{"691123":{"#nid":"691123","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Celebrating the 2026 Class of 40 Under 40","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThree College of Sciences alumni have been selected as members of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/40-under-40\/default.html\u0022\u003E2026 class of 40 Under 40\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe are proud to celebrate three outstanding College of Sciences alumni who have been recognized for their professional achievements, leadership, and impact,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeslie Roberts\u003C\/strong\u003E, director of Alumni Relations and Corporate Engagement in the College. \u201cTheir accomplishments reflect the many ways our alumni are making a difference in their communities, professions, and the world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMeet the College of Sciences honorees:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElyse Heidelberg, PSY 2008\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClinical Psychologist, Assistant Member\u003C\/strong\u003E | St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EElyse Heidelberg is a clinical psychologist and assistant member of the clinical faculty in the Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences at St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She is head of the New Oncology Program in Psychology, a clinical program that integrates psychological assessment and intervention into the care of all oncology and transplant patients at St. Jude. Heidelberg\u2019s clinical and research interests include promotion of coping and adjustment through early psychological assessment and intervention, AYA oncology, pain and symptom management, and pediatric palliative care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFavorite Tech Memory:\u003C\/strong\u003E Watching Georgia Tech beat Georgia in Athens in 2008 with my brother (also a GT grad!). THWG.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZuri Hudson, BIO 2013\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPediatric Hematologist\/Oncologist\u003C\/strong\u003E | Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EZuri Hudson is an assistant professor of hematology\/oncology at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) and Emory University. She received her bachelor\u2019s degree in biology prior to medical school at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Prior to matriculation, she served in AmeriCorps focused on emergency management and disaster relief. She did her pediatric residency at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, where she completed a chief year prior to a fellowship at CHOA\/Emory. She stays active on campus at Georgia Tech through Student-Athlete and Pre-Med Mentor Jackets and College of Sciences fairs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFavorite Tech Memory:\u003C\/strong\u003E Any rideout, clutching the side of the Ramblin\u2019 Wreck. 10\/10 feeling that I\u2019ll never be able to recreate!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELauren Margulieux, M.S. PSY 2014, Ph.D. PSY 2016\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAssociate Professor\u003C\/strong\u003E | Georgia State University\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELauren Margulieux is an associate professor in the Department of Learning Sciences at Georgia State University. She is also the founding director of the Snap Inc. Center for Computing in Teacher Education, where she leads efforts to integrate computing and AI into Georgia State\u2019s pre-service teacher preparation programs across all disciplines. Margulieux\u2019s research focuses on computer science education for computing and programming novices, with a particular emphasis on promoting computational literacy for all learners.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFavorite Tech Memory:\u003C\/strong\u003E Getting a very supportive end-of-year evaluation from the faculty despite not submitting materials while finishing my dissertation and job search.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more about the 2026 class on the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/s\/1481\/alumni\/19\/interior.aspx?sid=1481\u0026amp;gid=21\u0026amp;pgid=19274\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Alumni Association\u2019s website\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E or by exploring the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/views\/GTAlumni40Under402026\/dash?%3AshowVizHome=no\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Einteractive honoree dashboard\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThree College of Sciences alumni have been selected as members of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association\u0027s 2026 class of 40 Under 40.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Three College of Sciences alumni have been selected as members of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association\u0027s 2026 class of 40 Under 40. "}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-07-15 15:13:30","changed_gmt":"2026-07-15 15:21:38","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680608":{"id":"680608","type":"image","title":"2026 Class of 40 Under 40","body":null,"created":"1784128444","gmt_created":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","changed":"1784128444","gmt_changed":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","alt":"Graphic featuring headshots of the 2026 Class of 40 Under 40","file":{"fid":"264892","name":"40-under-40-Announcement-class-2026.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-Announcement-class-2026.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-Announcement-class-2026.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1414461,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-Announcement-class-2026.jpg?itok=YOQzkjJi"}},"680605":{"id":"680605","type":"image","title":"Elyse Heidelberg (PSY 2008)","body":null,"created":"1784128444","gmt_created":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","changed":"1784128444","gmt_changed":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","alt":"Headshot of Elyse Heidelberg with a faded background showing Georgia Tech\u0027s campus","file":{"fid":"264889","name":"40-under-40-class-2026-Elyse-Heidelberg.