2026
Child Stress and Coping Lab
Visit Child Stress and Coping Lab site
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart Davies, PhD *Psychology Chair | (6) Ansley Kenney (she/her/hers) *On internship (5) Mady Johnson (she/her/hers) (4) Lubna Barakat (she/her/hers) (2) Ellie Oslin (1) Smriti Maskey | Dr. Davies’ Child Stress and Coping Lab broadly conducts research addressing issues related to the coping and adaptation of children and families experiencing extreme stress, such as pediatric chronic illness. At this time, the lab’s research projects primarily fall into one of more of the following Special Interest Groups (SIGs): pediatric Pain (e.g., pain management, adherence, and psychosocial functioning); Transition to Adulthood challenges for adolescents and emerging adults with chronic health conditions (e.g., disclosure, symptom dismissal, and illness identity); Pediatric Feeding and Sleep (e.g., parent-child sleep behaviors, bed-sharing perspectives and practices, and pediatric feeding problems and disorders); Medical Communications and Family Processes (e.g., PICU provider perceptions of medical communication, sibling caregivers, and family psychological safety, interpreted medical encounters); and Sleep (e.g., contributing factors and negative consequences of poor sleep among young adults and parents). Each SIG aims to incorporate cultural perspectives, as well as team science approaches to research projects. |
Child Neurodevelopment Research Lab
Visit Child Neurodevelopment Research Lab
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Bonita Klein-Tasman, PhD (she/her/hers) | (5) Ellora Mohanty (she/her) (3) Bolade Santos (1) Alexandra Lopez-Hernandez | In the Child Neurodevelopment Research Lab we study the social, emotional, and cognitive development and strengths and weaknesses of children with Williams syndrome or neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), both genetically based neurodevelopmental disorders), to better describe the support needs of children and to lay groundwork for genotype-phenotype investigations. We also conduct research about the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for children with these conditions. We incorporate approaches from the fields of developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, child clinical psychology, and child neuropsychology. Current projects focus on: (1) establishing the effectiveness of play and humor-infused exposure therapy to address fears and anxieties of young children with Williams syndrome; (2) examining the acceptability and effectiveness of a telehealth social skills group (PEERS) for teens with NF1; (3) pilot study of the neural underpinnings of attention problems in children with NF1 using EEG/ERP methodology. In the next couple of years, a central focus of our work will relate to our study of therapy for fears and phobias of children with Williams syndrome. |
UWM Affective Neuroscience Lab
Visit UWM Affective Neuroscience Lab
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Christine Larson, PhD (she/her/hers) *Director of Clinical Training | (6) Michael Liuzzi (he/him/his) *On internship (5) Farah Harb (she/her/hers) (4) Emily Albertina (she/hers) (4) Amy Wang (3) Alma Vazquez-Smith (she/her/hers) (2) Adriane Davis (she/her/hers) Kevin Petranu | The Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, is dedicated to understanding the neural bases of aberrant emotion regulation processes associated with internalizing problems, particularly trauma and stress. Our most prominent line of work currently is to identify neural, affective, cognitive, and neurobiological markers evident in the immediate aftermath of trauma that predict risk for chronic PTSD and other post-trauma syndromes. We are also examining how chronic socioenvironmental stress, such as poverty, community violence, and discrimination impact neural circuitry for emotion regulation. We conduct this research with researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in both adults (Terri deRoon-Cassini) and youth (Mike Levas). We use multimodal neuroimaging, psychophysiological, behavioral, blood-based markers of stress systems, and self-report tools. |
Anxiety Disorders Lab
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Han Joo Lee, PhD | (6) Bryce Arseneau (he/him/his) (6) Yourim Kim (5) Cohley Acenowr (she/her) (3) Zachary Gemelli (3) Minjee Kook (2) Catie Rast | ADL’s mission is to (a) examine anomalous cognitive-perceptual processes underlying anxiety disorders (e.g., biases in information processing such as attention and interpretation processes, impaired response inhibition, working memory processes) and their related neurocognitive and physiological processes, and (b) develop computerized cognitive retraining programs aimed to modify such dysfunctional cognitive-perceptual processes. Another line of research is concerned with the development/utilization of web-based techniques in psychological assessment and intervention for anxiety-related problems. ADL’s research examines a wide range of anxiety problems, including PTSD and OCD-related problems as well as various anxiety disorders. |
UWM BraIN Lab
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Krista Lisdahl, PhD | (6) Julia Harris *On internship (5) Gabby Navarro (she/her) (4) Chase Shankula (he/him/his) (4) Kyle Baacke (he/him/his) *Neuroscience program (2) Caylin Faria MacKenna Shampine | Dr. Krista Lisdahl is the Director of the UWM’s Brain Imaging and Neuropsychology (BraIN) Laboratory. The primary focus of her research is on the neurocognitive consequences of chronic drug use during adolescence and emerging adulthood and predictors of substance use onset in youth. More specifically, using magnetic resonance imaging (structural MRI, fMRI and DTI) and neuropsychological assessment, Dr. Lisdahl’s laboratory examines the effects of chronic cannabis, alcohol, nicotine and ecstasy use on brain structure and function. We also attempt to explain individual differences by examining whether genetics, gender or lifestyle factors such as aerobic exercise, physical activity, or adiposity (body fat distribution) moderate these effects. Dr. Lisdahl has been a PI or Consultant on three large-scale multi-site neuroimaging studies examining the impact of substance use on the developing adolescent or young adult brain [the MTA Neuroimaging Study; the IDEAA Consortium; the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.] |
