vertigo82

That's a very good question, and an important one to have answered when applying for a research position. I too am in a research field, attending a research focused M.A. program at NYU in biopsychology this fall, with plans to complete a Ph.D. in neuroscience afterward.

There are a variety of other things you can highlight about yourself in your CV while at the same time having minimal or no research experience at all. I'll paste mine into this field so you can see my headings and what one might enter under each of the headings. The only things I've omitted are the top several lines which contain my name and contact information.

EDUCATION

• B.A. in Psychology with Distinction, May 2004, Southern Methodist University
• Cumulative GPA: 3.67/4.0
• Psychology GPA: 3.81/4.0
• M.A. in Experimental Biopsychology, June 2006, New York University

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Induction into National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Induction into Psychology Departmental Distinction Program
• Induction into Golden Key International Honour Society
• Psi Chi National Honor Society Award for Academic Excellence

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

• American Psychological Association
• Western Psychological Association
• Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

• Western Psychological Association (WPA) 2004 Conference Phoenix, AZ
• Normative Data for Cognitive Measures of Childhood and Adolescent Depression

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

(Southern Methodist University, January 2003 – May 2004)
• Position: Research assistant in the Family Life Stress Project lab
• Duties: Dialogue transcription for behavioral interaction tasks, contribution to methodology of experimental design, development of behavioral coding scheme, and use of behavioral coding scheme to evaluate behavioral interaction tasks
• Supervisor: Rick E. Ingram Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychology

(Case Western Reserve University, May 2004 – August 2004)
• Position: Research assistant and lab technician in neuropharmacology lab
• Duties: Microdialysis probe preparation, implantation of microdialysis probes, HPLC machine preparation and use, and animal stressing
• Supervisor: Elizabeth A. Pehek, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

(May – August 2003)
• Personality Psychology: Teaching assistant
• Duties including proctoring examinations, tutoring students in need, and scoring examinations

(August – December 2003)
• Introduction to Psychology: Teaching assistant
• Duties included proctoring examinations and assistance in grading examinations

• Memory and Cognition: Teaching assistant
• Duties consisted of proctoring examinations

REFERENCES

• Rick E. Ingram, Associate Professor (ringram@mail.smu.edu)
Ph.D. University of Kansas, Clinical Psychology
• Nancy A. Hamilton, Assistant Professor (nancyh@smu.edu)
Ph.D. University of Arizona, Clinical Psychology
• Robert B. Hampson, Associate Professor (rhampson@smu.edu)
Ph.D. University of Virginia, Clinical-Child Psychology
• Elaine Brown, Adjunct Professor (erbprose@earthlink.net)
Ph.D. Washington University School of Medicine, Neuroscience


Even if you haven't earned your bachelors degree yet, it's perfectly acceptable to add the degree you're working toward, the date you plan to receive it, and your current cummulative and major GPAs. Another thing I would highly recommend doing, is joining associations which are consonant with your area of study. Do some web searching, and if money allows, join up on line so you have more garnishings for your CV. Hope this helps. Good luck.