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Elyse-Heidelberg.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Elyse-Heidelberg.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1029059,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Elyse-Heidelberg.jpg?itok=3u2qpKlg"}},"680607":{"id":"680607","type":"image","title":"Zuri Hudson (BIO 2013)","body":null,"created":"1784128444","gmt_created":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","changed":"1784128444","gmt_changed":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","alt":"Headshot of Zuri Hudson with a faded background showing Georgia Tech\u0027s campus","file":{"fid":"264891","name":"40-under-40-class-2026-Zuri-Hudson.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Zuri-Hudson.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Zuri-Hudson.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1044102,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Zuri-Hudson.jpg?itok=OX5lKtJg"}},"680606":{"id":"680606","type":"image","title":"Lauren Margulieux (M.S. PSY 2014, Ph.D. PSY 2016)","body":null,"created":"1784128444","gmt_created":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","changed":"1784128444","gmt_changed":"2026-07-15 15:14:04","alt":"Headshot of Lauren Margulieux with a faded background showing Georgia Tech\u0027s campus","file":{"fid":"264890","name":"40-under-40-class-2026-Lauren-Margulieux.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Lauren-Margulieux.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Lauren-Margulieux.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":982963,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/15\/40-under-40-class-2026-Lauren-Margulieux.jpg?itok=7rYY5hn2"}}},"media_ids":["680608","680605","680607","680606"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/40-under-40\/default.html#gsc.tab=0","title":"2026 Class of 40 Under 40"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188317","name":"Georgia Tech 40 Under 40"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690883":{"#nid":"690883","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Alumni Making a Difference: Tara Stoinski","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs a scientific advisor for the Netflix documentary\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003E\u201cA Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough,\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETara Stoinski\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. Psychology 2000) helped translate decades of fieldwork into a poignant story of the historic Pablo gorilla family.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a role she knows well.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFor more than 11 years, Stoinski has served as president, CEO, and chief scientific officer of the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gorillafund.org\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund\u003C\/a\u003E, leading efforts to help the world better understand and protect Rwanda\u2019s mountain gorillas \u2014 a species with only about 1,000 left in the wild.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAlthough she now oversees a multimillion-dollar budget and 400 employees worldwide, she never planned to be a CEO.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u2019m a scientist at my core,\u201d says Stoinski. \u201cDay to day, I function more as a leader and executive, but I still think of myself as a scientist first.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHer job covers a wide range of responsibilities, including fundraising, public speaking, budgeting, and strategy.\u0026nbsp;One week, she might find herself observing gorilla behavior in Rwanda; the next, she\u2019s back in the U.S., discussing conservation on\u0026nbsp;the popular\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EArmchair Expert\u003C\/em\u003E podcast.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI love my job,\u201d she says. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel like work; it\u2019s a passion.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Helluva Scientist\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne of the reasons Stoinski chose Georgia Tech for her Ph.D. was its connection to Zoo Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHer doctoral advisor, the late Terry Maple, emeritus professor in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;School of Psychological and Brain Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, served as director of Zoo Atlanta, giving students rare access to conservation-focused research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe zoo was our lab. I studied elephants, lemurs, gorillas, and golden lion tamarins, both in the zoo and in the wild in Brazil and Africa,\u201d says Stoinski.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe appreciates how Georgia Tech prepared her for the challenges of her career.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe rigor of a Georgia Tech education is something you need as a scientist,\u201d she says. \u201cI also had the opportunity to do a lot of public speaking and teaching, which are huge parts of my job now.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeading Global Conservation Efforts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter earning her Ph.D., Stoinski spent 14 years with Zoo Atlanta while also working with the Atlanta-based Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. She became CEO in 2014 and now oversees conservation and research programs in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EUnder her leadership, the Fossey Fund has expanded its footprint, including opening its Ellen DeGeneres Campus in 2022, a 12-acre research and education center in Rwanda.