Newsletter Section

Research

Autism Symposium Welcomes New Director Wendy Stone

Photo of Wendy StoneOn October 29, the UW Department of Psychology and the Center on Human Development and Disability co-sponsored a welcome event for the new director of the University of Washington Autism Center, Dr. Wendy Stone. Dr. Stone is professor of psychology and holds the Susan and Richard Fade Endowed Chair for the UW Autism Center. The symposium, entitled "Autism Science: From Research to Clinic and Back Again," was held at the Museum of History and Industry, and attended by more than 220 individuals from the University and the broader community, including representatives from local schools and medical professionals.

The symposium consisted of invited presentations as well as discussion of ideas for integrating findings from diverse fields to better understand and treat autism. The keynote speaker was Pat Levitt, Ph.D., Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. Guest speakers included:  Raphe Bernier, Ph.D., UW Department of Psychiatry and UW Autism Center; Annette Estes, Ph.D., UW Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and UW Autism Center; Jamie McPartland, Ph.D., Yale Child Study Center; Jessica Sommerville, Ph.D., UW Department of Psychology; and John Welsh, Ph.D., UW Department of Pediatrics and Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute.

Over Five Million Dollars in Federal Stimulus Funds Awarded to Department of Psychology Faculty

Recovery Logo FedThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was a federal stimulus plan intended to create jobs and promote investment and consumer spending during the recession. One component of the plan was to infuse the government’s two largest research funding agencies – that National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) – with funds to empower the nation’s best scientists to discover new cures, advance technology, and solve some of our greatest health and scientific challenges. ARRA provided the NIH with upwards of $10 billion dollars and the NSF $3 billion dollars. The goal was to stimulate hiring of new scientists, enhance scientific infrastructure, and jump-start new research programs that would support future economic growth. One of the challenges faced by both the NIH and NSF was the stipulation that the ARRA funds had to be spent rapidly, within two years. This not only presented difficulties for the agencies in administering the funds but challenges to researchers who typically take a longer-view to the needs of their research programs.

The Psychology Department has a long history of successfully competing for government sponsored research funds, often ranking first nationally among psychology departments in NIH sponsored research support. In keeping with this tradition, our department was very successful in attracting ARRA funds with eight of our faculty having ARRA-related grants totally over $5 million dollars. The topics of the grants reflect the research diversity of our department and include faculty studying cognitive, clinical, child clinical and developmental psychology. Specific recipients include:

Name Title Agency Amount
Scott Murray
Image of Scott Murray
Neural Mechanisms of Object Size Perception NSF $850,000
Marsha Linehan
Image of Marsha Linehan
Curriculum for Training DBT Clinician-Scientists NIH $80,000
Peter Kahn
Image of Peter Kahn
Social and Moral Relationships with Personified Robots NSF $1,200,000
Robert McMahon
Image of Robert McMahon
Multisite Prevention of Adolescent Conduct Problems NIH $195,000
Alan Marlatt
Image of Alan Marlatt
Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention: Efficacy and Mechanisms NIH $1,400,000
Kevin King
Image of Kevin King 
Emergence of Adolsescent Substance Use Problems from the Externalizing Spectrum NIH $855,000
Liliana Lengua
Image of Lili Lengua
Low Income, Family Disruption, and the Development of Effortful Control NIH $450,000
Jessica Sommerville
Image of Jane Simoni 
The Neural Basis of Early Action Perception NIH $95,000

Michael Posner Receives the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award

Kyes helping a festival attendee practice pipetting.
Michael Posner receiving
the National Medal of Science

University of Washington alumnus Michael Posner (BS Physics, 1957; MS Psychology, 1959), was recognized by the College of Arts and Sciences for his outstanding contributions to the field of psychology. Professor Posner was recognized for his lifelong scientific achievements during a faculty lunch reception on October 12, 2010. Despite officially retiring in 2000, Professor Posner maintains an active research program and presented his most recent findings in a seminar the following day. He has been a faculty member at the University of Oregon since 1965 and has received many national and international honors and awards including the prestigious National Medal of Science in 2008 – our government’s highest scientific award.

