Andrew J Waters

Ph.D.

Department of Primary Appointment:
School of Medicine
Medical and Clinical Psychology
Location: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Cognitive Interventions
Addiction
Office Phone

Education

University of Cambridge, England, B.A., 1989, Natural Sciences (Part II Psychology), Class 2(i); (M.A. 2003, Natural Sciences)

University of Nottingham, England, Ph.D., 1995, Psychology

Biography

Andrew J. Waters, Ph.D., received his Ph.D. in experimental cognitive psychology. He has subsequently focused on the area of cognition and psychopathology, with a special emphasis on the addictions. Dr. Waters's research involves three intersecting themes. One theme is to use tasks derived from human experimental cognitive psychology to help us measure the cognitive processes - implicit and explicit - that underlie addiction (and other psychopathologies). For example, he has shown that measures derived from computerized tasks administered in laboratory settings tell us information about addiction over and above the information derived from questionnaires. A second theme is to administer cognitive tasks on personal digital assistants (PDAs) or Smartphones using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). This affords the collection of rich datasets on cognitive processes in a real world setting. A third theme is to use modified cognitive tasks as interventions to change cognition and behavior. Dr. Waters directs the Laboratory of Cognitive Interventions (LOCI). Cognitive retraining interventions can be delivered in a laboratory or on a mobile device such as a PDA or a Smartphone. Currently the laboratory is examining the efficacy of a cognitive retraining intervention delivered on a Smartphone. Ultimately, cognitive and other interventions might be delivered on a Smartphone when the individual is most in need of the intervention (EMI, Ecological Momentary Intervention). Other research interests include: expertise; unconscious cognition; decision making; psychology of music.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

Professor, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 07/2016-present

Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 12/2007-8/2018

Associate Professor, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 10/2007-7/2016

Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), Houston, TX, 10/2002-10/2007

Representative Bibliography

Waters, A. J., Marhe, R., & Franken, I. H. A. (2012). Attentional bias to drug cues is elevated before and during temptations to use heroin and cocaine. Psychopharmacology, 219, 909-921.