Ruchika Prakash, assistant professor of psychology, has been recognized as a "Rising Star" by the Association for Psychological Science (APS). The APS Rising Stars series highlights young luminaries poised to revolutionize the field.

Prakash’s research focuses on the effects of lifestyle factors on facets of emotional and cognitive control, the corresponding neural circuitry involved in these interrelated processes, and the overall functional neuroarchitecture of the brain. As part of the Department of Psychology’s Clinical Neuroscience Lab, Prakash’s overarching goal is to understand the efficacy of psychosocial interventions, primarily lifestyle interventions, such as exercise training and mindfulness meditation on cognitive and affective functioning. She and her colleagues in the lab employ both behavioral and neuroimaging techniques to better understand the prophylactic influence of such healthy lifestyle factors.

Prakash completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.