Steven Paul Woods

Steven Paul Woods is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston, within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. He serves as Director of the Cognitive Neuropsychology of Daily Life Laboratory and Director of Clinical Training. Previously, he was a faculty member at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in the Department of Psychiatry.

His research focuses on clinical and cognitive neuropsychology, particularly how cognitive processes such as prospective memory and internet navigation affect real-world health outcomes in populations with HIV and aging. He investigates health-related everyday functioning, including medication adherence, health literacy, and digital health engagement. His work bridges theoretical cognitive science with applied clinical interventions.

Recent publications highlight a growing emphasis on performance-based assessment of health-related behaviors, such as navigating electronic health portals and using spaced retrieval techniques to improve memory in clinical populations. His research demonstrates consistent innovation in measuring and enhancing everyday cognitive functioning in vulnerable groups.

• Does neurocognition contribute to age-related deficits in online navigation of electronic patient health portals? (2023)
• A clinical pilot study of spaced retrieval practice to improve health-related memory in HIV (2021)
• Enhancing cue salience improves prospective memory in older adults with HIV (2021)
• Internet navigation as a measure of everyday functioning: A review (2019)
• Memory for intentions and daily living in older adults (2012)

Dr. Woods has mentored numerous predoctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty, as indicated by the asterisked co-authors on his publications. He is actively involved in graduate admissions and clinical training at the University of Houston. He provides clinical neuropsychology services at the Thomas Street Health Center at Quentin Mease for individuals with HIV.

He leads the Cognitive Neuropsychology of Daily Life Laboratory, which conducts research on real-world cognitive functioning and develops interventions to support health behaviors in clinical populations.