Evan Russek
@evanrussek.bsky.social
Assistant professor at Hunter College-CUNY, studying the cognitive science of decision-making.
https://www.evanrussek.com/
https://www.evanrussek.com/
Pinned
Evan Russek
@evanrussek.bsky.social
· Aug 6
Thrilled to announce that I'll be starting in January 2026 as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hunter College, City University of New York.
The lab will study the thought processes that underlie our decision-making.
The lab will study the thought processes that underlie our decision-making.
Does depression involve altered evaluation of multi-step plans?
In our new preprint, we find that individuals with higher apathy-anhedonia report more pessimism about whether a plan will succeed, but in fact make better decisions that are more reflective of accurate multi-step evaluations.
In our new preprint, we find that individuals with higher apathy-anhedonia report more pessimism about whether a plan will succeed, but in fact make better decisions that are more reflective of accurate multi-step evaluations.
🧵 New paper! We studied depression symptoms and goal-directed decisions under uncertainty
@shiyiliang.bsky.social, with @evanrussek.bsky.social & @robbrutledge.bsky.social
Surprisingly, we found that apathy–anhedonia was linked to enhanced goal-directed behavior. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@shiyiliang.bsky.social, with @evanrussek.bsky.social & @robbrutledge.bsky.social
Surprisingly, we found that apathy–anhedonia was linked to enhanced goal-directed behavior. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
August 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Does depression involve altered evaluation of multi-step plans?
In our new preprint, we find that individuals with higher apathy-anhedonia report more pessimism about whether a plan will succeed, but in fact make better decisions that are more reflective of accurate multi-step evaluations.
In our new preprint, we find that individuals with higher apathy-anhedonia report more pessimism about whether a plan will succeed, but in fact make better decisions that are more reflective of accurate multi-step evaluations.
3. Individual differences in decision-making and mental-health
4. Social decision-making
4. Social decision-making
August 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
3. Individual differences in decision-making and mental-health
4. Social decision-making
4. Social decision-making
1. Testing complex models of planning using massive online game datasets (e.g., chess, Go)
2. Understanding how cognitive maps are shaped to enable adaptive planning
2. Understanding how cognitive maps are shaped to enable adaptive planning
August 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
1. Testing complex models of planning using massive online game datasets (e.g., chess, Go)
2. Understanding how cognitive maps are shaped to enable adaptive planning
2. Understanding how cognitive maps are shaped to enable adaptive planning
I will likely be able to recruit a PhD student in the upcoming cycle. Please get in touch if you're interested in any of the following areas:
August 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I will likely be able to recruit a PhD student in the upcoming cycle. Please get in touch if you're interested in any of the following areas:
Thrilled to announce that I'll be starting in January 2026 as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hunter College, City University of New York.
The lab will study the thought processes that underlie our decision-making.
The lab will study the thought processes that underlie our decision-making.
August 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Thrilled to announce that I'll be starting in January 2026 as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hunter College, City University of New York.
The lab will study the thought processes that underlie our decision-making.
The lab will study the thought processes that underlie our decision-making.
Reposted by Evan Russek
Vassar College is hiring a tenure track assistant professor in cognitive science. vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Vassar...
I'll be at #CogSci2025 - happy to chat about the position and life at Vassar.
I'll be at #CogSci2025 - happy to chat about the position and life at Vassar.
Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science, Tenure Track
Department Cognitive Science Vassar College is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Deci...
vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Vassar College is hiring a tenure track assistant professor in cognitive science. vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Vassar...
I'll be at #CogSci2025 - happy to chat about the position and life at Vassar.
I'll be at #CogSci2025 - happy to chat about the position and life at Vassar.
