psychology honors thesis vanderbilt

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Department Of Medicine, Health, and Society

Honors Program

Honors is a selective, two-semester program of individual undergraduate research, supervised by faculty advisers. Honors candidates propose, research, and write a thesis that contributes to existing scholarly literature in the chosen field of study. To satisfy department requirements, the thesis must examine some aspect of health and health care in its social and cultural contexts.

Requirements

• 3.3 cumulative grade point average
• 3.3 cumulative grade point average in the Department of Medicine, Health, and Society
• Honors-related coursework during their senior year
• An Honors thesis to be submitted no later than two weeks before the end of classes in the spring of the senior year
• Successful completion of an oral examination focusing on the topic of the thesis

Honors thesis students enroll in MHS 4998 (3 credits) in fall semester senior year followed by MHS 4999 (3 credits) in the spring semester. Students enrolled in MHS 4998 are expected to meet regularly with their faculty mentor and produce a draft chapter of the honors thesis project. During the spring semester, students meet with their faculty advisor as needed. Honors students are also eligible for enrollment in MHS graduate-level methods courses.

How to Apply

Completed applications are due by April 1 of the applicant’s junior year and should be submitted via Redcap form .

Please include in your application:

• MHS honors program information .
• The thesis proposal.
• A letter of recommendation from the faculty member who has agreed to be your thesis adviser. The letter of recommendation should be emailed separately by the faculty member.

Current Honors Students

Charu balamurugan.

Charu majors in Medicine, Health, & Society and Biological Sciences. On campus, she contributes to mental health awareness and equity both on- and off-campus as an Ingram Scholar and Head Resident of Warren College, while also working within Active Minds, Katie’s Art Project, Dismas House of Nashville, the TDMHSAS Young Adult Leadership Council, and, creatively, Agni. Within the honors program, she works with Dr. Kirsty Clark to investigate mental health of incarcerated youth across axes of sexual and gender minority and racial and ethnic minority statuses.

Lohitha Basa

Lohitha is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society with a concentration in Health Behaviors and Health Sciences. On campus, she is an active member of Vanderbilt Students Volunteer for Science, American Medical Students Association , and the South Asian Cultural Exchange. She also is an  undergraduate research assistant in the Language Neuroscience Laboratory and the Reproductive Politics Laboratory. Outside of school, she is an intern at the Sexual Assault Center. After completing her undergraduate degree, Lohitha plans to pursue medical school. Her research will analyze racial minority status, healthcare access, and reporting of sexual violence in adolescents. While in the honors program, Lohitha will work with Dr. Gilbert Gonzales.

Anna Chang (she/her) is a senior double majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Child Development. On campus, she serves as the President of the Asian American Student Association (AASA) and Co-President of Pre-Nursing Society. She is also involved in Vandy Sex Ed and Confidance. While in the honors program, Anna will be working with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James through the Reproductive Politics Lab to explore how religion impacts young adults’ perspectives on abortion in Nashville.

Omotayo Fasan

Omotayo is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society with a concentration in inequality, intersectionality, and health justice and minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies. On campus, she is a Women’s Center Ambassadore and an undergraduate research assistant in the HOPE Lab. After completing her undergraduate degree, Omotayo plans to attend medical school. In the honors program, Omotayo will be working with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James to study comprehensive sexual health curriculums and their inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, in the hopes of creating one.

Minoli Fernando

Minoli is a senior double majoring in Environmental Sociology and Medicine, Health, and Society. On campus, she is a resident advisor in Branscomb and a learning assistant in Physics for the Life Sciences. She is also an active member of the Vanderbilt Swim Club, SPEAR, and Studio V. Minoli is an aspiring physician who hopes to help better connect environmental health research with clinical care. While in the MHS honors program, Minoli will work with Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald and Dr. JuLeigh Petty to conduct geospatial analysis to determine where sensitive subpopulations are at greatest risk to exposure of regulated drinking water contaminants per the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Veeraj Shah

Veeraj is a senior majoring in MHS and minoring in Neuroscience. On campus, he serves on the executive board of the Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science and STEM Speaks, which he founded in his junior year. He also works as a research assistant in the Duvall Lab in the Biomedical Engineering Department. He is working with Dr. Metzl to study social stigmas revolving around COVID-19.

Samantha Joesphson

Samantha Josephson working with Dr. Jaime Bruce and Dr. Jessika Boles to research the psychosocial impact of parental cancer on children by surveying Child Life Specialists.

Justin Luckner

Justin Luckner is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society and Economics, while minoring in Spanish and Cinema & Media Arts. On campus, he co-leads the Vanderbilt Programming Board Speaker’s Committee, which helps to bring interesting and new perspectives to Vanderbilt’s campus through speaking engagements. Upon graduation from Vanderbilt, Justin hopes to work in government. While in the MHS honors program, he worked with Dr. Aimi Hamraie to investigate the relationship between food and immigrant communities in Nashville, TN, culminating in a 40-60 page thesis paper.

Anika Mahajan

Anika is a senior double majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and Spanish. On campus, she is the president of Doctors Without Borders and is involved in the South Asian Cultural Exchange and the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity. She is also a part of the Bonami Lab at VUMC and conducts research on the role of B cells in Type I diabetes. After completing her undergraduate degree, Anika plans to attend medical school. While in the honors program, Anika will be working with Dr. Celina Callahan-Kapoor to investigate Type II diabetes care and treatment for Hispanic populations in Nashville.

Elisa is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and Political Science and minoring in Data Science and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. On campus, she is involved in the Asian American Student Association, the Undergraduate Political Science Association, and Vanderbilt’s independent student-run radio station WRVU Nashville. She is also a grader for DS 1000, a teaching assistant for MHS 2260, and an undergraduate research assistant in the Clark Lab as part of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. While in the honors program, Elisa will be working with Dr. Kirsty Clark to explore the disparities in academic outcomes among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth in different educational settings (specifically, public schools and alternative learning centers).

Angela Qian

Angela is a senior majoring in Cognitive Studies and Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Neuroscience. Outside of class, she is involved in iLEAD, AASA, Vanderbilt Gymnastics Club, and Alpha Phi Omega. She is also a research assistant in the Learning and NeuroDevelopment Lab. While in the honors program, Angela will be working with Dr. Meg Saylor to explore children’s question-asking behaviors and their relation to mental wellbeing.

Brina Ratangee

Brina is a junior double majoring in Medicine, Health & Society and Neuroscience with a minor in History. On campus, she serves as News Editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler and President of InterAxon, as well as is involved in oSTEM, Alzheimer’s Buddies, Quiz Bowl, and Vanderbilt Student Government. She is also a Learning Assistant for BSCI 1510 and a researcher at the Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine that also draws upon her interests in public health, research, and journalism. While in the honors program, Brina will be working with Dr. Lucie Kalousová to investigate the caregiver burden for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nitya is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and minoring in Data Science and South Asian Language and Culture. At Vanderbilt, Nitya is involved with the Vanderbilt International Relations Association (VIRA), KEFI Art Collective, and also works as an undergraduate research assistant in the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. While in the Honors Program, Nitya will be working with Dr. Tara McKay to explore the impact of HIV criminalization laws on normative behavior practices among people living with HIV (PLWH).

Savanah Shelley

Savanah is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society with a concentration in Health and Behavior Science. As a member of the Pre-Dental Society and Association of Latin American Students, she actively engages with her academic and cultural communities. Savanah plans to attend dental school to pursue a career in dental surgery. She currently interns with Dr. Nabors in Nashville to gain hands-on experience in dentistry. Inspired by her passion for dentistry, Savanah is working with Professor Jaime Bruce to analyze the racial disparities in oral healthcare.

Kenia Virgo

Kenia Virgo is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Chemistry and Biology. On campus, she serves as co-President of the Caribbean Students Association and as an EDI Chair for the National Eating Disorders Association. She also serves as a mentor and tutor within Nashville and her home community. While in the honors program, she will work with Dr. Lauren Mitchell to explore the public health implications and impacts of medical mistrust within historically marginalized communities.

