Faculty Recognition

FACULTY AWARDS AND HONORS

Ariel Rokem received a four-year renewal of a grant titled: Community-Supported Open-Source Software for Computational Neuroanatomy. The project is a long-standing collaboration with a group at Indiana University. It leverages a community-based approach to develop open-source software that is used for analysis of neuroimaging data. The software has been used in more than 1,000 scientific articles to date. The grant will support development of new methods and improvements of the existing methods, as well as dissemination of the methods to the scientific community and other stakeholders. https://reporter.nih.gov/search/mHR8lqSDEEealo-5h2o22g/project-details/10735068

Ariel Rokem was awarded the Neuro-Irv and Helga Cooper Foundation Open Science Prize for an International Project, in his role as a member of the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) steering group. This award recognizes projects, services, tools, and platforms that unlock the power of Open Science in neuroscience to advance research and collaboration for the benefit of all. The Prize recognizes BIDS for its work to standardize neuroimaging data with a community-driven approach, and for its impact through many data sharing initiatives worldwide, which has set an example for other standards.

Cynthia Levine and collaborators in the College of the Environment were awarded a 3-year grant from the National Science Foundation to study how a mentoring intervention affects the academic success and well-being of graduate student mentors and underrepresented minority undergraduate student mentees in the geosciences.

Geoffrey Boynton is this year's president of the Vision Sciences Society, which is the academic home to a few thousand vision scientists. VSS hosts its annual meeting in May. https://www.visionsciences.org/

Lucía Magis-Weinberg and Katherine Foster received a five-year, $2,366,551 grant from National Institute of Mental Health. Award title: Heterogeneity in Joint Real-time and Developmental Influences of Positive and Negative Social Media Experiences on Socioemotional Vulnerability and Psychopathology Across Adolescence. The proposed research seeks to characterize positive and negative online experiences as sources of risk and resilience for loneliness and psychopathology, studying in early and mid-adolescents, key developmental points of transformation of peer interactions.

Jen Forsyth, Katherine Foster, and Mahnoor Hyat was awarded a population health Tier 1 grant this spring. The University of Washington Population Health Initiative’s Tier 1 Pilot Research Grant program encourages new interdisciplinary collaborations among investigators for projects that address critical components of grand challenges the UW seeks to address in population health. Forsyth is Mahnoor Hyat's faculty mentor. The award title is “Working Towards Prevention: Identifying Early Predictors of Risk for Schizophrenia in Diverse Youth.”

Priscilla Lui received a four-year, $2,586,115 R01 grant from National Institute on Drug Abuse. The award title is Effects of Direct and Vicarious Discrimination on Alcohol and Cannabis Cravings: Virtual Reality Experiment. This project examines effects of both direct and vicarious racial discrimination on alcohol and cannabis use and co-use.

Randy Kyes was honored by Mahasarakham University, Thailand in recognition of his long-term partnership with the university’s Faculty (School) of Environment and Resource Studies in support of collaborative research, education, and outreach in the areas of conservation biology and global health.

Sapna Cheryan received a three-year, $618,465 grant from National Science Foundation. The award title: Promoting Intraminority Solidarity Through Intergroup Relations Framings. This project investigates how different framings of racism influence Asian Americans’ intraminority solidarity with Black Americans. It explores whether framing racism against Black Americans as the result of anti-Blackness increases Asian Americans’ sense of solidarity with Black Americans, compared to framing racism as the result of White supremacy.

Scott Murray received a five-year, $4,024,295 grant from NIH National Institute of Mental Health. The award title “Attention allocation as a computational mechanism for altered sensory processing in autism.” This project tests the hypothesis that spatial- and feature-based attention is more narrowly focused and that rapid oscillations of attention occur at a slower rate in people with autism spectrum disorder ASD.

Tabitha Kirkland was awarded a UW Diversity and Inclusion Seed Grant for her project titled: Increasing Visibility of POC in the Psychology Undergraduate Mentoring Program.

