent research experience is a form of privilege, and I have written about how lucky I have been to have had many mentors who supported me in this regard (disclaimer: not always easily). The graduate school application process is highly competitive, but I understand that not everyone has had the same opportunities. When I applied to graduate school the first couple of times, I also had limited research experience due to factors beyond my control, and I attribute my first set of rejections to this lack of publications and research experience. Therefore, I evaluate applications holistically, so if you feel that your research experience doesn’t fully reflect your potential as a future scientist, you can either ask one of your recommenders to explain your circumstances or include this information in your personal statement.

As a mentor, I’m particularly equipped to support students interested in careers that involve clinical research, whether in academic settings (e.g., psychology, education, social work, public health), combined clinical-research careers (e.g., academic medical centers), or non-academic careers in applied research or health policy. This is because I have had clinical research experience in academic settings, academic medical centers, and even community health centers. I believe that strong training in evidence-based practice is essential for becoming an effective and informed scientist. However, I might not be the best fit for applicants solely focused on clinical practice, as there will be expectations for strong research productivity throughout your time in the lab. If your primary goal is to become a skilled clinician, my mentorship may not be the best match for you. Also, remember that I would not only be a poor fit for students interested in clinical practice, but our program is a PCSAS-accredited program, so our program may also not be the best for you! Nevertheless, I understand people’s goals and trajectories change, and if this happens, we can work through those changes together.

Our Ph.D. program adopts a research-intensive approach, emphasizing the development of doctoral students as exceptional researchers alongside their clinical practice skills, as opposed to solely training clinicians. If research is not an area of interest for you, our program might not align well with your goals. Our students devote a significant amount of time to research-related training and tasks, including formulating study designs, gathering data, employing advanced statistical analysis, and crafting research findings for publication. So, this is also a question that you should give a lot of thought to yourself! Beyond admission into a program, would you be happily conducting research and meeting program milestones encompassing research if you primarily enjoy purely clinical duties? Prioritizing your needs is more important than whether a clinical career would be a good fit for my lab.

I find it helpful when applicants include the following in their personal statements:

A discussion of your independent research experiences and what you gained from them. I recommend focusing on (1) the specific skills you developed in each project (e.g., data collection using Qualtrics, coding and running analyses, conducting interviews, writing parts of a paper, presenting or submitting a poster) and (2) the key takeaways from the project, such as new research ideas or questions that emerged from your work.

A clear outline of your general research interests and how they align with the HEAL mission and work.

A specific explanation of why you are interested in HEAL and my research in particular.

A statement about your career goals, even if they are still evolving—it’s helpful to understand your current thinking.

You can reach out to my current email vjrodrig@illinois.edu, or via the form on this website.