In The News
RuCCS Director John McGann quoted in New York Times and New Yorker articles
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Within the span of one week, RuCCS Director John McGann was mentioned and cited in two New York
Times and New Yorker articles on the topic of sense of smell! One feature article in the NYT, "What Can Covid-19 Teach Us About the Mysteries of Smell?" quotes McGann's research on the myth of poor
sense of smell in humans via his 2017 paper, "Poor human olfaction is a 19th-century myth." The
other New Yorker article, "How to Make Sense of Scents," refers to this same paper and even dubs it
a "provocative" piece for "suggest[ing] that [humans are] better smellers than we’ve gotten credit for."
RuCCS alumna Malihe Alikhani awarded Google Grant: exploreCSR
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Congratulations to RuCCS alumna Malihe Alikhani on receiving a Google exploreCSR Grant! The grant will be used to encourage computing research among underrepresented groups. Alikhani is is now an Assistant Professor at the School of Computing and Information at the University of Pittsburgh. She states, "We will hold workshops and mentoring sessions to empower students to create technologies that best serve their communities and help them succeed in research and graduate studies by fostering an engaging and supportive community and helping them learn practical skills."
Philosophy Graduate Student Carolina Flores' paper "Delusional Evidence-Responsiveness" forthcoming in Synthese
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Graduate Certificate Student Carolina Flores' paper "Delusional Evidence-Responsiveness" is forthcoming
in an edition of the scholarly paper Synthese. In the paper, Flores argues that delusions are evidence-responsive and looks at consequences for long-standing debates on the nature of delusions and at ethical and treatment implications. Flores notes, "Though delusions may seem like a niche topic, I hope that some
of what I say here is helpful for thinking about conspiracy theories, ideological beliefs, and other cases of irrational or evidence-resistant belief." Read the full abstract on Synthese here.
CogSci Graduate Student Keith Perkins selected for Society for Neuroscience's Neuroscience Scholars Program
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Cognitive Science graduate student Keith Perkins was selected for the prestigious Neuroscience Scholars Program (NSP) ran by the Society for Neuroscience. Perkins was selected as one of 18 total Fellows nationwide. The NSP is a fellowship for underrepresented and diverse graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in neuroscience which provides resources focused on "career advancement issues, the research process, and cutting-edge scientific content." For more on the program visit the site here.
Congratulating Professor Elizabeth Torres, Honored by Act of the NJ Legislature
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Dr. Elizabeth Torres, Professor in the Psychology Department and RuCCS, has been personally honored by a Joint Resolution of the
New Jersey Senate and General Assembly saluting the excellence of
her "groundbreaking research" at Rutgers that has been "essential
in shaping initiatives that transform autism medical research and treatments throughout our State." The language of the resolution is remarkable, not only praising Torres' scientific contributions and service as the Director of the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence but
also her personal qualities saying that "within all spheres of her life
and work" she is a role model who sets "standard of excellence toward
which others might strive."
Dr. Torres hopes that science will continue to positively affect the Public Service sector and lead to more beneficial legislature to help people. On behalf of the RuCCS staff, faculty, and students, congratulations Elizabeth!