My research integrates culture, development, and mental health to investigate the effects of early-life exposure to interpersonal violence in diverse populations. Within this program of research, I examine how family processes and the broader social environment differentiate individual pathways to psychopathology and resilient outcomes following violence exposure. I am especially interested in understanding how structural inequities (e.g., uneven access to resources, experiences of discrimination) help explain the emergence of ethnic and racial disparities in the effects of early-life violence. The ultimate goal of this work is to enhance the effectiveness of community-based programs designed to ameliorate the effects of early-life exposure and prevent future violence involvement.

I will be jointly recruiting a Clinical Psychology doctoral student with Dr. Evelyn Mercado (FAM Lab) to be co-mentored across our labs. Research in the FAM Lab uses a biopsychosocial lens to investigate how family relationships can yield benefits for mental health among youth from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Research in the ViTAL lab investigates mechanisms through which exposure to violence and interpersonal trauma, especially in early-life, leads to the development of psychopathology in diverse children and young adults. Both labs utilize community-engaged approaches to developing, conducting, and disseminating research; and research in both labs is grounded in understanding how socio-cultural factors shape connections between inter- and intra-personal processes and mental health.  For more information about ongoing research projects and community engagement in each lab, please visit our websites.

We are especially interested in students whose research interests intersect with those of both labs. Such interests include (but are not necessarily limited to): Dating violence in racial and ethnic minority youth; the effects of migration-related trauma in Latinx youth and adults. There is a large Spanish-speaking community in Western MA; students with bilingual Spanish/English skills will have opportunities to conduct research and clinical work with Spanish-speaking youth and adults.  
 

Given the large volume of applications to our program, we are unable to offer individual meetings to all potential applicants. In lieu of individual meetings, Dr. Mercado and I will be participating in a virtual open house on October 30th from 5-7pm ET (register here) for prospective applicants. This open house will provide an opportunity to learn more about ongoing research projects in each lab, to field specific questions you may have for Dr. Mercado and I, and to speak to current graduate students working in each lab.