Congratulations to the following graduate students for receiving a 2026–2027 Dissertation Year Award (DYA) from the Division of Graduate Education
The below graduate students received a 2026–2027 Dissertation Year Award (DYA) from the Division of Graduate Education. Robin Blades, Health & SAN Areas Ashley Chen, Cognitive Area Kiante Fernandez, Cognitive Area Bear Goldstein, SAN Area Amber Hopkins, Cognitive Area Andrew Lee, Cognitive Area Clare McCann, Developmental Area Thomas McGee, Cognitive Area Kaitlin McManus, Clinical Area Erin Morrow, Cognitive AreaCongratulations to our graduate students who received honorable mention accolades for the 2026 NSF GRFP
The below students received honorable mention accolades for the 2026 NSF GRFP. Esha Dadbhawala – SAN Area Ashley Humphries – SAN AreaCongratulations to our 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Recipients.
The below students were accepted to the 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Iva Dujmic – SAN Area, incoming student Julia Pratt – BNS Area Samuel Pratt – SAN Area Wendy Qi – Developmental Area April Su – Developmental Area Jojo Widi – Cognitive AreaCongratulations to Ashley Chen for being selected as a member of the 2026 cohort of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society through UCLA’s chapter.
Ashley Chen (Cognitive Area) was selected as a member of the 2026 cohort of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society through UCLA’s chapter. Named for the first self-identified African American to earn a doctorate from an American university, the society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students in the academy.
Congratulations to Manuel Ramirez for receiving the HIV and Sexual Health Special Interest Group Outstanding Student Paper Award
Manuel Ramirez (Health Area) received the HIV and Sexual Health Special Interest Group Outstanding Student Paper Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) for his paper titled “Does activism buffer against the negative effects of discrimination on distress and alcohol use?,” which he will present at the upcoming SBM Annual Meeting.
Congratulations to Enya Daang for receiving a Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine (SBSM) Scholar Award
Enya Daang (Health Area) received a Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine (SBSM) Scholar Award to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting in Chicago. These awards are given to the top student/trainee abstract submissions in different areas of psychosomatic medicine.
Congratulations to Manuel Ramirez for receiving a Meritorious Abstract Award
Manuel Ramirez (Health Area) received a Meritorious Abstract Award for his upcoming talk titled “Does activism buffer against the negative effects of discrimination on distress and alcohol use among LGBT persons of color?” at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting.
Congratulations to Manuel Ramirez for being accepted to the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine Inclusivity for Impact, Equity, and Engagement (I2EyE) Scholar Cohort Program
Manuel Ramirez (Health Area) was accepted to the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine Inclusivity for Impact, Equity, and Engagement (I2EyE) Scholar Cohort Program.
Congratulations to Eric D. Cortez for receiving an LGBT Health Scholar Award from the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine
Eric D. Cortez (Health Area) received an LGBT Health Scholar Award from the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine for his poster titled “Intersectional Discrimination and Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Men of Color: Ethnic Identity as a Buffer.”
Congratulations to Karissa Tran for receiving a Scholar Award from the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine
Karissa Tran (Health Area) received a Scholar Award from the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine for her poster titled “HIV-related shame and alcohol use among men who have sex with men: The mediating role of posttraumatic stress symptoms related to being recently diagnosed with HIV.”
Congratulations to Haley Wang for being quoted in a New York Times article
Haley Wang (Clinical Area) was quoted in a New York Times article titled “How Bad Are A.I. Delusions? We Asked People Treating Them.” The article is available at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/us/chatgpt-delusions-psychosis.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HVA.OTAL.5yUw4lKRQkTD&smid=url-share
Congratulations to Naomi Gancz for receiving a National Institute of Mental Health F31 fellowship grant titled
Naomi Gancz (Developmental Area) received a National Institute of Mental Health F31 fellowship grant titled “Oral Microbiome Dysregulation as a Contributor to Depressive Symptoms and Altered Brain Connectivity in a High-Risk Sample of Youth,” with Associate Professor Bridget Callaghan as sponsor.
Congratulations to Glen Spiteri (Cognitive Area) for being featured in a UCLA Newsroom article
Glen Spiteri (Cognitive Area) was featured in a UCLA Newsroom article titled “A connection forged by language.” The article is available at https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/connection-forged-by-language-maltese
Congratulations to Sydney Tran for being awarded a Clara Mayo Grant from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
Sydney Tran (Social Area) was awarded a Clara Mayo Grant from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues for her project titled “Asian Americans, their racial position, and their view of intergroup relations.” The grant program was set up to support masters’ theses or pre-dissertation research on aspects of sexism, racism, or prejudice.
Congratulations to Glen Spiteri for being awarded a Humane Studies Fellowship
Glen Spiteri (Cognitive Area) was awarded a Humane Studies Fellowship from the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University for his project titled “A computational theory of moral circle expansion and contraction.”
2026 UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
Congratulations to the nearly 1,700 students who participated in the Psychology Undergraduate Commencement Celebration this year!
Prof. Lieder Receives 2026 Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Falk Lieder for receiving a 2026 Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award. This award honors the considerable dedication of UCLA faculty who consistently and enthusiastically serve as effective mentors to undergraduate students involved in research or creative inquiry.
Prof. Ng Receives 2026 Life Sciences Excellence Award in Inclusive Excellence
Congratulations to Associate Professor Lauren Ng for receiving a 2026 Life Sciences Excellence Award in the category of Inclusive Excellence. Lauren will be honored at the Life Sciences Excellence Awards Celebration on June 4.
Prof. Ng Receives 2025-2026 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Congratulations to Associate Professor Lauren Ng for receiving a 2025-2026 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for Senate Faculty from the Academic Senate. This award honors Senate faculty who, over their career, have excelled across teaching, service, and scholarship that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.