Nominee Statement for Dr. Vina Goghari seeking the Director Representing Science
Vina Goghari is a professor of clinical psychology and cognitive psychology, and the Vice-Dean, Research and Program Innovation at the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto. Through this role she is well versed in research administration and advocacy across the disciplines.
She holds a PhD in clinical psychological science from the University of Minnesota. Trained as a clinical cognitive neuroscientist, she has expertise in multiple methodologies, including neuroimaging, behavioural genetics (i.e., family studies), cognitive and affective experimental psychology, and clinical assessment. She has completed research to advance scientific knowledge in the causes, course, outcome, and treatment of psychosis. Her current professional and research interests are in understanding campus mental health, particularly graduate student mental health. She also currently holds NSERC funding to study cognitive control. Her research transcends multiple domains of psychology.
Professor Goghari’s cutting-edge research program has received numerous accolades: (1) funding from all three Canadian Tri-Council agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) covering health, social and natural sciences; (2) national and international awards (e.g., CIHR New Investigator Award, CPA President’s New Researcher Award, Lilly Young Investigator Fellowship, and Young Investigator Award from the International Congress on Schizophrenia Research Conference); (3) recognition as a Fellow of the CPA, APS, and APA for her sustained scholarly profile; and (4) College of Liberal Arts Alumni of Notable Achievement from the University of Minnesota.
She is the former Editor of Canadian Psychology and outgoing Associate Editor of Clinical Psychological Science and Schizophrenia Bulletin. As Editor of Canadian Psychology, she promoted a broad mandate of publishing all branches of psychological science and is very knowledgeable about various research methods and sub-disciplinary conceptualizations.
Finally, Professor Goghari has contributed to the development of psychology as an inclusive science. For example, she co-edited a special issue on Building a More Cumulative Psychological Science for Canadian Psychology, offering concrete suggestions on how we can do better science. Her co-edited special issue, Building a More Socially and Culturally Responsive Psychology, made work in diversity science accessible to a global audience.
Professor Goghari has had significant involvement with CPA through her role as an Editor, Fellow, and previous member of the accreditation panel. She would be honoured to promote all forms of psychological science in Canada, from academia to industry work to application. Concretely, she would love to strengthen how science can be used to solve the wicked problems of today, including health, belonging and loneliness, artificial intelligence, and sustainability.