Cognitive & Brain Sciences
The graduate program in Cognitive and Brain Sciences at LSU examines cognition and related topics from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives. Our graduate program emphasizes research training using multiple behavioral and neuroscientific methodological tools, including both laboratory and field research methods.
Our goal is to prepare students for professional careers in a variety of settings such as:
- Academic careers
- Researchers in industry or government
- Technical advisors in government and human service organizations
In addition to basic research on attention, memory, emotion, language, and decision-making, students are encouraged to study applications of the cognitive and brain sciences to real-world situations. Each student’s program is individually designed by the student and faculty advisors to provide a working knowledge of this broad field and intensive study in the student’s areas of special interest. Courses and seminars in Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and other areas of Psychology and in other departments constitute the academic core of the student’s program of study.
Research Opportunities
Research training continues throughout the student’s program at increasing levels of responsibility. This training includes applied as well as traditional laboratory methods. Students work closely with faculty members on research of mutual interest.
Students have the opportunity to learn a wide variety of research techniques. In addition to a variety of equipment available in faculty labs, the Psychology department EEG Neuroscience laboratory has a BioSemi 64-channel ERP system, and an EyeLink system for conducting eye tracking and pupillometry research. Faculty also conduct fMRI research at Pennington Biomedical Center’s brain imaging facility.
Opportunities also exist for students to get experience doing applied research:
LSU Multidisciplinary Initiative for Neuroscience Discovery (MIND)
The field of neuroscience addresses fundamental questions about the organization and function of the nervous system, as well as changes that occur as a result of development, experience, injury, and disease. Increasing our understanding of such phenomena poises us to recognize and promote adaptive patterns in behavior and neurological function, to the benefit of our local community and the greater population. Our mission is to coordinate and strengthen research, training, and community outreach opportunities related to neuroscience at LSU. For more information, visit the LSU MIND website.
Dr. Beck serves on the executive committee for LSU MIND. Read about Dr. Beck's collaborative work here: Collaborative Champion: Melissa Beck.
Former Students
| Ph.D. Year | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Katherine Moen |
Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Kearney |
| 2019 | Katie Stanko | Project Coordinator, University of Pittsburgh |
| 2019 | Lisa Kemp | Senior Manager, Edwards Lifesciences |
| 2020 | Samantha N Spitler | Assistant Director of Data Operations, University of Rochester |
| 2020 | Juan Guevara Pinto | Research and Evaluation Associate, The Center for Literacy and Learning |
| 2020 | Sunghyun Kim | Post Doctoral Fellow, Asan Medical Center |
| 2021 | Tyler Robinson | Post Doctoral Fellow, Rotman Research Institute |
| 2021 | Xinrui Jiange | Quantitative UX Researcher, Google |
| 2023 | Lauryn Burleigh | Data Analyst, The Learning Agency |
| 2023 | Stephanie Saltzmann | Post Doctoral Fellow, Rutgers University |
| 2023 | Jessica Hacker | Assistant Professor, Husson University |
| 2023 | Vincent Medina | Assistant Professor, University of Central Arkansas |
| 2024 | Brianna Cairney | Postdoctoral Associate, Yale School of Medicine |
| 2024 | Brandon Eich |
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Arizona |
Getting publications is a critical key toward obtaining a job after graduation, and our training model emphasizes the importance of students authoring or co-authoring manuscripts in top-tier journals. Please click on the Graduate Student Publications page to see some of the most recent publications by CBS grad students.
For additional information about the CBS program, please contact Dr. Melissa Beck at mbeck@lsu.edu