Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in joining the lab! To be eligible, you must have completed, be currently enrolled in, or plan to take at least one of Mrs. Martinez's courses: Animal Behavior, Primate Behavior, or Directed Research.

If you meet this requirement, email Mrs. Martinez with a brief introduction, your resume, and your current class schedule. She will review your submission and provide further instructions.

If you don’t meet the requirements but are still interested, you may contact Mrs. Martinez to discuss potential opportunities.

You need to commit to at least two semesters in the lab, as training requires significant time and effort. There is no maximum time limit—you're welcome to stay as long as you like, and extended involvement is encouraged!

No experience is needed! We will train you in everything you will need to know. We are looking for hard-working students who are committed in collecting data.

Psychology and Biology students are preferred, but if you are still interested, please contact Mrs. Martinez to discuss potential opportunities.

Once you can collect data, we encourage you to visit the zoo a minimum of two times per week. You have the flexibility to choose the days for data collection. The zoo operates daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Thanks to our collaboration with the zoo, our research volunteers can enter without charge. Upon arrival, please check in at the front office and remember to sign out once your work is completed. You'll be given a lab badge, which must be worn throughout your data collection. DO NOT let other people in for free. You will be kicked out of the lab and be written up.

Welcome to our lab! We are a collaborative, student-focused research group committed to the ethical and professional study of animal behavior. To maintain a productive, respectful, and inclusive research environment, all lab members—whether trainees, students, or senior researchers—are expected to follow these core expectations:

• Treat all team members with respect, regardless of their role or experience level.
   
• Accept feedback with maturity and openness—constructive criticism is part of the learning process.
   
• Disrespectful behavior, including eye-rolling, sarcasm, or dismissiveness, will not be tolerated.
   

• Be attentive during training sessions. Do not use phones or other devices while being instructed or while others are speaking.
   
• Arrive on time, prepared, and ready to participate fully in lab activities and discussions.
   

• Ask questions! We encourage curiosity and critical thinking.
   
• If you are unsure about a method or decision, raise it respectfully at an appropriate time.
   
• Follow communication protocols (e.g., group messages, emails) and respond in a timely manner.
   

• Follow all research protocols and data collection methods as trained—these are in place for a reason and support the scientific integrity of our work.
   
• Any suggestions for changes must be discussed and approved before implementation.
   

• You are responsible for your behavior, contributions, and growth as a researcher.
   
• Failure to meet these expectations—especially repeated disrespect, failure to follow protocol, or disregard for training—may result in dismissal from the lab.
   

By participating in this lab, you agree to uphold these expectations and contribute positively to the research environment.

We do not offer transportation. It is very important that you provide your own. However, you can take the UTRGV shuttle to the Brownsville campus and then take the Brownsville Metro to the zoo. 

Yes! You can volunteer even if you are not a student anymore.