Chaewon Kim

Chaewon is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society with a concentration in Global health, and minoring in Data Science. On campus, she serves as a co-chair on the MHS Student Advisory Board and is a TA for MHS 4010. She is also the co-chair for the Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health Student Advisory Council (VIGH SAC) and involved with Asian American Christian Fellowship. While in the MHS honors program, Chaewon will be working with Dr. Heidi Bludau to assess the extent of malnutrition in Brazil among children through the analysis of social and environmental determinants exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vamsi Veeramachaneni

Vamsi majored in Medicine, Health, and Society and Neuroscience with a minor in Biological Sciences. On campus she served as co-president of the Red Cross at Vanderbilt, Vice President of Project RISHI, and VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Panhellenic Council. She also worked in the Zhou Lab within the VUMC Brain Institute. While in the Honors Program, Vamsi worked with Dr. Timothy McNamara to examine the multifaceted ways in which chronic stress can influence working memory in the face of distractions amidst college students.

Fiona is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and Neuroscience. Outside of classes, she is involved in the Asian American Student Association and the Taiwanese-American Student Association, which she co-founded. She is also a research assistant for Dr. Carissa Cascio at VUMC and Dr. Craig Bailey at Yale Child Study Center. In the Honors program, she will work with Dr. Heidi Bludau to explore and compare immigrant mental health in Denmark and the US as she studies abroad in Copenhagen.

Past Honors Students

Liliana capiola.

Liliana majored in medicine, health, and society with minors in environmental and sustainability studies and biology. On campus, she served on the E. Bronson Ingram College Council and the MHS Student Advisory Board, and was involved with VSVS, SPEAR, and VEMS. Liliana is a certified EMR, and after completing her undergraduate degree, planned to go to medical school to pursue a career in emergency medicine. While in the honors program, Liliana will work with Dr. Tara McKay to explore the relationship between climate change and mental health.

Amanda Kouaho

Amanda majored in medicine, health, and society and cellular and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry. On campus, she was the founder and president of United Against Inequities in Disease, vice president of Cards for a Cause, and served as a STEM tutor for student-athletes. She was also a part of the Irish Lab at VUMC and conducts research on Glioblastoma cellular identities. While in the Honors program, Amanda worked with Dr. Lucie Kalousová to explore the relationship between maternal health literacy and positive maternal health outcomes.

Cassidy Latchford

Cassidy majored in child development and medicine, health, and society with a concentration in intersectionality, inequality, and health justice. On campus, she was a VUceptor; the senior advisor of Vandy Votes; a teaching assistant for Social and Personality Development; an undergraduate research assistant in the Laboratory for Organ Regeneration, Recovery, and Replacement; and secretary of Alpha Phi Omega. After completing her undergraduate degree, Cassidy planned to pursue medical school. Her research will analyze the influence of peer norms on substance use among LGBTQ+ adolescents. While in the Honors program, Cassidy worked with Dr. Kirsty Clark.

Nikol Nikolova

Nikol majored in MHS and minored in biological sciences and German studies. On campus, she was a member of a sorority, serves as the vice president of member development for the Panhellenic Council, worked as a research intern at the Biggs Lab, and plays club ultimate frisbee. Her dream of becoming a genetic counselor inspired the topic of her Honors research. She worked with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James to study patient satisfaction with cancer genetic counseling.

Hemanji (Hershey) Rajpal

Hershey double majored in neuroscience and medicine, health, and society with a minor in South Asian studies. On campus, she was involved in the South Asian Cultural Exchange (SACE), Vanderbilt Performing Arts Community (VPAC), BhangraDores, and InterAxon. She was also a TA for NSC 3245 and worked as a clinical research coordinator on the Neuro-Stroke Team in VUMC’s Department of Neurosurgery. While in the MHS Honors program, Hershey worked with Dr. Celina Callahan-Kapoor to investigate and characterize the diverse and dynamic care processes and caregiver burden involved in post-stroke recovery and rehabilitation.

Maia majored in medicine, health, and society and minored in chemistry. On campus, she served on the executive board of the Vanderbilt Chapter of the American Women in Medicine Association, Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, and Katie’s Art Project, which she founded her sophomore year. She also worked as a research assistant in the Conversation Lab in the Department of Psychology and Human Development and the Day Lab at VUMC Division of Clinical Pharmacology. After completing her undergraduate degree, Maia planned to attend medical school to pursue a career in pediatric surgery. While in the Honors program, Maia worked with Dr. Jessika Boles to explore parent/caregiver perception of care in their child’s transition from the pediatric intensive care unit to acute care or step-down unit.

Doah majored in psychology and medicine, health, and society. Outside of classes, she was involved with Active Minds and Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science. She was also a research assistant at the Biggs Lab as well as the Culture, Emotion, and Health Lab at NYU. In the Honors program, Doah worked with Dr. Elizabeth Biggs to look at the composition of social supports and networks and their effects on parents of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jack majored in medicine, health, and society with a minor in chemistry. On campus, he was involved in Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, Seniors Give Back, and volunteered as a tutor for middle school children in the Nashville area. His research investigated the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the mental health of the U.S. population and how outcomes varied between different age cohorts and geographical regions. While in the Honors program, Jack worked with Dr. Gilbert Gonzales.

Mikayla Alsopp

Elizabeth dang.

Elizabeth pursued a dual degree in medicine, health, and society, and communication of science and technology. Outside of classes, she was a researcher in an immunogenetics lab at VUMC, a musician and orchestra manager of the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra, and a volunteer with various science and music organizations. Elizabeth is interested in evaluating approaches to health communication by medical professionals and trust between the public and medical professionals. While in the Honors program, she worked with Professor Alexander Jacobs.

Camryn Dinvaut

Camryn is a senior majoring in medicine, health, and society and French. On campus, she was involved in Vanderbilt Students Volunteer for Science, Vanderbilt Initiative for Public Health Equality, and Women’s Club Volleyball, where she served as a Community Outreach Co-Chair in her sophomore year. While in the Honors program, Camryn worked with Dr. Rosevelt Noble to explore how the experiences and mental health of Black individuals is impacted by occupational stressors in professional environments.

Madelyn Fahhoum

Madelyn majored in medicine, health, and society with minors in chemistry and Islamic studies. She served as the Diversity Showcase Chair for MOSAIC and as a volunteer crisis counselor for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, having received her training through Vanderbilt CITV. While in the MHS Honors program, Madelyn worked with Dr. Celina Callahan-Kapoor to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on incarcerated populations domestically.

Joseph (Joey) Fontana

Joey majored in medicine, health, and society with a minor in neuroscience. On campus, he was involved in Vanderbilt for Veterans, Men’s Club Soccer, VSVS, VSG, and was an LA for BSCI 1510. He also worked as a research assistant in the Johnson Laboratory in the Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, researching breast cancer metastasis to bone and breast cancer dormancy in bone. While in the Honors program, Joey worked with Dr. Gilbert Gonzales to explore veteran mental health and its associated risk factors.

Taylor Guzi

Taylor double majored in medicine, health, and society, and psychology with a minor in Spanish. On campus she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and pre-nursing society. In Nashville, she volunteered as a mentor for high school students in MNPS and trained to be a Spanish interpreter at Siloam Health. She worked with Dr. Dominique Béhague, researching how an individual’s cultural background may influence the way they think about and respond to trauma, particularly in terms of cultural and historical trauma.

Corinne Hamrick

Corinne majored in medicine, health, and society, and minored in both anthropology and Mediterranean studies. Her interests lie at the intersection of bioethics and the medical encounter, and she hoped to attain an M.D. and M.A. in bioethics. She was on the executive board of Hearts for Homeless Nashville, serving as the marketing director and fundraising assistant, was the personnel chair of the Chi Omega Fraternity, was a writer for Synesis, and worked as an MCAT tutor. Her Honors thesis focused on treatment over the objection of incompetent patients and aimed to create a standardization of practices surrounding ethical review process in acute care facilities, under the advisement of Dr. Joseph Fanning with the Center for Medical Ethics at VUMC.

Alina Husain

Alina majored in medicine, health, and society and public policy studies with a minor in history of art. On campus, she served on the executive board of the Undergraduate Honor Council, chaired the Student Services Fee committee, and volunteered in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the PENCIL program. Her research focused on understanding the relationship between reproductive healthcare policies and the prevalence of gender-based violence across the United States. While in the Honors program, Alina worked with Professor Sophie Bjork-James.

Anish Katta

Anish majored in medicine, health, and society. On campus, he was on the board of Project RISHI, part of the American Medical Students Association, and oVRcome. While in the Honors program, Anish worked with Dr. Jonathan Metzl on his thesis, which explored the effects of COVID-19 on physician mental health.