Yuichi Shoda received a two-year, $287,320 grant from National Science Foundation's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate. The award is titled “De-essentializing race: Towards a more ethical and responsible research practice for assessing and reporting participant demographics.” This project seeks to improve research practices to obtain and report racial identity information in ways that recognize and respect individuals’ identity and avoids reinforcing essentialized views of race.

FACULTY PUBLICATIONS

Ariel Rokem recently co-authored a published a paper with PNAS, titled: Human White Matter Myelinates Faster in Utero than Ex Utero. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2303491120

Ariel Rokem co-authored Data Science for Neuroimaging: An Introduction, published by Princeton University Press. https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691222752/data-science-for-neuroimaging

Cynthia Levine, Kim Bourne, Rachel Song, and Katherine Weltzien published an article, "Creating inclusive schools to reduce health and well-being disparities" in Social and Personality Psychology Compass. The article can be accessed here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/CZQ5NDBPHVEZFPUIU6WN?target=10.1111/spc3.12841

Liliana Lengua co-authored a number of articles supported by funding from the Maritz Family Foundation and the Population Health Initiative to study the likely impact of COVID-19 on the mental health on parents and their children.

Garofalo, L., Booth-LaForce, C., Nurius, P., Thompson, S., Calhoun, B., Shimomaeda, L., Lengua, L. J. (2023). Cumulative Adversity, Mindfulness, and Mental Health in First-Time Mothers Experiencing Low Income. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Calhoun, R., Thompson, S.F., Treadway, A. … Lengua, L. J. (2023). Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of Pre- and Postnatal Mindfulness-based Programs with Mothers Experiencing Low Income. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32, 3076–3089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02657-2
Lengua, L. J., Thompson, S. F., Calhoun, R., Long, R. B., Price, C., Kantrowitz-Gordon, I., Shimomaeda, L., Nurius, P., Katz, L. F., Sommerville, J., Booth-LaForce, C., Treadway, A., Metje, A., Whiley, D. J., Moini, N. (2023). Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of perinatal mindfulness-based well-being and parenting programs for low-income new mothers. Mindfulness, 14, 933–952. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02096-6
Lengua, L. J., Stavish, C. M., Green, L. M., Shimomaeda, L., Thompson, S. F., Calhoun, R., Moini, N., Smith, M. R. (2023). Pre-COVID19 Predictors of Low-Income Women’s COVID19 Appraisal, Coping and Changes in Mental Health During the Pandemic. Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23012
Long, R., Kennedy, M., Malloy Spink, K., & Lengua, L. J. (2023). Promoting college student and staff well-being through a mindfulness-based coping program. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 8(3), 1-41. https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2303034

UW Psychology lecturer Loma Pendergraft publishes an article in Nature Communications about American crows and how their brain activity when attempting to solve a tool-use task changes depending on how proficient they are. Access the article in Nature Communications here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42203-8#MOESM1

Nicole McNichols received a book deal with publisher Simon Element for her forthcoming book titled You Could Be Having Better Sex: The Science of Connection for Healthier, Hotter, and Happier Lives.

Randy Kyes has three co-authored papers published:

“Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus complex isolated from free-ranging long-tailed macaques at Kosumpee Forest Park, Maha Sarakham, Thailand,” Natapol Pumipuntu, Tawatchai Tanee, Penkhae Thamsenanupap, Pensri Kyes, Apichat Karaket, Randall C. Kyes, published in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. Access the article here: https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8070374
“Projected distribution of the westernmost subpopulation of Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis pelops) under climate change: Conservation implications of a threatened population,” Laxman Khanal, Laxmi Prasad Upadhyaya, Naresh Pandey, Dhirendra Bahadur Chand, Melina Kark, Mukesh K. Chalise, Randall C. Kyes, published in Frontiers in Conservation Science. Access the article here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1235595
“Gastro-intestinal parasites of urban rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal,” Asmita Adhikari, Narayan Prasad Koju, Babita Maharjan, Laxman Khanal, Milan Upreti, Randall C. Kyes, published in the International Journal of Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. Access the article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.007

Sheri Mizumori co-authored two articles in 2023 and has two more forthcoming publications in 2024. Congrats, Sheri!

