Dr. Dana Plude G’80, a distinguished scientist who earned his doctorate in Psychology in The College of Arts and Sciences, will deliver “Pathways to Discovery: Are You Ready for What’s Next?” at the Department of Psychology’s 21st annual Poster Session on Wednesday, April 30, in Panasci Lounge on the second floor of the Schine Student Center. The poster session will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and will be followed by Plude’s talk at 2:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and parking is available in Syracuse University’s paid lots.

The poster session will feature the work of undergraduate psychology students who have been involved in mentored research with psychology faculty. Each year, approximately 50 students present work in the areas of clinical, cognitive, social, and school psychology.

“We feel extremely fortunate to have someone of Dr. Plude’s caliber joining us for this year’s event,” says Peter Vanable, professor and chair of psychology. “He is a leading expert in adult development and cognitive aging, and now holds a leadership position at the NIH.  Our students will benefit from his extensive knowledge and impressive portfolio of professional experiences.”

Plude is chief of the bio-behavioral and behavioral processes integrated review group at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) in Bethesda, Md. At Syracuse University, where Plude earned a Ph.D. in psychology, he studied lifespan development, with an emphasis on aging, selective attention, and memory.

Prior to SCR, Plude was on the faculty at the University of Maryland for nearly two decades. Before that, he conducted research at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Boston.