TCU’s Department of Psychology: where classroom learning meets real-world innovation

TCU’s Department of Psychology is at the forefront of cutting-edge research, providing students with a special fusion of experiential learning and classroom instruction.

Dr. Brenton Cooper’s neuroscience lab, where graduate and undergraduate students work together on innovative initiatives like studying songbirds to learn more about human voice and language processing, is at the center of this endeavor.

Zebra finches are the subject of Dr. Cooper’s lab, which investigates how their songs may shed light on language difficulties in humans. Soseh Asadoorian, a graduate student from Armenia, is researching the opening notes of zebra finch songs for a thesis, analyzing the function of song development in these birds.

“As an international student, it was very hard to be far from home, but to have a mentor like Dr. Cooper, who is very supportive, it didn’t feel that challenging,” Asadoorian said.

In Dr. Cooper’s lab, students learn a variety of skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, data gathering and processing. They collaborate extensively with undergraduate students, teaching them research methods and maintaining a supportive team atmosphere.

Asadoorian emphasized the value of teamwork and mentoring, giving Dr. Cooper credit for establishing a nurturing atmosphere that encourages development and creativity.

“I think in this generation, the environment, the technology and all of the things are developing very quickly, we should get knowledge, we should not stop,” Asadoorian said.

Students are better prepared for employment in research and other fields by this practical experience. Students who work on real-world projects acquire useful skills that help them stand out in the job market.

Asadoorian said he encourages undergraduates who are interested in research to take on the challenge since it provides a fulfilling path of learning and problem-solving.