Nicole Y. Weekes

Harry S. and L. Madge Rice Thatcher Professor of Psychological Science and Professor of Neuroscience; On leave Fall 2024
With Pomona Since: 1998
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    Nicole Weekes’ research examines the psychological and biological stress response. She is interested in how changes in stress levels affect both physical health (such as impairments to the immune system) and psychological health (cognitive deficits and psychopathologies). Her research also focuses on individual and group differences—particularly gender differences—in these effects.

    Research Interests

    • The psychological and biological stress response
    • How changes in stress levels affect physical and psychological health​

    Areas of Expertise

    • Stress
    • Sex Differences
    • Hormone Differences
    • Neuropsychological Functioning
    • Hemispheric Specialization
  • Work

    Work

    With Borelli, J. L., West, J.*, Hilt, L.M., and Gonzalez, M.* (2014). School-aged Children’s Depressive Rumination is Associated with Their Reactivity to Sadness but not Fear. Journal of Clinical Adolescent Psychology, 43, 799-812.

    With Borelli, J. L., West, J.*, Hilt, L.M., and Gonzalez, M.*, (2013). Dismissing Child Attachment and Discordance for Subjective and Neuroendocrine Responses to Vulnerability: A Brief Report.Developmental Psychobiology, 44, 70-88.

    Weekes, N.Y. (2012). Opinion: Diversity in Neuroscience. We know the problem. Are we really still debating the solutions? Journal for Undergraduate Neuroscience Education (JUNE), 11, A52-A54.

    With Lewis, R.S. & Guerrero, N.* (2011). Examination Stress and Components of Working Memory. Encyclopedia of the Science of Learning.

    With R.S. Lewis, S. Goto, J. Garrison-Jakel*, F. Patel* & S.J. Lupien, "The Effect of a Naturalistic Stressor on Gender Differences on the Awakening Cortisol Response," Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33, 766-772, 2008

    With R.S. Lewis, A. Nikolova & D.J. Chang*, "Examination stress and components of working memory," Stress, 2007

    With R.S. Lewis & T.H. Wang*, "Effects of Naturalistic Stressors on Prefrontal EEG Asymmetry," Biological Psychology, 2007

    With A.J. Fiocco, N. Wan, H. Pim & S.J. Lupien, "Diurnal cycle of salivary cortisol in older adult men and women," Stress, 9, 143-152, 2006

    With R.S. Lewis, F.R. Patel*, D.J. Chang*, D. Berger & S.J. Lupien, "Examination Stress as an Ecological Inducer of Sex Differences in Cortisol," Stress, 9, 199-206, 2006

    With S. Lupien & F.S. Maheu, "Glucocorticoids: Effects on Human Cognition," in Handbook on Stress, Immunology, and Behaviour (Elsevier Science, 2005)

    With J. MacLean* & D. Berger, "Sex differences in the associations among psychological stress, depression and negative health symptoms in young healthy adults," Stress and Health, 2005

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D.
    University of California, Los Angeles

    Master of Arts
    University of California, Los Angeles

    Bachelor of Arts
    Boston University

  • Awards & Honors

    Awards & Honors

    Pomona College, Wig Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2001, 2006 & 2011

    Parsons Foundation, $500,000 grant to equip neuroscience labs, 2006

    Pomona College, Curriculum Development Grant, 2006; Hahn Teaching with Technology Grant, 2006

    Black Issues in Higher Education Journal, Emerging Black Scholars Award, 2003

    National Science Foundation, (PI) $408,000 Grant, "Stress, Stages of Memory, and Event-Related Potentials," 2002

    Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation, California Professor of the Year, 2001

    National Institutes of Health, Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Grant Supplements, 1990 and 1996