Mark Seidenberg

Mark S. Seidenberg is a prominent psychologist and cognitive scientist, currently serving as the Vilas Research Professor and Donald O. Hebb Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also holds the position of Senior Scientist at Haskins Laboratories. His academic journey began with a Ph.D. from Columbia University, where he studied under Thomas Bever, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois' Center for the Study of Reading. Before joining the University of Wisconsin in 2001, Seidenberg was on faculty at McGill University and the University of Southern California.12

Seidenberg's research primarily focuses on psycholinguistics, particularly the cognitive and neurological foundations of language and reading. He has made significant contributions to understanding how children learn to read, the nature of skilled reading, and the brain mechanisms involved in reading and dyslexia. His work employs various methodologies, including behavioral experiments, computational models, and neuroimaging techniques. Recently, he has been addressing issues related to low literacy levels among underprivileged groups, exploring the achievement gaps in reading skills.124

He is the author of Language at the Speed of Sight (2017), which discusses insights into reading processes and their implications for education. Over his career, Seidenberg has published more than a hundred scientific articles and remains an influential figure in both academic and educational circles.134