By Matthew Cimitile, University Communications and Marketing
A University of South Florida professor is being recognized on the global stage for her contributions to science.
Jennifer O’Brien, an associate professor of psychology, has received the prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards in the science and sustainability category, an honor that highlights the influence of international UK alumni in their fields and communities.
The awards celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to their industries, countries and society at large. O’Brien was one of just four worldwide to recieve an award this year among several different categories: science and sustainability, business and innovation, culture and creativity, and social action.
“My time in the UK was an impactful academic and cultural experience. I worked with world class psychologists, conducted unique research in practice and met colleagues who have become lifelong friends,” O’Brien said. “I am very surprised to receive this recognition and extremely honored.”
O’Brien received her PhD in Psychology from Bangor University in 2009.
She has been a professor at USF since 2012, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, statistics and physiological psychology and investigates human visual perception and attention. Her research focuses on how attentional systems prioritize and process information across the lifespan.
A recipient of numerous internal and external research grants, O’Brien is the principal investigator of a $44.5-million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for a clinical trial seeking to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in cognitively healthy older adults. Through the Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT) study, O’Brien and her colleagues are examining whether computerized brain training exercises can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.
It is the largest study of its kind to date, working with 7,600 participants, and investigating not only how to possibly prevent dementia but also how to detect it earlier.
In recent years, O’Brien has also been part of the four-week study abroad course USF in London, where students immerse themselves in British culture while taking classes and navigating their way around one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in Europe.
“My time abroad was so life changing. Now as I take students back to the UK, I get to share that experience, reflect on how much I benefitted from my education there and encourage others to explore similar possibilities,” O’Brien said. “With this award news, it all feels pretty full circle.”
O’Brien attended the UK Alumni Awards ceremony on Friday, February 7 in Los Angeles, where the achievements of all finalists were celebrated, and winners announced for each category.