Get paid: Research opportunities and on-campus jobs
From university research studies topart-time jobs, there are plenty of opportunities to make extra money on campus. See what's open.
Paid and volunteerresearch opportunities are also posted on theBuff Bulletin Board as they become available.Student Employment posts on- and off-campus and work-study jobsand a weekly email list for subscribers.
Students only
Study on stress, coping
Are you a first-year student at 鶹ѰBoulder? Interested in a research study on stress and coping in 鶹Ѱstudents?
The Research on Affective Disorders and Development Lab is conducting research on stress coping in first year 鶹Ѱstudents. We want to understand what helps 鶹Ѱstudents cope with stress during major transitions, including the transition to college and across semesters.
The study includes a few different parts that happen over the three-semester study period:
- There are two in-person research sessions, each of which takes about four to six hours. During these sessions, you will play some computer games while we monitor physical functioning (for example, your heart rate). You will also complete a set of interviews and surveys that ask about stress, behavior, mood and health.
- There are three 21-day periods in which we will send you a daily “micro survey” (less than five minutes to answer) asking about your behavior and mood using an app.
- There are two one-hour online surveys that we will send to your email.
The study takes place over the course of three semesters, and you will be compensated for your participation (maximum of $446–$470 for completing all parts of the study). If you want to learn more, contact the RADD Lab at raddlab@colorado.edu or fill out the initial eligibility screening.
Part-time jobs
Work in Student Life
Working on campus is a great way for students to gain professional experience and discover new passions. Through your student job, you may learn that you enjoy working one-on-one with others or that your natural strengths work well for certain roles (like event planning or mentorship). Whatever department you work in, your student job can help you explore career paths, build your resume and shape your future. .
Work in the UMC
The University Memorial Center offers a variety of roles—like reception desk attendant, Connection cashier, NightRide driver, meeting set-up, AV technician and more—that fit different styles, interests and skills. These jobs offer flexible hours, professional and personal development opportunities and a true team spirit.
Studies for adults
Study on chronic pain and reading
Researchers at 鶹ѰBoulder are conducting an in-person research study examining how adults with chronic pain read and understand informational texts.
If you choose to participate, you will complete a reading and comprehension task while your eye movements are recorded using an eye-tracking system on a computer screen. You will also complete questionnaires about your background, health and everyday experiences.
The study involves one in-person visit at 鶹ѰBoulder and will take approximately 90 minutes. Participants who complete all study procedures will receive $30 per hour in compensation.
Eye tracking is a non-invasive method that uses a camera-based system to measure where you look on a computer screen while completing the reading task.
Participation is voluntary. You may stop participating at any time.
To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, be able to come to 鶹ѰBoulder for an in-person study visit and have chronic pain. Eligibility:
If interested, please . Contact painlab@colorado.edu with questions.
Study on menopause, vascular health, fat gain
The LILAC Studyis investigating how menopause affects vascular health and fat gain—factors that may contribute to the increased risk of heart disease in women. This important work could help improve prevention and treatment strategies for women’s health.
Who can participate? Researchers are seeking:
- Females ages 20–55
- Non-smokers
- Individuals notcurrently using hormonal contraceptives (non-hormonal IUDs are OK)
Compensation of up to $800 is provided.
Participation includes an . Contact Kathleen.Farrell@colorado.edu with questions.
The hot tub study
The Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab at 鶹ѰBoulder is seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical research study. They are looking for adults, ages 40-plus, who are willing to participate in water-immersion sessions approximately three times per week for 12 weeks and have above-normal blood pressure (a top number of 115 or higher; if you are unsure of your blood pressure, please still contact the lab for screening).
Benefits for volunteers include: cardiovascular health assessment, exercise stress test, body composition, blood chemistries and monetary compensation for time.
For more information, please email ipalab@colorado.edu or call 303-735-6410.
The Intermountain Neuorimaging Consortium (INC) is a brain imaging research facility in the Institute of Cognitive Science at 鶹ѰBoulder. They use MRI scans to study how the brain works and how the brain changes across the lifespan. They currently have six to seven studies that are looking for participants from a range of ages across the Denver metro area.
Study on your favorite music
Do you love listening to music? Are you curious about how your favorite music affects your brain? The Brain Music Lab at 鶹ѰBoulder is currently recruiting participants for a research study, Neural Mechanisms of Music Appreciation (鶹ѰBoulder IRB #25-0777), investigating favorite music listening and brain activity in young adults.
