DUNG V.

H PHAM
Goddard Laboratories, 3710 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215)-594-5098 | zung.pham@pennmedicine.upenn.edu | pvhd10@sas.upenn.edu

CURRENT POSITION
01/2023 - present University of Pennsylvania, Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, Philadelphia,
PA, USA
 Research Specialist
 Research Advisor: Dr. Roy H. Hamilton

EDUCATION
09/2021 – 12/2022 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
 Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences | GPA: 3.8/4.00
 Research Advisor: Dr. Joseph Kable
 Dissertation (Independent Research Project): Meditation and model-based decision-
making
 Applied project: Applying behavioral science to enhance medication adherence among patients
post-transplant. Client: TrackYourMed mobile app (one of the winners of the Design Challenge
held by the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences, University of Pennsylvania)
09/2014 – 05/2018 Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
 Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude | GPA: 3.71/4.00
 Major: Psychology with Honors (with a Concentration in Community and Global
Health)
 Research Advisor: Dr. Jaine Strauss
 Psychology Honors Thesis: Gratitude and well-being – exploring the cognitive and
affective mechanisms of gratitude interventions

HONORS & AWARDS

2022 Top team prize, Design Challenge, Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences,
University of
2016 Pennsylvania
Rossmann Award, Department of Psychology, Macalester College
2015 For graduating senior with excellent academic record and extensive community service
Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Travel Award for Outstanding
Poster Presentation, University of Minnesota
2015 Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Pathways to Research Fellowship
(PReP), University of Minnesota
2015 Winter Mann-Hill Fellowship, Macalester College
For student research initiative in the areas of medicine, health care, public health, global
health or community health
2015 Reliable Student Employee Award, Macalester College
2012 – 2016 Kofi Annan International Scholarship, Macalester College
For international students with exceptional academic and personal records

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RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
01/2023 – present Research Specialist, Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, University of
Pennsylvania
 Research Advisor: Dr. Roy H. Hamilton
 Investigate the neural mechanism of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and
modified constraint-induced language therapy in individuals with aphasia
 Administer tDCS and teach aphasic patients semantic memory
 Use behavioral economics to improve and promote research participation in clinical
trials among people with aphasia
 Contribute to an interdisciplinary neuromodulation initiative between neurology,
neurosurgery and psychiatry
 Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team (neurology, neurosurgery and
neuropsychiatry) to conduct cognitive evaluation on a Parkinson’s disease patient case
study on and off medication and before deep brain stimulation, using automated
language processing algorithm and mobile app-based cognitive testing
 Performed tDCS demos for students at Penn MindCore’s Introductory Workshop in
Mind & Brain Studies for Summer Fellows 2023 and training seminar for Penn
Neuroscience Graduate Group (NGG) in April 2023
2/2022 – 12/2022 Research Assistant, Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, University of
Pennsylvania
 Research Advisors: Dr. Roy H. Hamilton, Dr. Denise Harvey, Dr. Nicole Nissim
 Contributed to a transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) study using
personalized EEG to improve working memory among healthy adults
 Led recruitment and data collection for the pilot tACS working memory and language
studies
 Published a peer-reviewed paper titled The impact of gamma transcranial
alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive and memory processes in
patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease: a literature review
in Brain Stimulation
 Trained in tDCS, tACS and TMS
12/2022 – present Research Student, Integrative Decision Neuroscience Lab, University of Pennsylvania
 Principal Investigator: Dr. Joseph Kable
 Investigated the neural mechanism of theory of mind and empathy in social decision-
making
1/2017 – 05/2019 Research Associate (promoted) & Data Collection Research Assistant, Wilder
Research, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota
 Conducted applied social science research and field research; evaluated the
effectiveness of social interventions and human services programs
 Worked on 21 different projects on a diverse range of topics, including prescription
drug misuse, secondhand smoking, inequity, national community food systems,
marijuana use and underage alcohol drinking, kindergarten readiness, innovative
organizations, workforce training, cultural needs assessment, homelessness and
housing services, women’s recovery services, early childhood systems reform,
children’s mental health services, home visiting programs for teenage mothers,
longitudinal study to implement the first integrated physical and mental health model
(Behavioral Health Home) in Minnesota (as lead project coordinator, in partnership
with the Minnesota Department of Human Services)
 Specialized in various data collection methods with individuals from diverse SES,
racial/ethnic and professional backgrounds: structured and unstructured qualitative
interviewing, cognitive interviewing, large-scale online and field surveys (in the ten
thousands) and focus groups; provided data collection training to research partner
(National Alliance on Mental Illness – Minnesota)

