Why does the world look the way it does? We experience vision as direct contact with reality. The world appears to be “there,” fully formed in front of us. Yet from the perspective of the brain, perception is an extraordinarily difficult problem. The retinal image is only two-dimensional (2D), incomplete, and fundamentally ambiguous. Many different…
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…
The below students received honorable mention accolades for the 2026 NSF GRFP. Esha Dadbhawala – SAN Area Ashley Humphries – SAN Area
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 Area
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,…
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.
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.
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.
Manuel Ramirez (Health Area) was accepted to the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine Inclusivity for Impact, Equity, and Engagement (I2EyE) Scholar Cohort Program.
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.”