The Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin has established strong traditions of excellence in research, teaching, and in the training the next generation of psychological scientists.
Our faculty and students conduct cutting-edge, award-wining research that is at the forefront of discoveries in the field – research that both defines and shapes the future of psychological science.
Professors, instructors and advisers enlighten, challenge and inspire us. They can shape our opinions, push our work to new heights and spark an interest to learn more about a topic or discipline. In the 2011-12 academic year, the College of Letters & Science asked graduating seniors to nominate faculty or staff members who impacted their [...]
Several graduate programs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Letters & Science are ranked among the nation’s best in the 2014 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.” “We’re proud of all of our graduate programs and particularly pleased that once again many have been rated so highly,” says Provost Paul [...]
Bryan Hendricks, who became a student favorite during 12 years as an instructor in the Psychology Department, died Friday morning at age 66 following an illness that had recently forced his retirement. “I take some comfort in knowing that Bryan got to do what he loved most — teach and meet and work with students until [...]
As she was watching the first presidential debate, Psychology Professor Paula Niedenthal couldn’t help but notice something odd about President Barack Obama’s smile. “He was looking down, tucking his chin, and smiling this tight, controlled smile,” says Niedenthal. “I would call it a ‘masking smile, concealing outrage or disdain.’ ” Mitt Romney, on the other hand, wore [...]
Sound can be an incredibly powerful experience, able to dominate our attention, convey information, transport us from the here and now or add or relieve tension and emotion. Indicative of how immersive the sense of sound can be, no fewer than seven people from all corners of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s academic disciplines will track [...]
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Emily Fletcher comes to the University of Wisconsin-Madison thanks to the 2010 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Core Humanities Grant, which is helping Dean Gary Sandefur strengthen the University’s offerings in ancient studies. Fletcher, who just completed her Ph.D. in Classics at the University of Toronto after obtaining her bachelor’s degree from [...]
Pacifiers may stunt the emotional development of baby boys by robbing them of the opportunity to try on facial expressions during infancy. Three experiments by a team of researchers led by psychologists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison tie heavy pacifier use as a young child to poor results on various measures of emotional maturity. The [...]
Stress has long been pegged as the enemy of attention, disrupting focus and doing substantial damage to working memory — the short-term juggling of information that allows us to do all the little things that make us productive. By watching individual neurons at work, a group of psychologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has revealed [...]
Fishing in the Neighborhood has grown into a statewide program in its second summer, with five clubs across Wisconsin.
On Friday, April 28, students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison showcased their research and discovery with alumni and friends of the institution. As part of the Alumni Weekend, students played a part in welcoming alumni and friends back to campus for events and programming. Alumni Weekend is an annual cross-campus event each spring. The College of [...]
Register now! Against a backdrop of extraordinary global economic, environmental and social challenges, the sixth annual Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference will examine issues related to consumption and growth, economic and environmental sustainability, quality of life and happiness. Envisioning a Fairer Future: Sustainability, Security and Happiness on a Finite [...]
The College of Letters & Science is proud to announce that eight L&S faculty members received 2012 Romnes Fellowships. The Romnes awards recognize exceptional faculty members who have earned tenure within the last four years. Selected by a Graduate School committee, winners receive an unrestricted $50,000 award for research, supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Research [...]
Millions of individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are helped by methylphenidate, the stimulant better known as Ritalin. Now researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have pinpointed the area of the brain in which Ritalin does its work. “These drugs are highly effective at controlling the symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder [...]
Dean Gary Sandefur is proud to honor Professors Patricia Devine (Psychology), Bob Kaiser (Geography) and Ken Mayer (Political Science) with the 2011-12 Leon D. Epstein Distinguished Faculty Research Awards. The Faculty Research Awards provide flexible research funding for three faculty each year in the College. Congratulations to our faculty! Epstein was a professor political science and [...]
The deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression is a prime research opportunity for “Midlife in the United States,” a long-running and expansive study of the interplay between social and psychological factors and physical health. Led by a group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and incorporating dozens of psychologists, sociologists, neuroscientists and biologists around the country, MIDUS will return this fall for a third look at the lives of thousands of Americans ages 25 to 95. The new phase is supported by a $21 million grant from the National Institute on Aging.
To say a pregnant woman is eating for two leaves out a few guests at the table — trillions of them, according to Christopher Coe, a University of Wisconsin-Madison psychology professor.
Professor Trish Devine (Psychology) received the 2011 Scientific Impact Award from the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. The Scientific Impact Award honors the author(s) of a specific article or chapter offering a theoretical, empirical, and/or methodological contribution that has proven highly influential over the last 25 years.
