About Michael A. Yassa, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Yassa is a Neuroscience Professor and James L. McGaugh Endowed Chair in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine. Since 2016, he has served as director of the world-renowned Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. His research focuses on how our brains acquire and store memories and how they are used to guide everyday decisions. His lab’s work addresses how memories are disrupted in conditions such as Alzheimer’s dementia and major depressive disorder.

Dr. Yassa received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Johns Hopkins University and his PhD from the University of California, Irvine. He has been awarded over $50 million in research funding including grants from the National Institutes of Health and private foundations. He has authored or co-authored over 120 research articles and his work has been published in top tier academic journals. He has appeared on major news outlets including the BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, and PBS, and featured on NPR and news outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and The Guardian. Dr. Yassa has received many awards for research, teaching mentoring and service excellence. Since 2020, he has served as Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in UCI’s School of Biological Sciences, working to dismantle systemic barriers preventing minoritized scholars from thriving in academia and fostering inclusive research and training environments where different cultural identities are embraced.