James Curley

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Texas at Austin
108 E. Dean Keaton
Austin, TX 78712-1043

Office: SEAY 5.248
Email: curley@utexas.edu
GitHub: Github
Google Scholar
ORCID ID – orcid.org/0000-0001-5546-007X
Blog: https://jamescurley.blog/

Dr. Curley is the principal investigator of the Social Dynamics Lab at UT Austin. The lab focuses on the neurobiological basis of social behavior in groups and the long-term plastic changes in the brain and peripheral physiology that occur as a consequence of social status. We also are interested in social dynamics in social hierarchies as well as developing novel methods for the study of social hierarchies and networks.

Teaching — Courses and Awards

Dr. Curley regularly teaches the following courses. They are undergraduate courses in statistics, data science and programming and a UGS course exploring social behavior in animals and humans.

  • PSY317L – Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Open-access textbook)
  • PSY120R – R Programming for Behavioral Sciences
  • UGS302 – Being Social
  • 2022 – President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2021 – Dr. Wendy Domjan Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2021 – Affordable Education Champion, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2021 – Nominated for Harry Ransom Award for Teaching Excellence, University of Texas at Austin.
  • 2017 – Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award, Columbia University.

Education and Appointments

  • 2017-present Associate Professor – Department of Psychology, UT Austin
  • 2017-2020 Adjunct Assistant Professor – Psychology Department, Columbia University.
  • 2012-2017 Assistant Professor – Psychology Department, Columbia University.
  • 2009-2012 Associate Research Scientist – Psychology Department, Columbia University.
  • 2010 Adjunct Professor – Biology Department, Barnard College.
  • 2007-2009 Post-Doctoral Scientist – Psychology Department, Columbia University.
  • 2005-2007 Charles & Katharine Darwin Research Fellow – Darwin College, University of Cambridge, UK.
  • 2003-2007 Post-Doctoral Scientist – Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Cambridge, UK.
  • 1999-2003 PhD Student – Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Cambridge, UK.
  • 1996-1999 BA (Hons) – Human Sciences, Somerville College, University of Oxford, UK.