Allison Sekuler
Born
Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
Spouse
Patrick John Bennett
​
​
(m. 1991)​
Academic background
EducationBA, Pomona College
PhD, 1990, University of California, Berkeley
ThesisSpeed discrimination in looming displays: critical elements of motion and integration (1991)
Academic work
InstitutionsMcMaster University
University of Toronto

Allison Britt Sekuler is an American-born neuroscientist. In 2019, she was named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Early life

Sekuler was born to parents Robert W. Sekuler and Susan N. Sekuler in Brookline, Massachusetts. Her father was the provost and the dean of the faculty at Brandeis University while her mother was a lawyer.[1] She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Pomona College and her PhD at University of California, Berkeley.[2]

Career

Following her PhD, Sekuler began teaching at the University of Toronto's (U of T) Department of Psychology with her husband.[3] While there, she also served as president and a board member of the Royal Canadian Institute.[4] The couple remained at U of T for a decade before accepting a Canada Research Chair position at McMaster University in July 2001. Upon joining the faculty, Sekuler also established a laboratory of eye trackers and scanning machines to continue her research into face and object recognition.[3]

As a Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, Sekuler focused on how the human brain processes visual information, and how that processing changes as a function of aging. She also focused on face perception, motion perception, object recognition, perceptual organization, visual attention, perceptual learning, and pattern vision. As such, Sekuler was recognized as a Canadian "Leader of Tomorrow" in 2004 by the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.[5] Following this, Sekuler discovered that the aging process improves their ability to grasp big picture concepts through the use of computer-generated stimuli.[6] She later received the Hamilton Spectator Publisher's Award for Educators in recognition of her "devotion and efforts toward increasing public science outreach."[7]

In 2017, Sekuler left McMaster after being named the next Vice-president Research and Sandra A. Rotman Chair at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto.[8] In this role, she was also appointed the managing director of the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation.[9] In 2019, Sekuler was recognized by the Women's Executive Network as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women in the Science and Technology category.[10]

Personal life

Sekuler and her husband Patrick Bennett have two children together.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Allison Sekuler Weds Patrick Bennett". The New York Times. June 17, 1991. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Allison B. Sekuler". McMaster University. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Vowles, Andrew (June 8, 2002). "Faculty renewal brings new energy to McMaster" (PDF). McMaster University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ D'Alvise, Danelle (March 2, 2003). "SCIENCE COMES TO THE CITY" (PDF). McMaster University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ "McMaster psychologist named Leader of Tomorrow". McMaster University. November 30, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Older people get the big picture faster, and they are less inhibited". McMaster University. February 2, 2005. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Dr. Allison Sekuler: University is the perfect time to explore". CFMU-FM. February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Allison Sekuler named VP Research – Baycrest Health Sciences". McMaster University. May 19, 2017. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  9. ↑ "CABHI appoints new Managing Director, Dr. Allison Sekuler". Baycrest Health Sciences. March 8, 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Allison Sekuler Named One Of Canada's Top 100". McMaster University. December 5, 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Allison Sekuler". University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
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