People

Benjamin is the lab director and Assistant Professor of Cognitive Psychology in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences (starting Fall 2026). Before joining the UMass faculty, he earned a BS in cognitive neuroscience from Brown University, a PhD in cognitive psychology from the University of Chicago, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at UC Berkeley and the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse. He studies how cognition is constructed by experience.

The lab is seeking a talented graduate student starting in the Fall of 2026. Applicants should have excellent written and oral communication, quantitative and technical skills (i.e. basic statistics in R, programming), organizational abilities, and motivation to learn. The most competitive applicants will also have relevant research experience in cognitive science or related fields. Please see this FAQ before reaching out with questions.

The lab is seeking an experienced lab manager to start in Fall 2026, with flexible start date. The initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility to extend for additional years based on performance and funding. The position includes both administrative responsibilities (e.g. lab equipment, IRB protocols, subject database, data storage) and research responsibilities, including designing and conducting original behavioral experiments. This role is ideal for those looking to get hands-on research experience in a psychology lab before considering 5-year graduate programs. Full job description forthcoming.

The lab is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to start in the Fall 2026 (date flexible). Applicants should have a track record of publication, excellent written and oral communication, solid quantitative skills, and experience with at least two of the following: lab experiments, online experiments, studies with children, field work in psychology or related field. Detailed job description is forthcoming.