EQUITY Research Group
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Gabriela Nagy, PhD | 4) Norma Reyes (3) Monica Estrada (2) Sabreet Dhatt | The overarching focus of my research is on reducing mental health care inequities experienced by minoritized communities. In this space, I have worked most extensively with immigrants and refugees from Latin America. My lab is focused on understanding social and structural factors contributing to health inequities; developing and testing psychosocial interventions to support the health of minorities communities; and dissemination and implementation of strategies that hold promise for reducing health inequities. I utilize community-engaged research methods, mixed-methods, and human-centered design approaches. |
mhSEVA Lab
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Srishti Sardana, MSc., PhD (Director) Anne Renaud, PhD (Associate Director) | (1) Angela Paredes Montero | My research, clinical research and practice as well as teaching has a twofold focus: a. how do we build systems of care that meet an increasing mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries as well as in high income countries with low mental health resources, and b. who, what, where, when and how do we collaborate and synergize in domestic and international regions to learn together and build efficient capacity in adaptation and delivery of evidence-based mental health and psychotherapy resources around the world. To advance these foci, the mental health Scientific advancements and Empowerment initiatives of Vulnerable people Anywhere in the world (mhSEVA) Lab is pioneering the knowledge-exchange model of designing, delivering and disseminating culturally adapted and contextually valid approaches to reduce human suffering and increase thriving for the most-in-need and high-risk populations globally. These include trafficking survivors, refugees, displaced communities and people living with limited to no resources. mhSEVA achieves this through partnerships with global agencies such as the United Nations, iNGOs/NGOs, government and public partnerships. This mission is achieved via advancing and improving measurement in psychotherapy outcomes research as well as hinging all initiatives in simultaneous partnering within domestic and international partners. |
Substance Use and Relationship Factors Lab
Visit Substance Use and Relationship Factors Lab
| Faculty Member | Graduate Students | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Shorey, PhD (he/him/his) | (6) Lauren Grocott (she/her) *On internship (4) Karen Alvarez (3) Natalie Nassar (2) Atulya Kharbanda | Dr. Shorey’s program of research has two main areas of focus: (1) research on risk factors for, and consequences of, intimate partner violence (IPV) and (2) research on substance use disorders and treatment. In addition, his research integrates these two lines of research to examine substance-related IPV and whether treatment of substance use reduces the occurrence of IPV and sexual assault. Dr. Shorey’s overall goal with these lines of research are to gain a clearer understanding of how to develop and implement prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing IPV, sexual assault, and substance use disorders. Moreover, Dr. Shorey’s research program aims to explore these areas of focus in diverse and underrepresented populations. |
Other Faculty
| Faculty Member | Research Focus |
|---|---|
| Ajeng Puspitasari, PhD (she/her hers) Director of Clinical Training | Dr. Puspitasari serves as the Director of Clinical Training in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. She also supervises a vertical team that focuses on Process-Based Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (PBT) for adults with mood and anxiety disorders. Her clinical and research interest focuses on the dissemination and implementation of culturally responsive evidence-based psychotherapeutic intervention in diverse clinical settings. |
| Stacey Nye, PhD (she/her/hers) *Clinic Director | My main area of interest is the training and treatment of eating and body image disorders, including: (1) Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder; (2) Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size approaches; (3) Family Based treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: and (4) Cognitive Behavioral therapy for eating disorders. Dr. Nye does not run a research lab or take graduate students as a primary adviser. However, students will work with her as a clinical supervisor, lecturer, and in some cases, as a research committee member. |
| Kevin Haworth, PhD (he/him/his) | Dr. Haworth serves as a clinical supervisor for one of the vertical teams. The team is focused on empirically-supported treatments for depression, as well as more generalist cases. He also teaches the Foundations of Psychotherapy course. Dr. Haworth does not run a research lab or take graduate students as a primary adviser. However, students will work with him as a clinical supervisor, lecturer, and in some cases, as a research committee member. |
| Kimberly Rennie (Weissgerber), PhD | Dr. Rennie (she/her/hers) is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a supervisor for second year student assessment practicum in the UWM Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program. Dr. Rennie does not run a research lab or take graduate students as a primary adviser. However, students will work with her as a clinical supervisor and in some cases, as a research committee member. |
| Kerry O’Mahar, PhD | Dr. O’Mahar is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Department of Psychology and supervises second year assessment practicum training. She also co-teaches the required Assessment II course. Dr. O’Mahar does not run a research lab or take graduate students as a primary adviser. However, students will work with her as a clinical supervisor and in some cases, as a research committee member. |