Three Psychology Faculty Members Awarded Major Research and Project Grants

Dr. Shu Jiang Awarded APS Grant for “Psychology Unbound”
 

We are very proud to announce that Dr. Shu Jiang has received a prestigious grant from the Association for Psychological Science for her innovative educational initiative, “Psychology Unbound.”

This project seeks to address two persistent gaps in undergraduate psychology education:

1. Students often struggle to see themselves represented in the field.
2. Many are unaware of the wide array of nonacademic career paths available to psychology majors.

To bridge these gaps, “Psychology Unbound” will develop a permanent, open-access digital library of professionally produced video interviews featuring contemporary psychologists from a wide range of:

• Cultural backgrounds
• Subfields of psychology
• Career sectors (academic, applied, clinical, industry, government, and more)

This resource will offer students richer visibility into the profession and broaden their sense of belonging and possibility within psychology.

Students interested in participating in this cutting-edge project are encouraged to reach out.
If that’s you, contact Dr. Jiang at: sjiang@stlawu.edu

You can read the full project description here: 2026 APS Teaching Fund Supports Multicultural Education and Career Pathways – Association for Psychological Science – APS 

Students interested in joining the project can contact Dr. Jiang at sjiang@stlawu.edu.

Congratulations, Dr. Jiang!

Dr. Adam Fox Receives SLU Faculty Research Grant for Developmental Disability Study
 

Even more exciting news comes from the Experimental Analysis of Behavior Lab, where Dr. Adam Fox has been awarded a SLU Faculty Research Grant to investigate sex differences in the FMR1 knockout rat model of developmental disability.

Dr. Fox and his student research assistants have built a robust research portfolio examining learning and behavior across several important developmental and mental health conditions, including:

• Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Early life adversity
• Post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

This new project expands that work by exploring how biological sex influences behavioral outcomes in a widely used model of Fragile X-associated developmental disability. The study promises to deepen scientific understanding of neurodevelopmental differences and may contribute to improved approaches in behavioral neuroscience research.

Congrats to Dr. Fox and his collaborators in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior Lab!

Dr. Elyssa Twedt Receives Grant for Longitudinal Study on Nature Immersion
 

We are also thrilled to announce that Dr. Elyssa Twedt has received a SLU faculty research grant for her upcoming project, “Living and Learning in the Adirondacks: A Longitudinal Study of Nature Immersion.”

Beginning next fall, Dr. Twedt will collaborate with the Adirondack Semester Program to examine how extended living in the natural environment — with minimal technology use —impacts students’ well-being. The study will explore:

• Changes in psychological well-being
• Levels of connectedness to nature
• Stress reduction and emotional resilience
• Cognitive effects of unplugged, nature-based living

This exciting project blends environmental psychology, experiential learning, and student development research, and will provide new insights into the mental health benefits of immersive outdoor education.

More information: Adirondack Semester | St. Lawrence University

Congratulations, Dr. Twedt!

These three awards showcase the remarkable creativity, dedication, and scholarly excellence of the Psychology Department’s faculty. Their work not only advances psychological science but also creates exceptional opportunities for student engagement and experiential learning.

Congratulations once again to Dr. Fox, Dr. Twedt, and Dr. Jiang on these well-deserved accomplishments!