Beverly Hofstadter, Ph.D.

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Phone/Fax

Primary Phone: 619-594-1234
Secondary Phone: 619-594-1235

Building/Location

Life Science North - 234
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182
Mail Code: 4614

Files

• Download CV

Website Links

• Collective Lab
• SESH Lab

Bio

A renowned neuroscientist and psychiatrist, Dr. Hofstadter’s research explores the biological and cognitive underpinnings of human behavior. She is widely recognized for her publications on child development, emotional attachment, and the interface of molecular biology with behavioral science.

In addition to her academic work, she is an author and speaker noted for her incisive, evidence-based perspectives on family dynamics and interpersonal relationships.

Education

Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 2022

M.S., California Polytechnic State University, Electrical Engineering, San Luis Obispo, 2015

Areas of Specialization

Child Development, Adolescent Development, Neighborhoods, Social Policy, Race, Poverty, Inequality

Interests

She enjoys guiding undergraduate and graduate researchers in projects at the intersection of biology, informatics, and human behavior.

Outside the lab, she’s interested in science communication and public outreach on mental health and STEM careers.

She also focuses on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between the life sciences, computing, and behavioral research.

Additionally, she enjoys reading about emerging discoveries in neuroscience, attending science-and-society events, and supporting student-led initiatives on campus.

Certifications

Board Certification in Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) – Active

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of California – Active

Certification in Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics – Completed advanced training in data analysis, genome annotation, and clinical informatics applications

Human Subjects Research & Responsible Conduct of Research (CITI Program) – Current

Advanced Laboratory & Biosafety Training – Certified for work with microbial and molecular systems

Languages

Dr. Hofstadter is fluent in English, has conversational proficiency in Spanish, and reads German for scientific literature. 

Fun Facts

I love watching anime with my sister, and trying foods from all over the world.

I am a famous psychologist on TV.

Mentors

Dr. Hofstadter is deeply committed to mentoring students and early-career researchers.

She offers one-on-one guidance, career development advice, and research support, and she encourages students to explore interdisciplinary projects.

She welcomes students from diverse backgrounds and enjoys helping them find their own path in science.

Responsibilities

Leads an active research group focused on behavioral neuroscience and family dynamics.

Oversees the design and implementation of research studies.

Mentors undergraduate and graduate students, providing career guidance and research support.

Awards & Honors

Nominated for Confidential Computing Challenge Honorable Mention, Google – May 2, 2019

Nominated for Albert W. Johnson Research Lectureship, San Diego State University – December 2021

Recipient of multiple Excellence in Teaching Awards for mentorship and interdisciplinary education – 2023

Invited speaker at the National Academy of Sciences Symposium on Behavioral Genetics – 2022

Recipient of the “Emerging Artist Award” (2025) from the San Diego Arts Foundation for excellence in interdisciplinary art practices.

Office Hours

Office hours by appointment.

Drop-in availability:
Tue 11:00-11:30am
Wed 1:30-2:30pm
Thu 3:00-4:00pm
Fri  10:00-11:00am

Courses

BIOL 482 – Cell & Molecular Biology
BIOL 510 – Principles of Bioinformatics
BIOL 512 – Medical Informatics
PSY 340 – Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY 512 – Advanced Topics in Human Behavior

Student Opportunities

Now hiring 3 RAs for research in Metabolic Modeling.

Now hiring 1 GA for grading assignments.

Independent Study & Capstone Projects available for students interested in bioinformatics, microbial genetics, or behavioral neuroscience.

Mentorship Program – One-on-one sessions with Dr. Hofstadter to develop research skills, graduate school applications, and interdisciplinary project ideas.

Conference Participation Support – Opportunities for students to co-author papers or present posters at regional and national conferences.

Outreach & Science Communication Internships – Help design materials for public talks, community outreach, and media about science and mental health.

Research

Dr. Hofstadter’s research bridges neuroscience, psychiatry, and bioinformatics to explore the biological and cognitive underpinnings of human behavior. Her work focuses on child development, emotional attachment, and the intersection of molecular biology with behavioral science.

