Graduate Students
Dr. Aravind accepts PhD students through the Yale Linguistics Department. If you’re interested in the lab, mention this in your application and list Dr. Aravind as a faculty member you’d like to work with.
Yale Undergraduates
We are currently accepting RA applications for Summer 2026! See details below.
Every semester, the ChiLD Lab accepts undergraduate research assistants interested in language development. Responsibilities include recruiting and scheduling participants, running studies with children and adults (on- and off-site), helping design experiments, and analyzing data. This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with research on how children understand and produce language.
Ideal candidates are interested in linguistics, cognitive science and/or developmental psychology, are self-motivated, organized, and comfortable working both independently and in teams. Strong communication skills are essential, and experience with young children (ages 2–7) is a plus. No prior research experience is required. Candidates interested in working in the lab should contact lab manager Premi Patel at premvanti.patel@yale.edu with their resume and a brief note about their interests and experience.
Fall and Spring Semesters
RAs can volunteer or earn course credit. A minimum commitment of 8 hours per week and attendance at weekly lab meetings are required. Preference is given to students who can stay for at least 2 semesters.
Summer Semester
RAs must apply for funding opportunities (e.g., the Richter Fellowship, the Dean’s Research Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences, or the Wu Tsai Institute Undergraduate Fellowship). Students who are eligible may also use their Summer Experience Award for summer funding.
Students from other institutions
We occasionally welcome students from other universities. Non-Yale undergraduates interested in working in the lab who are eligible for course credit should contact lab manager Premi Patel at premvanti.patel@yale.edu with their resume and a brief note about their interests and experience.
Funded positions for non-Yale undergraduates are available through Yale’s SURF program and the ESI-PREP postbac program.
The lab can host PhD students from eligible institutions through the IvyPlus Exchange Scholar Program. Interested students should contact Dr. Aravind prior to application.