Marcellus M. Merritt

Marcellus M. Merritt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, within the College of Letters and Science. His research focuses on stress, cardiovascular health disparities, and psychosocial mechanisms affecting diverse populations. He is actively recruiting graduate students for the Health Masters program for Fall 2025.

Research Interests: Dr. Merritt's research centers on the intersection of social psychology and cardiovascular health, particularly how sustained effortful coping (John Henryism) influences cortisol responses and vascular recovery in disadvantaged populations. His work spans community health centers, primary care, and laboratory settings, with a strong emphasis on reducing chronic disease risk through behavioral interventions. He investigates relaxation training, nighttime blood pressure, and heart rate variability as markers of intervention efficacy.

Publication Trends: His recent publications highlight a consistent focus on stress physiology, health disparities, and intervention development. The research integrates psychosocial, physiological, and neuroimaging methods to understand cardiovascular risk and resilience, particularly among African American and low-SES populations. Themes include tailored interventions, autonomic function, and cultural influences on health behavior.

Teaching: He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Research Methods in Psychology, Race, Ethnicity, and Health, and a Seminar in Social Psychology.

Scientific Engagement: Dr. Merritt is a consultant on a lifestyle intervention for African American hypertensive patients in Milwaukee and collaborates with the Medical College of Wisconsin on autonomic and chronic pain research using fMRI and physiological monitoring.

Advising and Grants: He actively mentors graduate students and leads research projects funded through institutional and collaborative grants. His lab, the Stress, Coping, and Health Disparities Lab, supports ideographically tailored interventions to improve long-term adherence and health outcomes.

Laboratory: He leads the Stress, Coping, and Health Disparities Lab, which conducts innovative research on stress mechanisms and health equity using mixed-methods and interdisciplinary collaboration.