Bandura Graduate Research Award Winners (2003-2004)
The Psi Chi Research Awards Committee, the Psi Chi National Council, and the American Psychological Society are pleased to announce the winner of the 2003-2004 Psi Chi/APS Albert Bandura Graduate Research Award. George M. Slavich of the University of Oregon submitted a proposal entitled, "The Role of Life Stress in the Activation of Dysfunctional Attitudes in Depression," and was awarded travel expenses up to $1,000 to attend the 2004 APS National Convention to receive his award; a three-year membership in APS, including subscriptions to all APS journals; and two engraved plaques, one for the himself and one for his psychology department as a permanent honor.
Mr. Slavich is originally from Santa Clara, California, and is currently a PhD student in clinical psychology at the University of Oregon, where he holds the positions of Graduate Student Therapist and Graduate Teaching Fellow. He completed his undergraduate study in psychology (BA with honors, 2000), as well as graduate student in personality psychology (MA, 2001) and communication (MA, 2001), at Stanford University. He also completed graduate coursework in clinical psychology (MS, 2002) at the University of Oregon.
Mr. Slavich's primary research interests focus on mood disorders, with a particular emphasis on unipolar depression. In this line of work, he investigates the roles life stress, cognitive biases, physiological, and neurobiological factors play in genesis and maintenance of depression. His secondary research interests are broad and include outcome research in clinical populations, asche-matic perception and expectation violation, persuasive computing, teaching, and cross-cultural studies of media consumption and effects.
A dedicated teacher and mentor, Mr. Slavich has taught more than 1,800 students in 18 different courses and has mentored 16 advanced undergraduate students since 1996. The topics on which he has supervised honor theses have varied greatly, but have focused primarily on the roles that life stress, cognitive vulnerability, early adversity, physiology, social support, and perceived social support play in depression.
Mr. Slavich has promoted the professional development of students in other ways as well. In 2001, he founded the Stanford Undergraduate Psychology Conference, and in 2002 he developed and served as chair of the first-ever Student Council for the Western Psychological Association (WPA). As a current member of the WPA Board of Directors, Mr. Slavich continues to work in the interest of psychology students nationwide.
Honored generously for distinguished academics, research, teaching, and service, Mr. Slavich received the Stanford University Department of Outstanding Service Award in 2001 and in 2003 was voted Graduate Teaching Fellow of the Year by undergraduate students at the University of Oregon. Mr. Slavich's career plans include obtaining a faculty position at a large university devoted to excellence in research and teaching.
Psi Chi congratulates Mr. Slavich and encourages all members to apply for this award.