Reposted by Evan Russek
Because nothing says “ready to present” like literally wearing your findings at #CogSci2025
Ham Huang leveled up from poster session to superhero mode! 🦸
Ham Huang leveled up from poster session to superhero mode! 🦸
July 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Because nothing says “ready to present” like literally wearing your findings at #CogSci2025
Ham Huang leveled up from poster session to superhero mode! 🦸
Ham Huang leveled up from poster session to superhero mode! 🦸
Reposted by Evan Russek
🚨New preprint! WHEN should we plan toward a goal? Most research focuses on how and where to plan, but the timing of planning initiation has been overlooked. We show humans leverage a cognitive map - called model-based meta-control - to learn when to deploy a plan.
🧵(1/15)
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵(1/15)
osf.io/preprints/ps...
July 5, 2025 at 7:19 AM
🚨New preprint! WHEN should we plan toward a goal? Most research focuses on how and where to plan, but the timing of planning initiation has been overlooked. We show humans leverage a cognitive map - called model-based meta-control - to learn when to deploy a plan.
🧵(1/15)
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵(1/15)
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We have an amazing group of speakers spanning psychology and AI research, all focused on using Chess or other multi-player games to gain insights on human and AI decision-making, and how they can inform each other.
June 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
We have an amazing group of speakers spanning psychology and AI research, all focused on using Chess or other multi-player games to gain insights on human and AI decision-making, and how they can inform each other.
So excited for our #RLDM2025 workshop on Thursday, Chess as a bridge between human cognition and artificial intelligence, co-organized with Ionatan Kuperwajs.
sites.google.com/nyu.edu/ches...
sites.google.com/nyu.edu/ches...
Chess @ RLDM
Workshop Description
Chess presents an intriguing case study in complex decision-making and multi-step planning. Historically, the psychology underlying chess play has been a topic of great interest,...
sites.google.com
June 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
So excited for our #RLDM2025 workshop on Thursday, Chess as a bridge between human cognition and artificial intelligence, co-organized with Ionatan Kuperwajs.
sites.google.com/nyu.edu/ches...
sites.google.com/nyu.edu/ches...
Reposted by Evan Russek
I'm thrilled to announce that I will start as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Cognitive Science at the University of Arizona in Jan 2026! My lab will investigate human planning and decision making through a combination of computational models, behavior, and fMRI (1/2)
June 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I'm thrilled to announce that I will start as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Cognitive Science at the University of Arizona in Jan 2026! My lab will investigate human planning and decision making through a combination of computational models, behavior, and fMRI (1/2)
Reposted by Evan Russek
Are we “strangers to ourselves”? Classic theories say people have limited insight into how they decide. Our new paper at @natcomms.nature.com challenges this view. With @rcarl.bsky.social sky.social, @hedykober.bsky.social y.social, and @mjcrockett.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵
Introspective access to value-based multi-attribute choice processes - Nature Communications
People routinely choose between multi-attribute options, such as which movie to watch. Here, the authors show people often have accurate insight into their choices, challenging the notion that people ...
www.nature.com
April 30, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Are we “strangers to ourselves”? Classic theories say people have limited insight into how they decide. Our new paper at @natcomms.nature.com challenges this view. With @rcarl.bsky.social sky.social, @hedykober.bsky.social y.social, and @mjcrockett.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵
Reposted by Evan Russek
Despite the world being on fire, I can't help but be thrilled to announce that I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor in the Cognitive Science Program at Dartmouth in Fall '26. I'll be recruiting grad students this upcoming cycle—get in touch if you're interested!
May 7, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Despite the world being on fire, I can't help but be thrilled to announce that I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor in the Cognitive Science Program at Dartmouth in Fall '26. I'll be recruiting grad students this upcoming cycle—get in touch if you're interested!
Reposted by Evan Russek
We are excited to post a new preprint with Shiyi Liang @shiyiliang.bsky.social:
'Reinforcement learning is positively associated with anhedonia symptoms' osf.io/preprints/ps...
(a bit late here – a version was online back in December)
@mpc-comppsych.bsky.social
'Reinforcement learning is positively associated with anhedonia symptoms' osf.io/preprints/ps...
