David Weintraub, Ph.D.
UX Researcher and Designer
Cognitive Psychologist
Research in Experimental Psychology
I received my Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas in 2015. I worked under the supervision of Dr. Joel S. Snyder in his Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory. Our research employed behavioral and physiological techniques (i.e., electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging). We mainly investigated brain processes involved in separating target sounds, such as speech, from background noise. Various achievements and awards demonstrate my success in graduate school. The following is a brief selection of some of these achievements: (1) I was the recipient of the UNLV President’s Graduate Research Fellowship, a competitive award given to three graduate students throughout the entire graduate college; (2) I published eleven peer-reviewed scholarly articles, four of which I am or share first authorship; (3) I was selected to attend the University of California at Davis ERP Boot Camp and the University of California at Merced CHASE Summer School, which are competitive NIMH- and NSF-funded summer programs.
Teaching in Experimental Psychology
I taught in the Department of Psychology at Texas State University as a full-time faculty member from 2016 to 2021. I created three courses during this time: Experimental and Research Methods, Sensation and Perception, and Learning and Memory. I strived to create an active and supportive learning environment. I wanted to feel approachable to students, and adopted an open-door policy. Empathy is an invaluable quality for teachers. In my experience, students learn best and try their hardest when they see these qualities in their teachers. One of my greatest pleasures was helping students prepare their graduate school applications. I worked closely with students who went on to Master’s- and Doctoral-level programs. I received the following recognition from the University: (1) I received the Department of Psychology’s nomination for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, (2) the Dean of the Honors College and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts recognized me for my work with an honor’s student, and (3) the University’s Graduating Student Recognition of Campus Support program recognized me as being named by a graduating senior for significantly contributing to their success and development.