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 Performed project coordination, project design, development of research and data
collection instruments, large-scale database management (integrated health data from
23 different hospitals/clinics in Minnesota), data analysis, report writing (co-authored
reports for the Minnesota Department of Human Services to use for legislative
support), and IRB application preparation
06/2015 – 06/2016 Research Fellow, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences
 Research Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Cullen
 Investigated neural correlates of antidepressant treatment response in adolescents
with major depressive disorder, through different symptom clusters (cognitive, mood,
self-regards, anhedonia, and vegetative)
 Presented at University of Minnesota’s Clinical and Translational Science
Institute Scholar Poster Session 2015, and won a travel award for outstanding
poster presentation to present at the Organization for Human Brain Mapping’s
22nd Annual Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland (June 2016)
 Co-authored a publication in the Journal of Child and Adolescent
Psychopharmacology.
04/2015 – 04/2016 Honors Research Program, Macalester College, Department of Psychology, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
 Research Advisor & Academic Advisor: Dr. Jaine Strauss
 Investigated the cognitive and affective mechanisms of seven-day gratitude
journaling interventions on well-being among 146 participants
 Interventions significantly improved well-being among participants
 Authored a 55-page original honors thesis; successfully gave a public seminar
and passed a closed oral defense.
12/2014 – 05/2015 Independent Research, Macalester College, Department of Psychology, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
 Research Advisor: Dr. Cari Gillen-O’Neel
 Investigated the strength and motivation models of self-control to inform potential
interventions to reduce the depleting effect of social exclusion on self-control among
84 participants in lab experiments
 Presented at the 2015 Midwestern Psychological Association Conference
09/2014 – 12/2014 Research Methods in Psychology II Team Research, Macalester College, Department of
Psychology
 Research Advisor: Dr. Cari Gillen-O’Neel
 Investigated how stress influences the effectiveness of two heuristics persuasion tactics
(social proof vs. authority tactics)

PUBLICATIONS (Google Scholar Profile)

2. Nissim, N. R., Pham, D.V.H., Poddar, T., Blutt, E., & Hamilton, R. H. (2023). The impact of gamma
transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive and memory processes in patients with
mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease: A literature review. Brain Stimulation.
1. Cullen, K. R., Klimes-Dougan, B., Vu, D. P., Westlund Schreiner, M., Mueller, B. A., Eberly, L. E., ... &
Lim, K. O. (2016). Neural correlates of antidepressant treatment response in adolescents with major
depressive disorder. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 26(8), 705-712.

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PRESENTATIONS
5. Pham, Dung. Meditation and model-based decision-making. Annual Social, Cognitive and Affective
Neuroscience Retreat Workshop, Center for Neuroscience and Society, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. March 2023. [Invited Presentation]
4. Pham, Dung. Neural Changes Associated with Antidepressant Treatment Response in Adolescents with
Major Depressive Disorder. Organization for Human Brain Mapping’s 22nd Annual Meeting, Geneva,
Switzerland. June 2016. [Poster Presentation]
3. Pham, Dung. Neural Changes Associated with Antidepressant Treatment Response in Adolescents with
Major Depressive Disorder. Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences and
Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. October 2015. [Poster Presentation]
2. Pham, Dung. Neural Changes Associated with Antidepressant Treatment Response in Adolescents with
Major Depressive Disorder. Clinical and Translational Science Institute Scholar Poster Session,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. September 2015. [Awarded Most Outstanding Poster
Presentation]
1. Pham, Dung. Regular practice of self-control vs. future social acceptance: how to overcome the effect of
social exclusion. Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, Saint Paul, Minnesota. April 2015.
[Poster Presentation]

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2015 Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, Macalester College
 Supported student learning of psychological research methods and statistics in the
course Research Methods in Psychology II
 Prepared lecture materials; facilitated in-class discussions, activities and experiments
 Hosted weekly TA sessions/office hours and exam reviews; graded assignments and
exams; provided feedback on students’ research proposals.

