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Get Involved
For Dogs
At the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Dog Lab, our studies are designed to be enjoyable games for your dog. They get treats and praise and we get valuable scientific data about how their minds work. We conduct research via Zoom in the comfort of your own home or in-person at Pace’s Westchester campus. You can indicate your preference for how you would like to participate in the sign-up survey linked below.
Whether you have a purebred Setter (like our mascot!) or a beloved mixed breed, every dog has a unique perspective to share with our researchers. If you want to see what we’ve done in the past, check out our research page (link to research page). If you have any questions, please email our team.
- No special training required
- Owners stay with their dogs at all times
- Sessions typically last 30-45 minutes
- Free parking provided for participants
To participate in person we do ask that your dog have an up-to-date rabies shot and you provide proof before you participate. Because of this requirement we can only take dogs who are old enough to have received the full rabies schedule.
For Students
We proudly mentor a team of dedicated, brilliant undergraduates. Every semester we recruit new research assistants who are ready to contribute to the field of academic inquiry.
We take students of all experience levels and ages, with an interest in supporting academics from all walks of life. Our lab deeply values mentorship and education; as a research assistant of the PUDL, you’ll have all the information and guidance that you’ll need.
Our lab provides valuable hands-on research experience for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ undergraduates studying psychology and related fields. There are options to volunteer, apply for scholarly funding, or participate in the lab for class credit.
Are you a Pace student looking for undergraduate research experience? Email Molly Byrne, PhD, to apply.
Dr. Byrne also teaches Animal Psychology in the Spring, and a First Year Seminar titled Mind of a Dog in the Fall, if you are interested in coursework related to the lab.
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Humans and dogs share an environment, where dogs and human children actually have access to a lot of the same social world from an early age. Additionally, dogs and humans engage in behavior that’s relatively rare, and that’s sociality. We’re interested in understanding how we have shaped dogs throughout the course of domestication and intentional breeding to reflect the things that matter most to us.
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Our research involves lots of treats! We use simple games and custom puzzles to measure how dogs make choices in certain situations. We look at all sorts of things. Examples include measuring a dog’s gaze or asking a dog to choose between two locations. The games we do are relatively simple, but together give us insight into the ways dogs make decisions.
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You can .
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Nope! We center the dog’s comfort at all times.
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You can twice, once for each dog!
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For your dog to come in person they must have a rabies vaccination, so must be old enough to have completed their first round (usually 4 months). If you are participating remotely there is no age restriction!
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We welcome participants to bring guests if they’d like! Only one person can be in the testing room at a time, but your friends can still watch.
There must be at least one person who is 18 years or older to sign our consent forms. If there are underage individuals who wish to enter the testing room, their parent or legal guardian needs to be present for them to participate.
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Email Molly Byrne, PhD, to introduce yourself and inquire about open positions.