Contact: Abby Barber
A Mississippi State doctoral student in psychology is receiving a national fellowship to continue research on incentives and human performance.
Ginger W. Cross of Ripley recently was selected for the federal Consortium Research Fellows Program. She is working toward a doctor of philosophy degree in cognitive science.
Encouraging the development of professionals with advanced degrees, the fellows program is a partnership among the United States Army Research Institute, Defense Manpower Data Center, National Defense University, and Navy Personnel Research, Studies and Technology Laboratory.
Cross will be mentored during the yearlong fellowship by MSU psychology professor Stephanie M. Doane and Tanja Blackstone of the Navy Personnel Research and Development program in Millington, Tenn.
"Our current research relates to Navy manpower, personnel and training issues," Cross explained, adding that she will provide technical and analytical support to the NPRST.
In addition to her academic schedule, Cross works as a research assistant in the psychology department's Skill Acquisition Laboratory, which receives major funding from the Office of Naval Research and is headed by Doane. An exploration of airplane pilot attention spans and the establishment of measures that match Navy sailor skills with 21st-century job requirements are among projects on which she previously has worked.
Beginning this summer, the fellowship will compensate Cross at a rate of approximately $21 an hour. While taking classes, she will work 20 hours a week; during the summer months, 40 hours a week.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick N. Cross, she received a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1998 and a master's in 2001, both at MSU.