New research demonstrates complexity underlying the ‘simplest form of learning’
For Dr. Catherine Rankin, a leader in the field of habituation research, understanding the way that habituation occurs in a simple organism has implications for a range of brain disorders in humans. C. elegans, the worms researchers in the Rankin lab study to understand learning and brain development, are nematodes that are widely used in neuroscience research for […]
1000 simple words to improve science communication
Inspired by popular web comic XKCD’s Thing Explainer, and motivated by a desire to get complex research ideas into the hands (and newsfeeds) of a broader audience, researchers in Dr. Rebecca Todd’s lab have been blogging about the lab’s publications using the 1000 most commonly used English words. “A lot of scientific writing can be […]
Whales and dolphins have rich ‘human-like’ cultures and societies
Whales and dolphins (Cetaceans) live in tightly-knit social groups, have complex relationships, talk to each other and even have regional dialects – much like human societies. A major new study, published today in Nature Ecology & Evolution, has linked the complexity of Cetacean culture and behaviour to the size of their brains. The research was […]
Meet Mohit Sodhi, a neuro-ophthalmologic researcher and charity co-founder
An owner of many hats, UBC Psychology alumnus Mohit Sodhi is making the most out of his BSc degree in Behavioural Neuroscience. Sodhi received his BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience in 2016, and is currently pursuing his Master’s of Science in Experimental Medicine at UBC. His research focuses on the analysis of prescription drugs, working to […]
October Lab of the Month: Dr. Kristin Laurin studies the interplay between motivation and religion
How does your political and societal understanding of the world shape your goals and motivations? At the MAGIC Lab, Dr. Kristin Laurin explores the complex relationship between motivations and beliefs, connecting the dots between goal pursuits to areas like religious belief systems, political ideologies, moral codes and more. Laurin, assistant professor and director of MAGIC […]
UBC researchers promote the Fundamental Science Review on Parliament Hill
“Based on data from a survey we produced last year, 80 per cent of Canadian Principal Investigators (PIs) have indicated plans to slow their research programs,” says Dr. Liisa Galea. “They’re worried about how they’re going to support new trainees, and funding is their primary concern.” Dr. Galea recently travelled to Ottawa in support of the Fundamental […]
New research: You’re not alone in feeling alone
Feel like everyone else has more friends than you do? You’re not alone— but merely believing this is true could affect your happiness. A new study from the Department of Psychology at UBC, Harvard Business School and Harvard Medical School has found that new university students consistently think their peers have more friends and spend more time […]
UBC Psychology researchers and graduate students receive national research funding
We are pleased to announce that Drs. Susan Birch, Luke Clark, Liisa Galea, and Catharine Winstanley have been awarded Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants. Susan Birch was awarded $28,000 towards her research project A Systematic Examination of How a Speaker’s Linguistic and Paralinguistic Cues Affect Children’s and Adults’ Learning […]
Faculty in focus: Meet Dr. Grace Truong, UBC Psychology’s newest lecturer
For Grace Truong, a career in psychology was not predestined. It was during her first year as an undergraduate student that she developed her passion for psychology. Truong, who received a 2016-17 Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for her excellence in teaching, hopes to inspire this same passion for psychology in her students. A recent PhD graduate […]
Dr. Kristin Laurin earns early career research award
In recognition of her research accomplishments, Dr. Kristin Laurin received the International Social Cognition Network (ISCON)’s Early Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Study of Social Cognition. “It was definitely a surprise and a huge honour to receive this award,” says Laurin, who joined the department of psychology in 2016 as assistant professor. “I’m […]