Allison M
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Expertise
clinical psychology
Bio
I have been passionate about clinical psychology and applied research since I was a student at Princeton University. At Princeton, I completed a senior thesis research project focused on risk factors for depression in undergraduate students. Following college, I pursued a position at Columbia University Medical Center to advance my research skills in a research lab focused on mood disorders and suicide prevention. During my clinical psychology PhD, I built a program of research focusing on protective factors and resilience regarding depression and anxiety, with a particular focus on social support and emotion regulation. I continue to pursue this research with US Veterans in my current position at the Central Texas VA. Outside of research, I am a licensed clinical psychologist and see clients through private practice. I enjoy exploring and spending time with my family and German shepherd mixes. I am also a big foodie, which means that I am often trying out new restaurants and cooking. Lastly, as a former contemporary dancer, I love being active and watching dance when I can!Project ideas
Social Support Effects on Mental Health: A Systematic Review
In this project, you will conduct a literature search and write a scientific paper on the effects of social support on mental health. This paper could cover a wide range of mental health disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders) and explore how social support may benefit mental health or potentially harm mental health. This process will teach you how to find, access, and assess psychology research literature and compile findings into a scientific review. You will learn skills in critical thinking, writing, and editing as a part of this process.
Resilience Across Development
A potential research project could examine how resilience processes evolve across key developmental periods and whether factors that promote resilience differ across childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood. The mentee could conduct a narrative or systematic review synthesizing evidence on individual (e.g., emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility), interpersonal (e.g., social support, family relationships), and contextual (e.g., school and community resources) factors associated with resilient outcomes following adversity. Particular attention could be given to developmental mechanisms that explain why some youth maintain psychological well-being despite exposure to significant stressors or trauma. This work could identify critical periods for intervention and inform developmentally tailored approaches to resilience promotion.