Eric Peterson

Eric Peterson is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Harvard University and a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, with postdoctoral training in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences.

• Postdoc – Department of Psychiatry, Brain Imaging Center, University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences
• Ph.D. – Harvard University
• M.A. – Harvard University
• B.A. – University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Peterson’s research focuses on cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and autism, with a longitudinal study examining how childhood maltreatment affects college adaptation. His work explores hot and cool executive functioning, PTSD-like symptoms, aggression, and attachment, aiming to inform interventions for trauma-affected students. His research has been featured in Journal of the American Medical Association, Nature Online, and BBC News.

His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to executive functions, social cognition, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Key themes include cognitive-emotional interactions, neuroimaging in autism, and individual differences in perception. Funding for his research comes from the Avielle Foundation and UNC’s Provost Office.

• Postdoctoral Training Fellowship, University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences

Peterson teaches courses in cognition, social cognitive neuroscience, child development, and autism. He has received media coverage for his work in the Greeley Tribune and collaborates with Dr. Marilyn Welsh, emphasizing resilience and vulnerability factors in trauma-exposed students.