Rachel Wu, PhD

Dr. Rachel Wu is an Associate Professor of Psychology at University of California, Riverside. She completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London (2011). She is a developmental cognitive neuroscientist investigating how we learn and attend across the lifespan. Her latest research focuses on optimizing learning in older adults based on child development research. She has shown that with a supportive learning environment (e.g., an undergraduate curriculum), older adults’ cognitive abilities can be enhanced to levels similar to younger adults, while developing useful functional skills, such as learning to use a new technological device. Dr. Wu has received more than two dozen awards and grants, including an NSF CAREER Award, a PECASE from President Biden, and recently being named an APA Fellow. Thus far, her research program has resulted in over 60 publications. She was in a rock band as a violinist for 7 years and also is a professional painter. Every few years, she learns to master new skills to gain a better understanding of the difficulties in being an adult learner.