Coordinators
Director: Dr. Sanders A. McDougall
Dr. Sanders A. McDougall is a professor of psychology at California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. McDougall’s primary research interests are in the fields of neuroscience and developmental pharmacology. He has authored over 60 refereed journal articles and has over 80 presentations at national and international conferences.
Associate Director: Dr. Cynthia A. Crawford
Dr. Cynthia A. Crawford is a professor of psychology at California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Crawford’s primary research interests are in the fields of psychopharmacology and neuropsychopharmacology.
Program Coordinator: Brittani Washington
Brittani is very excited to be a part of a program that provides an extraordinary opportunity for minority students wishing to do research. She has a B.A. in Sociology, with an option in Criminology, and a Minor/Certificate in Criminal Justice. She has a Masters in Criminal Justice.
Faculty Mentors
Mark Agars, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology.
Research Interests: Diversity management; Gender issues in the workplace; Motivation.
Allen Butt, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology.
Research Interests: Behavioral neuroscience; Learning and memory; Animal research on basal forebrain and acetylcholine involvement in cortical plasticity, learning, and memory.
Michael Chao, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology.
Research Interests: The molecular basis of animal behavior and neural plasticity, by studying neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in the regulation of C. elegans chemosensory behavior.
Cynthia Crawford, Professor, Department of Psychology.
Research Interests: Animal and human models of drug addiction; Second messenger system pharmacology; Developmental neuropsychopharmacology; long-term consequences of repeated psychostimulant use.
Bryan Haddock, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology.
Research Interests: Metabolic response to various exercise routines, including the fuel utilized during and following exercise; child obesity and activity.
Paul Dixon, Professor, Department of Physics.
Research Interests: The experimental investigation of complex fluid systems using dynamic light scattering and various dynamic susceptibilities.
Donna Garcia, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology.
Research Interests: My program of research focuses on the self-perpetuating nature of social inequality via its effects on human functioning (e.g., motivation, aspirations, achievement, self-regulation, and psychological and physiological well-being). Specifically, I am interested in the impact that inequality has on psychological and social experience, which in turn impair the successful functioning of low status group members but often enhance the functioning of those from high status groups. My study of the effects of social inequality involves three related areas: (1) the psycho-social mechanisms underlying the relationship between social inequality and successful human functioning, (2) the social pressures that discourage people from challenging discrimination, and (3) the self-fulfilling role of social identity threat: the tendency for women, ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, and people with disabilities to inadvertently behave in ways that reinforce negative beliefs about their group.
Sanders McDougall, Professor, Department of Psychology.
Research Interests: Dopamine pharmacology, cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, basal ganglia functioning, neuropharmacology of partial dopamine agonists, manganese-induced neurotoxicity, kappa opioid systems, developmental psychopharmacology.
Laura Newcomb, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology.
Research Interests: Elucidation of the biochemical mechanisms required for influenza viral replication. Current work aims to define the roles of viral and cellular proteins required for influenza viral RNA synthesis and processing.
Paul Orwin, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology.
Research Interests: Molecular basis of microbial responses to environmental stress such as biofilm formation in Variovorax paradoxus.
Jason Reimer, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology.
Research Interests: Language development; visual word recognition in children and adults; reading acquisition, Development of cognitive control.
Shumei Yang, Professor, Department of Chemistry.
Research Interests: Protection mechanisms of estrogen against the development of coronary artery disease.