معرفی
Candice Mills is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Dallas, affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Her research focuses on cognitive development, particularly how children evaluate explanations and sources of information, with emphasis on science learning, social cognition, and critical thinking.
- Ph.D. in Psychology from Yale University (2005)
- B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience from University of Florida (1999)
Mills studies developmental changes in children's abilities to recognize explanation quality, trust reliable sources, and engage in self-directed learning. Her work includes examining parental influences on science interest, the role of social features in epistemic inferences, and how children balance competence and benevolence in trust decisions.
Recent research trends highlight her exploration of intellectual humility transmission, online platforms for large-scale developmental studies, and cultural myths like Santa Claus. Her lab's publications emphasize explanation evaluation, evidence integration, and inquiry strategies across childhood.
Scientific Awards
- 2011 UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award
- Multiple UT Dallas Undergraduate Research Awards as Mentor (2007-2023)
- Nominee/Recipient of Provost's Faculty Excellence Awards (2013, 2014, 2017)
- 2016 Three Minute Thesis Faculty Competition Winner
- 2000 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Mills leads NSF-funded projects, including a $1.25M grant for an online platform studying cognitive development in children (3-6 years). She also received support from the John Templeton Foundation for research on parental lies and intellectual humility. Her work is conducted through the Think Lab, which engages families in child development research via home-based activities.