Victoria King

Victoria majored in medicine, health, and society. On campus, she was the Zoom Coordinator for TAP, an after-school tutoring program for children, president of Cards for a Cause, and was a member of the NAACP. In addition, Victoria served as a student assistant for the Brightspace Support Team. Her research centered around the pandemic, studying the effects of COVID-19 on Black women. She planned to use this research to develop solutions that will eliminate systemic consequences in future pandemics. While in the Honors program, Victoria worked with Professor Tara McKay.

Judy double majored in psychology and medicine, health, and society. On campus, she was involved in Best Buddies, Alternative Spring Break, and the Asian American Student Association. She also worked in a research lab studying melanoma and breast cancer. After completing her undergraduate degree, Judy hoped to go to medical school to pursue a career in oncology. Her research touched upon how certain aspects of access to care can facilitate older LGBT access to cancer screenings appropriate for their age and gender. While in the Honors program, she worked with Professor Tara McKay.

William (Trey) Minter

Trey majored in medicine, health, and society and public policy studies, minoring in education studies. He was the head resident advisor of Murray House, co-president of the Vanderbilt University Concert Band and a member of Vanderbilt’s NAACP’s Political Activism Committee. Trey also served as an undergraduate research assistant to Dr. Dominique Behague in the MHS department. While in the Honors program, Trey worked with Dr. Dominique Behague to study the pitfalls of U.S. health reform, imagined new ways of constructing healthcare systems, and investigated the ways in which public health professionals influence current health policy.

Sreekar Miriyala

Keely wilson.

Keely majored in medicine, health, and society and political science with a minor in human and organizational development. On campus, she was the captain of the Vanderbilt Debate Team, competed in British parliamentary, social justice, and public forum debate styles. She was also a member of the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Aimi Hamraie to explore the impact of age on young adults’ experiences with bariatric surgery.

Ese Aikhuele

Lauren bauer.

Lauren majored in medicine, health, and society, with minors in history of art and chemistry. She was involved on campus as a teaching assistant with the biological sciences department and worked as a research assistant with the cardiothoracic surgery department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She was also a leader in multiple organizations on campus and hoped to continue to participate in research in her future, on her path towards medical school. In the Honors program, she studied the intersection of art and medicine with an emphasis on painting’s influence on patient therapy and physician practices with Dr. Aimi Hamraie.

Caroline Carlson

Caroline majored in medicine, health, and society and Spanish, with a minor in biology. She was very involved with an all women’s fitness and wellness organization, Studio V, and served as the president of Project C.U.R.E and was a first-year student VUceptor. For her Honors thesis, she carried out an ethnographic investigation of American physicians treating Hispanic/Latino patients battling type II diabetes in an attempt to understand and assess how current notions of health disparities, ethnic group belonging, and race theory impact how physicians view and treat their patients. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Celina Callahan-Kapoor.

Nicole Davies

Nicole majored in medicine, health, and society and psychology. She was a sex educator at the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center and a research assistant at the Emotion and Anxiety Research Lab. Her research interests focused on pregnancy and mental health. While conducting her Honors research, she worked with Professor Megan Saylor and Autumn Kujawa. She hoped to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology after gaining further research experience.

Aditi Deepak

Aditi majored in molecular and cellular biology and medicine, health, and society, with a minor in Spanish. On campus, Aditi was an intern at the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH), a member of Vanderbilt Lakshya, the Bollywood fusion dance team, a teaching assistant for the MHS department, and launched Vanderbilt’s first global health journal. She also volunteered in her free time. Aditi’s research compared the HIV/AIDS movement with the abortion movement. Specifically, she examined legislation and media portrayal of the two issues. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James.

Lauren Gaither

Lauren majored in medicine, health, and society, and minored in German and biological sciences. On campus, Lauren was the head resident advisor of Zeppos Residental College, the vice president of faculty relations for the Senior Class Fund, and a member of the Social Justice Committee for the NAACP. She also enjoyed volunteering, painting, and mentoring in her free time. Lauren’s research examined the interaction of hospital technological advancements and patient education and explored their effects on various patient outcomes. Specifically, she examined the interactions of electronic medical records (EMR), artificial intelligence (AI), and patient health literacy on patient financial and health outcomes. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Jonathan Metzl.

Rebecca (Becky) Hollenberg

Becky majored in medicine, health, and society with a minor in communication of science and technology. She was involved with Partners in Health Engage, Red Cross, and the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health Student Advisory Committee. She also worked in a clinical research lab studying children’s asthma and allergies. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Courtney Peterson to research imposter syndrome on Vanderbilt’s campus. She hoped to get her M.P.H. after graduation.

Kaitlin Joshua

Kaitlin double majored in medicine, health, and society and economics, and minored in literary studies. On campus, she was a resident adviser and was involved with Vanderbilt New Dawn and The Vanderbilt Review. Her research focused on the intersections of health policy, politics, and social media. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James.

Iris pursued a dual degree in neuroscience and medicine, health, and society. She served as president of the Vanderbilt Asian American Student Association and lead MoveMENTAL, a new multicultural mental health initiative on campus. Iris was also an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Sohee Park’s Mind, Body, and Brain Lab. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Jonathan Metzl to study the effects of COVID-19 on Asian American mental health.

Jessica Klein

Lindsay mosca.

Lindsay majored in medicine, health, and society and English. After completing her undergraduate degree, Lindsay planned to go to medical school to pursue a career in oncology. Her research focused on disparities in cancer screenings and outcomes in LGBT individuals. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Gilbert Gonzales.

Zoë Mulraine

Zoë double majored in medicine, health, and society and Spanish. On campus she spent two years as an outreach worker through Students for Health Equity, three years on the Vanderbilt Cheerleading Team, and was a member of the Eta Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She researched with Dr. Derek Griffith, focusing on the impacts of the University’s sexual assault policies on the mental and physical health of Black and LGBTQ+ students.

Abhi Nathan

Abhi majored in medicine, health, and society and political science, on the pre-law track. On campus, she was the president of the Vanderbilt South Asian Cultural Exchange and also served as a peer mentor to the Commons House Advisory Councils. Her research focused on the impact of health, immigration, and economic policy on access to healthcare for immigrant communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. While in the Honors program, she worked with Professor Lauren Gaydosh.

Abinaya Ramakrishnan

Abinaya majored in medicine, health, and society and biological sciences. On campus, she was an Ingram Scholar, worked as an RA on Highland Quad, and enjoyed giving mental health presentations through LEAPS. Her research focused on evaluating the intersection of mental illness and substance use disorder among LGBTQ+ and criminal-justice involved individuals. While in the Honors program, she worked with Professor Gilbert Gonzales.

Lauren Ruby

Lauren majored in medicine, health, and society with a communication of science and technology minor. On campus, she was involved in Delta Sigma Pi Professional Fraternity, the Inside ‘Dores Admissions Blog, and Volunteers for Health. Her research explored the relationship between President Donald Trump’s hate speech and the experience in the female body. She investigated if females’ feelings of safety in their own bodies changed in the four years of Trump’s presidency. While in the Honors program, Lauren worked with Professor Caroline Williams.

Lana Schwartz

Noah stanton.

Noah majored in medicine, health, and society and history, and minored in anthropology and Chinese. She held leadership roles with Wilskills and Hillel, and volunteered with the Vanderbilt Emergency Medical Society. She also worked as a research assistant for the Vanderbilt LGBT Health Policy Lab. Her thesis aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence services and resources in the Nashville area. While in the Honors program, she worked with Dr. Lauren Gaydosh.

Yumeng (Mong) Zhang

Mong majored in medicine, health, and society. Since her first year at Vanderbilt, she worked at the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab with the Music and Social Engagement Group led by Dr. Miriam Lense, who served as her MHS Honors adviser. She completed her senior Honors thesis on the modulation of parent infant-directed communication in relation to their child’s language development. On campus, Mong was also involved with Vanderbilt UNICEF and Tour Guides, and also volunteered as a W.O. Smith School violin teacher, and a music therapy assistant at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

Psychology Undergrad Program

Psychology major – 36 hours.

