Psychology brings two new profs on board

Penn's Psychology Department, known as one of the best in the country, has recently been plagued by faculty departures and retirements. But two new senior appointments, in the field of perception, may soon help reinvigorate the department. University of Texas Professor Wilson Geisler and University of California-Santa Barbara Professor David Brainard will begin teaching at the University this fall. Both Geisler and Brainard are highly regarded for their clinical research in the field of perception. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston said that the University was so impressed by both candidates that it created an extra position to accommodate both of them. "We had one position that we advertised in perception and vision, and we had two people in to interview," Preston said. "They were both so wonderful that we offered them both positions." Geisler, who has spent his entire professional career at Texas, said he decided to change locations because of Penn's resources. "What finally made the decision for me was the fact that I think that Penn is going to be a better place to disseminate the scientific research that I do in my lab," Geisler said. "I do vision research, and some of the things that I'm interested in are in search of clinical applications." Brainard cited the University's Medical School and cognitive neuroscience programs as reasons for his move to the East Coast. "Penn is one of the strongest institutions in vision," Brainard said. "It's strong in neuroscience and strong in bioengineering. I was really impressed with the additions that they have made to the department." Geisler and Brainard are the latest additions to the perception field. Last year, the University hired Ben Bacchus as an assistant professor, while this year, Amishe Jha was hired as a professor in cognitive neuroscience. Psychology Department Chairman Robert Seyfarth said that Penn's goal was to fill voids left in the department through faculty retirements and departures. "We started out the year with a goal to rebuild our strength in perception," Seyfarth said. "[Brainard and Geisler] really bring to Penn complementary skills and strengths that will bring Penn's Psychology Department back to its world class status." Seyfarth said he believes the facilities and resources that Penn offers its faculty are tremendous assets in recruiting. "One of the attractions of Penn is that the professional schools are right on campus," Seyfarth said. "We can use the Medical School as a draw to bring people to Penn." Geisler and Brainard have made significant advances in analyzing the factors that affect visual perception. According to Neuroscience Professor Peter Sterling, the work done by Geisler has revolutionized the field. "He has figured out how to evaluate quantitatively the various factors that contribute to visual perception starting from the physical factors that impact perception even before nerve cells get involved," Sterling said. "He has worked out a way of accounting for factors so that we can compare human performance without factors." Both professors said they are looking forward to working at a school with bigger facilities and a more invested student body. "I thought it would be exciting to teach a student body of somewhat stronger and more interested students," Brainard said. "I was really impressed with how smart everyone seems and how friendly everyone was." "The overall intellectual climate is somewhat different from what it would be in Austin," Geisler added. "The students are a very high caliber bunch. The opportunity to teach students that have those kinds of skills and abilities is something I'm looking forward to." Preston said the University is already looking into offering more perception courses that stretch over multiple disciplines. "I think that it is our hope and expectation that [Geisler and Brainard's] courses will be accessible to people in visual arts and film studies," Preston said. According to Seyfarth, the department plans to focus future recruitment on clinical and social psychology, as well as animal learning and behavior.