MEET A DEVELOPMENTAL FACULTY
“As is true for many students, I originally pursued a psychology major in college thinking that I would be interested in some kind of clinical psychology. But, after taking two cognitive psychology classes in my first year and learning about spatial cognition, it was clear that that was the path I was meant to go down.”
~Dr. Sami Yousif
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in rural Alabama. Afterward, I attended college at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where I studied Psychology (and, briefly, business). There, I worked in what was formerly known as the “Spatial Cognition Lab” under the supervision of Dr. Stella Lourenco. I then went on to graduate school at Yale, where I ultimately worked primarily with Frank Keil. I then completed a two-year stint as a MindCORE Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where I collaborated with Dr. Elizabeth Brannon, Dr. Russell Epstein, and Dr. Anna Papafragou. My primary research interest throughout that time has been various aspects of spatial representation, but I’ve also studied a wide range of other topics, from number representation to event representation to social consensus.
2. Can you share one fun and interesting fact about yourself? Hobbies?
I’m not sure there’s anything especially interesting about me. I was once very invested in rock climbing, though I’ve had trouble keeping up with that hobby the past few years. I play the piano — these days, mostly to soothe my infant son.
3. What initially sparked your interest in studying psychology?
I took AP Psychology as a high school student and realized that psychology offered a way of answering questions that I desperately wanted to know the answers to. As is true for many students, I originally pursued a psychology major in college thinking that I would be interested in some kind of clinical psychology. But, after taking two cognitive psychology classes in my first year and learning about spatial cognition, it was clear that that was the path I was meant to go down. Conveniently, there was a lab that studied exactly the sorts of things I cared about. Everything else has fallen into place naturally since then.
4. What are some research projects that you’re currently working on?
At any given time, I’m working on dozens of projects at once. But, the two broad topics that have most captured my attention recently concern topological spatial representation and perceptual adaptation.
5. What are you most excited about heading into the new academic year?
As of this writing, I’ve just joined the faculty here at UNC. I’m excited to be a part of a new community. I am probably most looking forward to working with students to get my lab up and running.