Honouring exceptional contributions to the world of science and culture.
Today, Dr. Stan Floresco, a professor in UBC’s department of psychology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) — one of the country’s highest honours for distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists.
Dr. Floresco is one of nine UBC faculty members who have been elected as new RSC Fellows for their outstanding scholarly achievements and the significant impact they have made in their fields.
“To be elected to the Royal Society of Canada is both humbling and incredibly exhilarating. I’ve always viewed neuroscience as a grand adventure into how the brain solves complex problems, and to get 'props' for doing what you genuinely love is the ultimate reward. To be welcomed into the historic pantheon of Canadian psychologists who shaped this field is an honor I never could have anticipated when starting out.”
Stan B. Floresco is a leading scholar on the neural mechanisms of decision making and executive functioning. He has uncovered fundamental principles of how dopamine and prefrontal-subcortical circuits facilitate cognition in the healthy brain, aided by his development of innovative translational behavioural assays that have been widely adopted. His work has reshaped our understanding of how pathology in these systems contributes to psychiatric illness, elevating psychology and neuroscience worldwide.
Nominated by his colleague Dr. Kiran Soma and elected by peers from across Canada, this honour celebrates Dr. Floresco’s exceptional contributions to the behavioural neuroscience field in Canada and globally.
“By any metric of research excellence, whether it be productivity, quality or impact, Dr. Floresco is one of the top behavioural neuroscientists of his generation. His expertise is also sought by granting agencies, pharmaceutical industries, and the media, reflecting his international reputation as one of the most trusted voices on the neural bases of cognition and behaviour.”
Dr. Floresco is an internationally recognized scholar who has authored over 160 publications to advance our understanding of how neural circuits support complex thinking and decision making. His research combines psychology, neurobiology, and psychiatry to examine how brain systems help guide behaviour and how changes in these systems may be linked to psychiatric disorders. Dr. Floresco is also a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.
“I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my foundational mentors, Tony Phillips and Tony Grace, my close friend and nominator Kiran Soma, and to the extraordinary community in the Department of Psychology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Most of all, this recognition belongs to the brilliant students and researchers in my lab, whose relentless dedication, energy, and curiosity keep our science driving forward.”
This honour not only recognizes Dr. Floresco’s scientific contributions to our understanding of cognition, decision making, and mental health, it celebrates his commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, equity, diversity, and supporting early-career scientists at UBC and beyond.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Floresco!
On Friday, November 13, 2026, the the RSC will induct the Class of 2026 at its annual Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Ottawa.
Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) comprises The Academy of Arts and Humanities, The Academy of Social Sciences, The Academy of Science, and The RSC College. The RSC recognizes excellence, advises the government and the larger society, and promotes a culture of knowledge and innovation in Canada and with other national academies around the world.
