TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A University of Alabama doctoral student has won a national award to assist with his research in educational psychology.

The Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association awarded Gopakumar “Gopa” Venugopalan, of Tuscaloosa, a Dissertation Research Award. The prize is awarded to 40 students nationwide whose dissertation research reflects excellence in scientific psychology. The award assists students with research costs.

Venugopalan is nearing completion of his doctoral degree in educational psychology from UA’s College of Education. He has also twice won the Travel Award from the American Psychological Association. Venugopalan studies how the brain functions while processing information.