Michael K. Scullin

Michael K. Scullin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, College of Arts and Sciences. He leads the Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory, focusing on the intersection of sleep, memory, and cognitive health across the lifespan.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis and a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine in Neurology and Sleep Medicine. He is actively involved in academic service, including as a columnist for Teaching Current Directions in Psychological Science and co-founding editor of Translational Issues in Psychological Science.

Dr. Scullin’s research investigates how sleep physiology influences memory consolidation, cognition, and long-term brain health. He explores prospective memory—the ability to remember to perform future actions—and how digital tools like reminder apps can mitigate memory decline in older adults and early Alzheimer’s disease. His work integrates laboratory studies with real-world behavioral trials, emphasizing translational impact.

His recent publications span topics such as technology use and cognitive aging, smartphone interventions for memory, sleep during academic stress, and integrative reviews of sleep and cognition. These reflect a strong trend toward applied cognitive neuroscience with a focus on aging, technology, and public health.

• NIH/NIA R01 grant: Digital solutions for prospective memory impairments in mild Alzheimer’s disease
• NSF CAREER grant: Sleep and STEM learning in lab and real-world settings
• NIST funding: Development of ARKTOS, an environment simulator for extreme condition research

Dr. Scullin mentors several Ph.D. students and a postdoctoral researcher, actively recruiting new graduate students. He teaches courses including Introduction to Neuroscience, Cognition, Sleep, and a Grant Writing Seminar. His lab, the Sleep Neuroscience & Cognition Laboratory, fosters interdisciplinary research with real-world applications.