Kyes helping a festival attendee practice pipetting.
Michael Posner, Dean Ana Mari Cauce,
Associate Chair Scott Murray,
Divisional Dean Werner Stuetzle,
and Chair Sheri Mizumori

Professor Posner has been a pioneer in the study of the relationship between the mind and brain. In particular, his work on attention and consciousness revolutionized the field of psychology. He was one of the first scientists to use imaging techniques to localize mental functions in the brain and is considered by many to be the father of modern cognitive neuroscience. His more recent research has focused on how attention and self-control emerge in children. In addition, he has led an effort to understand the genetic and environmental factors – including parenting quality – that affect developmental processes in early childhood.

Professor Posner’s research spans nearly five decades and has been both revolutionary and all-encompassing. Nearly every area of research in our Department – cognitive, developmental, clinical, child clinical, social, and behavioral neuroscience – has been affected by contributions from his research. It was honor to have him visit and we are proud that he is an alumnus of our Department and University.

Faculty Accomplishments

David Barash
Image of David Barash 

David Barash delivered the William D. Hamilton Memorial Lecture in Evolutionary Science at the University of New England, in Portland, Maine. 

Theodore (Ted)Beauchaine
Theodore Beauchaine 

The Department of Psychologyannounced its annual awards for 2010. The Distinguished Teaching Award for graduate students, given for outstanding service and excellence in teaching, went to Andrew Bock and Sarah Jensen Racz. The Distinguished Service Award for co-authoring a successful proposal which resulted in a major upgrade of department computing facilities for graduate and undergraduate students went to Andrew Bock and Rick Anthony Cruz. The Graduate Student Service Awards honoring graduate students who have consistently demonstrated service to the Department of Psychology as a whole and to the graduate student community specifically went  to Andrew Bock, Rick Anthony Cruz, Lori Wu Malahy and Clara Wilkins. The Earl (Buz) and Mary Lou Hunt Endowed Fellowship for Graduate Students in Psychology, given to graduate students conducting research outside their advisers' grants went to Berit Olsen and Tami Rigterink. Winners of the Alcor Graduate Fellowships, given by the late Harry and Claire Peterson to support graduate students in the summer, were Andrew Bock, Benjamin Drury, Gareth Holman and Berit Olsen. And the Davida Teller Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award, given by the Graduate Program Action Committee for outstanding service to and excellence in graduate mentorship and training went to Theodore Beauchaine. 

Ilene Bernstein
Ilene Bernstein

Nicholas A. Nasrallah and Ilene Bernstein had a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It was subsequently picked up by Scientific American, National Geographic, Science, Discover Magazine, Discovery Health, USNews, and Scientific American Podcast.  “Adolescent alcohol exposure may lead to long-term risky decision making”.  Nicholas’ advisor is Ilene Bernstein.  Tom Yang, former Psych undergraduate researcher is the third co-author.

Michael Beecher
Michael Beecher 

Michael Beecher’s work with sparrows was featured in the October 20 on-line Seattle Post-Intelligencer  From baby bird babble to full song, sparrows learn to communicate by listening,”

Michael Beecher was recipient of the 2009 Davida Teller Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award

Ana Mari Cauce
Ana Mari Cauce 

Ana Mari Cauce’s trip to Cuba was featured in University Week. Cauce goes 'home' to country she left 50 years ago.

Sapna Cheryan
Sapna Cheryan 

Sapna Cheryan was one of six faculty and postdoctoral mentors who were honored this year with an Undergraduate Research Mentor Award. She was recognized at the opening of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on May 21st, at Mary Gates Hall.

