University professor emeritus Daniel Kahneman was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama on Thursday, The Times of Trenton reported. Kahneman, a professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at the University, is a Nobel laureate in economics.

The award represents the highest civilian honor in the United States. Kahneman is known for his work applying cognitive psychology to economic analysis, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 2002, according to The Times of Trenton.

Kahneman was trained as a psychologist in the Israeli military, which he joined after escaping Nazi-occupied France. He began teaching psychology and public affairs at the University in 1993.

He has recently written a book about the psychological aspects of decision-making called "Thinking, Fast and Slow."

The award was conferred on 16 people on Thursday, including women's rights advocate Gloria Steinem, TV host Oprah Winfrey and former President Bill Clinton.