David Uttal

Dr. David Uttal is a Professor of Psychology and Education at Northwestern University, where he leads a research laboratory of students engaged in a wide range of experimental and observational studies focused on cognitive development. He has authored papers exploring academic achievement in children, including the role of cultural values and parental beliefs across local communities of color and international groups. His research interests include Maps, Symbolic Representation, Informal Learning, & Spatial Thinking in STEM Education.

Education:

• 1989 Ph. D. Developmental Psychology, University of Michigan
  Thesis: “Children’s Mental Representation of Spatial Information Acquired From Maps”
• 1983 B. S. High Honors in Psychology, College of William and Mary

Research Interests

Mental representation, cognitive development, spatial cognition, early symbolization.

Employment:

• 2009-present Professor of Psychology and Education, Northwestern University
• 1999-2009 Associate Professor of Psychology and Education, Northwestern University
• 1993-1999 Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education, Northwestern University
• 1998 Visiting Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
• 1991-1993 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 1989–1991 Assistant Professor of Psychology, Virginia Tech

Awards/Honors

• 2022 – Winner of the International Mind, Brain, and Education Society’s research translation award
• 2014 – Winner of the George A. Miller Award from the American Psychological Association for the most distinguished publication in general psychology
• 2008 – Associate Editor, Merrill-Palmer Quarterly
• 2008 – Member, Standing Grant Review Panel, Mathematics and Science, Institute for Education Sciences, U. S. Department of Education
• 2007 – Member of the Math and Science Education grant review panel of the Institute of Educational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education
• 2007 – Advisory board, Assembly of curriculum materials for a general-education course in spatial thinking, tying in spatial analysis and geography