Research

Anusha earned her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2016–2019), followed by an accelerated Master of Science under Dr. Chandra Sripada (2019–2020). She is currently a sixth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she works with Dr. Jonathan Schooler.

Anusha’s research investigates how people think, how those thoughts shape behavior, and how altering patterns of thought can foster meaningful behavior change. Her work spans two interconnected areas: the stream of consciousness and procrastination. In the first, she has validated the Think Aloud method as a tool for capturing the flow of thought as it naturally unfolds, offering a rare glimpse into the contents and qualities of the mind in motion. Through this approach, she examines how patterns of thinking relate to mental health factors such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, and rumination, and explores whether reshaping the nature of one’s thoughts can improve well-being.

In her work on procrastination, Anusha focuses on the moment-to-moment dynamics of state procrastination - why people delay tasks even when they intend to act - and develops interventions that help individuals engage right when avoidance arises. Guided by theories of learned industriousness and self-regulation, her studies examine how small, timely cognitive shifts can promote effort, motivation, and follow-through, as well as which types of interventions are best suited to different individuals.

Driven by a commitment to bridge science and practice, Anusha extends her research beyond the lab through the development of Dawdle AI, an iOS application that delivers personalized, research-based micro-interventions to help users overcome procrastination. By integrating psychology and technology, her work aims to make scientific insights into thought and behavior accessible to all - transforming how people understand their minds and change their habits.