Curriculum Vitae
ALISON JANE MARTINGANO
EDUCATION
AUG 2020 Ph.D. COGNITIVE, SOCIAL & DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, NEW YORK, NY
MAY 2019 M.Phil. PSYCHOLOGY
THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, NEW YORK, NY
MAY 2016 M.A. PSYCHOLOGY
THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, NEW YORK, NY
JUN 2012 B.Sc. (Hons) PSYCHOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF YORK, YORK, UK
RESEARCH POSTIONS
AUG 2022 – PRESENT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – GREEN BAY, GREEN BAY, WI Department of Psychology
AUG 2020 – AUG 2021 RESEARCH AFFILIATE
INDIANA UNIVERSITY – PURDUE UNIVERSITY, INDIANAPOLIS, IN Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
AUG 2020 – AUG 2022 POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW
SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH BRANCH, NHGRI, NIH, BETHESDA, MD Health Communication and Behavior Unit
JAN 2017 – AUG 2020 LAB MANAGER
THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, NEW YORK, NY Social Psychology Research Lab
MAY 2013 – AUG 2014 RESEARCH ASSISTANT
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, UK Department of Psychiatry
PUBLICATIONS
Martingano, A. J., & Persky, S. (2025). Parents See Genes at Play: Parenthood and Heritability Attributions about “Lifestyle” Diseases. Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118277
Persky, S., Hollister, B. M., Martingano, A. J., Dolwick, A. P., Telaak, S. H., Schopp, E. M., & Bonham, V. L. (2024). Assessing Bias Toward a Black or White Simulated Patient with Obesity in a Virtual Reality-Based Genomics Encounter. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2024.0066
Chen, J., Martingano, A. J., Ravuri, S., Foor, K., Fortney, C., Carnell, S., Batheja, S., & Persky, S. (2024). Teaching gene-environment interaction concepts with narrative vignettes: Effects on knowledge, stigma, and behavior motivation. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300452
Konrath, S., Martingano, A. J., Davis, M., & Breithaupt, F. (2024). Empathy trends in American youth between 1979 and 2018: An update. Social Psychological and Personality Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506231218360
Trivedi-Bateman, N., & Martingano, A. J. (2023). Addressing Challenges to Carrying Out Intervention Programmes with Youth Populations: Successes and Strategies. Journal of Research on Adolescence. http://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12886
Ravuri, S. C., Martingano, A. J., & Persky, S. (2023). Evaluating eating behavior traits of virtual targets: Attitudes and empathy. Eating Behaviors, 101808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101808
Konrath, S., Martingano, A. J., Tolman, R. M., Winslow, M., & Bushman, B. J. (2023). Random app of kindness: Evaluating the potential of a smartphone intervention to impact adolescents’ empathy, prosocial behavior, and aggression. Psychology of Popular Media. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000478
Martingano, A. J., Duane, J., Brown, E., & Persky, S. (2023). Demographic Differences in Presence across Seven Studies. Virtual Reality. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-023-00805-z
Castano, E., Martingano, A. J., Basile, G., Bergen, E., & Jeong, E. H. K. (2023). Listening in to a conversation enhances Theory of Mind. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100108
Ventura, S., & Martingano. A. J. (2023). Roundtable: Raising Empathy Through Virtual Reality. In S. Ventura (Ed.), Empathy - Advanced Research and Applications. IntechOpen: Rijeka. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109835
Martingano, A. J., Telaak, S. H., Schopp, E. M., Fortney, C., Dolwick, A. P., Carnell, S., Batheja, S., & Persky, S. (2023). Using Educational Videos and Perspective Taking to Communicate Gene-Environment Interaction Concepts about Eating Behavior: Effects on Empathy and Weight Stigma. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.09.005
Martingano, A. J., Konrath, S., Henritze, E., & Brown, A. D. (2022). The Limited Benefits of Using Virtual Reality 360° Videos to Promote Empathy and Charitable Giving. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/08997640221125804
Martingano, A. J., Konrath, S., Zarins, S., Okaomee, A. A. (2022). Empathy, Narcissism, Alexithymia, and Social Media Use. Psychology of Popular Media. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000419
Martingano, A. J. (2022). Helpful and Hurtful Empathy: How the Interplay of Dispositional Empathy, Shame and Anger Predicts Responses to Hypothetical Rape Disclosures. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(3-4). https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520922345
Martingano, A. J., Brown, E., Telaak, S., Dolwick, A., Persky, S. (2022). Cybersickness Variability by Race: Findings from Six Studies and a Mini Meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/36843
Gbenro, M., Martingano, A. J., Persky, S. (2022). Exploring the Impact of Genetic Beliefs About Specific Eating Behaviors on Dietary Self-efficacy. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-022-00290-w
Martingano, A. J., & Konrath, S. (2022). How Cognitive and Emotional Empathy Relate to Rational Thinking: Empirical Evidence and Meta-analysis. The Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.1985415
