Alum Honored with Glushko Dissertation Prize

Photo of Emalie McMahon

Dr. Emalie McMahon, a recent graduate of our PhD program, received the prestigious Glushko Dissertation Prize from the Cognitive Science Society. This esteemed prize recognizes young researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of cognitive science through their groundbreaking research.

Dr. McMahon conducted her dissertation research under the guidance of her advisor, Dr. Leyla Isik. The dissertation is titled “Hierarchical Computations of Social Interaction Perception in the Human Mind and Brain,” and it explores the neural basis of social scene processing and how these processes can go astray in conditions like autism. Her research employs multimodal neuroimaging techniques and computational modeling to address these questions. The work has been celebrated for its innovative approach and profound impact on the field.

Currently, Dr. McMahon is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she continues her research in computational neuroscience and social cognition.

The Glushko Dissertation Prize, funded by the Robert J. Glushko and Pamela Samuelson Fund (Glushko-Samuelson Foundation), is awarded annually to up to five outstanding dissertations in cognitive science 

The prize aims to increase the prominence of cognitive science and encourage interdisciplinary efforts to understand minds and intelligent systems. Each prize includes a certificate, a $10,000 award, and three years of complimentary membership in the Cognitive Science Society.

Please join us in congratulating Emalie McMahon on her achievement!