Graduate Overview

Professor Federica Bulgarelli and students.

Since its inception in 1919, the Department of Psychology has distinguished itself with outstanding faculty, notable alumni and exceptional graduate students. We have a long tradition of excellence in research and scholarship.

The Learning Environment

The Department of Psychology is a nurturing, collaborative environment with the goal of fostering the next generation of leaders in science and society. Our students are well prepared for careers in academic and applied settings, including universities, colleges, medical centers, hospitals, clinics, research and governmental agencies, and business and industry.  

Graduate training in our department emphasizes both extensive academic training in general psychology and intensive research training in the student's area of concentration. The department expects students to become creative independent scientists and to exhibit an early and sustained commitment to research and scholarship. Our degree programs are mentor-based and students train under the direct guidance of one or more specific faculty members whose scholarly interests parallel their own.

Apply now for Fall 2025

The UB College of Arts and Sciences is committed to recruiting the very best PhD students and preparing doctoral students for career success. 

Degree Options

PhD in Psychology
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Meet our Students and Alumni
“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 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. ”
9/13/23

Sarah Blakely-McClure

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

“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

“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. ”
9/13/23

Sarah Tonkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

“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

“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

“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

“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

“The department is a collaborative and congenial environment, which enables students to thrive. ”
9/13/23

Tiffany Jenzer

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Postdoctoral Research Associate

“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

“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

“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

“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

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A Solutions-Based Approach

Psychology is a dynamic field that sits at the intersection of biological and social forces that shape human behavior, and the work we are pursuing at UB is relevant to promoting health and welfare. Our faculty and graduate students are creating innovative solutions to important problems that range from addictive behaviors and mental health problems to stereotyping, poor social development, the impact of stress on health, and unhealthy diet choices. Much of this work involves collaboration with other faculty and premier institutes and centers at UB, providing students with opportunities to work on interdisciplinary teams using cutting-edge methods to solve important problems.

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Our faculty maintain active collaborations with:

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