(a bit late here – a version was online back in December)
@mpc-comppsych.bsky.social
OSF
osf.io
March 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
We are excited to post a new preprint with Shiyi Liang @shiyiliang.bsky.social:
'Reinforcement learning is positively associated with anhedonia symptoms' osf.io/preprints/ps...
(a bit late here – a version was online back in December)
@mpc-comppsych.bsky.social
'Reinforcement learning is positively associated with anhedonia symptoms' osf.io/preprints/ps...
(a bit late here – a version was online back in December)
@mpc-comppsych.bsky.social
So sorry for your loss, Laurence.
March 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
So sorry for your loss, Laurence.
Reposted by Evan Russek
AI models are fascinating, impressive, and sometimes problematic. But what can they tell us about the human mind?
In a new review paper, @noahdgoodman.bsky.social and I discuss how modern AI can be used for cognitive modeling: osf.io/preprints/ps...
In a new review paper, @noahdgoodman.bsky.social and I discuss how modern AI can be used for cognitive modeling: osf.io/preprints/ps...
March 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
AI models are fascinating, impressive, and sometimes problematic. But what can they tell us about the human mind?
In a new review paper, @noahdgoodman.bsky.social and I discuss how modern AI can be used for cognitive modeling: osf.io/preprints/ps...
In a new review paper, @noahdgoodman.bsky.social and I discuss how modern AI can be used for cognitive modeling: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Evan Russek
❗RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES❗
We're hiring for an ambitious @wellcometrust.bsky.social project exploring brain mechanisms of planning/inference in psychosis 🧠
Tackled at multiple scales: from single neurons to human behaviour/fMRI and neural networks.
Opportunities for 1 post-doc 1 clinical fellow 👀
We're hiring for an ambitious @wellcometrust.bsky.social project exploring brain mechanisms of planning/inference in psychosis 🧠
Tackled at multiple scales: from single neurons to human behaviour/fMRI and neural networks.
Opportunities for 1 post-doc 1 clinical fellow 👀
💥 Some POST DOC JOB news 👀... I'm very happy to say that @melgaby.bsky.social, @mattnour.bsky.social, @mariaeckstein.bsky.social and I have been awarded funding from @wellcometrust.bsky.social to look at how planning 📝and mental models of the world 🌍 are affected by psychosis...
February 20, 2025 at 11:17 AM
❗RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES❗
We're hiring for an ambitious @wellcometrust.bsky.social project exploring brain mechanisms of planning/inference in psychosis 🧠
Tackled at multiple scales: from single neurons to human behaviour/fMRI and neural networks.
Opportunities for 1 post-doc 1 clinical fellow 👀
We're hiring for an ambitious @wellcometrust.bsky.social project exploring brain mechanisms of planning/inference in psychosis 🧠
Tackled at multiple scales: from single neurons to human behaviour/fMRI and neural networks.
Opportunities for 1 post-doc 1 clinical fellow 👀
Reposted by Evan Russek
🚨 Finally out! My new @annualreviews.bsky.social in Psychology paper:
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
February 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
🚨 Finally out! My new @annualreviews.bsky.social in Psychology paper:
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
Reposted by Evan Russek
📣 Absolutely elated to announce that in 2026, I’ll be joining Rutgers-Newark as TT Assistant Professor in the Dept of Psychology! Can’t wait to join this incredible community! 🤩 I’ve got some fun projects ahead as I wrap up my postdoc, but soon I’ll start recruiting at all levels so stay tuned. 1/3
February 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
📣 Absolutely elated to announce that in 2026, I’ll be joining Rutgers-Newark as TT Assistant Professor in the Dept of Psychology! Can’t wait to join this incredible community! 🤩 I’ve got some fun projects ahead as I wrap up my postdoc, but soon I’ll start recruiting at all levels so stay tuned. 1/3
Reposted by Evan Russek
We are currently building the largest, cross-domain data set of human behavior as part of an open collaborative project. Contributions of any form are welcome, but especially experiments with meta-data from developmental, cross-cultural, or clinical studies.
