About
On selves, and the things we hold dear
I'm a PhD candidate in Psychology at Cornell University, where my research sits at the intersection of emotion, cognition, identity, and moral judgment. At its heart, my work asks what constitutes the self — and how the objects we cherish become part of who we are.
Before turning to psychology, I trained as an electrical and communications engineer in Tehran and Munich. That background — fabricating nanoscale devices, analyzing signals, designing experiments — shapes the rigor and curiosity I bring to studying the human mind. Along the way I've also worked in clinical psychology, from research labs in Munich to a psychiatric clinic in Germany.
Research
What I work on
The Self — what constitutes it, and our relationship with the objects we cherish
Moral judgment, identity & significance
Memory, emotion & political cognition
Persuasion, manipulation & social approval
Publications & Presentations
- Rostami, P., Pizarro, D. A., & Nichols, S. (2026). Can Objects Be Self? Implications for Moral Judgment, Identity, and Perceived Significance [Poster]. SPSP, Chicago, IL.
- Rostami, P., Pizarro, D. A., & Nichols, S. (2025). Sentimental objects as self-extensions [Conference abstract]. Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists, St. Petersburg, FL.
- Rostami, P., & Pizarro, D. (2025). Perception of manipulation: The role of emotional and rational reasoning in seeking approval [Poster]. JDM Preconference, SPSP, Denver, CO.
- Rostami, P., & Pizarro, D. (2025). Perception of manipulation [Poster]. SPSP, Denver, CO.
- Rostami, P. (2024). Differential mnemonic perception across the political spectrum [Poster]. SPSP, San Diego, CA.
- Geyer, T., Rostami, P., Sogerer, L., Schlagbauer, B., & Müller, H. J. (2020). Task-based memory systems in contextual-cueing of visual search and explicit recognition. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 16527.
Grants & Awards
Ethel B. Waring & Flora Rose FellowshipsSpring 2025
Martha E. Foulk & Flora Rose FellowshipsSummer 2024
CHE Summer FellowshipSummer 2023
Conference Travel Grant, Cognitive Science Program ($384)Spring 2026
Conference Grant, Graduate School, Cornell ($400)Spring 2026
Research Grant — Theory of Love for Sentimental Objects ($500)Spring 2026
Teaching
In the classroom
At Cornell I've taught and supported courses spanning psychology, human development, and cognitive science.
Guest Lecturer — Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
March 2026Instructor: Robert J. Sternberg
Teaching Assistant — Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Spring 2026PSYCH 1101 / HD 1130
Grading · quizzes · Canvas · weekly office hours
Teaching Assistant — Intro to Psychology
Summer 2025PSYCH 1101 / HD 3700
One-on-one meetings with every student · grading · final grading
Teaching Assistant — Pursuing Happiness
Fall 2024PSYCH 2450
Grading · exam administration
Teaching Assistant — Intro to Psychology
Fall 2024PSYCH 1101 / HD 3700
Weekly quiz writing · quiz administration · Canvas
Teaching Assistant — Adult Psychopathology
Spring 2024PSYCH 3250 / HD 3700
Class administration · exam grading
Teaching Assistant — Introduction to Cognitive Science
Fall 2023COGST 1101 / PSYCH 1102 / LING 1170 / PHIL 1620 / CS 1710
Review sessions · exam writing · grading · proofreading · Canvas · assignment & extra-credit administration
Teaching Assistant — Introduction to Cognitive Science
Spring 2023COGST 1101 / PSYCH 1102 / LING 1170
Review sessions · class notes · quizzes · grading · proofreading
Teaching Assistant — Prejudice and Stereotyping
Fall 2022PSYCH 3820
Make-up exams & accommodations · grading · proofreading
Teaching Assistant — Human Bonding
Spring 2022HD 3620
Make-up exams & accommodations · class administration · grading
Discussion Section Instructor — The Science of Well-being
Fall 2021HD 3490
Led three weekly discussion sections as the instructor
Teaching Assistant — The Science of Well-being
Fall 2021HD 3490
Make-up exams & accommodations · grading · proofreading
Education
Where I've studied
Cornell University
Ithaca, USA
›PhD, Psychology 2021 – PresentGPA 4.15 · Committee: Robert Sternberg, Shaun Nichols, Khena Swallow, Vivian Zayas
›MA, Developmental Psychology 2024
›MA, Human Development 2020 – 2021Specialty in Aging & Health · GPA 4.19
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Munich, Germany
›Clinical Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience 2018 – 2019Major in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · completed credits toward MSc
›BSc, Psychology 2014 – 2018Specialty in Psychopathology & Clinical Neuropsychology · Minor in Organizational & Consumer Psychology · US-GPA 3.88
Technical University of Munich
Munich, Germany
›MSc, Communications Electronics Engineering
Shahid Beheshti University
Tehran, Iran
›BSc, Electrical EngineeringRanked in the top 0.3% in the Iranian National University Entrance Exam (Konkour)
Experience
Research & professional roles
Research
Affect and Cognition Lab
Jun 2020 – Sep 2020
Graduate Student · Cornell University
- Built a PPG system for analyzing heart-rate-variability parameters
- Studied effects of vagal nerve stimulation on the hippocampus and memory
- Developed expertise in fMRI analysis
General & Experimental Psychology
Nov 2017 – Jul 2018
Undergraduate Researcher · LMU Munich
- Designed studies; recruited, collected, analyzed, and presented data
- Thesis: “Task-based Memory Systems in Contextual Cueing of Visual Search”
Walter Schottky Institute
Graduate Student · Technical University of Munich
- Fabricated and characterized 100–200 nm solution-gated FETs
- Thesis: “Miniaturization of diamond solution-gated FETs”
Bundeswehr University
Research Assistant · Neubiberg, Germany
- Designed ring oscillators and planned silicon-wafer fabrication
Industry & Clinical
Infineon Technologies AG Full-time
Neubiberg, Germany
Development Engineer
- Analyzed signal integrity for high-speed digital signals
- Developed high-performance PCB interface boards; led PCB outsourcing on layout
Kbo-Isar-Amper Clinic — General Psychiatry North
Spring 2018
Clinical Psychology Intern · Munich, Germany
- Supported diagnosis & treatment of patients 50+ with sub-acute disorders
- Led mindfulness and ergo-therapy sessions; used music & group psychotherapy
Service
Academic service
Graduate Students Committee — Cornell University
Oct 2023 – Oct 2025
Committee Member · Ithaca, USA
Interests
Beyond the lab
- HIIT — a regular part of my week
- PADI Open Water Diver — dived on three continents, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean off Playa del Carmen
- A cinephile, and a huge fan of the Iranian masters Abbas Kiarostami, Dariush Mehrjui, and Nasser Taghvai
Languages: Farsi (native) · English & German (fluent) · Arabic (basic)
Student Feedback
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