Dr. James Mcclelland

Professor

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Biography

James L. McClelland is the Lucie Stern Professor of Social Sciences at Stanford University and the Director of the Center for Mind, Brain, Computation, and Technology in the Department of Psychology. His research addresses a broad range of topics in cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience, including perception, perceptual decision making, learning, memory, language, reading, semantic and mathematical cognition, and cognitive development. McClelland's work emphasizes the emergence of cognitive functions through parallel and distributed processing within neural populations, emphasizing the adaptability of learning in accordance with the connections among neurons. He advocates for the development of explicit computational models to test and refine principles derived from practical research questions through behavioral experiments and simulations. Currently, notable projects in his lab include developing deep learning approaches to numerosity, assessments of numerical magnitude in children, and investigating visuospatial representations in reasoning tasks. McClelland has served as a Senior Editor for Cognitive Science and held leadership roles in various scientific societies, including the Cognitive Science Society. He is a corresponding fellow of the British Academy and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field, including the APS William James Fellow Award and the David E. Rumelhart prize. He also teaches within the Symbolic Systems Program and engages in research projects with DeepMind.

Research Interests

Experience

Lucie Stern Professor

1991-01-01 — Present

Stanford University • Stanford, CA

Lucie Stern Professor in the Department of Psychology focusing on cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, and computational modeling.

Director

2011-01-01 — Present

Center for Mind, Brain, Computation, and Technology • Stanford, CA

Director of the Center overseeing research in cognitive science, focusing on the integration of computational approaches.

Awards

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APS William James Fellow Award

2019-01-01
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David E. Rumelhart Prize

2019-01-01
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NAS Atkinson Prize in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences

2019-01-01
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Heineken Prize in Cognitive Science

2019-01-01

Requirements for Stanford University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:26
Reading
Required:26
Writing
Required:26
Speaking
Required:26
Total
Required:100
GRE General
Verbal
Required:160
Quantitative
Required:165
Analytical Writing
Required:4.5
Overall
Required:4.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor degree from an accredited institution Strong background in mathematics and programming
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

The Computer Science department emphasizes research potential. GRE General is currently optional but recommended for some tracks.