PhD in Psychology in Waltham United States | Brandeis University

Brandeis University's highly selective PhD program is designed to cultivate outstanding psychological scientists, scholars, and educators who will advance the field through academic, corporate, or practical applications.

Our Brain Body Behavior initiative creates a cohesive structure that encourages teamwork and cross-disciplinary idea sharing.

Departing from conventional PhD formats, we avoid separating students into standard categories (cognitive, social, developmental, etc.). Instead, we promote genuinely interdisciplinary study and education, enabling students to carve out their research niche while exploring diverse theoretical and methodological approaches. This includes perspectives not just from psychology, but also from neuroscience, computer science, and biology.

We maintain that comprehending human behavior requires examining bodily, neural, social, and developmental factors. This philosophy is reinforced by our NIGMS-supported Brain, Body and Behavior training program, which bridges psychological and biomedical research.

Brandeis's psychology PhD program balances intensive research with comprehensive learning. While specializing in a specific research area, you'll join a vibrant scholarly community. Your dissertation advisor will be an expert in their domain—whether studying learning processes in brain structures, human development across ages, sensory experiences, or cultural influences on neuroscience, among other specialties. Through courses and collaborative sessions, we prioritize meticulous, transparent scientific methods and sophisticated research training.