• PSY 1200, General Psychology
• PSY 2100 or PSY 2110 (Peabody), Quantitative Methods
• PSY 2150, Experimental Design
• 4 Distribution Courses
• 5 Psychology Electives

Honors Program – 42 hours

The Honors Program  offers students the opportunity to gain intensive experience conducting scientific research with a faculty mentor. Not only is participation challenging and intellectually engaging, it offers training that is of considerable value in preparation for graduate school and/or a broad variety of career trajectories. Students typically apply to participate in this program at the end of their Sophomore year. In addition to working extensively in a research laboratory throughout their Junior and Senior years, students also participate in the Honors Seminar for at least 3 semesters. The program culminates in the completion of a written Honors Thesis, a poster presentation of the research conducted as part of Psychology Day, as well as an oral presentation and defense of the project. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program and maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.3 will graduate with the special designation of either “Honors” or “High Honors” in their related major.

• PSY 2100 or PSY 2101 (Peabody), Quantitative Methods
• 2 or 3 of the following sessions of the Honors Seminar: PSY 3980 (Fall Junior), 3981 (Spring Junior), 4998 (Fall Senior)
• PSY 4999, Honors Seminar (Spring Senior)
• 3 Psychology Electives  (Students who only take three semesters of Honors Seminars will need to take an additional elective course to fulfill their 42 hours).

Further Details about Program Courses

• Comprehensive Exam
• Distribution Courses

Psychological Sciences

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The Department of Psychology, the Department of Psychology and Human Development, and the Graduate Program in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt present awards to our faculty, undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni to recognize their outstanding achievement

Bob fox award of excellence in post-doctoral research (learn more).

This award, which will be granted to a post-doctoral fellow in our Department who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in research, is named in honor of Robert "Bob" Fox for his essential role in guiding the evolution of Vanderbilt's Psychology Department over a five-decade period starting in the mid-60's. Bob enjoyed a highly productive research career, with publications in major journals and continuous grant funding for decades, and he trained a number of students and post-docs who went on to successful careers themselves. Bob has served as an inspiration to generations of subsequent faculty members. This award not only serves as a humble note of appreciation for Bob's numerous accomplishments, it also acknowledges the critical role that postdoctoral fellows play in the scientific vibrancy of our Department. Post-docs are not only highly skilled, accomplished and dedicated young scientists, they also are reference models for our graduate students and are the first to represent Vanderbilt at the next academic level. The award will be accompanied with a $500 check and a certificate

Sisi Wang (2023)

Past Winners:

• Oakyoon Cha (2021)
• Amirsaman Sajad (2020)
• Kacie Dougherty (2019)
• Mathieu Servant (2018)
• Kevin Dieter (2017)
• Keisuke Fukuda (2016)
• Josh Cosman & Jennifer Richler (2015)
• Michael Pratte (2014)

Jum C. Nunnally Dissertation Award (Learn More)

The Jum C. Nunnally Dissertation Award recognizes a recent outstanding doctoral dissertation in the Department of Psychology. The recipient receives a certificate and a $500 award. Jum C. Nunnally came to Vanderbilt in 1960. In 1961, he became the second chair of the department. He served as chair from 1961-1964 and again from 1967-1970. Under Jum’s leadership, the department grew substantially in stature, including significant increases in both the number and quality of the faculty. A memorial fund to support student awards was established in 1982 by his friends and family. Proceeds from this fund were used to establish the Jum C. Nunnally Dissertation Award in 2010.

Jacob Westerberg (2023)

• Hojin Jang & Lenie Torregrossa (2022)
• Megan Ichinose (2020)
• Michele Cox (2019)
• Sonia Poltoratski (2018)
• Rob Reinhart (2017)
• Braden Purcell (2014)
• Mary Baldwin & Katy Thakkar (2012)
• Michael Mack (2011)
• Peiyan Wong & Jennifer Richler (2010)

Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt - Distinguished Alumnus Award (Learn More)

To recognize and honor the distinguished alumni of Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt, we have established the Distinguished Alumnus Lecture. The recipient is a former undergraduate, graduate student, or postdoctoral fellow from the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science or the Department of Psychology and Human Development in Peabody College at Vanderbilt who has made major contributions to the psychological sciences. The recipient will receive a $500 award and will be invited to give the Distinguish Alumnus Lecture.

Kenneth Catania (2021)

• Barton Anderson (2020)
• Duje Tadin (2019)
• Steve Manuck (2013)
• Mriganka Sur (2012) 
• Leah Krubitzer (2010)
• Bob Levenson (2009)
• Nicki Crick (2008)
• Randolph Blake (2007)

The Randolph Blake Early Career Award (Learn More)

The program in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt established The Randolph Blake Early Career Award to recognize exemplary alumni of our program in the early stages of their career. The recipient receives a plaque, a $500 award, and an invitation to give a research colloquium at Vanderbilt. The nominee must have been an undergraduate, graduate student or postdoc. This award honors Randolph Blake as a distinguished Vanderbilt alumnus, as an outstanding researcher and mentor, and as a former chair of the Department of Psychology who served in that role during some of the most important years of its growth.

Michael Mack (2021)

• Michael Treadway (2020)
• Gregory Samanez-Larkin (2019)
• Janneke Jehee (2018)
• Frederick Verbruggen (2014)
• Xiangmin Xu (2013)
• Paul Dux (2012)
• Gabriel Dichter (2011)
• Emmy Grossman (2010)
• David Lyon (2009)
• Tom James (2008)
• Sang-Hun Lee (2007)

The Pat Burns Memorial Graduate Student Research Award (Learn More)

Pat Burns touched generations of doctoral students during her nearly four decades of service to Vanderbilt University. In memory of her tireless efforts to help guide our students through all phases of their graduate education, the Department of Psychology establishes a Graduate Student Research Award to recognize outstanding achievement in research by our most outstanding graduate students. The recipient receives a plaque and a $500 award.

This was award was newly established in 2007.

Saman Abbaspoor & Jason Chow (2023)

Department of psychology scientific development award.

These awards are given annually to a select group of students in the graduate program in Psychological Sciences in the Department of Psychology. The awards provide a $5000 fund that can be used to defray the direct expenses of the recipient’s research and scientific training or other experiences that, if capitalized upon, could help build a strong vita. Those awarded to incoming graduate students recognize outstanding promise. Those awarded to current graduate students recognize outstanding achievement. These awards are made possible by the Psychology Department Memorial Fund, originally endowed in 1982 by departmental faculty to support awards for undergraduate and graduate research.

This award was only given in 2010.

• Katy Thakkar (2010)
• Braden Purcell (2010)
• Mustafa (Taha) Bilge (2010)

The William F. Hodges Teaching Assistant Award (Learn More)

This award recognizes outstanding achievement as a Teaching Assistant by a graduate student in the Department of Psychology. William Hodges was an undergraduate and a graduate student at Vanderbilt who received his doctorate in 1967. He subsequently went to the University of Colorado where he ultimately became a Full Professor and Director of Graduate Studies. He was well known for his research on the psychological impact of divorce, but he was also recognized as a great teacher. After his untimely death in 1992, family and friends established the William F. Hodges Teaching Assistant Award at Vanderbilt to honor outstanding teaching assistants.

Saman Abbaspoor (2022)

Lisa m. quesenberry foundation award, at the community foundation of louisville.

The Lisa M. Quesenberry Foundation Award was established by Irvin and Mary Ann Quesenberry and Kathryn Quesenberry to memorialize the accomplishments of their daughter and sister, Lisa M. Quesenberry. It is designed to provide research or study awards to motivated graduate students. Preferably, the awards will be made to female graduate students who are studying the field of psychology and who have overcome significant personal challenges to pursue their education.

Katrina Rbeiz (2022)

The jum c. nunnally honors research award (learn more).

This award is given each year in honor and memory of Professor Jum C. Nunnally, who designed and initiated the Honors Program in the Department of Psychology. This may have been the first honors program in the College of Arts and Science, served as a model for those that developed later in other departments in the college. Jum Nunnally came to Vanderbilt in 1960. In 1961, he became the second chair of the department. He served as chair from 1961-1964 and again from 1967-1970. Under Jum’s leadership, the department grew substantially in stature, including significant increases in both the number and quality of the faculty. A memorial fund to support the Jum C. Nunnally Research Award was established in 1982 by his friends and family, who were well aware of Jum’s dedication to the Honors Program. The award recognizes the most outstanding undergraduate honors project in the Department of Psychology.

Lauren Radomski (2023)

Department of psychology topping up award.

