Beatriz Luna, Ph.D.

Beatriz Luna, PhD is the Staunton Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the founder and Director of the Laboratory for Neurocognitive Development, The Editor in Chief of the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, and the founder and acting past president of the Flux Society for Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. She obtained her MAs in Clinical Psychology from Duquesne University in 1985, followed by a PhD in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996. Her research uses multimodal neuroimaging methods including rest and task functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), Electroencephalography (EEG), Magnetoencephalography (MEG), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) as well as cognitive testing to understand the brain mechanisms underlying normative neurocognitive development through adolescence when adult trajectories are defined. She has also studied atypical development in the past including ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and risk for substance use disorders. She has been the recipient of numerous awards notably the US 2005 Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, in 2022 an NIMH MERIT award, Provost Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring, and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry. Her more than 160 publications have led to influential developmental models emphasizing the implications of specialization of different brain systems through adolescence informing normative and impaired development. Her research has been continuously supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health and has informed US Supreme Court briefs regarding extended sentencing in the juvenile justice system. Her extensive media history also includes a cover story in National Geographic and a PBS Special with Alan Alda - “Brains on Trial”. Dr. Luna will serve as consultant in Dr. Mazefsky’s ACE program advising on best approaches for multimodal imaging as well as provide guidance in interpretation of findings.