News

This is Dr. Jui Bhagwat’s tenth year in the Psych Department at SCU. We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Bhagwat was recently promoted to a Renewable Term Lecturer position. While you may know her from class or her developmental psychology lab, Dr. Bhagwat shares below five things you probably don’t already know about her.

1. I grew up in India, in the city of Pune, and came to the US in 2002 to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Cornell University. But before coming to the US, I did a Masters in Social Work in Mumbai, India, which was a life-altering experience. Through the program, I worked with people from underserved and marginalized communities in different parts of India. For the first time in my life, I was exposed to realities and perspectives very different from my own. It was fulfilling work, but also very emotionally challenging. When I finished this program I knew I needed to do something different. Diving deep into an area of study, and asking fundamental questions about how humans grow and develop felt more like my calling. That’s how I ended up doing a Ph.D.
   
   
2. In graduate school, I did research on infant spatial cognition, and it was my first foray into what is known as basic research. For example, one of our studies looked at how infants form spatial categories such as “in” and “on” and how language influences this development. I was asking fundamental questions about children’s development, but again, it didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I found myself drawn to work that had more direct application, and work that involved more direct interactions with people.
   
   
3. I started teaching at SCU in 2013, and finally, it felt right. Few jobs can keep you on your toes as teaching does. Every time I step into the classroom, l learn as much as I teach. I love the time I spend with students- in the classroom, in the lab, and in my capacity as Psi Chi Faculty Advisor. I find myself constantly inspired by my students’ stories, their openness, and above all, their deep sense of social justice.
   
   
4. In my Early Cognitive Development lab here at SCU, I work with a bunch of energetic students. Our studies are often driven by questions asked by them and often have an applied focus. Last year, we looked at children’s understanding of the different ways in which Covid can be transmitted. This year we are looking at how mindfulness training in preschool might impact children’s attention.
   
   
5. When I’m not working or feeding/ driving/ hanging with my two kids, while concurrently discussing daily logistics with my husband, I love to relax with a good detective novel or a movie that unexpectedly makes me look at the world with fresh eyes. Occasionally, I exercise.