The Department of Psychology Topping Up Award is awarded to new incoming graduate students to recognize their outstanding academic record. The amount awarded and the length of the award are variable.

• Josh McCluey (2013)
• Kacie Dougherty (2012)
• Kaitlin Ryan (2012)
• Hyunyoung Park (2011)
• Dan Miller (2011)

Trisha James Outstanding Staff Award (Learn More)

In recognition of outstanding performance by a Departmental staff member. This award honors the exceptional contributions of Ms. Trisha James to the Department of Psychology. For more than 20 years, Trisha exhibited the utmost integrity, intelligence, compassion, leadership, dedication and hard work to her various positions in the business office of the Department. She set an exemplary standard for all of the Department's staff members.

This was award was newly established in 2016.

Savannah Crutchfield (2023)

Past winners:

• Bianca Castellon (2022)
• Beth Clark (2021)
• Michelle Schall (2020)
• Angel Gaither (2019)
• Jerry Hager (2018)
•  Mary Feurtado (2017)

Vivien Casagrande Neuroscience Travel Award (Learn More)

 in recognition of outstanding research by a graduate student or post-doctoral scholar. This awardhonors the outstanding scientific achievements of Professor Casagrande and her dedication to the career of young scientists at the graduate and post-doctoral stages of their career.

  This was award was newly established in 2017.

Jennifer Zachry (2022)

• Leighton Durham (2020)
• Gabriella DiCarlo (2019)
• Jacob Westerberg (2018) 
• Jocelyn Sy (2017)

Undergraduate Academic Achievement

This was award was newly established in 2022.

Ke (Taylor) Lai (2023)

• Alexandra Paulina Dulman (2022)

Undergraduate Overall Excellence

Maggie xu (2023).

• Julia Rose Pines (2022)

The Child Development Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to the graduating undergraduate senior who best examplifies the goals of the Child Development Program. The recipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Child Studies Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to the graduating undergraduate senior who best exemplifies academic excellence in the Child Studies Program. The recepient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Cognitive Sciences Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to the graduating undergraduate senior who best exemplifies the goals of the Cognitive Sciences Program. The recipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Undergraduate Honors Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to the graduating undergraduate senior who best exemplifies the goals of the Honors Program. The recipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Julius Seeman Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to a graduate student who exemplifies the department's ideals of scholastic, personal and professional achievement. The recipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Susan Gray Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development for excellence in scholarly writing to the graduate student who is sole or first author with the most distinguished scholarly publication during the previous year. The receipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Barbara Strudler Wallston Memorial Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to the graduate student who presents the most notable doctoral dissertation or article with a research focus on women or on health. The recipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

The Hardy Culver Wilcoxon Award

Presented by the faculty of Psychology and Human Development to the graduate student with the most distinguished doctoral dissertation in any area of Psychological Inquiry. The recipient is presented with a $150 prize at the annual departmental awards ceremony.

Mood, Emotion, & Development Lab

Lab Director

Autumn Kujawa, Ph.D.  is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt University and a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research integrates multiple methods, including psychophysiology, neuroimaging, and behavioral measures, to examine vulnerabilities for mood disorders across development and translate findings to develop more targeted and effective interventions. Dr. Kujawa earned her Ph.D. from Stony Brook University and completed a clinical internship and postdoctoral research fellowship in the neuroscience of mental health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Kujawa was recognized as a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science, received an Early Career Award from the Society for Psychophysiological Research, and has been awarded research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation, American Psychological Foundation, and Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD). Outside of clinical research and teaching, she enjoys hiking and camping with her family and dog.

Research Faculty

Post-Doctoral Scholars

Julia Garon-Bissonnette, Ph.D. is an incoming postdoctoral researcher in the  HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD)  study primarily working with Drs. Laurie Cutting, Autumn Kujawa, and Kathryn Humphreys at Vanderbilt University. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Psychology at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. During her graduate studies, she developed a particular expertise on childhood adversity, pregnancy, reflective functioning, infant development and the mother-infant relationship. Julia’s research focuses on how parental and child individual, interpersonal, and psychosocial risk and protective factors interact in predicting infant behavioral and socioemotional development and parent-child interactions. Outside the lab, she enjoys backcountry skiing, cycling, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Christian Bean, Ph.D.  is a postdoctoral scholar in the  NIH T32:   Development of Psychopathology: From Brain and Behavioral Science to Intervention  Training Program, working primarily with Drs. Autumn Kujawa and David Cole. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Kent State University and completed his predoctoral clinical residency at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. Christian is broadly interested in improving our understanding of how maladaptive cognitive and affective processes confer risk for the development and maintenance of depression and anxiety. He often employs ecological momentary assessment methods with the goal of identifying modifiable risk factors. When not working, he enjoys watching anime and cleaning up after his two dogs, Frodo and Sam.

Graduate/Professional Students

Sam Pegg, M.S. is a sixth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Science area and works under Dr. Autumn Kujawa. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Biology. Following her time at UM, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital for two years. Samantha is broadly interested in studying the underlying mechanisms of mood disorders. More specifically, she is interested in the social and emotional processes involved in the development and maintenance of these disorders. Outside of the lab, Samantha enjoys hiking, watching movies, and spending time with her family, friends, and her dogs, Tater and Yuka.

Emilia “Emili” Cárdenas, M.S.  is a sixth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Science area. Emili graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2016 with a dual degree in Psychology and Art. Emili then worked as a research coordinator in the Lab for Affective and Translational Neuroscience at McLean Hospital for two years. Emili is interested in advancing translational neuroscience to promote resilience in vulnerable children and families. Specifically, she is interested in using multimodal methods (e.g., ERPS, heart rate variability, behavior) to investigate predictors of caregiving behavior and postpartum health. When Emili is not in the lab, she enjoys hiking, climbing, taking wheel-throwing classes, and watching live music.

Lindsay Dickey, M.Ed.  is a fifth-year PhD student in the Clinical Science area and predoctoral fellow supported by an NIH F31 award. Lindsay’s research centers on processes contributing to the development and treatment of internalizing psychopathologies. She is particularly interested in applying advanced quantitative methods to improve our understanding of early emerging risk factors and longitudinal trajectories. Her current projects involve the application of supervised machine learning algorithms to multi-method data, including EEG, ecological momentary assessment, and clinical information to optimize the classification and prediction of depression. When not working, Lindsay enjoys most sports/outdoor adventures, attempting new recipes, and building epic forts with her two kids.

Yinru Long, M.Ed. is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Science program and works under Dr. Autumn Kujawa. She received a B.A. in Applied Psychology and Philosophy from Boston College and an M.Ed. in Prevention Science and Practice from Harvard. Yinru is interested in using multimodal approaches to advance personalized interventions for mood disorders in marginalized populations, specifically racial and sexual minority adolescents. She is particularly interested in identifying risk and resilience factors that are trans-diagnostic through understanding cognitive, emotional, and behavioral mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of depression and anxiety. In her free time, Yinru enjoys spending time with her cats, collecting vintage cassettes, and producing hip-hop music.

McKenzie Greene is currently a student in the Child Studies master’s program. She graduated from Butler University in 2021 with a degree in Health Sciences. She is interested in researching the impacts of maltreatment on children & optimal interventions for non-traditional familial dynamics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys being outdoors, reading, and exploring trendy thrift stores.

Qifeng (Ricky) Sun , is a second-year student in the Data Science Institute master’s program at Vanderbilt University. He graduated from Bates College in 2022 with a degree in Psychology and Economics. He is deeply invested in the field of Natural Language Processing and is dedicated to harnessing the potential of data science tools, including generative AI and machine learning, to advance psychological counseling and mental health interventions. Outside the world of data science and Lab, Ricky is passionate about music (A Capella, piano) and sports (rock climbing, and tennis).  

Krupali Patel is a first-year master’s student in the Child Studies program working under Dr. Autumn Kujawa. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida after which she worked as a clinical trial coordinator at the San Diego VA Hospital. Krupali is interested in studying the relationship between emotion dysregulation, cognitive functioning, and mood disorders in school-aged children. Specifically, she is interested in cognitive training as a potential supplement to traditional psychotherapy. Outside of the lab, Krupali enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

Maya Jackson, M.Ed., NCC  is the Lab Manager of the Mood, Emotion & Development Lab. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Psychology and a minor in Spanish, receiving the Peabody College Willis D. Hawley Award for her commitment of service to others. She also received a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Vanderbilt University in May 2023. Maya has been part of the MED Lab since 2018, working as a Research Assistant and Project Coordinator. She plans to apply to Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology Ph.D. programs next year. Maya is broadly interested in using multimodal approaches to study differentiations in social and emotional development across the lifespan to inform prevention and intervention endeavors. She has particular interests in grief responses, resiliency, and intergenerational trauma. In her free time, Maya enjoys watching anime and documentaries, going to the farmer’s market, and trying out different food spots.  

