Are you interested in getting involved in our research, or just learning more about comparative cognition? The Cognitive Evolution Group has many opportunities for graduate students and undergraduates to participate in research, including independent honor theses. Please contact Dr. Alexandra Rosati ([email protected]) for information on current positions in the Cognitive Evolution Group.
Postdoctoral researchers: Interested postdoctoral researchers should email Dr. Rosati ([email protected]) with any inquiries.
Graduate Students: Dr. Rosati will be accepting new graduate students in the 2026 application cycle for a start date of fall 2027. All applications would be through the Brain and Behavior (Biopsychology) area in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. Information for prospective Brain and Behavior students about the program can be found here, including details about the UM funding package, and tips for your application process. Applicants should also pay special attention to information about their Rackham Graduate School fellowship eligibility.
Applicants should have a B.A., B.S. or equivalent, and a background in psychology, anthropology, biology, or a related field. Prior research experience, especially involving behavioral research with animals or in field conditions, is preferable. If you are interested in applying, it is recommended that you email Dr. Rosati with a brief description of your research background and interests, and an attached CV.
Undergraduate Researchers: The Cognitive Development group is always looking for undergrads with a passion for animal cognition and behavior, and desire to start participating in research. Many undergraduates join our group by initially enrolling in an independent study course like Psychology 326; we ask prospective undergraduate researchers to fill out the lab Undergraduate Research Application to get involved. In addition, we recruit some undergraduates through UM’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), which has a separate application process. Undergrads joining the group are expected to attend weekly lab meetings, which in AY 26-27 will be Mondays from 4:00-5:30 PM.
Undergraduates who have participated in the lab for at least one semester through Psych 326 or UROP (and are in good standing) are eligible to get involved in research through other mechanisms such as work study, Psych 331, Psych 422/423, or an honors thesis.
Please email [email protected] with any additional questions.
Courses: Dr. Rosati teaches several courses on the evolution of cognition and behavior that are a useful starting point for getting involved in our work.
Psychology 363: Human Cognitive Evolution (next taught Fall 2026). Human behavior is strikingly different from other animals: we speak languages, create tools, work together on large-scale endeavors, and even learn from others in university classrooms. What cognitive processes underlie these behaviors, and how did they emerge in our evolutionary history? In this course, we will examine the evolutionary origins of the human mind by integrating theoretical perspectives from biology with cutting-edge empirical research from psychology. Topics will include the origins of human cooperation, communication, theory of mind, culture, morality, emotions, memory, foresight, and self-control.
Psychology 631: Biolopsychology Proseminar (next taught Fall 2026). This seminar will examine how brain and biology more generally influences behavior. This seminar is intended to provide a strong and integrative understanding of how behavioral traits are influenced by evolution, development, and underlying brain and cognitive mechanisms. The course is for graduate students in the Psychology ‘Brain and Behavior’ area, as well as students from related fields; diverse backgrounds are welcome and encouraged assuming a motivating interesting in brain and behavior. The course requires regular attendance and participation in seminar discussions, readings from primary research articles and review articles, and written assignments. The course will involve a variety of short lectures, student discussion, and interaction with Brain and Behavior faculty.
Psychology 430: The Science of Leadership (next taught Winter 2027). What is leadership, how does it work, and why does it work that way? This seminar will integrate psychological and biological approaches to understanding leadership. We will try to define different styles of leadership, examine the mechanisms shaping these behaviors, and examine the evolutionary function of these processes. This course will focus on a mix of foundational and current scientific articles, with the goal of developing critical analysis skills. This is a reading-intensive course where class sessions will focus on discussions as well as practical skill building focused on current methodological and computational approaches to understanding leadership.
Psychology 465: Evolution and Human Nature (last taught Winter 2026). What are the evolutionary origins of human behavior? This seminar will cover a range of topics using biological approaches to human behavior and psychology, including kinship, sexuality, violence, warfare, xenophobia, culture, and religion. Using a comparative approach, we will contextualize human behavior by examining studies of non-human primates, especially chimpanzees. We will also examine the breadth of human diversity across societies using ethnographic and experimental data from small-scale human societies (such as hunter-gatherers), as well as people from industrialized societies. Our goal is to use evolution as a framework for understanding this range of human behaviors.
Psychology 235: Introduction to Evolution and Behavior (last taught Winter 2025). This course examines the evolutionary origins, biological foundations, and psychology underlying human and animal behaviors including social relationships, kinship, sexual behavior, communication, aggression, foraging, cooperation, and culture. This will provide a strong foundational grounding in evolutionary theory, life history, and behavioral ecology for subsequent upper level courses in Biopsychology as well as other areas. Using a comparative approach, we will contextualize human behavior by examining non-humans, especially primates. This course will integrate evolutionary theory, behavioral observations, and experiments to understand the evolution of behavior, brain, and cognition.