More details: github.com/marcelbinz/P...
More details: github.com/marcelbinz/P...
GitHub - marcelbinz/Psych-201
Contribute to marcelbinz/Psych-201 development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
January 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
We are currently building the largest, cross-domain data set of human behavior as part of an open collaborative project. Contributions of any form are welcome, but especially experiments with meta-data from developmental, cross-cultural, or clinical studies.
More details: github.com/marcelbinz/P...
More details: github.com/marcelbinz/P...
Reposted by Evan Russek
The new AI Lab at Princeton has positions for AI Postdoctoral Research Fellows for three research initiatives: AI for Accelerating Invention, Natural and Artificial Minds, and Princeton Language and Intelligence. Deadline is 12/31. More information here: ai.princeton.edu/ai-lab/emplo...
Employment Opportunities
Find and learn more about our open positions.Join our team
ai.princeton.edu
December 10, 2024 at 2:41 PM
The new AI Lab at Princeton has positions for AI Postdoctoral Research Fellows for three research initiatives: AI for Accelerating Invention, Natural and Artificial Minds, and Princeton Language and Intelligence. Deadline is 12/31. More information here: ai.princeton.edu/ai-lab/emplo...
Reposted by Evan Russek
Spent part of my weekend going down a rabbit hole reading about Polynesian navigation, and came across this nice little article from @hugospiers.bsky.social reviewing diverse approaches to navigation by indigenous cultures around the world. www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Wayfinding across ocean and tundra: what traditional cultures teach us about navigation
Research on human navigation by psychologists and neuroscientists has come mainly from a limited range of environments and participants inhabiting western countries. By contrast, numerous anthropological accounts illustrate the diverse ways in which cultures adapt to their surrounding environment to navigate. Here, we provide an overview of these studies and relate them to cognitive science research. The diversity of cues in traditional navigation is much higher and multimodal compared with navigation experiments in the laboratory. It typically involves an integrated system of methods, drawing on a detailed understanding of the environmental cues, specific tools, and forms part of a broader cultural system. We highlight recent methodological developments for measuring navigation skill and modelling behaviour that will aid future research into how culture and environment shape human navigation.
www.cell.com
December 9, 2024 at 8:11 PM
Spent part of my weekend going down a rabbit hole reading about Polynesian navigation, and came across this nice little article from @hugospiers.bsky.social reviewing diverse approaches to navigation by indigenous cultures around the world. www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Reposted by Evan Russek
Hello!!👋 I'm Sally Xie. Excited to share that in a few weeks, I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor @SFU Psych! 🏞️ @sfufass.bsky.social
I'm recruiting a lab manager & my first grad student. If you're interested in social cognition/perception & transformative experiences, check out socosci.com🦉!
I'm recruiting a lab manager & my first grad student. If you're interested in social cognition/perception & transformative experiences, check out socosci.com🦉!
socosci
Xie Lab for Social Cognitive Science
socosci.com
November 26, 2024 at 3:28 AM
Hello!!👋 I'm Sally Xie. Excited to share that in a few weeks, I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor @SFU Psych! 🏞️ @sfufass.bsky.social
I'm recruiting a lab manager & my first grad student. If you're interested in social cognition/perception & transformative experiences, check out socosci.com🦉!
I'm recruiting a lab manager & my first grad student. If you're interested in social cognition/perception & transformative experiences, check out socosci.com🦉!
Reposted by Evan Russek
Alignment is more than comparing similarity judgments! How well do pretrained neural networks align with humans in few-shot learning settings? Come check our poster #3904 at #NeurIPS on Wednesday to find out
December 10, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Alignment is more than comparing similarity judgments! How well do pretrained neural networks align with humans in few-shot learning settings? Come check our poster #3904 at #NeurIPS on Wednesday to find out