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Principal Investigator
Email | Website | CV
I am currently the Director of the Chicago Center for Practical Wisdom and having returned from serving as the Division Director for the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in the Directorate of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences at the National Science Foundation. My research is on the psychology, neurobiology, and comparative biology of language use, the role of sleep in learning, attention and working memory, and the neurobiology of economic decisions. We study speech perception and music perception as auditory skills, perception as a cognitive system interconnected with other psychological systems, and how wiser decisions arise from experiences supporting an interaction of intellectual virtues such as epistemic humility, reflection, curiosity, and perseverance with moral virtues.
Lab Manager
Email
I’m a post-master's researcher in the lab. I’m interested in understanding how reflective practices and mindfulness might be skills to develop wise decision-making and wisdom. Aside from research, I fill a role in communications for the Center for Practical Wisdom. In my spare time, I focus my energy on reading science fiction and producing short films!
PhD Student
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I'm a third-year PhD student in psychology at the University of Chicago. I am interested in studying predictive coding and computational models of speech comprehension and production. This summer, I went to culinary school in Shanghai, took a train to Tibet, and went camping near the redwood forests in California.
I'm a Joint-PhD Student of Cognition and Behavioral Science at the Booth School of Business. I graduated with a BA in psychology (honors) from UChicago in 2021. I'm also a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Using diverse research methods, both in-lab and out in the field, I'm interested in aspirations to improve oneself across the lifespan and, in particular, whether exercising epistemic humility helps us craft better futures for ourselves and for others.
PhD Student
Email
I am a 3rd-year PhD student in cognitive neuroscience. My research interests include how experience and attention shapes auditory perception. Specifically, my research is based on how short-term expectations drive auditory perception as recorded by electrophysiological equipment.
I am a second-year doctoral student in political science. I am originally from Mexico, and my academic background is in business. I have spent the last 12 years teaching advanced accounting and business ethics to undergraduates. My master’s thesis focused on the conceptual and methodological challenges of measuring political ideology, particularly in the context of American politics. My plan for the near future is to study the effects of the politicization of entertainment. Since the plague started, my wife and I began homeschooling our two kids: which has only increased the respect I have for K-12 teachers. I hate waking up early for anything other than a fishing trip, and I enjoy learning new languages and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
PhD Student
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I'm a doctoral student in the Integrative Neuroscience program. I'm interested in the bidirectional relationship between the neural mechanisms of sensorimotor control and higher level mental functions.
MAPSS Student
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I am a graduate student in the MAPSS program at the University of Chicago studying psychology. I study music cognition related to how we perceive and remember music and various musical features. I also have a second interest in language cognition. Very appropriately based on my research interests, I majored in psychology, music performance (I am a violist), and Italian studies in undergrad at Bucknell University.
MAPSS Student
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I'm a graduate student in the Master of Arts Program in the Social Science, concentrating in psychology. My research interest includes wisdom, personality, and attention. I love spending my free time watching movies and traveling around.
MAPSS Student
Email
I am a MAPSS-Psyc student at UChicago. My current research interest is music cognition and the positive psychological effects it brings, as well as societal and cultural influences on the development of wisdom. I love playing the accordion and reading detective novels in my spare time.
Assistant Instructional Professor, the College and the Department of Psychology, and Research Professional
Email | CV
My work focuses on understanding how our past experiences shape and guide (1) how we perceive the world, (2) how we communicate with others and (3) how we think and behave. As experiences often afford the ability to learn, the process of learning and what impacts it is of interest to me. My research has applications in areas of innovation, creativity, negotiation, marketing, and speech recognition. My work utilizes a wide range of methods from a variety of disciplines such as behavioral research methods, computational modeling, analytic methods of linguistics, and neuroscience methods such as electrophysiology (specifically, electroencephalography or EEG).