She is currently leading projects on metabolic modeling, systems biology of non-model microbes, and the functional diversity of microbial methane cycles. Her lab integrates computational approaches with experimental methods to uncover new insights into microbial behavior and its applications in health, energy, and the environment.

Dr. Hofstadter actively collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and welcomes undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in combining life sciences, data analysis, and behavioral research.

Intellectual Contributions

Hoftstadter, B. (2025). Smart irrigation controller using adaptive evapotranspiration models (U.S. Patent No. 12,345,678). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Hoftstadter, B., & Al-Khalili, J. (2025). Bio-inspired micro-swimmer for targeted drug delivery (WO Patent No. 2025/012345). World Intellectual Property Organization.

Hoftstadter, B., & Rivera, A. (2024). Wearable haptic feedback interface for remote collaboration (U.S. Design Patent No. D987,654). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Hoftstadter, B. (2024). SwarmSim (Version 2.1) [Computer software]. Hoftstadter Research.

Hoftstadter, B. (2025, March 18). Hybrid perovskite solar-cell encapsulation [Unpublished invention disclosure]. University of Westlake, Office of Technology Transfer.

Directed Student Research

Mentors undergraduate and graduate students in projects at the intersection of biology, informatics, and human behavior.

Advises independent and collaborative research on topics including neuroscience, mental health in STEM, and computational biology.

Provides training in experimental design, data analysis, and science communication.

Supports student presentations at local, regional, and national conferences.

Clinical Trials

Refining and Implementing Technology-Enhanced Family Navigation to Promote Early Access and Engagement With Mental Health Services for Youth With Autism
Start Date: May 2022
Estimated Completion Date: Jun 2023
Recruitment Status: Enrolling by invitation
Condition(s): Autism, Implementation Science, Mental Health, Behavioral Health

Translating Evidence-based Interventions for ASD: Multi-Level Implementation Strategy
Start Date: Oct 2017
Completion Date: May 2022
Recruitment Status: Completed
Condition(s): Autism

Effectiveness and Implementation of a Mental Health Intervention for ASD
Start Date: Apr 2012
Completion Date: Feb 2018
Recruitment Status: Completed
Condition(s): Autism

Grants

Li, K., “Ethereum Run A Node,” Sponsored by Ethereum Foundation, Private, $4,913.00. (August 2, 2023 – August 1, 2025).

Li, K., “CRII: SaTC: Towards a Secure and Efficient Ethereum P2P Network with Client Diversity,” Sponsored by NSF, Federal, $174,927.00.

Smith, J., “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for College Students,” Sponsored by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Federal Grant, $250,000. (January 15, 2024 – December 31, 2026).

Hernandez, L., “Longitudinal Study on Metabolic Modeling in Adolescents,” Sponsored by American Heart Association, Private Grant, $100,500. (March 1, 2024 – February 28, 2026).

Nguyen, P., “Wearable Sensors for Mental Health Monitoring,” Sponsored by NIH, Federal, $320,000. (June 10, 2023 – June 9, 2026).

Media

“Avoid the ‘cryptocurrency free giveaway’ scam,” Broadcast Retirement Network. (September 6, 2023).

“Scientists used AI to find and track 95K ‘cryptocurrency free giveaway’ scams on Twitter,” Cointelegraph. (August 11, 2023).

“New AI Tools Help Detect Large-Scale Scams on Social Media,” Interview with Dr. Hofstadter, Tech & Society Magazine. (October 2023).

“Featured expert on “Mental Health and the Modern Workplace,” PBS NewsHour. (April 15, 2024).

“Guest psychologist on “Inside Minds” podcast discussing anxiety in college students. (January 2024).

Quoted in “STEM Careers and Mental Health,” Scientific American. (September 2023).

Consultant for “Brains and Behavior,” a documentary series on science communication. (2022).

Presentations

Ren, S. (Presenter and panelist), Women Researcher in Technology, UCI Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Science, Irvine, CA. (January 2020).

Lopez, A. (Presenter), Exploring Bioinformatics in Undergraduate Research, San Diego State University Research Symposium, San Diego, CA. (March 2022).

Patel, R. (Keynote Speaker), AI Applications in Mental Health Research, International Conference on Data Science, San Francisco, CA. (June 2021).

