Peer Mentoring Project R Group (R)

The R group aims to connect R users with backgrounds in psychology and related empirical sciences. Bringing together R users from different labs and different academic career stages is at the heart of the R Group mission. We aim to create an engaging environment for members to mentor each other on career planning in general, and on working with R in particular. We are commited to creating an environment where peers who are passionate about developing their R skills can learn from each other, extend their knowledge and broaden their career goals and opportunities. We seek to achieve this main aim with two types of group activities: hands-on R workshops and career development opportunities.

First, we regularly organize workshops with local and international experts in the field to expand our analytic knowledge and to help them stay up-to- date with cutting-edge developments in advanced analytical methods with R. The main focus points are longitudinal analyses (e.g. multi-level analyses and structural equation modeling), data visualization and general workflow. Second, we aim to offer opportunities for the group members to proactively learn about planning career development. The doctoral and post-doctoral training we receive at the University of Zurich qualifies us for a variety of different career paths inside and outside academia. However, navigating these different options and possibilities isn’t always easy and straightforward. To this end, we organize a career talk series, roundtable discussions and other workshops.

Analyzing Intensive Longitudinal Data by Fridtjof Petersen (University of Groningen), Tuesday February 4 and Wednesday February 5 2025
Detailed description of the workshop (PDF, 24 KB)

2024

• Preregistration of observational data: benefits, pitfalls, and practice with Prof. Chris Hopwood (University of Zurich) and Dr. Simon Schwab (Swisstransplant), organized jointly with PRC PopStats

• Multiverse analysis with Prof. Philipp K. Masur (University of Amsterdam)

• Challenges and opportunities of multi-cohort methodological approaches with Dr. Meredith O'Connor (University of Melbourne), Monday September 30th on zoom

• Twins separated at birth? A discussion about Structural Equation Modeling and Multilevel Modeling with Ethan McCormick (Leiden University) (flyer (PDF, 75 KB))

• Bayesian modelling for observational data with Dr. Gidon Frischkorn (University of Zurich)
• Establishing causality: An impossible goal in observational research? Perspectives from different research fields with Dr. Miquel Serra Buriel and Prof. Christopher Pryce (both University of Zurich), organized jointly with PRC PopStats
• Career Talk with Dr. Melissa Harper Shehadeh

2023

• Clean coding with Anna Skrzydlo

• Network analysis with Jill de Ron (University of Amsterdam)

• Within-person longitudinal models with Dr. Lydia Speyer (University of Lancaster)

• Bayesian vs. frequentist approaches to statistical inference with Prof. Carolin Strobl and Prof. Klaus Oberauer (University of Zurich)

2022

• Writing functions with Dr. Yannick Rothacher (University of Zurich)
• Missing Data Analysis with Dr. Iris Eekhout (TNO)
• Shapes of Developmental Change with Prof. Ethan McCormick (Leiden University)

2021

• Dos and Donts of ggplot with Dr. Cédric Scherer
• Modelling Intensive Longitudinal Data with Dr. Oisin Ryan (Utrecht University)
• Introduction to Machine Learning by Dr. Ben Meuleman (University of Geneva)
• StatTag with Prof. Leah Welty and Luke Rasmussen (Northwestern University)
• Introduction to Propensity Score Methods by Dr. Tony Tong (Yale University)
• Bayesian Model Comparison by Dr. Julia Haaf (University of Amsterdam)
• Power analysis in Multilevel Models by Prof. Dr. Marc Brysbaert (Ghent University)

2020

• Next generation tools for cross-lagged panel models by Dr. Marcus Mund (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena)

2019

• Bayesian multilevel analysis with R package “brms” by Dr. Paul-Christian Bürkner (Universität Münster)
• Structural equation modeling with R package "lavaan" by Prof. Dr. Yves Rosseel (Ghent University)
• Programming in the R package "tidyverse" by Dr. Kirill Müller ("Zurich R Courses")
• Good practices in working with R Studio by Dr. Dries Debeer (University of Zurich)

2023

• Should I stay or should I go? Expectations of mobility in academia with Dr. Astrid Habenstein, Dr. Tabea Hässler and Dr. Sara Kroll

• Prof. Dr. Jutta Joormann: Growing up in science

2022

• Dr. Gabriela Orellana Corrales: Head of Content Kyan Health
• Dr. Christine Wyss: co-founder of the Institute for Mental Health
• Networking in Person and Online with Prof. Lilly Shanahan and Prof. Nora Raschle (University of Zurich)

2021

• Dr. Marie-José Kolly: journalist at Republik Magazin

2020

• Dr. Susanne Tönsmann: Managing director of the Participatory Science Academy at the University of Zürich

2019

• Dr. Michaela Knecht: Lecturer and researcher at the Hochschule für Angewandte Psychologie (FHNW). 
• Dr. Sabrina Guye: Real-world data scientist at Roche. 
• Dr. Irene Meier: Product and innovation manager at Altoida, Inc.

• Laura Bechtiger (Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development)
• Christine Dworschak (Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology)
  Lukas Eggenberger (Psychiatric University Hospital and Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development)
• Clarissa Janousch (Psychiatric University Hospital and Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development)
• Michelle Loher (Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development)

The R Group peer mentoring group consisting of PhD students, Postdocs, and senior researchers from multiple faculties of the UZH (mainly from the Departments of Psychology, Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, Psychiatric University Hospital, and Epidemiology). 

• Prof. Dr Klaus Oberauer
• Prof. Dr. Carolin Strobl

If you are interested to join the R group, please contact the organizers!

*** The R Group is currently financially supported by the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development. In the past, the R Group was supported by the GRC.