Chair, Department of Music
Email | Website
I am a musicologist, and I have been teaching in the Music Department since 1994. I study Western music since the 1800s, and I recently completed a book on film music and memory. I collaborate on studies related to the perception and understanding of multimedia. I'm also one of the PIs in the Wisdom Project, currently working on epistemic humility.
Visiting Scholar
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Thanks, APEX Lab, for helping me to add EEG methods to my psychophysiological research repertoire! I look forward to our continuing investigations of wisdom and emotional processes as well as our considerations of human-automation contexts.
Research Assistant Professor
Email | Website
I'm a Research Assistant Professor at UChicago. I direct the newly established Human Nature and Potentials Lab, which is part of the Center for Practical Wisdom. I am broadly interested in the cognition and behaviors of moral transcendence, in relation to fundamental life questions such as happiness and meaning. I have two young children (ages 2 & 4) who are always the first participants of my studies.
Research Assistant
Email
I am a fourth year psychology undergrad, resuming my studies after 10 years away. After having worked in all the positions in a restaurant, including 6 years as a chef, I am back to pursue my curiosity for education. I am interested in how we learn, how we can optimize the teaching process, and how personal narratives affect the way we approach our daily lives and struggles. I am considering a PhD program in psychology, but for now, I am a research assistant, excited to learn the ins and outs of carrying out research. Even though I no longer work in the kitchen, I still love preparing a good meal!
Research Assistant
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I am a first-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago pursuing degrees in neuroscience and cognitive science. I am interested in language acquisition, language processing and perception, and how sleep in particular affects these cognitive processes. In my free time, I love to play my guitar!
Research Assistant
Email
I am a second-year undergraduate in Computer Science and Neuroscience at UChicago. I am pretty interested in Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and how it can be applied to our daily life, so I wish to further my understanding of BCI by pursuing a PhD in Computational Neuroscience and then applying my knowledge to practical usage.
Research Assistant
Email | Website
I am a third year undergraduate student at UChicago majoring in psychology and visual arts and minoring in neuroscience. After I graduate, I plan on using my psychology and neuroscience interests in the field of aesthetics and design. I am interested in why we find certain stimuli beautiful and what contexts modulate this perception. Looking beyond, I am interested in how beautiful experiences can contribute to a happier and more fulfilling life. I play jazz guitar in my free time and like creative coding - I'm working on a project right now that hacks a receipt printer to print photos of you, so I'm planning on making it a receipt printer photo booth that's completely free to use.
Research Assistant
Email
I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in comparative human development at the University of Chicago. I plan to pursue research and attend medical school following graduation. I am particularly interested in behavioral development of children and understanding where people's perception falters when interacting with the world. Outside of the lab, I am usually dancing with MAYA on campus or sipping coffee in some coffee shop.
Research Assistant
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I am a third-year undergraduate at UChicago, majoring in psychology and minoring in statistics. After I graduate, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology or neuroscience. I am very interested in flow theory and how it can be used to study motivated cognition. Outside of lab, I enjoy FaceTiming my dog and walking around downtown Chicago.
Research Assistant
Email
I am a third-year UChicago undergraduate majoring in economics and psychology. After I graduate, I hope to work in the financial services industry and integrate behavioral finance into my work after which I hope to get an MBA. I am particularly interested in working memory in younger children and metacognition and am currently reading about these topics. I can be found soulcycling, working out, and boxing in my spare time!
Research Assistant
Email
I am a first-year undergraduate at UChicago, and I'm planning to double major in psychology and computer science. After graduating, I'm hoping to get a PhD in psychology and head into research - specifically, studying mental illness and personality development. In my personal time, I'm often reading, drawing, or playing drums.
Research Assistant
Email
I’m a third-year cognitive science undergrad at UChicago. I hope, of course, to eventually solve all major questions about the mind — but I’m starting with the question of what we’re doing when we’re introspecting. Do we actually have the ability to look inside our own minds and see the gears turning? Or is all introspection merely our brain’s best guess about what it was doing? When I’m not in the lab I can be found planning ridiculously over-the-top art nouveau interior design for a future room.
