Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences

Head: M. Bergman

Associate Head for Graduate Studies: M. Vess

As a department, we seek to be a leader in psychological research and education. Our faculty members are engaged in innovative research programs focused on studying and intervening in behavior through rigorous methods and approaches, from micro to macro, with an aim of improving human health and well-being. The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers PhD training in Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Social and Personality Psychology. We also maintain research clusters focused on Diversity Science, Affective Science, and Personality Processes. Doctoral students in Clinical Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology complete a Master's Degree as part of their progress toward the PhD. Our doctoral training is strongly research oriented; all students are expected to become involved with research beginning in their first year. We offer a Master of Science degree in Psychological Sciences with a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, which is intended for students who are interested in employment using psychological principles in the workplace and in organizations.

Doctoral Programs

The objectives of the PhD programs are:

  • To prepare students to conduct high quality research, to direct research by others, and to communicate research findings through teaching and writing.
  • To prepare students for careers in academic settings or organizations that involve practical solutions to personal, social, or organizational problems.

We enroll approximately 120 doctoral students and offer numerous opportunities for student collaboration with faculty. The student-faculty ratio is roughly 2:1, which allows individualized attention to develop research and professional skills.

Doctoral students admitted to the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences typically receive a competitive monthly salary for up to five years through external awards and fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, clinical placements, or university employment. Office space, computers, funds to travel to professional conventions, and funds to pursue professional development, are also typically provided.

All of the programs within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences support an active speaker series that involves students, faculty, and scientists from across the university and from other institutions. These series provide exposure to different perspectives on the field and the opportunity to network with scientists at other institutions.

Master of Science in Psychological Sciences

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers a Master of Science in Psychological Sciences with a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. This is the scientific study of human behavior at work and the application of that science to workplace issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations. The program prepares students for employment in consulting, private practice, government, and corporations. The program emphasizes the application of psychological principles to human resource decisions and organizational behavior challenges. Students benefit from training by faculty who are internationally recognized experts in the workplace and organizations.

Albanese, Brian, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Florida State University, 2020

Alexander, Gerianne, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, McGill University, 1991

Anderson, Brian A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, John Hopkins University, 2014

Arthur, Winfred E, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The University of Akron, 1988

Atoba, Olabisi, Instructional Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2017

Bergman, Mindy E, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001

Bernard, Jessica A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Michigan, 2012

Bolanos, Carlos A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Northeastern University, 2000

Brooker, Rebecca, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Pennsylvania State University, 2011

Calles-Ramirez, Ivette Marie, Instructional Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2018

Cuthbert, Kristy, Clinical Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Boston University, 2022

Dowd, Sara M, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2021

Edens, John F, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1996

Edens, Pamela S, Instructional Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1997

Eitan, Shoshana, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Weizmann Institute of Science, 1997

Fields, Sherecce A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of South Florida, 2008

Gaylord Harden, Noni, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The University of Memphis, 2003

Graham, Carlyn, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The Pennsylvania State University, 2023

Grau, James W, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Pennsylvania, 1985

Heffer, Robert W, Clinical Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Louisiana State University and A&M College, 1988

Hicks, Joshua A, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Missouri at Columbia, 2009

Howard, Daniel L, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Vanderbilt University, 1992

Hughes, Ian, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Bowling Green State University, 2023

Hull, Rachel G, Senior Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2003

Jackson, Cheryl, Lecturer
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Kansas State University, 2007

Jackson, Sarah, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2016

Lench, Heather C, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California Irvine, 2007

Leunes, Arnold D, Senior Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, North Texas State College, 1969

Lindquist, Isaac Alan, Visiting Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2023

MacNamara, Annmarie E, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Stony Brook University, 2013

Mathur, Vani A, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Northwestern University, 2012

Midgette, Allegra Joie, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 2019

Mochinushi, Yumiko, Instructional Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Florida Institute of Technology, 2019

Moscarello, Justin M, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2010

Orr, Joseph M, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Michigan, 2011

Payne, Stephanie C, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, George Mason University, 2000

Schlegel, Rebecca J, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Missouri at Columbia, 2009

Schmeichel, Brandon J, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Florida State University, 2005

Smallman, Rachel E, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010

Smith, Rachel J, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Pennsylvania, 2008

Smith, Steven M, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1979

Tang, Catherine, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Washington University - St. Louis, MO, 2021

Trost, Zina, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 2010

Vaid, Jyotsna, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, McGill University, 1982

Vess, Matthew K, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Missouri, 2010

Viana, Andres G, Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Pennsylvania State University, 2011

Vujanovic, Anka A., Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, University of Vermont, 2009

Worthy, Darrell A, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 2010

Yamauchi, Takashi, Associate Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, Columbia University, 1997

Zhu, Ze Mia, Assistant Professor
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PHD, George Mason University, 2021