Academic Background:
Mr. Spencer Upton is a dedicated PhD student in Cognition and Neuroscience at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU), with extensive academic and professional experience in the fields of psychology and neuroscience. His career spans a range of roles from research assistantships to project coordination, and he has actively engaged in teaching and mentoring throughout his academic journey. Spencer's commitment to the field is evident in his contributions to various scientific communities and his recognition through multiple scholarships and awards.
Education:
Mr. Spencer began his academic career at Butler County Community College (BC3) in 2014 before earning a BS in Psychology with a focus on neuroscience and philosophy from Slippery Rock University (SRU) in 2019. He then pursued an MS in Integrative Neuroscience at Georgetown University (GU) from 2019 to 2020. Spencer is currently working towards a PhD in Cognition and Neuroscience at MU, where he also completed his MA. His doctoral research is supervised by Dr. Brett Froeliger.
Professional Experience:
Mr. Spencer’s professional journey includes roles such as a Research Specialist (Project Coordinator) at the Health Neuroscience Center, MU, where he managed research projects from 2020 to 2022. He has also worked in various capacities outside the academic realm, including as a landscaper and a front desk attendant. His early professional experiences include positions as a dishwasher, cashier, and warehouse attendant, reflecting a diverse work background.
Research Interests:
Mr. Spencer’s research interests focus on understanding the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying addiction and motivation. His work includes exploring the effects of nicotine and other substances on cognitive processes and neural functioning. This interest is reflected in his involvement with organizations such as the Society for Neuroscience (SFN) and the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), as well as his contributions as an assistant reviewer for journals like Addictive Behaviors and Neuropsychopharmacology.
Honors and Scholarships:
He has received various honors and scholarships, such as the Biomedical Graduate Education Scholarship from GU (2019), and multiple scholarships from SRU, including the Rose and Dale Kaufman Scholarship (2018) and the Meiping Cheng Memorial Scholarship (2017). Notably, he received the Undergraduate Mentoring Award from MU in 2023.
Teaching Experience:
Mr. Spencer has been involved in teaching as an assistant for courses such as Psych3351: Positive Motivation and Psych 3160: Perception and Thought in Fall 2022. He also contributed as a lecturer for an MRI Workshop Series at the Cognitive Neuroscience Systems Core Facility.