Research Assistant
Email | Website
I am a post-masters researcher in the lab. I am interested in understanding physical risk behavior; changes in perception under high physical stress; and physiological factors behind high performance athletes and artists. Aside from research, I perform stunts for movies and television, which explains my fascination with risk. I also own a company that makes fake blood for theater and television.
Research Assistant
Email
I am a research assistant at the APEX Lab. I graduated from the University of Chicago in June of 2023 and majored in Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Cinema and Media Studies. I plan to pursue a higher education program to gain more knowledge in the research field. I am interested in immersion/absorption research especially in relation to various media content including film, VR, and AR. Outside of research, I love collecting records and always appreciate music recommendations.
Research Assistant
Email
I'm a first-year undergraduate at UChicago majoring in neuroscience and chemistry. After I graduate, I plan to enroll in medical school or an MD/PhD program. I'm interested in understanding the neurological basis of speech. Outside of the lab, I enjoy writing for the UChicago Philosophy Review and always appreciate a Bananagrams challenge.
Research Assistant
Email
I am a third-year undergraduate at UChicago, majoring in Art History, Economics, and Inquiry and Research in the Humanities. I am interested in people's experience with art, the process of interpretation, and language as a (perhaps imperfect) tool for thinking and communication. Outside of the lab, I love dancing and cats. And I am recently obsessed with different kinds of bread.
Resident Chonk
I'm a first-year floof who studies feline play behavior and how to get into high places. Sometimes, I accompany Felix on his fieldwork, but I do not enjoy it. (Please do not tell Felix.)
Resident Chonk-in-Training
Talisker is a first-year floof studying the psychology of persuasion. He is particularly interested in practical applications of his research, such as how humans can be persuaded to increase his feeding frequency to three cans a day. In his free time, he loves to play fetch, cuddle, and attack John’s feet while he’s sleeping.
Research Assistant ('23)
Research Assistant ('22) | Private Equity Analyst, Vista Equity Partners
Research Assistant ('22)
Research Assistant ('21)
PhD Student ('21) | Postdoc, UCLA
MCSS Student ('23)
MAPSS Student ('22)
MAPSS Student ('22) | Senior Research Analyst, Exponent
MAPSS Student ('22)
Resident Chonk ('22)
PhD Student ('22)
MAPSS Student ('21) | Research Assistant, Harvard School of Education
MACSS Student ('21) | PhD Student, UC Irvine
Research Assistant ('21)
Research Assistant
MAPSS Student ('21)
MAPSS Student ('20)
MAPSS Student ('20)
MAPSS Student ('20)
Research Assistant ('20)
Research Assistant ('20)
Research Assistant ('20)
HS Volunteer ('20)
HS Volunteer ('20)
Research Assistant ('20)
Research Assistant ('19)
PhD Student
Research Assistant ('19)
MAPSS Student ('19)
MAPSS Student ('19)
HS Volunteer ('19)
MAPSS Student ('19) | Associate Researcher (Ipsos, North America)
MBA Grad Student ('19) | Analytical Lead (Microsoft)
Research Assistant ('19) | PhD Student, University of Canterbury (Christchurch, NZ)
MAPSS Student ('19) | Research Program Coordinator, School of Medicine (Johns Hopkins University)
MAPSS Student ('19) | Research Associate, Boston Attention and Learning Lab (Harvard Medical School)
HS Volunteer ('19)
Summer RA ('18)
Summer RA ('18)
Honors Student (‘18) | Master's Student, UChicago Social Service Administration
Postdoc (‘18) | Assistant Professor of Psychology, Huron University College
Email | Website
Grad Student (‘18)
Grad Student (‘18) | MD Student, Pritzker School of Medicine
Postdoc (‘15) | Data Specialist, Amazon
Postdoc (‘15) | Citizen Data Scientist & Analyst, Esri
Grad Student (‘07) | Associate Professor of Psychology, University College London
Website
Grad Student (‘06) | Associate Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University
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