Sapna Cheryan was a guest on King 5's show, New Day Northwest, to discuss the benefits of sports for girls. "A new study proves that girls who play sports are more successful," 

Ellen Covey
Ellen Covey 

Ellen Covey was interviewed by NPR for an article about noise at the World Cup matches. "Top Four Tricks To Drown Out Those Droning Vuvuzelas,"  The story was picked up by University Week

Fred Fiedler
Fred Fiedler 

Fred Fiedler, Professor Emeritus, received the International Leadership Association's Lifetime Achievement Award at its global conference in October. He was honored for his accomplishments in the development and enhancement of the field of leadership.  He was also honored by the Foundation for Personality and Social Psychology's Heritage Fund Initiative as an Inaugural Mentor. http://www.ila-net.org/conferences/Legacy1.htm  www.foundationpsp.org/wall_of_fame.html

Ione Fine
Ione Fine 

Ione Fine was elected to be a Fellow of the Optical Society of America. OSA Fellows are members who have served with distinction in the advancement of optics. 

Earl “Buz” Hunt
Earl "Buzz" Hunt

Earl “Buz” Hunt was elected president of the International Society for Intelligence Research for 2011.

Earl "Buz" Hunt received the Association for Psychological Science's 2011 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award. This award is the highest honor conferred by APS. It honors distinguished APS Members for a lifetime of outstandidng contributions to applied psychological research. He will receive the award at the opening ceremony of the 2011 APS convention in Washington, D.C. A brochure about the Award, including his citation, will be distributed to the entire APS membership, as will stories about the Award in an upcoming Observer.  Buz has been invited to give an address at the convention.

Earl "Buz" Hunt received a Lifetime Achievement award from the International Society for Intelligence Research for his contributions to the scientific study of intelligence.

Susan Joslyn
Susan Joslyn 

Susan Joslyn’s work on weather forecasting was in USA Today.

Jeansok Kim
Jeansok Kim

Jeansok Kim was awarded the 2010 Pavlovian Research Award. The award, consisting of a certificate and citation, honors members of the Society for significant research accomplishments.  The Pavlovian Society is dedicated to the scientific study of behavior and promotion of interdisciplinary scientific communication.

Randy Kyes
Randy Kyes 

Randy Kyes was interviewed by KIRO radio in which he compared psychological impacts of the devastation of the Indonesian tsunami and the Haiti earthquake.

Liliana Lengua
Lillana Lengua 


Liliana Lengua is co-author of a paper published in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry and highlighted by UW News and Information Services. “New links among alcohol abuse, depression, obesity in young women found.” 

Janxin Leu
Janxin Leu 

Janxin Leu received the Asian American Psychological Association's Division of Women award for her research on acculturation among immigrant Asian women.

Marsha Linehan
Marsha Linehan 

Marsha Linehan was featured in a Forbes Magazine article, September 13. "The mental health industry ignores the 35,000 people a year who commit suicide. A few researchers are trying to change that." "The Forgotten Patients". She's also the focus of a recent Forbes blog article "The Woman Who Stops Patients from Killing Themselves".

Marsha Linehan was interviewed in the May/June APS Observer for the "Champions of Psychology" feature. 

Marsha Linehan received the New York-Presbyterian Hospital's 2010 Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Field of Severe Personality Disorders.

Marsha Linehan's work is mentioned in the February 25 New York Times article: "Teen Moodiness, or Borderline Personality Disorder?

Marsha Linehan’s research plenary address at the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Convention became an article in NAMI’s Advocate magazine, September 2009. “The evolution and revolution of dialectical behavior therapy.” 

Marsha Linehan was featured in the NY Times Health column for her work on her 'very hot' treatment of borderline personality disorder.  

Alan Marlatt
Alan Marlatt

Alan Marlatt is recipient of the 2010 APA Division 50 Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Public Interest Award. The award is in recognition of his work and its impact on addictions.

Alan Marlatt received the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy's Career/Lifetime Achievement Award at the Association's convention in San Francisco in mid-November.

