Octavia Hedwig Zahrt [email protected] | email http://www.octaviazahrt.com | website Profile I am a final-year undergraduate student at University College London (UCL) studying Social Psychology and Economics. My coursework has included courses on Social Psychology, Educational Psychology, Behavior Change, Concepts and Methods in Psychology, Further Statistical Methods and Computing, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Neuroeconomics and Consumer Behavior, Human Resources, and Organizational Behavior, amongst other subjects. I am currently applying to PhD programs in Social Psychology and Organizational Behavior for admissions in Fall 2015. During my doctoral studies, I would like to conduct research on the complex interplay of self-conceptions, mindsets, and stereotypes with interpersonal relationships, motivation and prosocial behavior. Education University College London B.A. European Social and Political Studies Honors Thesis: Social Network Diversity and Minority Achievement Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) Sciences Po Exchange Program London, England 2011 – 2015 (expected) Paris, France 2013 – 2014 Goethe University of Frankfurt Academic studies for highly skilled students in Mathematics and Politics Frankfurt, Germany 2007 – 2010 Anton Woehler School Completed Abitur with average grade 1.0 (A+ equivalent) Frankfurt, Germany 2001 – 2010 Publications Zahrt, O.H., Carney, D.R., & Maner, J.K. (in preparation). [The differential impact of hierarchies based on power versus social status on prosocial behavior.] Woolf, K. & Zahrt, O.H. (in preparation). [An intervention to improve minority student achievement by encouraging inter-ethnic friendships.] Work in Progress The impact of social hierarchies on prosocial behavior (Haas School of Business, Collaborators: Dana Carney, Jon Maner) We are investigating the effects of social hierarchies on prosocial behaviors such as cooperation and helpfulness. Specifically, we are interested in how power and social status interact with hierarchical instability to affect prosocial behavior. Social-psychological intervention study to improve student achievement by encouraging inter-ethnic friendships (University College London, Collaborator: Katherine Woolf) We are conducting an intervention study at the UCL Medical School to encourage inter-ethnic friendships and reduce the ethnic achievement gap. The ethnic divide of medical students' social networks is hypothesized to constitute a psychological barrier for minority students’ success by weakening their sense of social belonging and depriving them of access to social capital. Research Experience Visiting Researcher Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Berkeley, USA Summer 2014 Worked in Dana Carney’s Social and Nonverbal Behavior Lab. Developed and conducted a study on the impact of social hierarchies on prosocial behavior. Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Stanford University. Stanford, USA Summer 2013 Worked in Gregory Walton’s lab on a social-psychological intervention study to ease freshmen’s transition into college. Developed key indicators of student academic and social success, conducted statistical data analysis and classification using R. Worked in Michael Frank’s Language and Cognition Lab on a study investigating children’s pragmatic language abilities. Designed an experiment, collected data with child participants, and conducted statistical data analysis. Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Communication, Stanford University. Stanford, USA Summer 2012 Worked in Clifford Nass’s CHIMe Lab. Helped develop and conduct an fMRI study investigating differences in neural activity of heavy and light multitaskers when performing cognitive tasks. Trained and certified Level 3 MR Operator in the Stanford Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging (CNI). Academic Services President of the UCL European Society (2012 - 2013) University College London. Directed a committee of 7 delegates, responsible for the approx. 300 members of a UCL student organization. Organized academic talks and debates focusing on political, economic, and social issues in Europe and the world. Facilitated UCL-wide careers events. Led social and cultural events, and supervised the publication of the society’s magazine Eureka. Honors and Awards German National Academic Foundation Scholarship (2012 - present), awarded to students of outstanding academic achievements and potential. Faculty Undergraduate Scholarship for Excellence (2012), awarded to the academically most outstanding first- and second-year undergraduate student in each UCL Faculty. Second Year Sessional Prize (2013), awarded to students with the best overall performance in the UCL Department of European Social and Political Studies. First Year Sessional Prize (2012), awarded to students with the best overall performance in the UCL Department of European Social and Political Studies. ESPS1001 Core Module Prize (2012), awarded to the student with the best performance among all first years on this module at UCL. Technical Skills R, statistical data analysis, good knowledge MediaLab, experimental design, excellent knowledge Java, programming language, basic knowledge Languages English, fluent French, fluent German, native speaker Latin, excellent knowledge