Michael Scullin named “Rising Star” by Association for Psychological Science

Michael Scullin ’07, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University, was recently named a “Rising Star” by the Association for Psychological Science (APS).

The Rising Star designation recognizes outstanding psychological scientists in the earliest stages of their research career post-Ph.D. whose innovative work has already advanced the field and signals great potential for their continued contributions.

“Dr. Scullin has been incredibly productive during the early part of his research career and is poised to become one of the leading researchers in the area of sleep neuroscience and cognition,” said Charles Weaver, Ph.D., professor and chair of Baylor’s psychology and neuroscience department.  “He is a wonderful colleague and role model and we are thrilled to see him honored.”

Scullin’s work focuses on how sleep physiology impacts memory, education, health and aging and how people remember to use memory to fulfill intentions (prospective memory). His ongoing work investigates strategies for improving prospective memory in older adults and patients with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

“I feel extremely honored to have received this award,” Scullin said. “I wouldn’t be in this position without Furman University. I had outstanding mentors and teachers in the Psychology Department who taught me how to do science the right way and who have continued to help foster my growth, even a decade after graduating.

“Furthermore, the Furman Advantage program was instrumental in allowing me to get full-time experience in research laboratories both at Furman and abroad (Edinburgh University). Those summer experiences accelerated my training and bolstered my resume so that I was able to get into a really good Ph.D. program,” said Scullin.

Scullin has authored numerous scholarly articles for publications in journals such as Brain, Sleep, Psychological Science, Psychology and Aging, Journal of Neurology, and Journal of Experimental Psychology, and he has received funding for his research from the National Institute on Aging and private foundations.

Before joining the Baylor faculty in 2015, Scullin earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Furman University and his doctoral degree in psychological science from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neurology at Emory University School of Medicine and served as associate editor for the journal, Translational Issues in Psychological Science.

APS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific psychology and its representation at the national and international level.