Article archive / September 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 9. Source pages: 6.
Dr. Jason Harman, a psychological scientist with a background in human decision-making has joined the faculty at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge campus. Dr. Harman is the first new member in the rebuilding of the Industrial- Organizational psychology faculty after a two-year hiatus of the 60-year program.
Dr. Harman’s background includes work at Carnegie Mellon, Ohio University, and Bowling Green State University, with research interests in dynamic decision-making, organizational behavior, consumer behavior, and goal pursuit.
Harman told the Times that he plans on continuing his line of research on decision-making in his new position as Assistant Professor.
“I’m currently working on a write-up of a very exciting mathematical model of decision making that provides a unified account of every major anomaly in decision making research that no psychologically feasible model has yet to explain.”
He said that early feedback from leaders in this scientific area has been very positive and he is hoping for a high impact manuscript, perhaps in The Psychological Review.
“In the near future, I will be advancing some of my applied work,” he said, “hopefully with collaborations around LSU, doing research with the intent of helping people make better decisions in organization, medicine, and the environment.”
Dr. Harman said that his three years at Carnegie Mellon University were invaluable for understanding interdisciplinary collaboration. He worked in the interdisciplinary department, Social and Decision Sciences, with psychologists, economists, and public policy experts, he explained.
“The lab I worked in––The Dynamic Decision Making Lab––really embodied that interdisciplinary spirit. Cleotilde Gonzalez, the lab director and an unparalleled mentor, was trained in Human Factors but is best known for cognitive modeling,” Harman said. “My fellow post-docs were from all over the world and trained in psychology, economics, philosophy, and computer science.”
As an example, the three most significant papers Harman produced, he explained, were published in three different sciences––psychology, computer science, and operations management.
According to previous interview with Search Committee Chair, Dr. Janet McDonald, the department will also be adding an Associate Professor in the IO program who will direct the Industrial-Organization Ph.D. program and guide its future growth in collaboration with the Department Chair, Dr. Jason Hicks.
“The department is very fortunate to have hired Dr. Harman. His research expertise will benefit not only the IO program, but the department on the whole,” said Dr. Hicks. “I can also envision very interesting and productive research collaborations with others at LSU that have an interest in his research areas,” he said. “We look forward to Dr. Harman’s influence on the rebuilding process for the IO area.”
Dr. Harman said, “Rebuilding the IO program here at LSU is going to be an adventure and I think we have the opportunity to create a unique and well known program very quickly.”
“Two keys to this are the hiring of two new IO faculty members this year and building exciting collaborations with faculty across the campus,” Harman said. “Those relationships hold a greater potential for the future than I could imagine and I’m excited to see where things go.”
How does he like it at LSU? “Apart from the heat and the man-eating insects, I love everything so far! The campus is beautiful,” he said. “The psychology department is both well supported by the university and friendly and welcoming––a rare duo from my experience visiting different universities during my job search.”
The LSU Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program was one of the oldest, continuously running I/O programs in the US, with a long, distinguished legacy. It marked its 60th anniversary in 2012, beginning in 1952 with Dr. Bernard Bass, an early expert in I/O who gained national acclaim for his work in transformational leadership.
Dr. Jason Harman (L) unpacks boxes at his new office in the LSU Psychology Department. Chair Dr. Jason Hicks (R) is looking forward to rebuilding the Industrial-Organization area.
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