Join the Lab
Ph.D. student application for the 2026-2027 cycle
Dr. Zeytinoglu will be considering accepting a PhD student in the 2026-2027 application cycle through Tulane University's Department of Psychology. Students apply to the PhD Program in Psychological Science with a concentration in the Brain, Cognition, and Developmental Science Area.
Information about Tulane's PhD Program in Psychological Science can be found here.
Deadline to apply: December 1, 2026.
To learn about the application process & to apply, click here.
Candidates will submit 1) an online application, 2) three letters of recommendation, 3) academic transcripts, 4) TOEFL scores (international students), and 5) a statement of experiences and interests ("statement of purpose").
** We do not require GRE scores.
** There is no application fee.
In-person visit information: For invited candidates, Tulane covers hotel and airfare expenses, and reimburses ground transportation up to a certain amount ( ~$80).
Resources available to Dr. Zeytinoglu’s students
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Dr. Zeytinoglu's Social Experiences and Emotional Development (SEED) lab has two main research spaces.
1) NoLa SEED Lab @ Tulane University Square
Dr. Zeytinoglu's team collects multimethod data at their family-friendly research lab. This space has easy parking, making it convenient for families to visit. It includes a behavioral observation room and an electrophysiology room that houses an EEG system.
Data collection methods include: behavioral observations, psychophysiological assessments (mainly EEG/ERPs & EKG), computerized tasks, mobile eye-tracking, and online questionnaires through RedCAP or smartphones with Ecological Momentary Assessment platforms.
2) SEED Lab @ the Psychology Building (Stern Hall)
Dr. Zeytinoglu's team also has a lab space with computers that are used for participant recruitment, data processing, and data analysis.
Many software programs are freely available through Tulane (e.g., MATLAB and SPSS). Dr. Zeytinoglu also offers access to other programs such as Mplus.
Statistical & expert training opportunities. Dr. Zeytinoglu often provides additional statistical training opportunities through online statistics or psychophysiology workshops.
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Tulane's psychology department provides a vibrant and collaborative environment for conducting cutting-edge research to address basic scientific and translational questions.
Weekly colloquia. The department brings expert speakers to the weekly colloquium series. Learn more here.
Faculty. Students have excellent opportunities to learn from other faculty within the Brain Cognition and Developmental Science area, including Drs. Julie Markant, Ben Deen, Mike Cunningham, and Stacy Overstreet. Additionally, Drs. Jill Daniel and Jonathan Fadok conduct cutting-edge research using rodent models to investigate the role of hormones in development and fear and anxiety, respectively. Given that many of our questions concern contextual factors and children's mental health outcomes, Drs. Courtney Baker and Yo Jackson are invaluable resources to students. This breadth of expertise allows students to build strong PhD committees tailored to their research interests.
Travel support for conferences. Tulane provides generous funding (~$1800/year) for students to present their work at conferences. Dr. Zeytinoglu provides additional support to ensure that students can present at conferences and build professional networks. A list of presentations first-authored by students can be found in Dr. Zeytinoglu’s CV.
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Dr. Zeytinoglu is a faculty affiliate of the Tulane Brain Institute. She encourages her students to utilize the excellent resources of this institution.
Brain Institute weekly seminars. Tulane Brain Institute brings well-known neuroscientists to give talks at weekly seminars. Learn more here.
Students can also enroll in Neuroscience courses offered by this institute.
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Tulane's CAIDS institute supports a culture of data literacy at Tulane University, inviting faculty and students at every academic level and within all fields to participate in a series of data-centric programming. For more information, see their website and resources for students.
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The SSE houses other departments, including Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering. Students can find opportunities to enhance their programming skills through their resources.
Please look up the other rich resources and learning opportunities for PhD students at Tulane!
Undergraduate Students
Our lab is currently accepting applications for research assistants. We have limited spots and will review and contact applicants on an as-needed basis.
Interested students should fill out our application form.
Research assistants will work on pre-collected data and our upcoming study examining the neural and social pathways linking parental mental health with children’s daily emotions using a variety of neurological and behavioral methods.
Responsibilities:
9 hrs/week in lab
2+ semester commitment
Assisting with participant recruitment
Behavioral coding
Research discussions
Assisting with study visits (this may include behavioral, neuroimaging (e.g., EEG), and/or EMA data collection)
Qualifications:
Psychology or Neuroscience major
Flexible schedule, including weekend and evening availability
Attention to detail
Proper time management
Excellent interpersonal skills
Experience working or completing research with children is preferred but not required