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe site includes labs, classrooms, and a restored landscape, where roughly 250,000 plants from 110 species have been planted to reestablish native ecosystems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe host hundreds of students \u2014 including groups from Georgia Tech, and support dozens of graduate and postdoctoral researchers, from countries all over the world including many from Africa,\u201d she explains. \u201cSeeing their excitement and commitment gives me lots of hope for the future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScientific Storytelling\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA Gorilla Story\u003C\/em\u003E follows the Pablo family of mountain gorillas living on the slopes of Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe Pablo group goes back to Dian Fossey\u2019s time,\u201d explains Stoinski. \u201cIt\u2019s the largest group of gorillas ever recorded, at one point reaching 65 individuals. An average gorilla family is about 10.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDue to Rwandan regulations, filming could take place for just one hour each day. Filmmakers and scientists would often have to hike for five to six hours to reach the gorillas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBecause Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund researchers have followed these gorilla families for decades, they were already familiar with the individual gorillas, including six generations of family history, which \u201cmakes the story incredibly rich,\u201d says Stoinski.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cYou see grief, relationships, alliances \u2014 all of it,\u201d she says. \u201cUltimately, I hope that connection leads people to care and to take action.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollaborative Conservation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EStoinski\u2019s career is all about taking action \u2014 and inspiring others to do the same.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe need people on the ground doing this work, but we also need people outside of our field to support and be aware of what\u2019s happening to gorillas and the planet\u2019s biodiversity,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe encourages Tech students to stay informed:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cEven if you\u2019re not going into conservation, take a class, listen, learn,\u201d she says. \u201cUnfortunately, there are real challenges facing the next generation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe frequently points out that by helping gorillas, we\u2019re saving ourselves, sharing that gorillas live in the Congo Basin, one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. By dispersing seeds and maintaining forest structure, they help sustain environments critical for climate stability and planetary health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cProtecting gorillas means\u0026nbsp;protecting\u0026nbsp;those ecosystems, which ultimately support human survival.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Lasting Georgia Tech Connection\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EStoinski maintains strong ties to Georgia Tech through research collaborations and student engagement. Projects over the years have included helping to establish the Center for Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing at the University of Rwanda, geospatial mapping, and architectural design and planning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe invites alumni and students to engage with the work firsthand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI encourage more Georgia Tech alumni and students to work with us or come see us. And if you want to meet with a Georgia Tech grad, I lead tours: we can put on our Tech gear and take a photo with the gorillas!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith a career rooted in science, alumna Tara Stoinski is shaping the future of wildlife conservation and gorilla preservation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"With a career rooted in science, alumna Tara Stoinski is shaping the future of wildlife conservation and gorilla preservation. "}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2026-06-24 13:55:41","changed_gmt":"2026-07-15 13:33:12","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680497":{"id":"680497","type":"image","title":"Tara Stoinksi","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETara Stoinksi\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782309768","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 14:02:48","changed":"1782309863","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 14:04:23","alt":"Headshot of a woman wearing a Dian Fossey gorilla fund ball cap","file":{"fid":"264770","name":"webheadshotTara-Stoinksi-copy.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/webheadshotTara-Stoinksi-copy.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/webheadshotTara-Stoinksi-copy.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3359387,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/webheadshotTara-Stoinksi-copy.png?itok=pIBTHOOG"}},"680498":{"id":"680498","type":"image","title":"Stoinski has studied gorillas for more than three decades and is the author of over 200 scientific publications and books.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStoinski has studied gorillas for more than three decades and is the author of over 200 scientific publications and books.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782310646","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 14:17:26","changed":"1782311350","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 14:29:10","alt":"A woman wearing a mask stands near a gorilla.","file":{"fid":"264771","name":"Tara-Hiwra-group-2024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/Tara-Hiwra-group-2024.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/Tara-Hiwra-group-2024.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":561592,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/Tara-Hiwra-group-2024.jpg?itok=vngR6B6J"}},"680499":{"id":"680499","type":"image","title":"As president, CEO, and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Stoinski splits her time between the Atlanta headquarters and Rwanda.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs president, CEO, and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Stoinski splits her time between the Atlanta headquarters and Rwanda.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782310961","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 14:22:41","changed":"1782312006","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 14:40:06","alt":"A woman stands in the muddy jungle.","file":{"fid":"264772","name":"Tara-mud.