From university research studies to part-time jobs, there are plenty of opportunities to make extra money on campus. See what's open.

Students only

Study on collaborative learning

The NSF Institute of Student-AI Teaming is inviting undergraduate students to participate in a study investigating collaborative problem-solving. You will learn about ways to improve collaborations and work with a partner on fun, collaborative learning activities across two sessions.

You are eligible to participate in this research study if you:

• Are a CU Boulder student at least 18 years of age
• Speak English
• Do not have significant and uncorrected vision impairments

Each visit lasts two hours and will be compensated at $20 per hour. You will earn a bonus of $20 for attending both visits (up to $100 total).

Please sign up for all spots for which you are available over the next few weeks. Providing more availability will help ensure we find you a spot in our study. Calendly emails are not official scheduled dates—only marking your availability. A researcher will be in contact via email to begin the official scheduling process. 

Study exploring sense of belonging

Research participants wanted! The current study aims to gather information and insights regarding sense of belonging from students at CU Boulder, with an emphasis on students who are studying within the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. 

The results of this study will inform any changes that may need to be implemented or programs that need to be developed to enhance student sense of belonging within the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and at CU Boulder. 

You must be a current CU Boulder undergraduate and 18 years or older. Participants will be compensated up to $40. Contact wen.zhuang@colorado.edu for details.

Research on STEM education

CU Boulder researchers are seeking to improve undergraduate STEM education in this study supported by NSF (IRB #21-0121). 

Eligibility:

• You are at least 18 years old
• You are a current undergraduate
• You have declared any physical science or engineering major—except chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical and biological engineering
• You have enrolled in or completed PHYS 1110: General Physics 1

Researchers want to know how science and math majors react to typical classroom experiences. You will spend 1 hour completing problem sets and questionnaires online. The researcher will provide instructions over Zoom.

Participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card for your participation. 

To see if you are eligible and to sign up, please complete this brief confidential eligibility survey. Questions? Email brittany.tokasey@colorado.edu for more information.

Study on stress, coping in college

The Research on Affective Disorders and Development (RADD) Lab is conducting research on stress coping in first-year CU students. We want to understand what helps CU students cope with stress during major transitions, including the transition to college and across semesters.

The study includes a few different parts that happen over a three-semester period: 

• There are two in-person research sessions, each of which takes about four to six hours. During these sessions, you will play some computer games while we monitor physical functioning (for example, your heart rate). You will also complete a set of interviews and surveys that ask about stress, behavior, mood and health.
• There are three 21-day periods in which we will send you a daily “micro survey” (less than five minutes to answer) asking about your behavior and mood using an app.
• There are two 1-hour online surveys that we will send to your email.

The study takes place over the course of three semesters, and you will be compensated for your participation (maximum of $446–$470 for completing all parts of the study).

If you want to learn more, contact the RADD Lab at raddlab@colorado.edu or fill out our initial eligibility screening.

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Part-time jobs

ASAP tutor mentors

The Academic Success and Achievement Program (ASAP) is looking for tutor mentors for the 2024–25 academic school year. ASAP provides free small group tutoring and one-on-one tutoring to all first-year students and any student living on campus. Mentor hours are flexible, and the starting hourly pay is $17. Hiring is done on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply.

Environmental Center openings

Make a difference while you earn a paycheck! The Environmental Center is hiring a campus sustainability assistant and climate justice team members. Compensation starts at $16 hourly. Learn more and apply.

Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations ambassadors

Neighborhood ambassadors serve as student leaders, assisting off-campus student tenants with their transition to and ongoing living experience in their off-campus housing, especially in the University Hill area. Compensation is $17 per hour. Learn more and apply.

Recreation Services openings

Help fellow students find their fit! Rec Center student-employees play an invaluable role by providing customer service, safety and fun to guests. There are currently open positions in aquatics, ice rink, facility operations, fitness and wellness, Outdoor Pursuits and team sports. Learn more and apply.

University Memorial Center openings

Work in the heart of campus! The UMC offers competitive pay (starting at $16 hourly), flexible hours, professional and personal development opportunities and a true team spirit. There are currently openings for a cashier and mechanic at The Connection, an event management software coordinator, CU NightRide driver/dispatchers, and a UMC reception desk staffer. Learn more and apply.

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CU affiliates only

Study examining teamwork, collaboration

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Studies for adults

Collaborative problem solving in STEM

The iSAT Lab is recruiting participants for a research study who are fluent English speakers, are 18 years old or older, and who have basic computer proficiency. 

