Diane C. Gooding

Diane C. Gooding is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, within the College of Letters and Science. Her research centers on clinical psychology, particularly risk for psychotic disorders and Alzheimer’s disease, with a strong focus on underserved populations including African American and American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

Her research interests include clinical psychology, neuropsychiatry, biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, health disparities, cognitive aging, and risk assessment in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. She emphasizes equity in access to genetic and biomarker testing, and her work often involves community-engaged research to understand cultural and systemic barriers.

The recent publications highlight a shift toward Alzheimer’s disease biomarker research in diverse populations, with a focus on plasma biomarkers, cognitive variability, and community willingness to participate in research. These studies reflect interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to reducing health disparities.

• Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in Black and non-Hispanic White cohorts (2021)
• Plasma Aβ42/40 and cognitive function in African Americans (2023)
• UBIGR Study on genetic research engagement (2024)

Dr. Gooding advises graduate students in clinical psychology and is open to co-mentoring in developmental or biological psychology. She values holistic evaluation of applicants, emphasizing research experience, academic preparation, and personal motivation. While no specific grants or awards are listed in the text, her active publication record and leadership in multi-institutional studies suggest significant research funding and collaboration. She does not conduct pre-application interviews to ensure fairness.

She is involved in large-scale collaborative projects such as the UBIGR and AA-FAIM studies, which aim to understand risk factors and improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease in underrepresented populations. Her lab emphasizes collaborative, dynamic research teams and values skills in statistics, programming, and bilingual communication.