Nguyen, T. (Panelist), Women in STEM: Career Paths and Challenges, STEM Diversity Summit, Los Angeles, CA. (October 2020).

Smith, J. (Presenter), Modeling Neural Networks for Behavioral Data, Annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago, IL. (November 2019).

Publications

Kaur, S., Kumar, S., & Homayouni, H. (published). High-Resolution COVID-19 X-Ray Generation. Health Informatics and Knowledge Management Conference (HIKM).

Wang, Y., Li, K., Tang, Y., Chen, J., Zhang, Q., Luo, X., & Chen, T. (2023). Towards Saving Blockchain Fees via Secure and Cost-Effective Batching of Smart-Contract Invocations. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 49(4), 2980–2995. https://doi.org/10.1109/TSE.2023.3237123

Lopez, A., Hofstadter, B., & Singh, R. (2022). Integrating Bioinformatics and Behavioral Science to Predict Mental Health Outcomes. Journal of Computational Biology, 29(7), 1205–1218.

Hofstadter, B. (2021). Public Perceptions of Neuroscience in Popular Media: A Cross-Disciplinary Analysis. Psychology & Media Studies Review, 15(3), 210–229.

Exhibitions

Student Art Show (September 10 – October 15, 2025) A juried exhibition featuring work by undergraduate and graduate students across multiple disciplines. Includes painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art.

Design in Motion (November 5 – December 1, 2025)
An interactive exhibition showcasing kinetic and multimedia installations by local designers and SDSU alumni.

Threads of Community (January 20 – February 20, 2026)
A collaborative exhibition exploring textiles, craft, and storytelling across cultures.

Premieres

Horizons Unfold (October 20, 2025) A debut short film produced by SDSU students exploring themes of migration and resilience. Screening followed by Q&A with the creators.

Soundscapes: Live (November 14, 2025) First performance of an original multimedia sound installation combining live electronic music with projected visuals.

Innovation in Motion (January 5, 2026) Launch event for a new interactive exhibition highlighting student-designed kinetic sculptures.
 
 

Productions

The Modern Stage (October 2025)
A contemporary play produced by SDSU Theatre Arts students exploring identity and community in modern society.

Voices in Motion (November 2025)
An original dance production blending classical and experimental choreography performed by the SDSU Dance Collective.

Soundwaves (February 2026)
A student-led music production featuring original compositions and multimedia performances.

Performances

Echoes of the City (October 28, 2025) A site-specific performance blending spoken word, dance, and live music to explore urban storytelling.

Jazz Night Live (November 15, 2025) A one-night performance featuring original compositions by SDSU Jazz Ensemble students with guest artists.

Digital Horizons (January 22, 2026) An experimental multimedia performance combining projected visuals, soundscapes, and interactive audience participation.

Service

Thesis Committee Chair, “Yet to be finalized.” (December 21, 2017 – Present). Advised: Zhengyu Zhang

Supervised Research, “Synthetic Multimodal Data Generation.” (May 2023 – Present). Advised: Abdellah Jnaini

Community Engagement

Volunteer, “SDSU Beach Clean-Up Initiative” (April 2024 – Present) — Organized by SDSU Sustainability Club

Mentor, “First-Year Student Success Program” (August 2023 – May 2024) — Organized by SDSU Student Affairs

Panelist, “Local Arts and Youth Engagement Forum” (May 2023) — Hosted by San Diego Arts Council

Assignments

Visual Analysis Essay (Due October 15, 2025) Students will write a 3-page essay analyzing a work of art or design using principles of composition, color, and form. Submit as a PDF on Canvas.

Group Presentation on Marketing Campaigns (Due November 5, 2025)

In groups of 3–4, research and present a recent marketing campaign. Focus on target audience, message strategy, and results.

Final Project: Exhibition Proposal (Due December 10, 2025) Develop a full proposal for a small exhibition, including title, concept, and three sample works. Include a mock-up of promotional materials.

Other Details

Led a workshop on “Digital Storytelling for Social Impact” at SDSU’s Spring 2025 Arts & Humanities Conference.

Professional Development: Completed certificate program in “Inclusive Leadership in the Arts” (June 2025).