Matthew G. Evans
October 2024
Santa Cruz, CA | 408.206.4182 | magievan@ucsc.edu
EDUCATION
University of California, Santa Cruz
Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology | Expected June 2026
- High-Level Perception Lab
- Advisor: Nicolas Davidenko
- Research Focus: the cognitive impacts, representation, and function of involuntary musical imagery
M.S., Cognitive Psychology | June 2023
B.S. summa cum laude, Cognitive Science, GPA 4.0 | June 2020
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Researcher | Sep 2020 – Present
Ph.D. Student, High-Level Perception Lab, UCSC – Dr. Nicolas Davidenko
- Designed and implemented a novel line of research using multiple methodologies to explore various aspects of Involuntary Musical Imagery (INMI, or “earworms”).
- Discovered novel evidence that veridical absolute pitch representation in INMI is widespread, automatic, and does not rely on short term memory.
- Discovered novel evidence that INMI episodes are reduced as a result of a graded increase in working memory load.
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Dec 2018 – June 2020
High Level Perception Lab, UCSC – Dr. Nicolas Davidenko
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Dec 2018 – June 2020
Human-Robot Interaction Lab, UCSC – Dr. Leila Takayama
LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE EXPERIENCE
Men’s Feminist Consciousness Raising Group | October 2024 – Present
- Conceived and initiated a group for men and male-adjacent members of the Psychology department
Science Internship Program Mentor | Summers, 2021 – 2023
- Managed a team of 3 high school students, directing them through the process of conducting novel research over the course of 10 weeks
Graduate Student Representative (Cognitive Area) | Sep 2021 – June 2023
- Served as a liaison between graduate students and faculty/department staff
- Advocated for graduate student issues and needs
- Planned and executed Visiting Day for prospective new graduate students
- Hosted quarterly Graduate Student town hall meetings to allow current students to share progress, receive guidance, and express concerns to be raised to faculty and staff
Resident Assistant | June 2019 – June 2020
Porter College/Kresge College, UCSC
- Lived with 47 new and continuing UCSC students, serving as a point of contact to help with personal and academic issues.
- Planned and executed social and educational programs.
- Assisted with move-in, move-out, and various administrative duties including lockouts, incident reports, policy enforcement, and conflict mediation.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Graduate Teaching Assistant | Jan 2021 – Present
University of California, Santa Cruz
Courses taught:
- Advanced Qualitative Methods – Dr. Kim Cardilla Winter 2021
- Cognition: Fundamental Theories – Dr. Jason Samaha Spring 2021
- Guest Lecture: Mental Imagery
- Learning and Memory – Dr. Benjamin Storm Summer 2021
- Cognition: Fundamental Theories – Dr. Kelsey James Summer 2021
- Developmental Psychopathology – Dr. Kim Cardilla Fall 2021
- Cognition: Fundamental Theories – Dr. Jason Samaha Winter 2022
- Research Methods – Dr. Benjamin Storm Spring 2022
- Cognition: Fundamental Theories – Andrew Guydish, M.S. Summer 2022
- Perception – Dr. Nicolas Davidenko Fall 2022
- Guest Lecture: Music Perception – Illusions and Earworms
- Introduction to Psychological Statistics – Dr. Kim Cardilla Winter 2023
- Deception – Dr. Travis Seymour Spring 2023
- Learning and Memory – Dr. Travis Seymour Summer 2023
- Advanced Quantitative Methods – Dr. Kim Cardilla Fall 2023
- Research Methods in Psychology – Dr. Courtney Bonam Winter 2024
- Advanced Quantitative Methods – Dr. Kim Cardilla Spring 2024
- Developmental Psychopathology – Dr. Kim Cardilla Fall 2024
Teaching Assistant Jan 2018 – June 2018
De Anza College – Shannon Hasset – Biological Psychology
Small Group Tutor Mar 2018 – June 2018
De Anza College – Leah Lane – Introductory Statistics
AWARDS AND HONORS
Travel Award | International Conference of Music Perception and Cognition | August 2023
Best Presentation: Social Sciences Divison | Graduate Symposium, UCSC | May 2023
Travel Award | Society of Music Perception and Cognition Conference | August 2022
Re-Entry STARS Scholarship | University of California, Santa Cruz | June 2021
Bruce Bridgeman Fellowship | University of California, Santa Cruz | September 2020
Re-Entry STARS Scholarship | University of California, Santa Cruz | June 2019
Sylvia Miller Scholarship | University of California, Santa Cruz | 2018-2019
Dean’s List | University of California, Santa Cruz | 2018 – 2020
Transfer Award Scholarship | University of California, Santa Cruz | Sept 2018
Dean’s List | De Anza College | 2017 – 2018
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Society for Music Perception and Cognition | 2020 – Present
Psychonomics Society | 2020 – Present
Auditory Perception and Cognition Society | 2023 – Present
PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Research Articles
- Evans, M. G., Gaeta, P., & Davidenko, N. (2024). Absolute pitch in involuntary musical imagery. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 1-12.
- Evans, M. G. & Davidenko, N. (2024). The Systematic Impact of Cognitive Load on Involuntary Musical Imagery. (In preparation).
Conference Talks
- Absolute Pitch in Involuntary Musical Imagery, SMPC2022, Portland, OR
- Absolute Pitch in Involuntary Musical Imagery, ICMPC17-APSCOM7, Tokyo, Japan
- Looping in your head: A Corpus Analysis of Sung “Earworm” Fragments, ICMPC17-APSCOM7, Tokyo, Japan
- The Systematic Impact of Cognitive Load on Involuntary Musical Imagery, SMPC2024, Banff, Alberta
Invited Talks
- Guest Lecture, Introduction to Psychology, University of Illinois, Professor Allison Nguyen
- Guest Lecture, Survey of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa