Travis Alvarez

Contact Us

Room: M-Building, M-204
Phone: (718) 482-5940
naturalsci@lagcc.cuny.edu

Monday- Thursday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Education

Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
M.S. in Cognitive Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
B.A. in Psychology, Brooklyn College
A.A. in Liberal Arts, New York City College of Technology

Areas of Expertise or Research

Cognition and neuroscience
Brain imaging (fMRI, fiber-tracking, machine-learning)
Research methods
Reading acquisition
Mentorship and education

About

Dr. Travis Alvarez completed his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research training is multifaceted within the neuro-psychological domain with experience in different neuro-imaging tools (fMRI), brain disorders, and machine-learning techniques. He has an extensive teaching background in numerous psychology courses (General Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, etc.). He has designed curriculum and coordinated undergraduate classes for teaching core courses in research methods and statistics. His publications have focused on reading development and brain specialization using fMRI.

Read More

Dr. Alvarez has leveraged his position as an academic scholar and teaching professor to devote substantial effort in creating pathways toward civic engagement, entrepreneurial growth, and community partnerships. He has founded multiple non-profit organizations focusing on innovative mentorship and education, as well as an LLC dedicated to equitable access and opportunities for historically disadvantaged communities.

Select publications and presentations by Dr. Alvarez include:

Chrabaszcz, A., Gebremedhen, N. A., Alvarez, T. A., Durisko, C., & Fiez, J. A. (2023). Orthographic learning in adults through overt and covert reading. Acta psychologica. 241, 104061.
Alvarez, T. A., & Fiez, J. A. (2018). Current perspectives on the cerebellum and reading development. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 92, 55–66.
Keynote: Community Forge Youth Council. National League of Cities Congressional City Conference. Washington, DC (2020).
Alvarez, T. A., & Fiez, J. A. (2015, July). Phonological recoding and orthographic learning: Testing the self-teaching hypothesis in young adults. Poster presented at the Annual Society for the Scientific Studies of Reading, The Big Island, HI.
Alvarez, T. A., Lopresti, C. J., Durisko, C., & Fiez, J. A. (2013, Nov). The cerebellum and cognition: Investigating functional specialization within the cerebellum. Poster presented at the Annual Society for Neuroscience Conference, San Diego, CA.
Alvarez, T. A., Turney, I. C., Leckie, R., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., . . . Erickson, K. I. (2012, May). Aerobic fitness moderates an age-related decline in serum-BDNF. Poster presented at the Annual Cognitive Aging Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Media appearances by Dr. Alvarez include:

Dr. Alvarez is also the co-founder of Community Forge and has served as a curriculum evaluator for the Creating Peace Program at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.