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OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

07/2019 – 08/2021 Creative and Communications Consultant, Menifique - CUC Gallery, Hanoi, Vietnam
 Managed creative editorials, communication and media briefs, event organization,
public relations
 Use behavioral science and arts to improve well-being.
07/2020 – 01/2021 Consultant, UNICEF, United Nations, Hanoi, Vietnam
 Managed the Healthy City for Adolescents initiative with a goal to improve youth
physical health, psycho-social and coping skills, digital innovation, learning and youth
empowerment
 Worked with and mentored youth on creative brainstorming workshops, video-making
and product development.
09/2015 – 10/2016 Health Educator & Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Case Manager, Amherst
H. Wilder Foundation, Saint Paul, Minnesota
 Coordinated cultural activities and events; led health education sessions with
immigrants at the Social Healing Center
 Helped Southeast Asian immigrants with severe and persistent mental illness manage
their health, improve their social skills and community integration, and find resources
for housing, employment, social security benefits, legal aid and education

PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATION
2015 – present Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology, Member

SKILLS & INTERESTS

Computer Skills: Extensive experience in Mac & PC. Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Apps,
Qualtrics, Acuity4Survey, Atlas.ti for qualitative data analysis, R, Python, SPSS,
Biorender, VideoScribe, Mendeley and Zotero. Previous experience with Afni
3dRegAna, FSL
Languages: Vietnamese (native); English (fluent); French (limited working proficiency); Spanish
(elementary)
Other Skills: Brain stimulation, Data Collection (qualitative interviewing, cognitive interviewing, focus
group, online and field surveys), Qualitative Data Analysis, Monitoring and evaluation,
Independent research, Project management, Teamwork, Research Proposal Writing,
Creative Writing, Video-making and editing, and Public speaking. Familiar with
Ecological momentary assessment
Academic Interests: Decision-making, Adaptive decision-making, Cognitive Flexibility, Delayed
gratification/self-control/grit, cognitive mechanisms underlying behavior change (memory,
mindset, information processing and persuasion, affect, learning and reward, motivation),
behavior change interventions, cognitive interventions, individual differences, well-being
Other Interests: Science outreach and communication, youth mentoring, writing, piano, violin, singing,
arts.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

08/2020 – 10/2020 Volunteer, Center for Education and Development, Hanoi, Vietnam
 Supported initiatives to educate youth about reducing single-use plastic and
promoting the use of sustainable timber.

09/05 – 09/06/2019 Master of Ceremonies & Cabin Interpreter, The 9th International Conference on Traditional
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Medicine in Countries of the Greater Mekong Basin, Ministry of Health of Vietnam, Hanoi,
Vietnam

10/2019 Volunteer Interviewer, Statewide study of homelessness in Minnesota

 Interviewed homeless people in their shelters to help inform statewide efforts on
improving services.

06/2016 – 11/2016 Volunteer, Children’s Heartlink, Edina, Minnesota

 Supported programs to improve diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease
among children in Vietnam, India and China.

11/2015 – 02/2016 Winter Mann-Hill Global Public Health Fellow, Hanoi, Vietnam
 Conducted field research to investigate existing interventions and services provided
to children with autism in Hanoi and Vinh Yen, Vietnam
 Partnered with Vietnam National Pediatrics Hospital and Hanoi Center for
Preventive Medicine, created educational materials to raise awareness about autism,
distributed to parents at 2 vaccination sites.

06/2014 – 12/2014 Volunteer, Fraser, Minneapolis, Minnesota

 Taught children with autism adaptive coping, problem-solving, emotion regulation
and social skills
 Created learning materials for kids with autism

06/2014 – 09/2014 Crisis hotline volunteer, Mental Health Association of Minnesota, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
 On call duty to respond to distressed caller’s emergencies

2012 – 2016 Volunteer Singer, Medicinal Melodies, Saint Paul, Minnesota

 Sang at Ronald McDonald House Charities, nursing homes and healthcare facilities to
cheer on children, adults and the elderly with terminal and serious illness

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE
2021 – 2022 Director of Communications, College of Liberal and Professional Studies Student
Government (LPSGov), University of Pennsylvania
2021 – 2022 International Student Affairs (ISA) Committee Member, Graduate and Professional
Student Assembly (GAPSA), University of Pennsylvania.

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