Gregory Russell Samanez-Larkin

Gregory Russell Samanez-Larkin is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University, with affiliations at the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. His research integrates psychology, neuroscience, and economics to study decision-making across the lifespan.

• Ph.D. (2010) and M.A. (2008) from Stanford University
• Prior roles: Assistant Professor at Yale University (2013-2017) and Visiting Assistant Professor at University of Miami (2016-2017)

Research focuses on motivation, emotion, and cognition in financial decision-making, health behavior, and aging, using fMRI, PET, and real-world behavioral tracking. Key areas include neuroeconomics, affective science, and behavioral interventions.

Recent work addresses pandemic risk communication through interactive web tools with national impact (CDC/HHS collaborations). His Motivated Cognition and Aging Brain Lab emphasizes translational research from basic science to scalable interventions.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Top 5% undergraduate teaching (Duke, 2019-2020)
  • Early Career Award (Society for Neuroeconomics, 2019)
  • Randolph Blake Early Career Award (Vanderbilt, 2019)
  • Poorvu Family Interdisciplinary Teaching Award (Yale, 2015)
• Grants: NIH/NIA, NIMH, Biogen Foundation, CDC/HHS collaborations