Join a research study

Join a research study

Make your mark on science

Many researchers at the Beckman Institute study how humans interact with the world. Volunteers are crucial for their research. You can get involved in a variety of ways.

 

As a bonus, you might have the chance to visit our spaces, get to know our researchers and their work, or be compensated for your time.

A researcher talks to a subject on a treadmill

  • Role of arterial stiffness in cognitive control with age

    A cartoon brain, confused, looks quizzically up at tiny question marks and exclamation points suspended above it.

    Seeking participants between the ages of 25 and 75 in order to investigate the relationship between arterial health and aging and how this relates to changes in cognitive control (e.g., multi-tasking) throughout the lifespan. There will be four sessions lasting between two to four hours. This includes a neuropsychology session that assesses cognitive and motor functions, an MRI, an EEG, and an optical imaging session. Parking is provided and participants will be compensated $15/hour. We very much hope that you will be able to help us explore this relationship between brain/arterial health and age-related cognitive changes.

    If you would like to participate in this study, please email brain-research@illinois.edu or call (217)-300-3171. We look forward to talking with you more about this exciting study!

  • Seeking healthy participants for multi-modal brain imaging

    The logo for the Connect Lab depicts a minimalist sketch of a human brain, connected with graphics indicating a network.Learn more about the CONNECT Lab through their website.

    The CONNECT Lab at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology seeks volunteers to participate in studies of behavior and/or brain function, using behavioral tasks at a computer, functional neuroimaging methods, and electroencephalography.

    Eligible participants between the ages of 18 and 45 must:

    • Be a native English speaker with a high school diploma
    • Be right-handed
    • Not have history of neurological disorders or disease (e.g., head injury, epilepsy, seizures, brain tumor, brain surgery, stroke, etc.)
    • Not currently be taking or have taken medication for psychiatric disorders or disease (e.g., depression, anxiety, autism, etc.)
    • Not have a history of heavy alcohol consumption, defined as more than 14 standard drinks per week for males and more than seven standard drinks per week for females
    • Not have a history of recreational drug abuse
    • Have no pacemaker; metal implants; prosthetics; pins; plates; tattoos near head, neck, and shoulders; or have ever had metal fragments enter your eye (regular dental work is okay)

    Note: participating in this study involves undergoing three fMRI scans. All participants will receive a $200 reimbursement for participation after three scanning sessions.

    For more information, please contact: the laboratory of Sepideh Sadaghiani (CONNECT Lab) at 217-300-2566 or connectlab.illinois@gmail.com 

Join I-HELP

Two researchers, one behind a computer, talk to a research subject on a treadmill.Beckman labs are always looking for volunteers to participate in studies.
The Illinois Health and Engagement through the Lifespan Project, or I-HELP, is a group of people from the community who play an important role in science by working as research participants. Learn more about I-HELP. You can also email us, or call us at 217-300-3586.