Martingano, A. J., & Persky, S. (2021). Virtual Reality Expands the Toolkit for Conducting Health Psychology Research. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12606
Martingano, A. J., Herrera, F., & Konrath, S. (2021). Virtual Reality Increases Emotional but Not Cognitive Empathy: A meta-analysis. Technology, Mind and Behavior, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000034
Castano, E., Martingano, A. J., & Perconti, P. (2020). Familiarity with Literary Fiction Predicts Attributional Complexity, Social Perception Accuracy and Advanced Theory of Mind. PLoS ONE, 15(5), e0233378. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233378
Rad, S., Martingano, A. J., & Ginges, J. (2018). Towards a Psychology of Homo Sapiens: How to Make Psychological Science Less WEIRD and More Representative. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(45), 11401-11405. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1721165115
Martingano, D., Renson, A., Martingano, A. J. (2018). Variations in Progression and Regression of Precancerous Lesions of the Uterine Cervix on Cytology Testing Among Women of Different Races. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 118(1), 8-18. https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2018.003
Martingano, A. J., & Martingano, D. (2017). Measuring Multidimensional Empathy: Theoretical and Practical Considerations for Osteopathic Medical Researchers. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 117(11), 697. https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2017.136
GRANTS & AWARDS
2024, Best Article Award, JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR
2024, Research Enhancement Presentation Grant, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – GREEN BAY
2023, Research Enhancement Program Grant, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – GREEN BAY
2023, Research Enhancement Presentation Grant, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – GREEN BAY
2023, Institute of Advanced Studies Visiting Fellow Award, LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY, UK
2022, Fellows Award for Research Excellence, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
2021, Increasing Open Inquiry on College Campuses Research Grant, HETERODOX ACADEMY
2021, Summer Mentor Award, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
2021, Emerging Scholar Award, THE TECHNOLOGY, KNOWLEDGE AND SOCIETY RESEARCH NETWORK
2020, Irvin Rock Memorial Award, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2020, Graduate Travel Award, THE SOCIETY FOR PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
2019 – 2020, Zolberg Melamid Dissertation Fellowship, ZOLBERG INSTITUTE ON MIGRATION & MOBILITY
2019, Research and Travel Grant, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2018, Graduate Student Teaching Award, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2018, Outstanding Student Paper Award, THE SOCIETY FOR TEXT AND DISCOURSE
2017, Research and Travel Grant, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2016 – 2019, Prize Fellowship, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2015 – 2016, President’s Scholarship, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2014 – 2015, Provost’s Scholarship, THE NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
2012, The York Award, THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK
TEACHING POSITIONS
AUG 2022 – PRESENT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – GREEN BAY, GREEN BAY, WI
Department of Psychology
AUG 2017 – PRESENT COURSE INSTRUCTOR
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY
School of Professional Studies
AUG 2019 – JUL 2020 GUEST FACULTY
SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE, BRONXVILLE, NY
Department of Psychology
JAN 2020 – MAY 2020 ADJUNCT LECTURER
NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY, CUNY, BROOKLYN, NY
Department of Social Science
AUG 2016 – DEC 2019 TEACHING FELLOW
THE NEW SCHOOL, NEW YORK, NY
Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts | Schools of Public Engagement
JAN 2016 – DEC 2018 ADJUNCT LECTURER
HUNTER COLLEGE, CUNY, NEW YORK, NY
Department of Psychology
AUG 2015 – MAY 2020 TEACHING ASSISTANT
THE NEW SCHOOL, NEW YORK, NY
Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts | New School for Social Research
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
APRIL 2024 TEDx SPEAKER “EMPATHY IS A MUSCLE”
UW-Green Bay TEDx
AUG 2023 – PRESENT HOST OF “PSYCHOLOGY AND STUFF” PODCAST
Phoenix Studios, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
APRIL 2023 – PRESENT NEWSLETTER AUTHOR
Early Career Committee, Society For Personality and Social Psychology
AUG 2021 – AUG 2022 CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
“I am Intramural” Blog, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
AUG 2021 – AUG 2022 CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
“The NIH catalyst”, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
AUG 2020 – PRESENT BLOGGER
Psychology Today
ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
MENTORING
2025 - Present, Chapter Faculty Advisor, Psi Chi International Honors Society - Green Bay
2024 - Present, Honors in the Major, University Of Wisconsin - Green Bay
2023 - Present, High School Faculty Mentor, Uccihs, University Of Wisconsin
2023 - Present, Undergraduate Research Advisor, University Of Wisconsin - Green Bay