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/Tara-mud.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/Tara-mud.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5853839,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/Tara-mud.jpg?itok=q3MOOx6R"}}},"media_ids":["680497","680498","680499"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/news\/2022\/gorilla-power.html","title":"Gorilla Power"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"783","name":"conservation"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura Segraves Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690966":{"#nid":"690966","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Dingjing Shi Earns Rising Star Distinction","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAssistant Professor\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/dingjing-shi\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Dingjing Shi\u003C\/a\u003E in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;School of Psychological and Brain Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E has been named an\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.psychologicalscience.org\/members\/awards-and-honors\/aps-rising-stars\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Association for Psychological Science Rising Star.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The honor recognizes exceptional early-career researchers whose innovative work has already advanced the field and signals great potential for continued contributions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cDingjing\u2019s selection for this honor is a remarkable recognition of the originality, impact, and promise of her scholarship,\u201d says School of Psychological and Brain Sciences Chair\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/tansu-celikel\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETansu Celikel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThis achievement is especially significant for Georgia Tech as she is the first person from the Institute to receive this distinction and only the third recipient from the state of Georgia.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShi obtained her Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2020. After working as an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, she joined Georgia Tech in 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cReceiving this award is an honor and a responsibility,\u201d says Shi. \u201cThis international recognition of my early work encourages me to keep pushing the scientific boundaries of my field and to continue pursuing research that creates meaningful and lasting real-world impacts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFoundational Methodology Development\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs a quantitative methodologist, Shi develops statistical and computational models that focus on reducing dimensionality (the number of attributes, features, or independent directions needed to describe an object, dataset, or mathematical space); improving classification; and enabling technology-based, real-time adaptive assessment in psychological, brain, biomedical, and health-related research. Specifically, her research transforms complex brain imaging outputs (such as MRIs and EEGs), real-time ecological assessments, and multi-sensor wearable streams into compact, information-rich representations, and she designs personalized, adaptive intervention systems to deliver context-aware and dynamically updated support for individuals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShi\u2019s work has been funded by federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. She was a recipient of the SAS Institute Advanced Statistical Fellowship as well as the Citation Abstract Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u2019m excited to work at Georgia Tech in the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences because its strong focus on technology and psychological brain sciences aligns perfectly with my research program,\u201d says Shi. \u201cBeing part of such a stimulating academic environment, with outstanding colleagues and talented students, makes it an ideal place to contribute, collaborate, and grow as a researcher and educator.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECongratulations to Dingjing Shi, for being recognized as an APS Rising Star. The designation is presented to outstanding APS members in the earliest stages of their research career post-PhD.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Congratulations to Dingjing Shi, for being recognized as an APS Rising Star. "}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2026-06-29 18:26:15","changed_gmt":"2026-07-06 15:49:59","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680527":{"id":"680527","type":"image","title":"Dingjing Shi","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDingjing Shi\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782757602","gmt_created":"2026-06-29 18:26:42","changed":"1783352948","gmt_changed":"2026-07-06 15:49:08","alt":"Headshot of Dingjing Shi","file":{"fid":"264831","name":"dingjingshi0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/06\/dingjingshi0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/06\/dingjingshi0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":128958,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/06\/dingjingshi0.jpg?itok=YcESWvpl"}}},"media_ids":["680527"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"26011","name":"faculty honors"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690737":{"#nid":"690737","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Introducing the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences is pleased to announce the renaming of the School of Psychology as the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Psychological and Brain Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. Approved by Georgia Tech President\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00c1ngel Cabrera\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(M.S. PSY 1993, Ph.D. PSY 1995),\u0026nbsp;the new name represents the breadth and impact of the School\u2019s research and training mission at the intersection of mind, brain, behavior, and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur renaming as the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences better captures both who we are and where we are headed,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/tansu-celikel\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETansu Celikel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, School chair and professor. \u201cIt reflects a shared vision for the future of our School and the many contributions of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners. I am deeply grateful for the support of the Institute, the College of Sciences, and our School throughout this process.