Ana (Mia) Sandoe is working as the PATH (Predicting Adolescent Transition after Hospitalization) study coordinator under Dr. Autumn Kujawa for her post-bacc research. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Florida State University in May of 2023, cum laude, and with honors. During this time, she worked under Dr. Jesse Cougle as an undergraduate lab manager and study coordinator. Additionally, she completed her honors thesis on the correlates of perceived impairment in those with borderline personality disorder. Mia is interested in neuropsychology and the use of brain imaging in detecting risks and treating mood and personality disorders in adolescents and young adults. After her post-bacc, she plans to pursue a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Mia enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and listening to her favorite band, The Beatles!

Georgia Moon is working as the project coordinator of the Happy Families Study. She graduated in May 2023 from Temple University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. During her time at Temple, she served as a research assistant at the Child Health and Behavior Lab under Dr. Drabick, in which she aided in the facilitation of a school-based intervention designed to teach children anger-management and coping skills. Simultaneously, she worked as a research assistant for the Friend to Friend Project, an intervention designed to reduce relational aggression in school settings, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She completed her honors thesis on whether peer processes moderate the relations between emotion processing and oppositional defiant disorder among children. Her career goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and ultimately help children and adolescents impacted by trauma heal. In her free time, Georgia enjoys crocheting, reading on her Kindle, and playing the guitar.

Jada Finley – Jada is a senior majoring in Child Development and Cognitive Studies with a minor in Psychology. Jada is interested in studying the development of preventative measures and treatments for children, addressing suicide risk, depression, and anxiety. Stephanie Cantellano Gomez – Stephanie is a junior majoring in Cognitive Studies and Child Development with a minor in Medicine, Health, and Society. Her research interest is heavily focused on intervention of psychopathological disorders (including anxiety depression and anxiety) within teenagers who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Wesley Hong – Wesley is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Computer Science. Wesley is broadly interested in research in Clinical Psychology. Griffin Murch – Griffin is a junior majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Studies with a minor in Data Science. His research interests currently revolve around emotions and empathy, particularly their connection to psychopathology and suicide risk. Celia Roberto – Celia is a senior majoring in Psychology and Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Neuroscience. Celia’s research interests include assessing suicide risk in adolescents and developing interventions for adolescent mental health. Nora Wang – Nora is a senior majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Studies. She is interested in the prevention and intervention of mood disorders, anxiety, and self-harm/suicidal behaviors in at-risk adolescents and young adults. Christopher Tanaka – Chris is a junior majoring in Neuroscience and Child Development. Chris’ research interests include interventions for suicidal behaviors in adolescents, risk factors for depression in teens, and predictors of children’s mental health outcomes. Vanessa Weis – Vanessa is a junior majoring in Cognitive Studies and Child Development. Vanessa is interested in assessing ways different interventions can address neurophysiological symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents. Yipeng Zhong – Yipeng is a sophomore majoring in Cognitive Studies. Yipeng’s current research interests include peripartum depression. Yichi Zhang – Yichi is a junior majoring in Cognitive Studies with a minor in Asian Studies and music. Her research interests lie broadly in neurodevelopment with a focus on the socialization of affect between mothers and infants as well as the behavioral development of autism, ADHD, and their biological underpinnings.

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Undergraduate Honors Research

Includes baccalaureate theses and other honors research of Vanderbilt undergraduates in various departments.

The Undergraduate Honors Research collection can by used by departments and schools to preserve and share theses and capstones as well as other research outputs. If you would like to create a digital archive please contact the administrator at [email protected] .

If students will be responsible for depositing their own work, the administrator will provide you with submission instructions to handout. Alternatively, a department can designate one person as the "Community Administrator" and collect and upload all research.

Sub-communities within this community

Undergraduate honors program - center for medicine, health, and society, undergraduate honors program - department of communication of science and technology, undergraduate honors program - department of french and italian, undergraduate honors program - economics department, undergraduate honors program - english department, undergraduate honors program - history department, undergraduate honors program - physics and astronomy department, undergraduate honors program - psychological sciences, undergraduate honors research - other, recent submissions.

• Deformed Explicitly Correlated Gaussians  Beutel, Matthew ( Vanderbilt University. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy , 2022-12 ) Strong coupling of cavity electromagnetic modes and molecules has emerged as an area of intense theoretical and experimental interest. Such systems are of particular interest due to their ability to modify the physical ...
• The Eight-Nation (Non-) Alliance: Emergence, Coordination, and Lasting Mark on the Chinese Imagination  Xiaoyu(Joy)Zhang ( Vanderbilt University. Dept. of History , 2023-04-27 )
• Distilling Out Wets and Brewing Up Drys: The Anti-Saloon League's Interaction with Voting Rights in the Push for Prohibition  Crowe, Andrew ( 2023-04-26 )
• Nothing in Life is Free: Franco-American Economic Relations and American Investment in Postwar France (1945-1969)  Alvarez, Nashely ( 2023-04-25 )
• Educating the New China: Writing and Rewriting Qing History in the History Textbooks of the People’s Republic of China, 1949-2023  Kang, Weixi ( Vanderbilt University. Dept. of History , 2023-04-28 )
• A Calculated Step Forward: Harry Truman, Black Advocacy, and Military Desegregation (1940 to 1948)  ( 2023-04-20 )
• State-Based Heterogeneity in Right-to-Work’s Effects  Whitaker, Nicholas ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-04-03 ) The role of unions in the US labor market has been a highly contested political issue, leading states to pass Right-to-Work (RTW) laws. As of 2023, 27 states in the US have active RTW laws, legislation that makes it illegal ...
• Enforcing Voting Rights: The Eisenhower and Kennedy Civil Rights Division (1957-1963)  Sohn, Matthew ( 2023-04-25 )
• Thinking with and Responding to Gone with the WInd as a Circulator of White Supremacy  Maresca, Lauren ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-04-25 ) This project aims to investigate the power of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel Gone with the Wind, its impact on readers, and their responses to the text and the ideologies Mitchell conveys in it, a particularly timely ...
• Infant Behavior During Sticky Mittens Training: What It Can Tell Us About Infant Learning  Malley, Lauren ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-04 ) Infant exploratory behavior is critical for stimulating proper development and has implications on numerous developmental domains. The sticky mittens paradigm has been shown to enhance object exploration skills in infants, ...
• Prediction and Hypothesis Testing in Children's Novel Word Learning  Kumar, Srish ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03-21 ) Children learn new words through a variety of methods, consciously and unconsciously making connections between novel words and new objects to expand their vocabulary. One such method may be making predictions about the ...
• Structural Brain Differences in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Developmental Perspective  Milewski, Amy ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03 ) While the existence of bipolar disorder in early adolescence is becoming more widely accepted, the degree of manifestation in childhood is still unclear. This thesis summarizes findings on neurostructural correlates of ...
• Parent-Child Conversation Quality During Digital Application Use  Unknown author ( Vanderbilt University , 2023 )
• The Valence of Parental Descriptions of the Child: Relations to Child Socioemotional and Behavioral Functioning and Caregiving Quality  Takemoto, Sydney ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03 ) The valence of parental descriptions of their child’s personality may be an indicator of child difficulties as well as the nature of caregiving behavior within that parent–child relationship. The present project examined ...
• Are You Making the Right Choice? How Deciding Impacts Food Evaluation and Judgment  Lai, Ke ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-04-10 ) Traditional approaches in studying decision making typically use artificial or well-defined lab stimuli to investigate changes in the perception of choices. However, the processes of how people generate, evaluate, and ...
• Exploring Connections between Maternal Speech and Infants' Use of Fine Motor Skills  McGowan, Maggie ; Needham, Amy ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03 ) During infancy, consistent exposure to frequent, responsive speech is fundamental for optimal language development to occur, but there is a great amount of variability in the language that infants hear across the first ...
• The Relationship Between Core Values, Religiosity and Spirituality, and Health  Wang, Stella ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03 ) Individuals’ values and religious beliefs can impact their behavior and mental state, and in turn, their health. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the effects of personal ideology on physical and mental health. This ...
• Evaluating Parent-Child Emotion Talk During Digital Application Use  McQueen, Catherine ( Vanderbilt University , 2023 ) The increasing use of new digital media, such as digital applications (apps), presents new opportunities for parent-child co-play. Active parent engagement during co-play can promote parent-child emotion talk, which benefits ...
• Neurophysiological Responses To Pleasant Emotional Images: An Examination Of The Effects of Personal Preference And A Brief Positive Emotion-Focused Intervention  Unknown author ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03-22 ) The positive valence system (PVS) is a domain associated with attention to, and engagement with, rewarding activities. Individual differences in neurological responses associated with the PVS, such as the amplitude of ...
• Antecedents of Blame: Causal Attributions and Appraisals  Jeong, Chanyoung ; Smith, Craig ( Vanderbilt University , 2023-03-20 ) There are studies (Smith, Haynes, Lazarus, & Pope, 1993) suggesting that appraisals of blame mediate between causal attributions and anger. Thus, causal attributions appear to be systematic antecedents to appraisals of ...

