Curriculum Vitae

Dominik Graetz

Eugene, OR, U.S.A.

dgrtz@uoregon.edu
github.com/dgraetz
ResearchGate

Education

2020–present

Ph.D. Psychology in progress - University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Specializations: Neuroscience, Data Science
Advisor: Prof. Ulrich Mayr

2020-2021

MS Psychology - University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

2017–2018

Erasmus Exchange Semester - University of Southampton, England
Focus: Cognitive Psychology

2015–2019

B.Sc. Psychology - University of Potsdam, Germany
Focus: Cognitive Psychology & Neuroscience
Thesis on Speed Reading

Research Experience

2020–present

Graduate Researcher - Cognitive Dynamics Lab, University of Oregon

  • Computational Modeling of Attentional Decision Problems
  • Research on rational analyses of internal/external information consumption and the influence of respiration on cognition
  • Eye-tracking and respiration experiments in MATLAB/Psychtoolbox, online experiments in PsychoPy/Python and JavaScript
  • Statistical modelling in R: Mixed Models, ANOVAs, t-tests, non-parametric tests
  • Mentored six undergraduate students in honors projects

2017–2021

Student Research Assistant - University of Potsdam / University of Paderborn
Junior Research Group Hybrid Narrativity: Digital and Cognitive Approaches to Graphic Literature
Statistical analyses, experiment programming, eye-tracking experiments - data collection, image annotation for AI training,

2018–2019

Student Researcher - University of Rostock
Organized and conducted testing for a standardization project of the KFT 4-12+R intelligence test

02–03/2018

Research Internship - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brazil
Eye-tracking methodology and analysis consultation

2016–2017

Student Researcher - University of Potsdam
Junior Research Group Health Sciences Development of research design and data collection for a project investigating the consequences of acute psychosocial stress on decision-making in indiivduals with metabolic syndrome

Publications

Journal Articles

Mayr, U. & Graetz, D. (2024). Does Cognitive Control have a General Stability/Flexibility Tradeoff Problem? Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 57, 101389. [DOI]

Mirjalili, S., Wanjia, G., Graetz, D., Wang, E., Mayr, U. & Kuhl, B. A. (under review). Hippocampal transformations occur along dimensions of memory interference. [Preprint]

Hubbard, J., Graetz, D. & Mayr, U. (under review). Switching between Certainty and Uncertainty: General and Age-Related Dynamics of Seeking Environmental Support. [OSF]

Moss, M., Graetz, D. & Mayr, U. (under review). Levels of Hierarchical Control Organize Individual Differences in Cognition along Two Distinct Dimensions. [OSF]

Christo, M. M. S., Klein, Â. I., de Resende, L. M. M., Szmoski, R. M., Borges, R. R., & Graetz, D. (2020). Análise dos movimentos oculares durante a leitura de questões matemáticas por alunos de Engenharia que reprovaram em Cálculo Diferencial Integral I. Revista Linguagem & Ensino, 23(2), 347–363.

Conference Posters

Own works

Graetz, D. & Mayr, U. (2025). Value Contexts Modulate Attentional Capture. Psychonomic Society 66th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. [DOI]

Graetz, D. & Mayr, U. (2024). Does Being Slow Make Us Distracted? Testing a Value-Based Decision Model. Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, New York, NY. [DOI]

Graetz, D., Guo, W., Mirjalili, S., Wang, E., Mayr, U. & Kuhl, B. A. (2024). Hippocampal Repulsion as a Function of Memory Similarity and Experience. Neuroscience, Chicago, IL. [DOI]

Graetz, D. & Mayr, U. (2023). Slower Response Speed Moves Us from Exploitation to Exploration. Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. [DOI]

Graetz, D., Moss, M. E., & Mayr, U. (2023). Should I Stay or Should I Go? Breathing Modulates the Attentional Exploitation/Exploration Balance. Graduate Student Research Forum, UO. [DOI]

Graetz, D., Froeber, K., & Mayr, U. (2022). Does distraction make you slow, or does being slow make you distracted? Cognitive Aging Conference, Atlanta, GA. [DOI]

Collaborations & Works of Mentees

Romero, A., Mirjalili, S., Graetz, D., Guo, W., Wang, E., Mayr, U., & Kuhl, B. (2025). Hippocampal Repulsion as a Function of Memory Similarity and Experience. CNS Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. [DOI]

Dodge, C., Graetz, D., & Mayr, U. (2025). Attention as Optimization: Reward-Guided Exploration and Its Limits in ADHD. Undergraduate Research Symposium, UO. [DOI]

Ahmad, S., Graetz, D., & Mayr, U. (2023). Rational Distraction: Understanding the Adaptive Nature of Reliance on External Information. Undergraduate Research Symposium, UO. [DOI]