These studies take place at the Center for Innovation and Technology, Room 184G. In this type of study we investigate collaborative problem solving in science, technology, engineering and mathematics domains. In the study you will be working with other participants on a series of group problem-solving tasks.

During the study we’ll be using cameras and microphones to record the interactions you and your group have with one another and with the tasks at hand. You will also be required to wear a head-mounted camera (e.g., a GoPro) while you complete the tasks in this study. Collecting video and audio data of you and your group’s interactions is mandatory for this study. If you do not want to be recorded with video and microphone, you may decide not to participate in this study at any time.  

These studies last two hours each, and compensation is awarded in the form of $50 ($25 per hour). To get directions to our lab, or for more information, please email isat.aicl@gmail.com. Sign up now.

Multiple sclerosis clinical trial

Researchers from the Neurophysiology of Movement Laboratory are conducting a study to investigate if electrical stimulation applied to the legs can reduce fatigue and improve walking in persons with multiple sclerosis.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are between18–65 years of age
• Have clinically confirmed diagnosis of MS
• Are able to walk but have some difficulty walking
• Experience some fatigue during activities of daily living

The 11-week study involves four evaluation visits and 18 treatment sessions (three times per week for six weeks).

Evaluation sessions:

• Approximately two hours each
• Answering questionnaires
• Tests of walking, balance and muscle function

Treatments:

• Approximately 60 minutes each
• TENS applied to leg muscles while performing weight-lifting exercises
• The treatment will be applied to two muscle groups in each leg

Participants will be paid up to $880 for completing the 11-week trial.

If you are interested, please contact Mélanie Henry by email at melanie.henry@colorado.edu and reference the MS clinical trial.

Research on circadian rhythms

Study on Mediterranean diet, health

Study on supportive care for cancer patients

Living with metastatic cancer? Avoiding planning for the future? Feeling down, distressed, or worried? Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers and CU Boulder are offering an online study for adults with metastatic cancer who are feeling anxious, down or distressed. 

The Valued Living Study compares a five-week online skills group to usual supportive care. Participants can earn up to $150. You may be eligible if you:

• Have stage IV solid tumor cancer 
• Feel anxious, down or distressed

We welcome individuals of any race, ethnicity, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status or national origin.

Please reach out to learn more! Email valuedliving@colorado.edu; call or text 720-515-9461.

Astronaut training research in VR

The CU Boulder Bioastronautics Research Group, part of the Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, is recruiting subjects to participate in an astronaut training study using virtual reality.

Subjects will be trained on one of three tasks: an entry-descent landing scenario, a rover driving scenario, or a habitat maintenance scenario. Subjects will complete anywhere from three to eight sessions, with the first session taking up to 2.5 hours and the following sessions taking one hour each.

All subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 are invited to email vr_training@outlook.com to learn more. Any questions about the study can be directed to the PI at apanders@colorado.edu.  

Cardiovascular research studies

The Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab is seeking volunteers for four research studies:

Healthy aging effects of MitoQ

Heat therapy on blood pressure, vascular function

Researchers are seeking women and men, ages 40-plus, who are willing to participate in water immersion sessions approximately three times per week for 12 weeks, and have above normal blood pressure (a top number of 115 or higher; if you are unsure of your blood pressure, please still contact us for screening).

Benefits for volunteers include: cardiovascular health assessment, exercise stress test, body composition, blood chemistries and monetary compensation for time.

For more information, please email hottubstudy@colorado.edu or call 970-460-8970.

Senolytics and cardiovascular dysfunction

Researchers are looking for volunteers to study the potential health aging effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation on blood pressure and physiological function.

Requirements:

• Ages 50–79 years
• Higher than normal blood pressure
• Willing to undergo a three-month period taking nicotinamide riboside or placebo pills

Benefits include:

• Blood pressure screening
• Detailed blood panel (cholesterol, glucose, etc.)
• Monetary compensation for time

If interested, call 303-492-2485 or email nrstudy@colorado.edu.

Study on sleep disruption, bone health

CU Anschutz researchers in the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes are looking for healthy men and women to study the effects of sleep disruption on bone health. 

You may qualify for this study if you:

• Are 20–40 years old 
• Habitually sleep 7–9 hours per night  
• Have not done night-shift work in the past year  
• Do not currently smoke 
• Are fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Involvement includes:

• Measurements of bone mineral density
• Completion of sleep questionnaires/assessments
• Sleep with a simulated night-shift schedule or normal sleep schedule
• A general physical exam
• Activity monitoring with a wrist monitor
• Blood/urine collection
• Arterial line placement
• Two inpatient stays (four nights each)

The total study duration is up to six weeks of participation. You will receive up to $1,500 and a FitBit for your time. 

