Renowned psychologist receives prestigious international research award

A Florida State researcher who is one of the world’s eminent social psychologists has received a major international award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Roy Baumeister, the Francis Eppes Professor of Psychology at Florida State.

Roy Baumeister, the Francis Eppes Professor of Psychology, has received the Humboldt Research Award, which will allow him to spend several months in Germany collaborating with researchers at the University of Bamberg.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Baumeister said. “It’s also a great opportunity because Germany is one of the top four or five countries in the world in social psychology. There is a great group of creative, energetic researchers there doing work that overlaps with my research.”

Baumeister is a widely decorated researcher. A recent compilation in a journal published by the American Psychological Association named Baumeister one of the top 30 psychologists of the modern era. Baumeister, who has taught at Florida State since 2003, has written and edited a combined 31 books, plus numerous journal articles on the subjects of willpower, social networks and self identity.

His 2011 book with journalist John Tierney, “Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength,” became a New York Times bestseller.

“Roy is one of the most decorated psychologists in the world,” said Jeanette Taylor, chair of the Department of Psychology. “The Humboldt Research Award provides further recognition of his lifetime of accomplishments. The award also recognizes that Roy is going to continue to make important contributions to psychological science for many years to come.”

Baumeister was nominated for the award by Professor Astrid Schutz of the University of Bamberg. The award carries a prize of 60,000 Euros (about $68,500) and allows researchers to conduct scientific work with colleagues in Germany.

Baumeister said the award will allow him to collaborate with German researchers who are focused on the area of self-control and willpower.

“We’re thrilled that Roy will have this opportunity to further his work in Germany,” said Vice President for Research Gary K. Ostrander. “This award is a testament to his scholarship and hard work at Florida State.”

Baumeister will visit Bamberg in March and April for about two weeks to attend the awards ceremony and meet possible collaborators. He will visit again for about a month over the summer and then again in 2016.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, and is dedicated to promoting academic cooperation between scientists and scholars in Germany and across the globe. The Humboldt Research Award is one of Germany’s top prizes for scholarship.