How to get Involved

Prospective students

WELCOME!

We’re excited that you’re considering pursuing graduate studies with the RAP Lab. BEFORE you fire us off an email, we’ve outlined what it’s like to be part of our team and how to take the next steps. If you want to know more about Shane as a supervisor, check out his ‘user guide‘.

Are We a Good Fit?

If you’re fascinated by how people interact with robots, AI, and other humanlike technologies, you’ll feel right at home in our lab. Our research often explores questions of why we treat machines like people – for example, we study trust between humans and AI, how robots can persuade or influence behavior, and why we anthropomorphize technology. We welcome students from a variety of academic backgrounds – engineering, computer science, psychology, business, design, and beyond – as long as you’re keen to explore the social side of technology.

Being a good fit isn’t about checking off specific prerequisites; it’s about intellectual curiosity and a willingness to learn across disciplines. If you value collaboration and want to be part of an open-minded, interdisciplinary research group, RAP Lab might be the perfect place for you.

High-tech robots assembling a car in a modern factory setting, showcasing automation.

robot, japan, japanese, cyber, futuristic, technology, future, game, interactive, brown technology, brown robot, brown future, brown gaming, brown game, brown games, robot, robot, robot, robot, robot, interactive, interactive, interactive, interactive, interactive

You Might Thrive Here If…

You love asking questions and learning new things. Curiosity is at the heart of our work – we encourage digging into ideas and challenging assumptions.

You care about people more than technology. Our projects are about humans and machines. If you’re motivated by making tech more humane and understanding its impact on society, you’ll fit right in.

You enjoy collaboration and shared learning. We work as a team. Whether it’s co-authoring a paper or brainstorming in a lab meeting, you’re someone who likes exchanging knowledge and working together.

You have an interdisciplinary streak. Maybe you’re an engineer who reads psychology journals, or a designer who codes – we love that! Blending fields and perspectives is what we do every day.

You believe in balance and well-being. Grad school is challenging, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming. If you value an environment that works hard and supports mental wellness, our lab culture will resonate with you.

What to Expect

Joining the RAP Lab means becoming part of a close-knit, supportive research community. Here’s what day-to-day life as a graduate student with us looks like:

Mentorship & Independence: Dr. Shane Saunderson takes a servant leadership approach to supervision – he’s here to guide, support, and empower you. You can expect regular one-on-one mentorship to help shape your research, but also plenty of freedom to pursue the ideas you’re passionate about.

Collaborative Culture: We have weekly lab meetings where everyone (RAs, Master’s, PhDs, postdocs, etc.) shares updates, discusses papers, and brainstorms solutions together. It’s common to collaborate with lab mates on experiments or publications. We find that teamwork and peer learning make research more fun and productive.

Interdisciplinary Research: Because our work spans technology and human behavior, you’ll gain experience with a mix of methods and humans. One week you might be programming a robot or chatbot for a study; the next, you could be running a user experiment or analyzing survey data. This blend of technical and human-centered research means you’ll constantly learn new skills beyond your primary field.

Academic and Professional Development: We want to help launch your career. Expect to publish papers and attend academic conferences (e.g. in human–robot interaction or information systems) during your time here. Plus, Shane’s industry experience means he can also offer guidance on how to translate your academic skills into industry roles or entrepreneurial ventures.

How to Reach Out

Ready to take the next step? Here’s how to get the conversation started:

Do Your Homework: Take a look at our website and some of our recent publications to get a sense of our work. If our research topics excite you, that’s a great sign you’re on the right track.
Send an Introduction Email: The best way to reach us is to email Dr. Shane Saunderson at raplab@mcmaster.ca. Introduce yourself and let us know what program you are interested in (Master’s or PhD). Briefly share your background, research interests, and why you’d like to join the RAP Lab. Don’t worry about formality – a concise, genuine note is perfect.
Be patient: The robots keep us busy! It sometimes takes days or weeks to catch up to all the inbound requests we get.

Remember: reaching out does not commit you to anything – it’s just a conversation to explore possibilities. We’re glad to hear from enthusiastic students and will be honest about whether we think we’re a good match for your goals. So don’t hesitate to send that email!