Curriculum Vitae
Juan Sebastian Peña
Home Address: 20884 Trinity Square
Sterling, VA 20165• Phone: (703)-963-2264
Email: jspena@mail.roanoke.edu
Educational Background
Currently Attending:
Roanoke College, Salem, VA
Major: Psychology, Music
Concentration: Neuroscience
Expected Graduation Date: May 2013
Professional Experience

Neuroscience Lab Research Assistant
 Roanoke College, Salem, VA.
Fall 2012 – Present
 Duties: Assisting in research, collection and analysis of data, and currently
leading a study on temporal processing
 Supervisor: Dr. David Nichols, Ph.D.
 Currently being trained in MATLAB, SuperLab, and EEG

Social Psychology Lab Research Assistant:
 Roanoke College, Salem, VA.
Spring 2011- Present
 Duties: Assisting in research, collection and analysis of data, and currently
leading a study on music complexity and preference
 Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Buchholz, Ph.D.
 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Certified for protecting human research
participants
 Trained in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)

Clinical Psychology Internship:
 S.T.R.E.S.S. Centre, Manassas, VA.
Summer 2011
 Duties: Sitting in on therapy sessions, learning about therapy process, and
applying clinical psychological techniques
 Supervisor: Dr. Segunda Acosta, Ph.D
 Instructed in biofeedback, myofascial release therapy, and trigger point release
therapy
Professional Websites and Certification Links
Psychology Lab Website:
http://roanoke.edu/Academics/Academic_Departments/Psychology/Research_and_Internships/U
ndergraduate_Research/Social_Psychology_Lab.htm
Personal Page:
http://roanoke.edu/Academics/Academic_Departments/Psychology/Research_and_Internships/U
ndergraduate_Research/Social_Psychology_Lab/Lab_Members/Sebastian_Pena.htm
NIH Certification:
http://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/cert.php?c=629840
Presentations
Conference Presentations:
Buchholz, C., Pena, S., Hord, L., Keith, G., VanNess, K., Bankert, M., & Urecki, C. (2012,
February). The effects of cognitive load and complexity on music preference. Poster
presented at the fifty-seventh annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological
Association, New Orleans, LA.
Bankert, M., VanNess, K., Hord, L., Pena, S. Keith, G., Urecki, C., & Buchholz, C. (2012,
February). Individual preferences for uncertainity: An ironically pleasurable stimulus.
Poster presented at the fifty-seventh annual meeting of the Southeastern
Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Urecki, C., Keith, G., Hord, L., VanNess, K., Pena, S., Bankert, M., & Buchholz, C. (2012,
February). Examining close-mindedness and uncertainty’s effects on the likelihood to
hire ex-convicts. Poster presented at the fifty-seventh annual meeting of the
Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Honors







Dean’s List (Fall ’11, Spring ’12)
Fortnightly Scholarship
RC Scholarship
Bolton Award
OMNIPLEX World Services Scholarship
Richard Q. Hite ’54 Scholarship
Brandon Bailey Endowed Scholarship
Activities





Member of Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) ’11-‘12
Treasurer of Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Achievement ’09-‘10
Member of Roanoke College Jazz Ensemble ’10-‘12
Member of WRKE Radio Station ’09-‘11
Crew Chief of Roanoke College Tech Crew (paid position working with lights and sound)
’10-‘12
 Member of Health Professions Advisory Group (HPAG) ’11-‘12
Professional Interests












The role of tau protein in neurodegenerative diseases
Neurogenesis throughout human development
Memory functioning of the hippocampus
Pathophysiology of epilepsy
Mechanisms of the vestibular system
Neuronal basis for subjective experience
The use of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) to treat communication disorders
Preference for musical aesthetics
Tolerance for uncertainty/complexity
Understanding the development of 20th century music theory through psychophysics
Temporal processing
Musical implications of chaos theory
References
Christopher Buchholz, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Roanoke College
Salem, VA 24153
Phone: (540)-375-4904
Segunda Acosta, Ph. D.
Clinical Psychologist
S.T.R.E.S.S. Centre
Manassas, VA 20109
Phone: (703)-392-6420
David Nichols, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Roanoke College
Salem, VA 24153
Phone: (540)-375-5251
Gordon Marsh, Ph.D.
Professor and Chairperson of Fine Arts
Roanoke College
Salem, VA 24153
Phone: (540)- 375-2559