Biological Psychology

Our biological psychology faculty’s research interests center on how hormones and immune system processes both influence and are influenced by neural and psychological processes.

Our biological psychology faculty use techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), indirect interventions on hormones or immune system processes (e.g., stress), direct interventions on hormones or immune system processes (e.g., hormone administration, vaccination, hormonal contraceptive use), and both structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI/fMRI) to understand the biological bases of psychological processes.

Resources within our Biological Psychology area include the Memorial Hall Wetlab, I3R Wetlab, and a Siemens Cima.X housed in I3R. In recent years, our Biological Psychology faculty have received awards and honors including the Dirk Hellhammer Distinguished Young Investigator Award, APS Rising Star, and HBES Rising Star. 

The biological psychology faculty and graduate students host the Psychoneuroendocrinology and Immunology (PNEI) Research Consortium. The group meets twice a month. Meeting activities include reading and discussing recently published research in PNEI, providing feedback on publication drafts, and hosting visiting speakers.

Core Faculty:

Anastasia Makhanova: psychological changes across women’s menstrual cycle and with use of different types of hormonal contraceptives, interactions between the immune system and psychological pathogen avoidance strategies


Shannin Moody: within and between group endocrine differences related to stress and neurological diseases

Grant Shields: biological bases of cognition; cognition in context (e.g., under stress)