If interested, email spotlight@cuanschutz.edu for study details, or complete the prescreening survey.

Study on chronic back pain

The Pain Lab at CU Boulder, affiliated with the Institute of Cognitive Science, is seeking participants ages 21–70 for a research study with non-invasive wearable sensors.

You may be eligible if you have experienced back pain for the last three-plus months. Participants will be compensated up to $360.

If you're interested, fill out the screening form, and the lab will contact you regarding your eligibility. Email painlab@colorado.edu with any questions.

Spinal cord injury research

Have you had a spinal cord injury? If so, we need your help.

The Sensorimotor Recovery and Neuroplasticity Laboratory at CU Boulder and CU Anschutz is seeking persons with a spinal cord injury to participate in a research project to study how low-oxygen therapy may promote recovery of movement.

This study is looking to see how mild bouts of breathing low oxygen may improve leg strength and walking ability in persons with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study is to gain better understanding of how this potential therapy may help people with spinal cord injury become more independent.

If the following two questions apply to you, we would like to hear from you.

• Are you 18–75 years old? 
• Did you sustain a spinal cord injury more than six months ago?

Data we collect will be used to determine if this therapy may increase voluntary movement in persons' spinal cord injury. 

The study takes up one to two hours per day, up to 10 days of experimental treatment and training, and up to two days for tests on the CU Boulder campus. Participants will be compensated $25 for each visit and in some cases for travel.

For more information, contact CU Boulder's Andrew Quesada Tan and/or CU Anschutz's Andrew C. Smith with the subject line "IH STUDY."

Study on cannabis, memory

The CU Change Lab (part of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience) is looking for volunteers. In this study, researchers want to understand how varying levels of cannabinoids (e.g., THC and CBD) impact things such as memory and cognition to better understand the effects of varying levels of cannabinoids.

Participants will be compensated approximately $195 for 7.5 hours. You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are 21–40 years old
• Have used cannabis for at least one year
• Are right-handed

Contact cobra.custudy@gmail.com for more information.

Study on OCD

The Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory is looking for males and females with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ages 18–35, with a typical bedtime of 1 a.m. or later to participate in a research study on campus. Compensation up to $750. Get study details and apply, or email sleep.study@colorado.edu with any questions.

Study on walking performance in older adults

Researchers in the Neurophysiology of Movement Lab are conducting a study to evaluate the influence of light electrical stimulation on walking and balance capabilities in healthy older adults.

Subject requirements:

• 65–85 years of age
• Free from neurological impairments
• No recent lower body injuries
• Ability to walk for six minutes unaided

The study consists of two visits to Main Campus on separate days (approximately 2.5 hours each). In each session, we will apply mild electrical stimulation using a TENS device and assess subjects' walking and balance capabilities.

Compensation is $60 for the two visits. If interested, please contact Mohammed Alenazy for more information: moal4255@colorado.edu, 720-231-9767.

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Studies for the family

Maternal communication study

Language, Development, and Cognition Lab researchers invite you to participate in an online language production study conducted via Zoom at a time that is convenient for you. The study is open to mothers of 3- to 5-year-old children who are acquiring English as a first language.

You will engage in a task in which you will be shown simple animated actions on a screen (e.g., putting an object on a table) and asked to instruct a hypothetical child or adult listener to perform those actions using props. The total time for the study is 40–45 minutes or less, depending on number of breaks.

You will receive an Amazon gift card worth $20 within one to two weeks of study completion (and a gift card worth $5 if you complete part of the study). Complete the parent registry or email ldclab.boulder@colorado.edu for more information.

Mom and baby: Research on microplastics

Interested in how plastic exposure might impact maternal and child health? Participate in a paid study to help researchers better understand how microplastics might alter human health and determine what lifestyle factors might increase exposure.

As a participant, you will earn $200 for completing several questionnaires and providing biological samples. This study includes at-home biological sample collections and questionnaires as well as one visit to the Clinical Translational Research Center (CTRC) in Boulder for physical health assessments and a blood draw.

Eligibility:

• First-time moms
• Mother/infant pairs
• Approximately one month postpartum
• Living in Denver or Boulder

Please fill out a brief survey to see if you qualify. If you have questions, contact mnpdimple.study@gmail.com. This study is based in the Alderete Diabetes and Obesity Research (ADOR) Laboratory.

Child communication research

The Child Research Participant Registry connects families and researchers, so that together they can advance understanding of human communication and methods to diagnose and treat children who have communication-related challenges. They invite families of children with or without communication challenges to join the registry.

To learn more, or to sign up your child, please visit this webpage. The research registry is affiliated with the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.