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI congratulate Tansu and the entire School of Psychological and Brain Sciences community on this exciting new chapter,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lozier.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThis is an important milestone in the School\u2019s history and a testament to the vision and dedication of its faculty and staff.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Evolution of Psychology at Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOver the past century,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sciences.gatech.edu\/psychology-georgia-tech-century-progress\u0022\u003Epsychology at Georgia Tech has evolved along with the Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, expanding from a handful of courses in applied psychology to a dynamic, interdisciplinary offering. Today, the School is home to\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sciences.gatech.edu\/numbers\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;nationally ranked\u003C\/a\u003E research and academic programs serving hundreds of students each year. It also includes more than two dozen laboratories focused on five distinct research areas: adult development and aging; cognition and brain science; engineering psychology; industrial\/organizational psychology; and quantitative psychology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAccording to Celikel, the new name follows a period of significant educational innovation and growth in the School\u2019s research enterprise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIn recent years, the School and its partners have advanced new academic opportunities in areas such as neuroscience, computation and cognition, mental health and well-being, learning, people analytics, and accelerated B.S.\/M.S. pathways,\u201d he says. \u201cThese programs prepare students to study human thought, behavior, and brain function using tools and perspectives from psychological science, neuroscience, data science, computation, artificial intelligence, and human-centered technology.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe School\u2019s new interdisciplinary initiatives and collaborations include\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/research-laboratories-and-multidisciplinary-research-centers\u0022\u003Ecenters of excellence\u003C\/a\u003E in computational cognition, neuroscience and neurotechnology, and human-AI-robot teaming. These areas bring together faculty, students, and partners from across the Institute and beyond to address questions with broad scientific, technological, and societal impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe update retains the School\u2019s mission, degree titles, curriculum requirements, and academic programs. The new name also provides a \u201cclearer and more accurate identity for the work already taking place across the School and positions it for continued growth in teaching, research, and external engagement,\u201d says Celikel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe School will host special events throughout the fall semester to mark the official launch of the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences \u2014 and a new era in research and education.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFor more information, visit the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/school-psychological-and-brain-sciences-frequently-asked-questions\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Psychological and Brain Sciences FAQ.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech approves School of Psychology renaming"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences is pleased to announce the renaming of the School of Psychology as the\u0026nbsp;School of Psychological and Brain Sciences. The new name represents the breadth and impact of the School\u2019s research and training mission at the intersection of mind, brain, behavior, and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College of Sciences is pleased to announce the renaming of the School of Psychology as the\u00a0School of Psychological and Brain Sciences."}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-06-12 15:27:05","changed_gmt":"2026-06-17 16:56:08","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680459":{"id":"680459","type":"image","title":"The School of Psychological and Brain Sciences is located in the J.S. Coon Building.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe School of Psychological and Brain Sciences is located in the J.S. Coon Building.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1781281681","gmt_created":"2026-06-12 16:28:01","changed":"1781728339","gmt_changed":"2026-06-17 20:32:19","alt":"Wrought iron covered front doors of the J.S. Coon Building ","file":{"fid":"264722","name":"psych-coon-building.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/12\/psych-coon-building.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/12\/psych-coon-building.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":100172,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/12\/psych-coon-building.jpg?itok=l6bApKRt"}}},"media_ids":["680459"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/school-psychological-and-brain-sciences-frequently-asked-questions","title":"FAQ: School of Psychological and Brain Sciences "}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"167710","name":"School of Psychology"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: Lindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}