The L&S Honors Program held its Second Annual Distinguished Honors Faculty Award program to recognize seven faculty members for their contributions to the Honors Program. All were nominated by students and their contributions to enriching the undergraduate educational experience at Wisconsin have been enormous.
Congratulations to Professor Janet Hyde, who was honored with an APA Presidential Citation at the most recent meeting of the American Psychological Association. Hyde received the honor for her research culminating in the Gender Similarities Hypothesis.
As recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates hoping to land jobs in political and strategic communications, Dana Vielmetti and Paige Helling this week found themselves in an enviable position.
Three outstanding undergraduate scholars received 2010-11 Dean’s Prizes. These students represent the best of their graduating class and are considered the most accomplished among the 4,000 Letters and Science senior class members for the 2010-2011 academic year. To be considered for this prize one must have a minimum grade point average of 3.90; be a [...]
Eleven outstanding faculty members from UW-Madison have been named winners of this year’s Kellett Mid-Career Awards — with six L&S faculty members winning the award.
Thirteen talented, up-and-coming faculty from across campus were honored with Romnes Faculty Fellowships. Of the thirteen, seven were members of the College of Letters & Science,
The L&S Honors Program is proud to announce this year’s winner of the Mark Mensink Award and winners of undergraduate Trewartha Senior Thesis Grants. The L&S Faculty Honors Committee has awarded college’s largest research grant, the Mark Mensink Award, to Alexandra Demet, a double major in Comparative Literature and Art History to fund her archival [...]
Where will a liberal arts education take you? For these 26 Letters & Science alumni, a liberal arts took them on a path to Pulitzer Prizes. A total of 26 alumni have won the prestigious award.
Psych alumnus Dr. Jerry Halverson talks about treating mental health issues (Wisconsin Public Radio) Dr. Jerry Halverson (BA’94, Psychology; MD’99) talks with WPR’s Larry Meiller about his work treating mental health issues and eating disorders. Halverson is Medical Director of Adult Services at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Psychology was recently ranked as the top public university in the National Research Council Raking of Graduate programs. Given the talent of the faculty and staff and the caliber of the education and research enterprise, it’s hard not to see why the program continues to garner acclaim and accolades. [...]
New York University Assistant Professor David Amodio (PhD.’03, Psychology) has received a significant early career award from the U.S. Government. Amodio is the winner of the 2009 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and will be recognized in a ceremony held at the White House in the near future. The PECASE program, [...]
The L&S Honors Program recently held a reception to honor several faculty members as Distinguished Honors Faculty nominated by students and staff for their contribution to teaching Honors courses and supervising honors students in research and scholarship.
This year, 10 alumni of the College of Letters & Science were named Forward Under 40 honorees. Of the twelve honorees this year, ten graduated with liberal arts degrees.
Carlos Torres, who graduated in May with a degree in Psychology, was recently featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Once struggling to learn English, student now heads to Harvard Med …
Six of UW–Madison’s most promising rising faculty have been named recipients of this year’s Romnes Faculty Fellowships.
Professor Brad Postle (Psychology) has received a 2009 H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellowship award.
Professor Diane Gooding (Psychology) has been selected an one of the UW-Madison’s Outstanding Women of Color for 2009-10!
Several member of the Department of Psychology have received Honored Instructor Awards by the Chadboune Residence College and University Housing.
Dr. Ben Hankin, MS’97, PhD’07 who earned his degree with Professor Lyn Abramson, has been has been awarded the 2010 American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution in the area of Psychopathology.
Charles Snowdon, Hilldale Professor of Psychology and Director of the L&S Honors Program, recently collaborated with composer David Teie of the University of Maryland School of Music.
Dr. David Amodio, (MS’97, PhD’03, Psychology) has received theAssociation for Psychological Science Janet Taylor Spence Early Career Award.
Professor Yuri Miyamoto (Psychology) has received a Vilas Associates Award from the Graduate School.
Six Letters & Science Honors students have received $2,000 Trewartha Senior Thesis grants.
Psychology Professor John J. Curtin recently agreed to serve as a member of the Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Additional Study section of the on the National Institute Health.
Office Hours sat down with Jenny Saffran, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and an investigator at the Waisman Center.
Psychology Professor Jenny Saffran will be the next guest on “Office Hours” September 7, 2009 at 3pm CT.
The Department of Psychology recently published the Spring 2009 online edition of “The Update” – the alumni and friends newsletter.
“Office Hours” is debuting three faculty from Letters & Science.
The Department of Psychology is pleased to announce several award winners.
