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Understand the mind to impact the world.

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The Department of Psychology at the University at Buffalo gives you a front-row seat to the science of how we think, feel and act. You’ll explore everything from the brain’s inner workings to the social forces that shape our lives, guided by faculty who lead groundbreaking research and are committed to teaching. It’s a place where curiosity turns into discovery and where students learn to ask better questions, study the complexity of the mind, and use those insights to make an impact. If you’re drawn to understanding behavior or improving lives, you’ll find your path here.

What is Psychology?

Careers in Psychology

Our Research Areas

Psychological Services Center

Department News

  • Eduardo Mercado - What's really happening when whales sing?
    10/30/25

    Contrary to the scientific consensus, they're exploring, not courting, says UB psychologist and cognitive scientist Eduardo Mercado III.

  • UB Psychology climbs in national rankings
    9/23/25

    The university is tied for No. 36 in the latest U.S. News Best Colleges rankings.

  • Shira Gabriel - Collective effervescence is good for you
  • Julie Bowker - Named VP of online parenting resource
    9/11/25

    The UB psychologist will oversee webinars for the online resource that explains child development research findings to lay audiences.

  • Ken DeMarree - Listening well can move you, literally
    7/23/25

    New research identifies high-quality listening as contributing to Kama Muta, the feeling of being “moved by love.”

  • Hollen Reischer - Weighing in on millennials and midlife crisis

Meet our Students and Alumni

Meet our Undergraduates
“Psychology is not just about high-level theories or studying to become someone's therapist. Earning a degree in psychology opens you up to a multitude of career paths. ”
9/13/23

Austin Valvo

BA in Psychology, Minor in Management, UB;
PhD student, Organizational Science

“My advice to students is to have an open mind when sitting in Psychology classes, as the topics covered can be useful in aspects of your life that you don’t expect. ”
9/13/23

Jean Zhao

BS in Psychology, UB;
DPT, Physical Therapy

“Leading independent research and being a student in the Psychology Honors Program have been tremendously transformative experiences in both my personal life and my academic/professional life. ”
9/13/23

Jennifer Mosley

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Cognitive Psychology

“It's all going to come down to the individual student and their goals, but my advice is to take advantage of any and all opportunities to specialize and dive into the topics that interest you the most. ”
9/13/23

Anastasiia Melnichuk

BA in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Neuroscience

“I was extremely impressed with how knowledgeable my UB professors were and their enthusiasm towards teaching. ”
9/13/23

Kyle Zumpano

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Biology

“I am indebted to the incredible support from the Psychology Department—I gained hands-on research experience, ranging from quantitative data analyses to manuscript preparation. ”
9/13/23

Junye (Alex) Ma

BA in Psychology, BA in Japanese Linguistics, UB;
PhD student, Clinical Psychology

“The department exposed me to courses and endless campus opportunities aimed toward diversity and collaboration, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of psychology. ”
9/13/23

Jordan Johnson

BS in Psychology, Minor in Neuroscience, UB;
PhD student, Neuroscience

“I was given fantastic opportunities as an undergraduate Psychology major. I engaged in research from my very first semester all the way through to my senior year, during which I participated in the Psychology Honors Program.”
9/13/23

Mia Forney

BA in Psychology and Criminology, Minor in Addiction Studies, UB;
Law (JD) and Social Work (MSW) Student, UB

“If you’re interested in studying psychology, UB’s Psychology Department is unmatched. I can’t think of another program that has the ample opportunities offered on UB’s campus at the price point of SUNY tuition. ”
9/13/23

Kyra Katz

BS in Psychology, UB;
Dental (DDS) Student, UB

“I was not initially a Psychology major when I started at UB. However, I quickly became convinced it was where I belonged after taking a few Psychology courses. ”
9/13/23

Carl Wiedemann

BA in Psychology, Minors in Philosophy and Counseling, UB;
PhD student, Social and Health Psychology

“I believe my UB psychology degree did an excellent job setting me up with the fundamentals that I needed to go onto work in the file of mental health/social services. ”
9/13/23

Carlos Panjon

BA in Psychology, Minor in Counseling, UB;
MSW student, Social Work

“An advantage of majoring in Psychology is the versatile nature of the major itself—you can combine Psychology with other supplementary majors (e.g., public health, pre-med, data science) to become more marketable post-graduation in exciting interdisciplinary fields of work. ”
9/13/23

Harini Krishnamurti

BA Psychology and Minor in Nutrition, UB;
PhD Student, Applied Social Psychology

“The depth and breadth of the UB Psychology major prepared me well for doctoral study in Social Psychology by providing me with foundational knowledge and the skills to seek out answers to questions of my own. ”
9/13/23

Stephanie Stewart-Hill

BA in Psychology, Minors in Statistics and Spanish, UB;
PhD student, Social Psychology

“My favorite aspect of Psychology is its timelessness in learning opportunities—there are always questions to be asked and answers to be explored. ”
4/13/24

Amber Wedderburn

BA in Psychology, Minor in Counseling, UB;
Registered Behavioral Technician

“When I started exploring psychology, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do within the field, but the diversity of the courses and experiences in the department allowed me to explore different disciplines including law, clinical psychology, research, and medicine, and discover my interests. ”
9/13/23

Alex Schick

BA in Psychology, UB;
Medical Student (MD)

“As a transfer student, I was initially worried that I would be ‘behind’ relative to my peers, but the faculty and graduate students at UB were so welcoming and really helped me build my comfort level as I got involved in research. ”
9/13/23

