Awards
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.
Saman Abbaspoor (2024)
Past Winners:
- 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.
Jenn Richler (2023)
Past Winners:
- 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.
Kate Humphreys (2023)
Past Winners:
- 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.
Qimeng Wang (2024)
Past Winners:
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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.
Jordan Gunn (2024)
Past Winners:
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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.
Hee Jung Jeong (2024)
Past Winners:
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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.
Kavi Jakes (2024)
Past Winners:
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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.
Past Winners:
- 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.
Erin Duran (2024)
Past winners:
- Savannah Crutchfield (2023)
- 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.
Adriana Schoenhaut & Zhengyang Wang (2024)
Past Winners:
- 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.
Sophia Podolsky (2024)
Past Winners:
- Ke (Taylor) Lai (2023)
- Alexandra Paulina Dulman (2022)
Undergraduate Overall Excellence
This was award was newly established in 2022.
Chloe Hord & Sophia Mueller (2024)
Past Winners:
- 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.