Debra Bangasser, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for her scholarly contributions related to sex differences in stress response systems and her remarkable leadership as the early career psychologist co-chair of the 2014 Opening Doors Summit: Doctoral Education to First Job.
Bangasser, an assistant professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, is an academically productive scholar, a gifted teacher and a talented leader. As principal investigator of the Neuroendocrinology and Behavior Laboratory, she has made significant advances in our understanding of sex differences in stress response systems that predispose females to stress and stress-related psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Her methodologically sophisticated research endeavors, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, incorporate techniques from biopsychology, neuroendocrinology, and cellular and molecular biology. In addition to her scholarly accomplishments, Bangasser has served as an exceptionally effective early career psychologist co-chair for the 2014 Opening Doors Summit. She is an exemplary role model for engaged, thoughtful and creative early career psychologist leadership in major national initiatives.