Congratulations to clinical graduate student, Chad Brandt!

He has been awarded a 3-year NRSA predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). His project is entitled, “Anxiety Reduction Treatment for HIV+ Individuals,” and his advisor is Dr. Michael Zvolensky.

Clinical graduate student, Katie Reynolds, will be a 2013-2013 LoneStar LEND Fellow.

Katie Reynolds has been selected as a 2013-2014 LoneStar LEND Fellow. As a LEND Fellow, you join a national network of nearly 2,000 students each year who show promise to become leaders in teaching, research, clinical practice, administration and policymaking in the field of Autistic Spectrum and other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

Following footsteps to blaze new trails

Colt Meier admires his parents so much that he’s chosen to follow in both of their footsteps.

The son of a father who is a clinical psychologist, Dr. Meier graduates this spring from the University of Houston with a doctorate in clinical psychology. One terminal doctorate degree, however, is not enough for him. He’s taking the prerequisite courses for medical school so that he can complete a medical degree, as his mother, an obstetrician and gynecologist, did.  Read more

CLASS Dissertation Completion Fellows preparing for Commencement 2014

Lindsey Rodriguez a graduate student in Social Psychology won CLASS Dissertation Completion Fellowship:
Dissertation: “Problem Drinking and Marital Distress”

Problem drinking affects millions of Americans and is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, relationship and family disruptions, and comorbid substance use and dependence.  Research indicates that once both problem drinking and relationship distress exist, they often exacerbate each other, creating a feedback loop with negative outcomes for both the drinker and the partner.  The long-term objective of Rodriguez’s dissertation research is to lay the groundwork for future interventions by increasing empirical knowledge of the reciprocal relationship between heavy alcohol use and marital distress. 

“Lindsey came at the perfect time in the perfect place with all the right ingredients for an immensely successful collaboration and integration of ongoing basic and applied research in our department,” said her advisor, Dr. C. Raymond Knee, professor and director of graduate education. “Never before have I encountered a student with so much potential and such an amazing balance of skills.”

More student success stories:

• This year four psychology undergraduate students received the University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). These students are:  Alec Nordan from  Dr. Lisa Penney’s lab, J. Alex Fisher from Dr. Hanako Yoshida’s lab, Richard Rodriguez from Dr. Qian Lu’s lab, and Tessa Long from Dr. Carla Sharp’s lab. Congratulations to these students and their mentors.
• Two clinical psychology graduate students have been awarded the NRSA predoctoral  fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).  Carolyn Ha’s project is entitled, “The Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Social Cognitive Functioning in Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder Compared to a Sample of Non-Clinical Adolescents.”  Amanda Venta’s project is entitled, “Oxytocin and Social Engagement.”  Their advisor is  Dr. Carla Sharp.
• Congratulations to clinical graduate student, Terri Barrera who received the 2012-2013 Paul Baer Research Award. Her advisor is Dr. Peter Norton.
• Congratulations to three social psychology graduate students, Michelle Quist, Mai-Ly Nguyen, and Chelsie Young.  Each of them has received a $1000 NIAAA APA Early Career Travel Award for their APA posters in Hawaii.  Michelle is advised by Dr. Knee, Mai-Ly by Dr. Acitelli, and Chelsie by Dr. Neighbors. Only fifteen NIAAA Travel Awards were given out each year and three recipients were UH students.
• Clinical psychology graduate student, Samantha Farris has been awarded a 3-year NRSA predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  Her project is entitled, “Panic-Relevant Sensations and Smoking Motivation,” and her advisor is Dr. Michael Zvolensky.
• Congratulations to social graduate student, Lindsey Rodriguez, who has been awarded a CLASS Dissertation Completion Fellowship for 2013-2014.  This $20,000 scholarship is to support the completion of her dissertation work entitled, “Problematic Alcohol Use and Marital Distress: An Interdependence Theory Perspective.”  Lindsey is co-advised by Drs. Chip Knee and Clayton Neighbors.