Dr Jacqueline Mogle
Name:
Dr Jacqueline Mogle
Job title:
Associate Research Professor
Place of work / study:
Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at the Pennsylvania State University [1] (Penn State)
Area of Research:
Cognitive aging
How is your work funded?
National Institute on Aging/National Institute of Health
Tell us a little about yourself:
I have a PhD in Experimental Psychology [2] and am a first- generation college graduate. I do a range of work mostly focused on promoting healthy cognitive aging, with an emphasis on the statistics and methods we can use to better understand the aging process. My current work focuses on daily experiences in older adults, especially daily experiences related to cognition. I have two adorable cats who frequently join my meetings for now.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
During the pandemic, I’ve gotten very into the wild birds around my house and now have many bird feeders so I can watch them as I work.
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
I worked in a memory ward in a facility for older adults during my undergraduate studies. It was incredibly difficult but rewarding work and I was fascinated by how residents with memory deficits adjusted to changes in their environment. Even though they couldn’t always remember my name, they knew me as a person. That disconnect lead me to wanting to understand cognition in the context of aging and what leads to preservation of cognitive functioning in the face of ongoing change.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Can I do two? 1) Find other early career folks to partner with: People with similar goals and career timelines will be motivated to work with you in a productive way. In my experience, senior colleagues are great but often overwhelmed and can be a bit slower during a time when you need to be getting things out. 2) Be kind to yourself! We are often our own worst critics and could always do with more kindness.