2022, Peer Mentor, Society For Personality And Social Psychology
2021, Summer Student Mentor, National Institutes Of Health
2019, Mentor for Advanced Science Research Program, Valley Stream Central High School
2017 - 2018, Undergraduate Thesis Advisor, Hunter College, Cuny
COMMITTEE & EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
2025 - Present, Chapter Support Advisory Board, Psi Chi International Honors Society
2025 - Present, Fundraising Committee, Society For Personality And Social Psychology
2024 - 2025, Co-chair Early Career Committee, Society For Personality And Social Psychology
2024 - Present, Associate Editor, Frontiers In Virtual Reality
2024 - Present, Consulting Editor, Emotion
2023 - Present, Institutional Review Board Member, University Of Wisconsin – Green Bay
2022 - Present, Emerging Editorial Board Member, Personality and Social Psychology Review
2021 - Present, Early Career Committee Member, Society for Personality and Social Psychology
2021 - 2022, Outreach Liaison, Fellows Committee, National Institutes of Health
2020 - 2022, Genome Trainee Advisory Committee Member, National Human Genome Research Institute
PEER REVIEW
2024 - Present, Social Cognition
2023 - Present, Social and Personality Compass
2023 - Present, British Journal of Psychology
2023 - Present, Acta Psychologica
2023 - Present, Journal of Human – Computer Interaction
2023 - Present, International Journal of Intercultural Relations
2023 - Present, Emotion
2022 - Present, Violence Against Women
2022 - Present, Frontiers in Psychology
2022 - Present, Personality and Social Psychology Review
2022 - Present, Cyberpsychology: Journal Of Psychological Research On Cyberspace
2022 - Present, Motivation and Emotion
2022 - Present, Current directions in Psychological Science
2021 - Present, International Journal of Obesity
2021 - Present, Technology, Mind, and Behavior
2021 - Present, Patient Education and Counselling
2020 - Present, New Media and Society
2019 - Present, Basic And Applied Social Psychology
2019 - Present, Plos one
2018 - Present, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
OTHER SERVICE
2024 - 2025, Student Success Coordinator, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
2023, Annual Convention Reviewer, Society for Personality and Social Psychology
2022, Annual Convention Reviewer, Society for personality and Social Psychology
2021, Hot Topic Discussion Leader, Association for Psychological Science
2021, Postbaccalaureate Poster Day Judge, National Institutes of Health
2021, Student Award Reviewer, Society for Personality and Social Psychology
OTHER WRITING
POPULAR PRESS
Martingano, A. J. (Ongoing). What Do You Mean? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/alison-jane-martingano-phd
Martingano, A. J. (February 16, 2024). Generation Empathy: The Surprising Surge of Compassion in Modern Youth. SPSP Character and Context. https://spsp.org/news/character-and-context-blog/martingano-modern-youth-compassion-empathy-increase
Martingano, A. J. (March 3, 2023). Social Media and Empathy Around the Globe. SPSP Character and Context. https://spsp.org/news/character-and-context-blog/martingano-social-media-use-lower-empathy
Martingano, A. J. (April 26, 2021). The Hurtful Consequences of Empathic Shame. SPSP Character and Context. https://spsp.org/news-center/character-context-blog/hurtful-consequences-empathic-shame
Martingano, A. J. & Konrath, S. (March 12, 2020). Smart Empathy: Why more is not always better when it comes to using tech to increase empathy. Center for Scholars and Storytellers. https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/blog-main/tag/tech
TEACHING, MENTORING & SCHOLARLY RESOURCES
Martingano, A.J. (2024). From Warrington to Wisconsin: The Importance of Mentors for Navigating the Academic Journey. Society for Personality and Social Psychology. https://spsp.org/news/newsletter-articles/early-career-academic-mentorship
Martingano, A.J., Konrath, S., Lagrange, V., Litton, J. (2022). Curiosity in the college classroom: An instructor guide. Report prepared for Heterodox Academy.
Martingano, A. J., & Persky, S. (2021). Teaching and Learning Guide for “Virtual Reality Expands the Toolkit for Conducting Health Psychology Research.” Social and Personality Psychology Compass. http://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12633
Martingano, A. J. (June 6, 2020). Bringing Classroom Activities to Life Online. Society for the Teaching of Psychology. https://teachpsych.org/page-1784686/9019915
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Martingano, A.J., Schopp, E., Telaak, S., Fortney, C., Dolwick, A., Batheja, S., & Persky, S. (2022). Education About Genetic and Environmental Interaction Influences on Eating: Effects on Empathy and Weight Stigma. Annals of Behavioral Medicine Conference Proceedings.
Martingano, A.J., Schopp, E., Telaak, S., Fortney, C., Dolwick, A., Batheja, S., & Persky, S. (2021). Designing Virtual Content to Increase Empathy and Reduce Obesity Stigma: Lessons Learned from an Online Pilot. TMS 2021 Conference proceedings.
Chen, J., Martingano, A. J., Ravuri, S., Foor, K., Fortney, C., Carnell, S., Batheja, S., & Persky, S. (2024). Teaching gene-environment interaction concepts with narrative vignettes: Effects on knowledge, stigma, and behavior motivation. PLoS ONE.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300452