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Special education faculty honored by Council for Exceptional Children

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Mar 18, 2024, 8:04 AM

Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development faculty members Jason Chow and Doug and Lynn Fuchs were recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children, the major professional organization in the field of special education, at its annual meeting in March. Chow is associate professor of special education. Doug Fuchs is research professor of special education and Nicholas Hobbs Chair of Special Education and Human Development, Emeritus. Lynn Fuchs is research professor of special education and Dunn Family Chair in Psychoeducational Assessment, Emerita.

The CEC’s Division for Research Board and Awards Committee honored Chow with the Martin J. Kaufman Distinguished Early Career Research Award , which “recognizes individuals who have made outstanding scientific contributions in special education, in basic and/or applied research, within the first 10 years following receipt of the doctoral degree.”

“I’ve had the privilege of working with exceptional students, friends, and colleagues, starting from the beginning of my career as a paraprofessional,” Chow said. “This recognition is a direct reflection of the people around me and our collective efforts to better understand how to support language, social, and behavioral development through collaborative and interdisciplinary research.

“I’m especially thankful to the students, educators, and families that have worked with me and my team to figure out what some of the key barriers are to implementing and sustaining effective practices and, most importantly, how to leverage our collective knowledge and skills to begin to address them together.”

The CEC’s Division for Learning Disabilities honored the Fuchses with the Jeannette Fleischner Career Leadership Award in recognition of their outstanding leadership in the field of special education. Specifically, the award honors those who advance the field of learning disabilities through direct services, policy development, community service, research, or organizational leadership throughout their career.

“We are honored to accept the Jeannette Fleischner Career Leadership Award for our work on behalf of children and youth with learning disabilities and dyslexia,” the Fuchses said. “We knew and admired Jeannette Fleischner, so this award seems both important and personal. We have always viewed our Vanderbilt positions as opportunities to make a difference in the lives of students at risk of school failure, and this understanding has guided our research and program development work.”

“The Peabody community is delighted that three of our terrific faculty have been recognized with prestigious awards that reflect their commitment to the field of special education and to enriching the educational experiences of countless students. I am grateful for their remarkable impact and congratulate them on these most deserved honors,” said Camilla Benbow , Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development.

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Fall 2023 New Peabody Faculty

New Faculty: Meghan Burke, family advocacy and disabilities policy researcher, joins Vanderbilt Peabody College

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The deadline for applying to all 3 of the UK Psychology Doctoral Programs (Clinical; Cognitive Neuroscience; and Developmental, Social and Health) for admission into the Fall 2024 cohort is December 1, 2023.

NOTE - Admissions occur each year for the FALL semester ONLY; admissions do NOT occur during spring or summer semesters.

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Admission to the doctoral programs in psychology at the University of Kentucky is very competitive. We average 200-300 completed applications each year and admit 4-7 students per cohort. The Department of Psychology adheres to University policy and public law prohibiting unfair discrimination on the basis of age, ethnic classification, handicap, race, sex, or veteran status in the provision of educational or employment opportunities and benefits. The Department of Psychology and all of its Graduate Programs are committed to facilitating the recruitment and retention of members of groups historically deprived of equal educational and professional opportunity. The Department of Psychology sincerely values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and are taking active steps to demonstrate that in instructional, research, and service efforts. There is a dedicated Inclusive Excellence Committee , which is currently led by Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala  and includes graduate students, post docs, and faculty from the department. 

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How Princeton’s Kaitlyn Chen handles thesis deadlines and NCAA Tournament dreams

Just two days before the start of the Ivy League tournament, Princeton star Kaitlyn Chen turned in a draft of her senior thesis. A medical anthropology major, Chen is writing on the relationship between sports and meritocracy. More specifically, she’s researching how socioeconomic status influences accessibility to certain sports, and how that translates to college athletics recruiting. She admits, rather humbly, that she is still figuring out parts of her argument, such as how to square the financial barriers athletes have growing up with the hard work they put in. She’s written about 70 pages. “I’ve still got a lot of editing,” she said. “Stuff to take out and put in.”

Chen played four sports growing up in San Marino, Calif. By high school, she settled on volleyball and basketball. The latter was always her favorite. Like many Angelenos, the Lakers’ back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010 helped cement her interest in the game.

The 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year, Chen is approaching her final stretch with the Tigers. They have made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as an automatic qualifier after winning their conference tournament, including this season’s Ivy championship over Columbia . The past two seasons, they won their first round NCAA Tournament game as well. No. 9 seed Princeton will look to do the same on Saturday against No. 8 seed West Virginia (with a tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET). A matchup likely against the top-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes awaits in the second round.

HER. 17.5 points – ✅ 4.5 assists – ✅ 3.0 rebounds – ✅ 2.0 steals – ✅ Most Outstanding Player 3Peat. The definition of a superstar – @kaitlynchenn2 #GetStops 🐯🏀 pic.twitter.com/N75uM12agD — Princeton WBB (@PrincetonWBB) March 17, 2024

Although Chen is a senior, she will play another year of college basketball next season. She isn’t exactly sure where, however. Chen is suiting up at one of the most unique times to be an Ivy athlete.

While the NCAA provided college athletes an additional year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ivy League rules prohibit its athletes from using the eligibility within the league. If they want to play to keep playing, they need to do so somewhere else. As a result, Chen entered the transfer portal last fall, weeks before she began her second straight All-Ivy season. The public expectation is a national powerhouse — perhaps UConn , UCLA , USC or Stanford — will be her next stop. “She’s gonna go in and really help a team out a lot,” Princeton coach Carla Berube said.

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Even for Chen, the thought of doing so is a bit surreal. “When I was enrolling on campus, we didn’t even have a season,” she said. “It is pretty crazy to think about how far we’ve come in the last four years.”

She moved cross-country in the fall of 2020 not knowing if her freshman basketball season would even occur. In July 2020, the Ivy League canceled its fall sports and said winter sports would resume Jan. 1, at the earliest. They didn’t start back up until the fall of 2021.

Instead, during her first semester, Chen, fellow freshman Chet Nweke and three other teammates ran laps, did ladder sprints and performed burpees on an outdoor track. They played pickup on outdoor courts until it got too cold. Her apartment complex had an indoor hoop, “but it was like the tiniest court ever,” Chen said, with barely enough space to shoot a high-school distance 3-pointer.

In the spring of 2021, Princeton students were allowed back on campus, but most of Chen’s teammates had either taken a gap year or elected against coming back with no games scheduled. Chen, Nweke, seniors Carlie Littlefield and McKenna Haire and junior guard Abby Meyers , however, stayed in the area, working almost daily with the Tigers’ coaching staff. They lifted weights and developed their games, with Chen showcasing her body control on contested layups and her ability to finish over players, no matter their size. During one practice, in particular, Meyers recalls going against Chen in a drill called the Texas Death Match.

“I hated it, because most of the time, I would have to guard Kaitlyn because she’s just crafty and quick,” Meyers said. On that occasion, Meyers added, “She broke my ankle so bad that I actually sprained my ankle. I was only out for a few days.”