Horner-Devine, M. C., Carrigan, C., Grant, C., Margherio, C., Mizumori, S. J. Y., Riskin, E., Simmons Ivy, J. S., & Yen, J. (2023). Peer coaching circles for ongoing faculty development. In Lindler, S, Lee, C., & High, K. (Eds.) Handbook of STEM Faculty Development. Information Age Publishing. https://www.infoagepub.com/products/Handbook-of-STEM-Faculty-Development
Miles, J. T., Kidder, K. S., & Mizumori, S. J. Y. (2023). Hippocampal beta rhythms as a bridge between sensory learning and memory-guided decision-making. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 17: 1187272. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2023.1187272
Kidder, K. S., Gillis, R., Miles, J. T., & Mizumori, S. J. Y. (in press) The medial prefrontal cortex during flexible decisions: Evidence for its role in distinct working memory processes. Hippocampus. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.22.541807
Margherio, C., Swan, A. L., Horner-Devine, M. C., Mizumori, S. J. Y., & Yen, J. (in press) Counterspaces as a site of network formation within academia. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.

Tyler Jimenez is co-authoring a book to be published by Lexington Books titled Frankfurt School Criminology: A Theory of Capitalist Individualism.

Tyler Jimenez also published an article investigating impact of neoliberalism on COVID-19's uneven spread in the U.S.: Schmitt, H. J., Jimenez, T., & Young, I. F. Pandemic precarity: A multi-level study of neoliberal precarity and COVID-related outcomes. (2023). Social and Personality Psychology Compass. Access the article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12902

Wendy Stone co-authored three papers:

Bravo, A., Ibañez, L.V., Scott, S., Dick, C., Carpentier, P., & Stone, W.L. (2023). Telehealth delivery in Part C early intervention: Provider and caregiver perspectives. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 4545-4559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05734-5
Tagavi, D., Dick, C., Attar, S., Ibanez, L.V., & Stone, W.L. (advance online publication). The implementation of the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers in Part C Early Intervention Programs: An 18-Month Follow-up. Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221086329
Tagavi, D.M., Benavidez, H.R., Kalmus, T.C, Perryman, C.C., Stone, W.L. (in press). Caregiver attributions of toddlers’ behaviors: A comparison between groups of children with differing developmental concerns. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05879-3

Yuichi Shoda and co-authors Adam Smiley (Ph.D. '22), and Jessica Glazier (Ph.D. '22) just published an article in Royal Society Open Science titled “Null Regions: A Unified Conceptual Framework for Statistical Inference.” https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.221328

TEACHING

Nicole McNichols continues to teach the largest class on campus, Psych 210, Diversity of Human Sexuality, offering comprehensive, sex positive, sex education to over 4,000 UW undergraduates a year.

Yuichi Shoda created a new undergraduate laboratory course called “Laboratory in Personalized Behavioral Science”, to be offered every quarter. In this lab, students will use time-series analyses, randomized experiments, and observational studies to discover predictable patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, asking questions such as: what makes you tick? The last time a new laboratory course was added to the curriculum was 11 years ago.

IN THE NEWS

Andy Meltzoff was elected to the National Academy of Education. This prestigious group of scholars are selected for their impact on the field of education. The NAE is the nation’s highest scientific body in education sciences, often consulted by the White House, Congress, and others.

