Jacob Cotter

My name is Jacob Cotter. I am a fifth year undergraduate at U of T Scaborough studying mental health studies and philosophy. I am applying to do part-time work in research or research adjacent positions that focus on data management and statistical analysis.

My experience grants me a specialization in handeling large, complex, and sensitive data-sets. My goal is to gain valuable experience in data science (ideally working in a clinical setting) to prepare me for future graduate studies in clinical and personality psychology.

Undergraduate Thesis Student (PSYD98) at Social Ecology Lab, Department of Psychological and Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough (2026-06 – Present)

Supervisor: Dr. Marc Fournier. Project Title: forthcoming

• Computerized and automated human coding of autobiographical narrative content by training various AI models with existing data and coding manuals
• Validated computerized rating methods of autobiographical narrative content for both expert and naïve levels of coding

Supervised Research Student (PSYC93) at Psychology and Money Lab, Department of Psychological and Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough (2025-03 – 2026-04)

Supervisor: Dr. Stefano Di Domenico. Project Title: Personality Traits as Predictors of Self-Directed Investment Behaviors and Outcomes

• Co-Authored a formal scientific manuscript for publication
• Revising contributions from co-authors during writing
• Prepared and conducted a talk for fellow lower-year undergraduate students on present research
• Prepared and conducted a conference poster presentation on present research

Supervised Research Student (PSYC90) at Social Ecology Lab, Department of Psychological and Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough (2025-09 – 2026-04)

Supervisor: Dr. Marc Fournier. Project Title: The Dimensional Structure of Narratives

• Constructed a psychological model of autobiographical narrative based on a literary theory of narrative structure originating in the humanities
• Constructed and adapted novel autobiographical narrative rating manuals for use by expert and naïve coders
• Collected, cleaned, and analyzed large data-sets of empirical data and autobiographical texts
• Trained volunteer coders on a novelly constructed and adapted rating manuals of autobiographical narrative content
• Reported novel research in a formal scientific manuscript

Volunteer Research Assistant at Therapeutic Interventions for Psychosis (TIP) Research Lab, Department of Psychological and Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough (2025-03 – 2026-09)

Supervisor: Dr. Michael Best

• Audited, corrected, and finalized AI transcriptions of recorded therapy sessions for data analysis
• Produced scientific research article summaries for the lab's social media accounts
• Managed and updated the lab's website and RA directory
• Partially trained in the administration of a battery of clinical cognitive assessments

Volunteer Research Assistant at Psychology and Money Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough (2024-09 – 2025-01)

Supervisor: Dr. Stefano Di Domenico

• Coded publication information in preparation for literature review

Writer at Muslim Student Association, University of Toronto Scarborough (2023-09 – 2024-01)

• Authored magazine articles for publishing
• Mentored other writers in preparing their articles for publication
• Aided in the design of the entire magazine

Consultant at Independent/Freelance Consulting (2023-01 – 2023-12)

Supervisor: Dr. Abdelrazik Elmorsy, MD & Dr. Asma Youssef, MD

• Gathered a battery of self-report psychological assessments (personality and depressive/anxious symptoms)
• Presented and justified data collection tools to higher management
• Administered assessments to managerial staff over Google Forms
• Collected and analyzed data
• Continually communicated with medical staff regarding the progress of assessments
• Presented findings to medical staff, which were implemented by the consulted company in later internal health campaigns

Intern at Nestle Water (2023-06 – 2023-08)

Supervisor: Dr. Abdelrazik Elmorsy, MD

• Gathered a battery of self-report psychological assessments (personality and depressive/anxious symptoms)
• Presented and justified data collection tools to higher management
• Prepared an online database for medical and HR staff to utilize for assessment administration, data collection, and data analysis
• Prepared presentations for higher management on the scoring and interpretation of assessments

Honours Bachelor of Arts (H.A.) in Psychology & Philosophy – Trent University Durham GTA (2021-09 – 2022-04)

Honours Bachelor of Science in Mental Health Studies & Philosophy – University of Toronto Scarborough (2022-09 - present)

Cumulative GPA: 3.50

GPA Over Last 2 Years: 3.89