Chen didn’t gloat much then. Nor does she now. By the start of her sophomore season, which was her first with actual games, she had already grown close with the teammates she spent hours practicing with the previous spring. Berube said that while Chen’s freshman season was a tough, unusual time, she grew even more fond of Chen. “It was also a really special time for all those reasons,” Berube said.

The Tigers went 25-5 during Chen’s sophomore campaign and won the Ivy League tournament over Columbia. Princeton upset Kentucky in its Round of 64 game, only 13 days removed from the Wildcats topping South Carolina in the SEC tournament final. Last weekend, Meyers, who is currently playing professionally for the London Lions, re-watched the entirety of that victory. Years later, Meyers remains struck by Chen’s performance. She scored 17 points and made 9 of 11 free throws in her NCAA Tournament debut.

“Every time we needed her to score or do something, she followed through with it,” Meyers said. “It reminded me of how clutch Kaitlyn Chen is during the big moments.”

That season, Meyers said the Tigers had a tradition to keep themselves grounded at the start of quarters and after timeouts. The five players on-court would huddle together, and take a synchronized deep breath in and out. They’d say they loved each other and break the circle down. Then, like now, Chen played with a calm that rubbed off on her teammates. “You just trust her so much,” Berube said. “She could put the team on her back in a way that I’ve never seen or been a part of. But doing it in a way that gets her players to play with great joy.

“I wish we had one more year together after this season.”

In some ways, there has never been a better time to be an Ivy League star. Though Chen says interest in women’s basketball hasn’t changed that much on campus since she arrived, the conference’s national profile has heightened. It was one of two mid-major conferences to receive multiple bids to this year’s NCAA Tournament. (Columbia, which split the Ivy regular season title with Princeton, lost its First Four game against Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.) The league says its social media accounts (excluding school-specific channels) have had more than 6 million impressions on women’s basketball content this year, a 65 percent increase from the 2018-19 season. McKenzie Forbes, Kaitlyn Davis and Kayla Padilla transferred to USC from Harvard , Columbia and Penn, respectively, and play integral roles for the top-seeded Trojans . Former Princeton coach, Courtney Banghart, has made the NCAA Tournament every season since taking the UNC job.

From Ivy to gold: How USC's trio of former Ivy League 'nerds' carried Trojans to Pac-12 title

Though former Tigers, such as Bella Alarie and Blake Deitrick, went straight from Princeton to the WNBA , Meyers was among the first players to take advantage of the transfer rule to further her career. After winning Ivy Player of the Year honors in 2021-22, she transferred to Maryland, where started 34 of 35 games and averaged 14.3 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field. She parlayed her success with the Terrapins into being a first-round WNBA Draft pick last April.

“I just hope that I showed some people that I played at Princeton, a mid-major school, I’m a nerd and I can also ball,” Meyers said. “And there’s other people doing just that.”

Chen is one of them. She averaged 15.8 points and 5 assists per game this season. She said of the Ivy League: “I think it’ll only get more competitive from here … You can come to the Ivy League, get an amazing education but also play at the highest level and be able to compete in the NCAA Tournament.” After the Lions’ at-large berth, the Ivy hopes the selection committee will continue to consider it as a multi-bid league. A school might not even need to win the Ivy Madness to make the field of 68.

In the locker room after beating Columbia for the Ivy tournament title, players showered Berube with water in celebration. Fittingly, Berube had only one clean, and dry, shirt left in her bag – an orange T-shirt with Chen’s face printed on it — which she wore to her postgame press conference. “You cannot possibly be wearing that right now,” Chen told her coach.

Princeton coach Carla Berube wearing a shirt with the face of her star guard Kaitlyn Chen printed on it. “I got soaking wet in the locker room and this is the shirt I had remaining,” Berube says. pic.twitter.com/jjfoekUglH — Ben Pickman (@benpickman) March 17, 2024

Berube said she planned to bring it to Iowa City. “It’s pretty good luck. I’d love to be able to break that out again,” she said. Perhaps she will if the Tigers shock the Hawkeyes.

A matchup with the Mountaineers is first, however. And the contest hasn’t been the only thing on Chen’s mind this week. She already received feedback on her thesis. Chen says her advisor complimented her rough draft but also gave lots of edits. “It’s so hard to work on it right now because I just want to watch West Virginia play,” she said. Earlier this week, she was trying to do both. “That’s just part of being a Princeton student-athlete,” Berube said.

That’s what Chen still is, for as long as the Tigers stay alive.

(Photo of Kaitlyn Chen: Gregory Fisher / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Ben Pickman is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the WNBA and women’s college basketball. Previously, he was a writer at Sports Illustrated where he primarily covered women’s basketball and the NBA. He has also worked at CNN Sports and the Wisconsin Center for Journalism Ethics. Follow Ben on Twitter @ benpickman

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Adithi jayaraman '24 wins keasbey scholarship, posted on march 19, 2024 by nicola smith.

The psychology major is interested in the human brain and translational research.

Adithi Jayaraman ’24 has been awarded a 2024 Keasbey Scholarship to pursue a master of philosophy degree in cognitive neuroscience at Cambridge University. 

Jayaraman is one of two candidates accepted this year for graduate study in the United Kingdom by the Philadelphia-based Keasbey Memorial Foundation , which was founded in the 1950s by Marguerite Keasbey in honor of her parents. 

Students are selected on a rotating basis from 12 American colleges and universities in the Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, including Dartmouth, Harvard, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Bowdoin, and Yale. The foundation pays a scholarship for a recipient’s tuition, fees, and living expenses for up to two years of study. 

The most recent Dartmouth student to be awarded the scholarship was Nicholas Norwitz ’18. 

Jayaraman will study psychology and cognitive neuroscience in a year-long program at Cambridge, which will put her on the road to a doctorate. Her ambition is to become a clinical psychologist, researching the neuroscience of mental illness, with a focus on policy and advocacy.

We will never understand the brain fully, and I don’t think we’re supposed to.

A psychology major and anthropology minor from New Jersey, Jayaraman “models both academic excellence and a true sense of service to others: She is courageous, reflective, and eager to continue driving change in mental health work. We are thrilled that she has received the Keasbey this year,” says Christie Harner , assistant dean of the faculty for fellowship advising.

Jayaraman sat for two Zoom calls with representatives from the Keasbey foundation: the first a group introduction with the other candidates, and the second an individual interview. Both happened to coincide with a family trip in December to see her maternal grandparents in Chennai in southern India.

While there, she experienced both a cyclone, which cut off power to thousands, and a bout of food poisoning that almost sent her to the hospital. The interviews began at 2 a.m. local time. Her older sister put makeup on her so she didn’t look as ill as she felt, and found a formal shirt for her to wear because Jayaraman had forgotten to bring one.

“Just let me get through it,” she told herself, resigning herself to a rejection. Instead, she learned in December that she was one of the two finalists.

“Adithi is a phenomenal student. But what really made her stand out was her willingness to tackle tough issues and topics in a thoughtful, honest, and empathetic way,” says Margaret Funnell , Guarini ’97, the director of Undergraduate Advising and Research and an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences , who taught Jayaraman in the classroom.

The brain’s intricate mechanisms have fascinated Jayaraman since she was young. “I always knew I wanted to study the brain,” she says. An MRI image of a brain functions as her computer’s screen saver. She has also relished her study of anthropology, which meshes with her interest in “understanding humans and how we behave.”

She is interested in the relatively recent field of translational research, which seeks to translate basic research findings into concrete practices that benefit humans.

Given the stigma of mental illness and the continuing challenges in treating various psychiatric disorders, “we want to make sure we’re classifying diseases in the best way for the best treatment,” Jamarayan adds.

She takes particular pleasure in reading functional MRI imaging, which measures the activity of the brain as it performs a function or looks at a specific image. “It’s such a cool machine. That’s why I love the brain; it underlies our thoughts, emotions and behaviors.” 

When Jayaraman is not studying or working, she watches Netflix ( Fleabag is a favorite), listens to music—ABBA, the Beatles, Queen—and observes the people around her. “And sometimes you just need to pause and not do anything,” she says.

While it is important to understand the brain and its functions, and there is so much more to learn, Jamarayan says, “We will never understand the brain fully, and I don’t think we’re supposed to. Some parts are meant to remain uncharted. The brain is a beautiful mystery that doesn’t need to be touched.”

 More information about the Keasbey and other awards are available through the Fellowship Advising Office .