Thank you for your interest in joining our lab. Dr. Baek will be reviewing applications for admission to our Ph.D. program for Fall of 2026. Students are welcome to apply through the Social Area or the BCS Area in the Department of Psychology at USC. Please take a look at the department website here for formal requirements to apply to the program.

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In an effort to ensure that all applicants are assessed equally during the application process, Dr. Baek does not meet with nor review application materials from prospective Ph.D. students before the application deadline. In lieu of emailing Dr. Baek, please find information below that we hope would be helpful as you put your application materials together.

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Although all applications will be given thorough consideration, the strongest applications will typically consist of the following components.

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• Multiple years of relevant research experience in a full-time post-undergrad role (such as a lab manager or full-time research assistant)

• Research interests that broadly align with the lab's interest but also complement and extend current research areas in meaningful ways

• While prior experience with programming/statistical analysis and neuroimaging are very helpful, they are not required. However, a willingness and excitement to learn independently in these areas are important to success in our lab.

• We take fit into our lab culture seriously. Our team is highly collaborative, and we value kindness, openness, and mutual support. Individuals who are highly competitive or prefer to work in isolation may find our lab culture less aligned with their preferences.

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After the application deadline has passed, Dr. Baek and other faculty in the Social and/or BCS areas will carefully review all completed applications. Selected candidates who appear to be a strong fit for the lab will be contacted for a brief Zoom interview with Dr. Baek. Following this initial conversation, 1–2 finalists will be invited to a final round of interviews, which will include meetings with other faculty members and graduate students. These may take place virtually or in person, depending on circumstances.