Grants and opportunities

APF awards grant for study of sleep and bipolar disorder

APF has awarded Jessica Levenson its $2,500 Drs. Rosalee G. and Raymond A. Weiss Research and Program Innovation Grant to study the sleep and rest activity rhythms of people with bipolar II depression.

Levenson is a PhD candidate in clinical psychology in the department of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her study may pave the way for future work focused on developing treatment strategies to improve mood, physical health and functional outcomes among this population by modifying and decreasing their sleep disturbances.

Levenson's primary research interest is the role of sleep disturbances in mood disorders. In July, she began work as a postdoctoral scholar in the University of Pittsburgh Translational Research Training in Sleep Medicine Fellowship.

Award supports work to increase gifted students' potential

Chi Huang, a PhD candidate in clinical psychology at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University, is this year's recipient of the $20,000 APF Esther Katz Rosen Fellowship.

The fellowship supports graduate students working on the psychological understanding of gifted and talented children and adolescents.

Huang's research examines whether highly gifted children show differences in creative behaviors, and whether they report personality differences compared with same-aged peers. She hopes her research will help schools better serve gifted children and will further the understanding of intellectual development.

Huang is an intern at the Community Health Awareness Council, a nonprofit mental health organization in Mountain View, Calif. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University and has a certificate in neuropsychological assessment.

Since 1953, APF has been supporting innovative research and programs that launch careers and seed the knowledge base on critical issues around the globe. For more information, visit the APF website.

APF donors: EBSCO gives $25,000 to APF

For more than 60 years, EBSCO Information Services has provided access to research through databases, e-books and e-journals. Now, with their gift of $25,000 to APF's Visionary Fund, they are also ensuring the launch of new and innovative research.

APF's Visionary grants support psychologists working to solve problems that affect our society in four core areas:

• Connecting behavior and physical health.
• Preventing violence.
• Helping in the aftermath of disaster.
• Reducing stigma and prejudice.

EBSCO's donation will enable talented psychologists to carry out groundbreaking work in these areas. "We are delighted to be able to support the APF in their efforts to support innovative research and programs," says Tim Robbins, EBSCO president. 

This donation, given in recognition of the APA Publications and Databases Program, is a wonderful example of the relationship EBSCO, APA and now APF have, says Gary VandenBos, APA's executive director of the Office on APA's Publications and Databases. "EBSCO is a major business partner of APA, and they have been supportive of APA in many ways over the years. They are also a strong supporter of activities in their local communities, and their donation to APF in recognition of the APA publishing program is a natural extension of their support of those around them."

Why I give

Peter F. Merenda, PhD, professor emeritus of psychology and computer science and statistics at the University of Rhode Island, is well known for his work in the fields of psychometrics and quantitative psychology. Merenda is also making an impact on psychology in another big way: by giving to APF.

"The primary reason why I have been a longtime contributor to the American Psychological Foundation is to honor the memory of many of my former colleagues and friends. I am encouraged in doing so in knowing that my modest continuing donations will be spent in supporting grants for research and other worthwhile opportunities to young or otherwise junior psychologists."

Richard Ruth, PhD, associate professor of clinical psychology at George Washington University and private practitioner, and his partner, James North, recognize the crucial difference that can be made by supporting psychology's future:

"We are happy to support the important work of the American Psychological Foundation's Div. 39 Fund. APF supports the science and profession we love, through a portfolio of activities that ensure its future. Our gifts to the foundation allow us to give back in a way that is meaningful to us and hopefully inspires others to do the same."