Wang, E., Graetz, D., & Mayr, U. (2023). Task-Relevant Spatial Attention and Distractibility in Cognitive Aging. Undergraduate Research Symposium, UO. [DOI]

Arora, N., Graetz, D., & Mayr, U. (2022). Does the breathing cycle modulate the orientation of our attention? Undergraduate Research Symposium, UO. [DOI]

Honors Students/Mentees

Keely McMullen Blezyl Domingo Cade Dodge Sarita Ahmad Eric Wang Nayantara Arora

Feedback from Mentees and Research Assistants

[...]Thank you for mentoring me every step of the way through my thesis process. You helped me realize that I am capable of accomplishing more than I thought I was.[...]
[...]I've learned a lot through running various experiments and your R bootcamp, developed a valuable insight into cognitive psychology, grown as a student, and overall, had a very rewarding experience working at the CDL. You're a great mentor, and I'm extremely lucky I had the privilege of being your research assistant.[...]
[...]Thank you so much for your support, guidance, and patience throughout the summer and the academic year, and for making me feel welcome even as a freshman. I really admire you and your ability to explain complex concepts clearly, overall smartness and amazing baking skills! I've really enjoyed getting to know you, and truly appreciate you.[...]
[...]I wanted to express my gratitude for all the support and help you provided me for the honors thesis. I cannot thank you enough for the invaluable encouragements.[...]

Teaching

University of Oregon

Course Role Years
PSY 613 – Data Analysis III Lab Instructor 2026
PSY 612 – Data Analysis II Lab Instructor 2024
PSY 611 – Data Analysis I Lab Instructor 2023, 2024, 2025
PSY 303 – Research Methods Lab Instructor 2023, 2025
PSY 302 – Statistical Methods Lab Instructor 2024
R Bootcamp (incoming PhD students) Instructor 2022–2025
PSY 305 – Cognition Teaching Assistant 2023, 2024
PSY 301 – Scientific Thinking Teaching Assistant 2022
PSY 201 – Mind and Brain Teaching Assistant 2021

Anonymous Student Feedback

Dominik did a fantastic job teaching this course. He spent significant time and effort on explaining course content, assignments, and even went as far as to introduce us to the reproducibility crisis in psychology research. I talked to other students in the class and they agreed, really stellar job, even though sometimes it was a challenge getting students to actively participate in class. Five stars. Thank you, Dominik! - PSY 303 student, Winter 2023
Dominik was an amazing instructor. I really appreciated the way he explained things and really appreciated the work he does on the whiteboard. He helped clarify many of my questions. - PSY 612 student, Winter 2024
The highlight of the course undoubtedly lies in the laboratory sessions. Dominik excels when it comes to providing feedback and facilitating a thorough understanding of the concepts. - PSY 611 student, Fall 2023
Dominik is such a great instructor. He answered every question with clarity and would often repeat it if he noticed we were not grasping it right away. He also was very accessible over email. - PSY 611 student, Fall 2023

University of Potsdam

Academic Writing (undergraduate instructor)

Scholarships & Awards

2026

Clarence and Lucille Dunbar Scholarship - University of Oregon

2022–2025

Harvey E. Lee Scholarship - University of Oregon (awarded 3 consecutive years)

2020–2021

Fulbright Scholarship - German-American Fulbright Exchange, 9-month full-time graduate fellowship

2020–2021

First Year Merit Award - University of Oregon

02–04/2018

PROMOS Scholarship - German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), research internship at the UTFPR in Brazil

2017–2018

Erasmus+ Scholarship - Exchange semester at University of Southampton

Professional Development

  • 2024 - Workshop: The New PhD – How to Build a Better Graduate Education (Len Cassuto, Oregon State University)
  • 2022 - Certificate: Learning SQL Programming (LinkedIn Learning)
  • 2019 - Docendo Discimus Teaching Certificate, 360 hours theory & practice (University of Potsdam)

Skills & Methods

Programming
R · MATLAB · JavaScript/PsychoJS · Python · Bash · SQL

Tools & Frameworks
Psychtoolbox · PsychoPy · Quarto · Shiny · HPC clusters · Parallel Computing

Data Collection Tools
Pavlovia · PsychoPy · Qualtrics · SONA · Prolific

Statistics
Linear Regressions · Mixed Effects Models · Nonparametric methods · Bayesian methods · Structural Equation Modeling · Fourier/wavelet analysis · Machine learning

Methods
Eye-tracking · fMRI analysis · Online experiments · Computational Modeling · Monte Carlo Simulations

Volunteering

2024–present

National Marrow Donation Program - Campus Chapter, University of Oregon

2022–2024

Cascadia R Conference - Member, Organization Committee

2017–2018

British Red Cross Society - Fundraising Volunteer, Southampton, England