Buff Bulletin Board

The Buff Bulletin Board, a listing of campus announcements, is a service of Campus Communications.

 

Simulated gunfire research on East Campus happening Aug. 4

On Monday, Aug. 4, between 7 and 8 a.m., a group of CU Boulder researchers will conduct an experiment on East Campus that includes simulated gunshots from a starter pistol. The simulated gunfire will take place at various locations between Colorado Avenue and the Boulder Creek Path from Innovation Drive to Discovery Drive. Individuals who work at the SEEC, SEEL, Aerospace, LASP, Astrophysical Research Lab and Jenny Smoly Caruthers Biotech buildings may hear gunfire or witness the roughly hour-long experiment.

The University of Colorado Police Department (CUPD) is coordinating with the research group and will have a presence on site to ensure there is no cause for concern. 

Below is a map of the area with the approximate locations of the simulated gunfire testing represented by the yellow dots.

map of the area with the approximate locations of the simulated gunfire testing represented by yellow dots

Participants needed for research on skeletal response to simulated night shift

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:

  • Healthy man or woman (not pregnant) aged 20–40 years old
  • No current diagnosed or undiagnosed sleep conditions
  • Premenopausal women must be on continuous oral contraception pills
  • Habitually sleep 7–9 hours/night
  • No night shift work in the past year
  • A non-smoker

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
  • 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.

Research opportunity: Earn money playing a board game

VADeR Labs is recruiting for a research study that tests the teaching capabilities of a space mission-based board game.

Participants will attend the following eight sessions:

  • One in-person training session
  • Six in-person gameplay sessions
  • One in-person interview session

Participants must be available to attend all eight sessions in at least one of the potential schedules. Only 12 participants will be selected.

Requirements

  • Must be a U.S. resident
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must be enrolled at CU Boulder
  • Must have normal or corrected-to-normal (e.g., glasses, contacts) vision and hearing
  • Must not have prior knowledge of aerospace engineering or orbital mechanics

IRB Protocol  #IRB2025-385

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Join paid study on mood, bipolar disorder in young adults

YEARS Study logo

Join the Young Emerging Adult Research Study (YEARS) study at CU Boulder and CU Anschutz (IRB# 23-2067) to understand emotions. Earn $25 per hour (up to approximately $400 total) for up to three study session phases (one hour and 45 minutes). 

Eligibility

  • Must be 18–25 years old
  • Must be able to attend in-person sessions
  • Must have a personal history of bipolar disorder or no mental health history

Apply now to participate. Email years-study@colorado.edu or call 303-735-7547.

Recruiting participants for study on stress and the menstrual cycle

The SPINL Lab at CU Boulder is currently recruiting participants for a research study exploring how stress and wellbeing change across the menstrual cycle. If you're someone who tracks your cycle or experiences noticeable shifts in mood or stress, this might be something you'd find interesting to take part in.

Eligible?

  • Ages 18 and up
  • Regular menstrual cycles for the last six months
  • Not currently using hormonal birth control
  • Experience premenstrual symptoms

What does the study involve?

Participation involves a few brief activities spread out across one full cycle, including smartphone-based check-ins, a short survey and at-home ovulation tracking (materials provided). We expect you to divulge about three hours of commitment throughout your cycle. 

  • In total, about three hours spread out across a month
  • Baseline questionnaires
  • At-home ovulation tracking (supplies provided)
  • Six-minute smartphone assessments every other day across your cycle

Participants will also be compensated for their time and can earn up to $50 for their participation. If you're curious to learn more or think you might be eligible, feel free to check out the attached flyer or complete the short pre-screening.

Feel free to reach out to spinl@colorado.edu with any questions.

Paid research opportunity: Study on cognitive load in VR/AR

The SHINE Lab at CU Boulder is recruiting participants for XR research assessing and optimizing cognitive load. This entails identifying when and how to reduce cognitive load and improve training in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

Who can join this study

  • You are between 18–65 years old
  • You can speak and read English
  • You have normal vision (20/20) or corrected vision with contact lenses. Glasses are not recommended to be used with VR headsets.