Alan Marlatt was honored by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies national conference with the lifetime achievement award from the Addictive Behaviors Special Interest Group. 

Alan Marlatt was rated by ScienceWatch.com as one of the top 20 researchers in the country in the special topic of underage/college drinking. 

Andrew Meltzoff
Andrew Meltzoff

King TV’s “Learning for Life” special opened with interviews with Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff along with a visit to I-LABS. 

Andrew Meltzoff and Patricia Kuhl interviewed on KING-TV January 9th.
The science is remarkable: infants, toddlers and preschoolers all soaking up knowledge faster than we ever thought possible.

Andrew Meltzoff was featured in the first episode of the PBS series "This Emotional Life." "Paul Allen-conceived PBS series looks at human emotions."

Sean O'Donnell
Sean O'Donnell

Sean O'Donnell's consulting work with a National Geographic film crew was featured in the series, Great Migrations. Sean's work (all off camera!) filming the segment on army ant behavior aired in the Need to Breed episode on Sunday November 7th on the National Geographic Channel.

 Sean O'Donnell was recently elected as Vice-Chair for Research for the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). As Vice-Chair, Sean's insights, ideas, and perspective will be highly influential in determining the future direction of research funding by OTS for many years to come. OTS provides leadership in education, research and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. OTS conducts graduate and undergraduate education, facilitates research, participates in tropical forest conservation, maintains three biological stations in Costa Ri   and conducts environmental education programs.

 

Irwin and Barbara Sarason
Irwin Sarason
Barbara Sarason

Irwin and Barbara Sarason guest-edited the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships which is devoted to reviews and discussions of topics related to social support.  The entire issue can be accessed by typing the journal’s name in the title space of the UW Library’s online catalog.

Jane Simoni
Jane Simoni 


Jane Simoni is one of two individuals who received the 2010 Outstanding Achievement Awards from the APA Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns at the annual convention in San Diego. Among the accomplishments for which she was cited is her “research on the health of indigenous lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations has provided a wealth of data with which to change the minds and practices of many who work with these most vulnerable populations.”

Ron Smith
Ron Smith

Ron Smith and Frank Smoll were profiled in an article in the April issue of the APA magazine, Monitor on Psychology. The article presents an overview of their sport psychology research and applied activities, along with a description of their current Youth Enrichment in Sports project (www.y-e-sports.com).

A study by Frank Smoll and Ron Smith was featured in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology Journal, the Digest Section. "Coach-created climate predicts season-long goal orientation."  Vol. 31, No 6, December 2009.

 

Frank Smoll
Frank Smoll 

The Mastery Approach to Coaching, developed by Frank Smoll and Ron Smith, was the feature topic of a recent Fox Sports Radio show.

Frank Smoll and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll were interviewed for an article entitled "The coach's approach: From the sports field to every day, local coaches share how to win the game of life" 

Frank Smoll was interviewed for an August 25 New York Times article that focused on the use of technology in youth sports. "Can't Make Your Child's Game? Break Out the Laptop"

Frank Smoll was interviewed for "Teacher or tyrant? What do you do when your kid's hard-driving coach - or ballet teacher - steps over the line into full-fledged cruelty?" for the Chicago Tribune. 

Frank Smoll was interviewed for the July issue of Orange County Parenting Magazine on the harmful effects of excessive parental pressure on young athletes "Buckling Under Pressure."

Frank Smoll was interviewed for an article in online ESPN magazine. The piece focuses on parents who coach their own children in sports. "Next Level: For how long? The perils of parent coaching in girls youth basketball

A study by Frank Smoll and Ron Smith was featured in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology Journal, the Digest Section.  "Coach-created climate predicts season-long goal orientation."  Vol. 31, No 6, December 2009.

Wendy Stone
Wendy Stone

 
Wendy Stone was quoted in an msnbc article. “Autism linked to jaundice in newborns, study finds