Richard J. Contrada

Richard J. Contrada is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University. He holds a Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology from the City University of New York Graduate Center (1985) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His research focuses on the interplay between psychological factors and physical health, particularly in cardiovascular diseases, stress, self-regulation, and the effects of racial/ethnic discrimination. He has published over 100 articles and edited books such as Self, Social Identity, and Physical Health and The Handbook of Stress Science. His work is funded by NIH, the U.S. Army, and private foundations.

Affiliations:

• Member, Health Behavior and Prevention Study Section (NIMH)
• Associate Editor, Health Psychology
• Editorial Board Member: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Behavioral Medicine, and others

Research Highlights: Dr. Contrada investigates psychosocial, behavioral, and physiological mechanisms linking psychological states to chronic illnesses. Recent work explores electrocortical and cardiovascular correlates of health-related fears and social identity. He has examined how social support, marital status, and religion influence recovery post-cardiac surgery.

Awards:

• Rutgers University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
• Fellowships in APA, APS, and SBM

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. Research integrates psychological theory with clinical and public health applications.