Bio:

Rebecca is a 6th-year doctoral student in the Neuroscience Brain and Behavior Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Becky graduated from Temple University in 2012 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in cognitive neuroscience. While at Temple, Rebecca was a research assistant in Dr. Lauren Ellman's lab, studying prenatal and childhood risk factors for the development of psychosis and other psychopathology. After graduating, Rebecca worked as a clinical research coordinator on both the dissemination and schizophrenia research teams at the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Rebecca is the lab manager and principal investigator for the Serious Mental Illness Research Group's large-scale longitudinal Biopsychosocial Health Study, mentoring five aspiring researchers pursuing doctorates in medicine and psychology under this project. Rebecca has also previously worked as the clinical psychology graduate student extern for the University of Nebraska Medical Center's ASPIRE Clinic in their Department of Psychiatry, focusing on providing clinical care for individuals with SMI, as the assistant director for UNL's Psychological Consultation Center, and as an extern for Nebraska's Department of Behavioral Health. Rebecca serves as student/trainee committee chair for APA Division 18's SMI/SED Section. Before engaging in doctoral training, Rebecca worked in executive recruitment research focused on life sciences, education, not-for-profit, and Latin America sectors. Rebecca has also served in various other leadership roles for Div 18's SMI/SED section (advocacy committee co-chair, student representative), the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Psychosis and Schizophrenia Spectrum Special Interest Group (social media coordinator, student representative), and various other leadership roles throughout her undergraduate tenure (secretary of Temple's Psi Chi, publicity manager for Temple's Undergraduate Neuroscience Society).

Research Interests:

Rebecca's research examines the relationships and interactions between biological, psychological, and social health within various environmental factors (e.g., pandemics, politics, economics). It investigates biopsychosocial contributions to physical and mental health and health disparities in vulnerable populations (e.g., psychosis, SMI, chronic health conditions, and other disabilities). The Biopsychosocial Health Study (BHS) investigates how immune activation and inflammation-induced sickness interact with other biopsychosocial factors (e.g., social determinants of health, stigma, social connection) to impact a person's health, well-being, and overall quality of life. This research draws from evolutionary, psychoneuroimmunology, and developmental psychopathology science. It includes self-report assessment of inflammation-induced sickness behaviors and immune markers, medical history, cognition, and social and psychological experience in emerging adults experiencing mental and physical health symptoms.