A psychology professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas has been selected for an award from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) in recognition of her research into schizophrenia.
Dr. Amy Pinkham is the 2023 recipient of the Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research, which provides $40,000 to an investigator conducting research into the mental disorder. The Maltz Prize is one of five Outstanding Achievement Prizes awarded annually to scientists recognized for outstanding research leadership and contributions to mental health research. She will be honored by the organization at its annual International Awards Dinner on Oct. 27 in New York City.
Pinkham, who directs the Schizophrenia and Social Cognition Lab, works to identify the factors that contribute to social difficulties in schizophrenia. Her work demonstrates that individuals with schizophrenia display deficits or biases in multiple domains of social cognition — how one thinks about other people — and that abnormal functioning of the brain networks that support social cognitive processing likely contribute to these deficits.
“I am tremendously honored to be selected as this year’s recipient of the Maltz Prize and to join the list of amazing researchers who have previously received this award,” she said. “I would like to thank the BBRF for formally recognizing the contributions of schizophrenia researchers and specifically for validating work on social cognition conducted by myself, my amazing team of collaborators and countless others who aim to improve the day-to-day lives of individuals with schizophrenia.”
Pinkham has been awarded multiple research grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and several foundations supporting the advancement of mental health research. She has written more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and 10 chapters, and is leading a global effort sponsored by the Schizophrenia International Research Society to improve the assessment of social cognition so that study results can be compared across cultures and diagnoses.
BBRF is the world’s largest private funder of mental health research grants.
Speech-Language-Hearing Association Honorees
Dr. Pumpki Lei Su and Dr. Kelly Jahn, both assistant professors of speech, language, and hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, were among 11 U.S. researchers chosen by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the 2023 Advancing Academic-Research Careers (AARC) Award. The honor supports the academic research careers of early-career faculty in communication sciences and disorders.
The honorees, who each receive an award of $5,000, are chosen based on a developed research and teaching plan in collaboration with two senior faculty mentors.
Su’s senior collaborators are Dr. Emily Touchstone, UTD professor of instruction in speech, language, and hearing, and Dr. Sudha Arunachalam, associate professor of communicative sciences and disorders at New York University.
“I will investigate word learning from infant-directed speech — so-called ‘parentese’ — in autistic toddlers, building relationships with the local autistic community to practice participatory autism research, where autistic individuals and allies are involved in decision-making about research,” she said. “I will also develop new teaching initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural competence and responsiveness in future speech-language pathologists.”
Jahn’s senior collaborators in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing are professor Dr. Edward Lobarinas and associate professor Dr. Andrea Warner-Czyz.
Jahn will assess the feasibility of using artificial intelligence to design personalized cochlear implant treatments and develop new educational initiatives aimed at increasing interprofessional collaboration and clinical outcomes for individuals with hearing disorders.
“The AARC award allows me to pursue new projects that will enhance my research program and teaching effectiveness in collaboration with my two senior faculty mentors,” Jahn said.
Jahn also received ASHA’s Early Career Contributions in Research Award, which acknowledges significant scientific accomplishments.
“It is an honor that the ASHA has acknowledged my scientific accomplishments as an early career investigator,” she said. “This award will facilitate broader recognition of my research program, opening the door to new scientific collaborations and professional opportunities.”
Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty, students and staff. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.