Join the ASAP Lab

Please note that Dr. Kerns is on sabbatical for the 2026-2027 academic year. During this time, our lab operations will be reduced.

Volunteer RA, Directed Studies, or Honours Thesis Supervision

Our lab is currently full for research assistants and we do not have any positions available. This may change if a specific project is funded, and we will update the website if this is the case.

We’re very grateful for the enthusiasm and interest in the ASAP Lab’s opportunities. If you are interested in volunteer positions, Directed Studies, or Honours Thesis supervision in the ASAP Lab, please complete the form at this link to sign up to receive emails when there are position openings in the lab. Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, we kindly ask that prospective applicants refrain from emailing Dr. Kerns or the lab manager to express general interest. The best way to express your interest — and for us to keep track of potential candidates — is by filling out the interest form linked above. Reaching out directly by email will not improve your chances of being selected, and we appreciate your understanding. Our hiring procedure is informed by equity, diversity and inclusion, whereby we inform everyone who has completed this form will be notified about new opportunities at the same time. Whenever we have an openings for research assistants, we will email everyone who has expressed interest through this form and send them a description of the position and a link to a formal application. A member of our research team will then reach out to promising candidates who have completed a formal application.

If, however, you have specific questions that aren’t addressed in the form or on our website, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!— we’re happy to help where we can.

For Prospective Graduate Students

Due to the overwhelming amount of interest in our lab from prospective graduate students, we kindly ask that applicants refrain from emailing Dr. Kerns or the lab to express general interest. Please consult this page fully for more information about applying to graduate school.

Dr. Kerns is not currently considering applications for the 2026-2027 cycle. If this changes, we will update our page in September. Again, due to the large number of inquiries we receive, we kindly ask that prospective applicants refrain from emailing Dr. Kerns or the lab manager to express general interest. Thank you for your interest in working with the UBC Anxiety, Stress & Autism Program!

Frequently Asked Questions: Applying to the ASAP Lab

If I am applying for the UBC Clinical Psychology program and hoping to work in the ASAP Lab, should I send Dr. Kerns an email? Will she meet with students individually to discuss whether the lab is a good fit?

Each year, many highly-qualified students reach out to Dr. Kerns via email with the intention of further discussing their research interests. Although we appreciate your interest in working with the ASAP Lab, it is not feasible for Dr. Kerns to establish a relationship with every prospective student, and it would not be equitable for Dr. Kerns to connect with some students and not others. As such, please be aware that emailing Dr. Kerns prior to or during the application process will not affect the strength of your application.

Reading our lab’s recent publications will help you better understand if you would be a good fit for our lab. If you have specific questions about the lab that are not addressed on our website, you can instead contact the ASAP Lab Manager at asaplab@psych.ubc.ca.

If not by email, how do I make sure Dr. Kerns knows that I am interested in working with her?

When you apply to the UBC Clinical Psychology graduate program, one section of the application will ask you to list three faculty members whom you are interested in working. Make sure to include Dr. Kerns as one of your three selections. However, if Dr. Kerns’ name is not listed in the drop-down menu for this section of the application, it means she is likely not planning to take on a student for that cycle of admissions.

If you list Dr. Kerns as a potential faculty supervisor, you should also ensure that a portion of your Statement of Interest discusses what specifically draws you towards working with the ASAP Lab. It is important to clearly communicate the ways in which your interests and past experiences align with the lab’s mission, research objectives, and current projects.

What does Dr. Kerns look for when considering prospective students? Do GRE scores matter?

Admission into the UBC Clinical Psychology program involves a holistic process that considers all parts of the application package (learn more about the required application materials here). Your Statement of Interest and Curriculum Vitae (CV) should both showcase how your past research and clinical experiences have prepared you for doctoral-level work in subfields relevant to the ASAP Lab, such as autism, stress, and anxiety. Your academic transcripts should also reflect a readiness and capacity to succeed in rigorous graduate-level coursework. Finally, you should ensure that the references you provide are people who can adequately speak to your research potential, professionalism, and ability to work effectively with others.

Note that Dr. Kerns often prefers to take on students who have conducted relevant research and/or clinical work in a post-baccalaureate setting (i.e., experiences pursued in the years after obtaining one’s bachelor’s degree). The ASAP Lab focuses primarily on exploring anxiety and stress among autistic populations. As such prior experience with those populations may benefit your application but is not required if you have other relevant clinical research experience. 

GRE Scores: On a program-wide level, the UBC Clinical Psychology admissions team strongly advises that you include your scores for the General and Psychology GRE examinations on your application. On an individual level, Dr. Kerns does not consider GRE scores to be a valuable indicator of graduate student success. As such, those applying to the ASAP Lab who do not submit their GRE scores will not be at a disadvantage when their application is reviewed by Dr. Kerns. If you believe that including your GRE score can improve your application, Dr. Kerns will review and consider your score. Lastly, applications endorsed by Dr. Kerns will still be subject to evaluation by the general admissions committee.

Resources for Apply to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology

We know that the process of applying to graduate school can be stressful and confusing, especially for first-generation students and those applying for the first time. Below are some resources that can help you get started! Although many of these resources are US-based, their guidance is generally applicable to Canadian applicants as well.

  • Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology is one of the best known and most comprehensive introductions to the clinical psychology application process.
  • APA – Careers in Psychology: This resource package by the American Psychological Association provides a comprehensive overview of different types of psychologists, including personal accounts from a diverse group of psychologists currently working in the field. If you are still deciding between pursuing clinical psychology versus other subfields of psychology (social, developmental, forensics, etc.), this is a great guide for you!
  • APA – Becoming a Psychological Scientist: The American Psychological Association has also created an excellent YouTube video series on becoming a psychologist scientist, which focuses primarily on the ins and outs of the graduate school application process.
  • So You’re Applying to Clinical Psychology Graduate Programs: This document has been created by Jasmine Mote, PhD and shares her opinions, experiences and advice regarding clinical psychology graduate programs.