Where

Center for Innovation and Creativity (CINC), Room 184E*
1777 Exposition Dr, Boulder, CO 80301

*This room is inaccessible without a key, so someone will meet you in the lobby.

Details

In this research experiment, you are invited to complete an assembly task while inside of a consumer-available extended reality head-mounted display (HMD). This means that you may be in virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR). You will also wear a full head of neurological sensors: functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG).

The experiment takes 120 minutes. There are no direct benefits to you as a participant, but you will be able to gain some understanding of XR research. HMDs may increase the potential for humans to experience motion sickness symptoms or simulator sickness. Experience of these symptoms is greater for participants who have a history of motion sickness. As with any research, there is some possibility that you may be subject to risks that have not yet been identified.

You will receive a $40 Amazon gift card for your participation.

Please register for an experiment slot.

Join research study on women with/without PTSD-related nightmares

Researchers are looking for women who do and do not experience trauma-related nightmares to join our research study. The purpose of the DAWN Study is to understand how trauma-related nightmares impact heart health in women.

Qualifications:

  • Women 22–40 years of age
  • Do and do not experience repetitive nightmares related to prior traumatic experiences
  • No history of cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular/heart disease

Compensation will be provided. 

Interested? Complete the optional preliminary eligibility surveySend a message to DAWNstudy@cuanschutz.edu if you have additional questions.

Submit events for history and heritage months

If your department is planning a program for any history or heritage month, submit your event to be part of our campuswide celebration. The Division of Student Life will include submitted events from campus departments in marketing and promotional materials.

Fraternity and sorority recruitment and intake are now open!

Bid day

With over 30 fraternities, sororities and culturally based organizations on campus, there are many opportunities for you to find your place. This is your chance to make lifelong friendships, gain leadership skills, give back to your community and create some great memories.

Register to participate in recruitment or fill out an interest form to join a culturally based chapter. 'Sko Greek!

Participants needed for a hot tub and blood pressure study

The Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab is seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical research study. 

Requirements:

  • Aged 40-plus
  • Willing to participate in 12 weeks of hot tub sessions, ~three times/week 
  • Systolic BP (top number) > 115 mmHg (please contact us if you are unsure of your blood pressure)

Participants receive: 

  • Exercise stress test
  • Body composition assessment
  • Detailed blood panel (cholesterol, glucose, etc.)
  • Monetary compensation for time

For more information, please email ipalab@colorado.edu or call 303-735-6410.

Participants needed for a breathing exercise and walking study

The Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab is looking for volunteers to study the potential healthy aging effects of a new type of breathing exercise (a time-efficient type of exercise), compared to brisk walking, on blood pressure and blood vessel function.

Requirements:

  • Aged 50-plus years
  • Systolic blood pressure (top number) ≥ 115 mmHg
  • Willing to exercise up to 25 minutes per day, six days a week, for a three-month period

Participants receive:

  • Detailed blood panel (cholesterol, glucose, etc.)
  • Physician-monitored exercise stress test
  • Blood pressure screening
  • Bone mineral density test
  • Monetary compensation for time

For more information, please email ipalab@colorado.edu or call 303-735-6410.

Participants needed for a breathing exercise and blood pressure study

The Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab is looking for participants to study the potential health effects of a new type of breathing exercise (a time-efficient type of exercise) delivered via a smartphone app on blood pressure and blood vessel function.

Requirements:

  • Aged 18-plus years
  • Systolic BP (top number) 120–160 mmHg (please contact us if you are unsure of your blood pressure)
  • Own an Apple or Android smartphone
  • Willing to perform breathing exercises 5–10 minutes per day, six days a week, for six weeks

Participants receive:

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

For more information, please email ipalab@colorado.edu or call 303-735-6410.