Maria Carlson

Maria Carlson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at East Texas A&M University, part of the College of Education and Human Services. She currently serves as Assistant Department Head and Psychology Undergraduate Program Coordinator, contributing significantly to academic leadership and student success.

Educational Background:

• B.A. in Psychology, Marietta College, 2003
• M.S. in Psychology, University of Oklahoma, 2006
• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Oklahoma, 2010

Dr. Carlson's research focuses on cognitive and forensic psychology, particularly eyewitness memory, psychometrics, and the impact of sleep on cognitive performance. Her work uses ROC analysis to evaluate the reliability of eyewitness identification under various conditions, including lineup procedures, weapon presence, and cognitive load. She is currently investigating how sleep quality and duration affect memory for mock crimes, bridging sleep science and legal psychology.

Her recent publications show a consistent trend in improving eyewitness identification accuracy through methodological innovations in photo arrays and lineup instructions. These works contribute to both theoretical understanding and practical applications in law enforcement and judicial systems.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Carlson is actively involved in mentoring students and curriculum development, serving as the coordinator for the undergraduate psychology program. She teaches key courses such as Psychological Statistics and Nonparametric Statistics, emphasizing data literacy and research rigor. While specific grants are not mentioned, her ongoing research projects suggest active scholarly engagement.

She is also involved in community outreach, notably through a charity that provides handmade octopi to comfort premature infants in NICUs, reflecting her commitment to service beyond academia.