Brandon Koscinski

BA Psychology, UB; MA in Psychology, UB; 
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“During my time as an undergraduate Psychology major at the University at Buffalo, I had access to opportunities that both defined my career path and defined me as an individual. ”
9/13/23

Alexa Jimenez

BS in Psychology, Minors in Sociology and Counseling, UB;
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“UB provided me with the education and resources to pursue the next steps in my future, as well as a space to voice my opinions, expand my passion for the field, and leave my mark.”
9/13/23

Nikoleta Antoniou Karademitrou 

BA in Psychology and Minor in Counseling, UB;
PhD Student, Counseling Psychology

“Above all, learning to think critically about psychological phenomena in a scientific way by being exposed to the full research cycle was a major highlight during my time as a UB Psychology major.”
9/13/23

Quincy Lherisson

BA in Psychology and Minor in Criminology, UB;
PhD Student, Social Psychology

“Pursue your interests, share your excitement with others, and you’ll find your niche! ”
9/13/23

Dylan Schaefer

BS in Psychology, BA in German, UB;
Clinical Regulatory Research Coordinator

“When I first started as a UB student, I had no idea that I would graduate as a Psychology major. Sitting in my first psychology course freshman year, all I knew at that point was that I wanted to stay.”
9/13/23

Jasmine Greggs

BS in Psychology, Minor in Global Gender Studies, UB;
Project Manager, Information Technology

“I did not have a set career path in mind when I started college, but working in a research lab helped me foster relationships with faculty and graduate students who provided me with guidance about career paths within the field of psychology and beyond.”
9/13/23

Anna Gentile

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD Student, Counseling Psychology

“UB Psychology was a strong foundation that has helped me achieve goals that I thought were beyond my reach, and I could not be more grateful. ”
9/13/23

Sashel Haygood

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD Student, Cognitive Psychology

“A Psychology BA is a very flexible degree, with openings for many electives. I used these openings to take courses in different departments and to participate in the Psychology Honors Program. ”
9/13/23

Hector Sosa

BA in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Psychology

“As an undergraduate Psychology minor at UB, I was able to create meaningful connections with my professors, who acted as pillars of support during my time in university. ”
9/13/23

O. Fiona Pratt-MacDonald

Minor in Psychology, BA in Sociology, UB;
Student Success Coach, Americorps

“I attribute both my entry to the field of psychology and palpable success as an early-career researcher to the remarkable mentorship I received at UB. ”
9/13/23

Cassondra Lyman

BS in Psychology, BA in Statistics, UB;
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

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Meet our Graduates
“I decided to attend UB because of its reputation for rigorous, high-quality research training. I received this and so much more. ”
9/13/23

Rebecca Etkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Postdoctoral Associate

“UB's Psychology MA program thoroughly improved my proficiency as a researcher. ”
9/13/23

Schuyler Lawson

MA in General Psychology, UB;
Doctoral student, Community Health and Health Behavior

“In addition to coursework and lab training, I was also able to gain teaching experience, write and publish peer-reviewed papers with my mentor, and present my research at several local and national scientific conferences. ”
9/13/23

Kelcie Schatz

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Postdoctoral Fellow

“As a graduate student at UB, I was able to participate in different collaborative research opportunities with multiple faculty members within the department. ”
9/13/23

Emma Greenspon

PhD in Cognitive Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“My faculty mentors were not only excellent models of scholarship, but consistently provided me with the encouragement and resources I needed to become a successful teacher-scholar. ”
9/13/23

Deborah Ward

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“While there are many things I could list about what made my doctoral experience so great (such as classes or training opportunities), the most significant part of the program that shaped my experience was the mentorship model and mentor I worked with at UB. ”
6/20/25

Sarah Blakely-McClure

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Associate Professor, Higher Education

“UB provides amazing research and clinical training by faculty who are always accessible and extremely passionate about what they do. ”
9/13/23

Lauren Rodriguez

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow

“While in graduate school, with the guidance and support of faculty advisors, I taught multiple independent courses, mentored undergraduate thesis students, gained hands-on experience managing and operating laboratory spaces, and collaborated with researchers across various disciplines. ”
9/13/23

Thomas Saltsman

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Lecturer, Higher Education

“My relationships with my advisors have continued even after I left UB, and one of the great perks of scientific research is building a large collaborative network of likeminded scholars. ”
9/13/23

Veronica Lamarche

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Higher Education

“The department is a collaborative and congenial environment, which enables students to thrive. ”
6/20/25

Tiffany Jenzer

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Research Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“The excellent research and evidence-based clinical training I received helped me develop into a well-rounded researcher who is able to work with professionals across different disciplines. ”
6/20/25

Sarah Tonkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“One of the best things about my time at UB was the opportunity to expand my knowledge of psychology by taking courses and interacting with fellow graduate students and faculty who were outside of my domain of expertise. ”
9/15/23

Karen Chow

PhD in Cognitive Psychology, UB;
Senior Learning Scientist, Educational Technology Industry

“If you are considering graduate study in Psychology at UB, know that you will be surrounded by some of the smartest, kindest, and most supportive mentors out there who are leaders in their respective fields of research. ”
9/13/23

Samuel Meisel

PhD in Clinical Psychology, Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“Every day I get to do something fun and find creative solutions to problems on the journey to discovery. But there’s so much more than that! ”
9/13/23

Mauricio Suarez

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Research Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“All of the faculty were so welcoming and really cared about providing me with opportunities that would allow me to pursue my field of interest. ”
9/13/23

Allison Scagel

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Applied Animal Behaviorist

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