A Colorado State University professor is one of six psychological scientists who will be honored by an international association for “pushing the limits of their field.”

The Association of Psychological Science will give Jessica Witt, an associate professor of psychology, the Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions at its annual meeting in May.

With more than 26,000 members in 80 countries, APS is one of the largest professional associations in the field of psychology.  Its members include university professors, research scientists and clinicians.

Witt, whose research focuses on understanding how actions shape perceptions and vice versa, said she is honored to be selected.

“In science, there are a lot of moments of self-doubt,” she said. “Winning awards like this help give you confidence in what you are doing.”

This is the second early career award Witt has won in the past six months.

In December, the Psychonomic Society honored her with its 2014 Steven Yantis Early Career Award. The award is given to “young scientists who have made significant contributions to scientific psychology early in their careers.”

Witt said being nominated – and winning – the awards was unexpected. She said the awards help highlight the work she and others in CSU’s Department of Psychology are doing.

“Winning these awards puts the department in the spotlight for all to see,” she said.