The total expected time commitment is approximately 4.5 hours. Research activities will take place over several weeks, according to your availability and the researchers’ availability. Participating in this study involves:
- Completing an online survey (30 minutes)
- One in-person visit to the Brain Music Lab (Roser ATLAS building) on 鶹ѰBoulder’s Main Campus (90 minutes)
- A practice MRI session (30 minutes), online survey (30 minutes) and an MRI scan (90 minutes) at the Center for Innovation & Creativity (CINC), located just east of 鶹ѰBoulder’s Main Campus
Even if you enroll in this study, you may not qualify for all of these research activities. Individuals who complete parts one and two will be compensated with a $20 Amazon gift certificate. Individuals who also complete part three will be compensated with an additional $20 Amazon gift certificate, plus an image of their brain.
Eligibility:
Eligible individuals must:
- 18–25 years old
- Be native English speakers
- Have little-to-no musical training
- Be able to undergo MRI (see specific MRI requirements; not pregnant)
- Be right-handed
- Have normal, or corrected-to-normal, hearing and vision
- Have no music processing-related disorders
- Have no recent psychiatric diagnoses, and not recently taken psychiatric medications (within six months)
- Be able to attend in-person sessions at the ATLAS Institute on 鶹ѰBoulder’s Main Campus, as well as at the Center for Innovation and Creativity (CINC)
Reimbursement for transportation/parking is not provided. Please email Researcher Sophia Mehdizadeh (some4995@colorado.edu) with any questions.
Study on bipolar disorder in young adults
Paid Young Emerging Adult Research Study (YEARS) study at 鶹ѰBoulder and 鶹ѰAnschutz (IRB# 232067) to understand emotions.
Earn $25 per hour (up to approximately $400 total) for up to three study session phases (1.75 hours). Must be 18–25 years, be able to attend in-person sessions, and have a personal history of bipolar disorder.
Contact years-study@colorado.edu with questions.
Study on chronic cannabis use
With the increasing popularity of high-potency THC products, it is important that we both understand the implications of chronic use and how to help those who want to reduce their cannabis use.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether CBD could be a viable intervention for people who want to quit or significantly reduce their consumption of high-potency THC concentrates. Longitudinal Outpatient Treatment for Cannabis Use (LOTUS) through the CUChange lab will examine any differences in efficacy between broad-spectrum CBD and full-spectrum CBD in reducing withdrawal symptoms when compared to a placebo. LOTUS study participation takes place over four months. However, your total time commitment will be 13 hours. Participants have seven in-person appointments and five therapy sessions focused on cannabis reduction.
In order to be eligible, participants must be at least 21 years old. Eligible participants can complete the
Participants will be compensated and the end of every in-person appointment and can receive up to $390 dollars for their time and efforts.
Sleep studies
At-home sleep study
The purpose of this study is to examine circadian rhythms in the home environment under three different lighting conditions: typical home lighting, candlelight and outdoor sunlight in the morning. The findings will provide important insights into how circadian rhythms can be measured outside of the laboratory and how morning light exposure influences circadian hormones.
鶹ѰBoulder researchers are looking for men and women, ages 18–65, to participate in an at-home monitoring research study that lasts approximately one week, with a total of two short visits at the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory. Compensation is up to $180.
If you have any other questions, please email sleep.study@colorado.edu and ask about the Morning Light Study.
Study on delayed sleep-wake phase disorder
Do you have trouble falling asleep before 1 a.m.? Do you find it difficult to wake up early in the morning for your commitments? Does your high schooler have a hard time falling asleep before 1 a.m. and waking up early in the morning/for high school?
The Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory is looking for people with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder or people with late bedtimes—or healthy people with typical bedtimes.
Eligibility:
Researchers are looking for males and females, ages 16–40, to participate in a 6.5-weeklong study with six in-person visits. You may be eligible for this study if you:
- Have a diagnosis of delayed-sleep wake phase disorder or have late bedtimes after 1 a.m., an inability to fall asleep and difficulty awakening when required for school/work
- Or are healthy with typical bedtimes and no sleep concerns
What to expect:
- Health screening
- Monitor on separate occasions your sleep, mood, eating times for one or two weeks and blood sugar levels while living at home
- Live in the sleep laboratory on two separate occasions for 51–66 hours (approximately 4.87 days in total)
- Blood and saliva sampling
- A few blood samples and more frequent saliva sampling
- Testing on reaction time, mood and ability to think
Compensation is up to $2,009. If you have any other questions, please email sleep.study@colorado.edu and ask about the Circadian Rhythms and DSWPD study, or call 303-735-1923.
Studies for the family
Child communicationresearch
The Child Research Participant Registry connects families and researchers, so that together they can advance understanding of human communication and methods to diagnose and treat children who have communication-related challenges. They invite families of children with or without communication challenges to join the registry.
To learn more, or to sign up your child, please. The research registry is affiliated with the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.