Jane Simoni was selected as the NIH Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and Director of the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR). She joined NIH on July 30, 2023, to lead OBSSR’s efforts to advance and coordinate behavioral and social sciences research at NIH, working closely with NIH Institutes and Centers. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/dr-jane-m-simoni-selected-associate-director-behavioral-social-sciences-research-nih

Lucía Magis-Weinberg discusses What is Technology’s Role in the Loneliness Crisis, in this Al Jazeera/The Stream story: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/the-stream/2023/6/8/nofriends-what-is-technologys-role-in-the-loneliness-crisis

Lynn Fainsilber Katz shares a kind moment that reminded her that when life gets hard, you don’t have to do it alone, in this NPR, Unsung Hero Series from Hidden Brain. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/30/1196420828/good-news-stranger-help-support

Peter Kahn was recently featured in a PBS documentary on The Human Footprint, focusing on the psychology of humans adapting to dense urban environments.

Peter Kahn was interviewed by Brainfacts.org, an initiative of the Society for Neuroscience. Peter discusses how environmental generational amnesia affects our mental health.
https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/thinking-and-awareness/2023/how-environmental-generational-amnesia-affects-our-mental-health-072423

Priscilla Lui was featured in the Career Development Spotlight, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Research Training, Diversity, and Disparities Newsletter. https://nida.nih.gov/research/research-training-career-development/newsletter/october-2023

Priscilla Lui served on the American Psychological Association (APA) Working Group for Journal Reporting Guidelines for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice in Psychological Science, which helped develop the newest APA journal reporting standards. The working group just released these new standards, the Journal Article Reporting Standards for Race, Ethnicity, and Culture (JARS–REC). The JARS-REC provide guidance and best practices to authors, reviewers, and editors on discussing race, ethnicity, and culture within scientific manuscripts in the field of psychology.

Priscilla Lui discusses how travel can help heal trauma, in this Northwest Asian Weekly article. https://nwasianweekly.com/2023/07/healing-through-travel-cross-country-road-trip-reconnects-three-generations

Priscilla Lui was quoted in a publication in Axios Seattle on therapists of color representation in Seattle.
https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/22/bipoc-therapists-seattle

Sapna Cheryan weighs in on whether the advice to “follow your passions” is truly good advice for graduates, in this NPR story. https://www.kuow.org/stories/words-in-review-follow-your-passions

POST-DOC & RESEARCH SCIENTIST HONORS, AWARDS, NEWS

Research scientist Eun Joo Kim received a one-year, $39,625 grant from the UW Royalty Research Fund. The award is for her work titled “Corticolimbic Dynamics of Naturalistic Risky Decision-making in a Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.” This project uses naturalistic behavioral paradigms to understand Alzheimer's disease at the level of neural network function.

Postdoctoral scholar Jonas Dora received a two-year, $349,250 K99 grant from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Professor Kevin King is his mentor. The award title: Exploring Affect-Motivated Alcohol Use as a Value-based Decision-Making Process. The K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award launches a career as an independent scientist. This K99 phase will provide intensive training in the combined study of alcohol use with experimental, ecological momentary assessment, and computational approaches, and will position Dr. Dora to make substantial contributions to the field of alcohol research.

Postdoctoral scholar Kimberly Meier (Ione Fine lab) joined the University of Houston College of Optometry as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Vision Sciences. Congratulations, Kimberly!

Research scientist Sarah K. Faegre received a one-year, $140,901 grant from US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. The award title: Aga Genomics and Disease. This project will primarily benefit the critically endangered Åga bird and may also benefit other native forest birds on Rota, in Northern Mariana Islands. Objectives are to protect extant genetic diversity in the Åga, identify genes and develop a screening tool for wild fledglings.

Sarah K. Faegre also received a $60,021 subaward from the Zoological Society of San Diego (San Diego Zoo). The award is for work titled “Rear and Release Population Augmentation of the Åga or Mariana Crow.” This project continues research on survival of an endangered species, including artificial incubation and hand rearing, native foraging and pre-release antipredator training, sampling to monitor for disease in hand-reared birds, and investigation of factors leading to nesting failure of wild and captive-reared birds using nest monitoring cameras.