Student Driven Publication 2011

Dr. Ian Gotlib, 2011 SRP Zubin Award Winner

Shauna Kushner, University of Toronto Zachary Millman, University of Colorado Austin Williamson, University of Iowa

his Fall 2011, Dr. Ian Gotlib received Given his enthusiasm for research collaboration, the Joseph Zubin Award for his diverse it is no surprise that Dr. Gotlib described the and invaluable contributions to the field benefits of an interdisciplinary background when Tof depression research. We had the we asked him about the keys to success for pleasure of talking to Dr. Gotlib after his future researchers. He emphasized that breadth address. Despite the variety of methods of training, knowledge, and skills sets not only employed and the volume and impact of his allow individuals to produce meaningful work, Dr. Gotlib simply summed up his advancements within their fields, but also will approach to depression research likely result in greater in two words, ―integration‖ and career longevity and less ―collaboration.‖ The future, Dr. burnout. Dr. Gotlib Gotlib contends, depends on the encourages young field’s ability to connect findings investigators to develop a from cognitive, genetic, and ―thick skin.‖ It is his belief brain imaging research. that those who can persevere through and When describing the importance learn from rejected of collaborative work, Dr. Gotlib manuscripts and grant earnestly emphasized his proposals will succeed in appreciation for his graduate the long run. students, post-doctoral fellows, and many collaborators. Whether Dr. Gotlib spoke to the at SRP or a colloquium at various aspects of his Stanford, he is always looking career in academia that are for someone who can teach him challenging, invigorating, something new or explore a problem from a and personally valuable. The diversity evident different angle. ―I can’t work alone,‖ he in his research program is what he values most. explained. ―I need the expertise that This is reflected in the variety of positions he collaboration brings.‖ In addition to numerous has held throughout his career such as Clinical collaborations in the U.S., Dr. Gotlib’s Psychologist, Director of Clinical Training, and endeavors extend overseas, including Senior Associate Dean. Although he concedes international partnerships with Dr. Anja that maintaining a healthy work-life balance can Fritzsche at the University of Hamburg, Dr. be challenging in academia, Dr. Gotlib asserted Adriane Arteche at the University of Oxford, that the appealing advantages far outweigh the and Dr. Kate Harkness at the University of drawbacks. For example, he is especially Toronto. It is apparent that no distance is too grateful for his current station at Stanford. ―I great for synergy among enthusiastic can’t imagine a better life than to be learning researchers. and teaching every day,‖ he said. ―It can be a really great life.‖

Importantly, Dr. Gotlib spoke to what he believes will optimize the future of psychopathology research. He pointed to not only the qualities of promising students, fellows, and junior faculty, but also the significance of training and grant program designs as crucial factors in assuring the production of novel, high- quality research. Citing the Early Investigator Awards offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Alliance for Research on and Depression (NARSAD), Dr. Gotlib indicated, ―It is extraordinarily important to have special support for new investigators.‖ Hiring departments can also encourage quality research by offering ―good start-up packages.‖ Finally, at the graduate level, Dr. Gotlib suggests that training psychopathology research in general, and Dr. requires the integration of material across a Gotlib’s work in particular. Dynamism and range of disciplines. ―The broader you can be variety have kept Dr. Gotlib motivated to coming out, the better you can be.‖ actively pursue research for over 30 years, and he certainly doesn’t show any signs of slowing Talking with Dr. Gotlib stimulated excitement in down. us all about the future of our own careers,

Dr. Lee Anna Clark, Incoming SRP President

Ashley Kendall, Northwestern University Elissa Hamlat, Temple University Kathrin Herzhoff, University of Toronto

r. Lee Anna Clark, Disorders section of the William J. and DSM-5 and serves on Dorothy K. O’Neill several cross-cutting DProfessor of Study Groups for the at the University DSM revision. Dr. of Notre Dame, will serve as Clark was kind enough President of SRP in 2011- to sit down with us to 2012. A prominent be interviewed as part personality researcher, Dr. of the SRP Publication Clark is among the ―most Committee. highly cited‖ psychologists according to the Institute for When asked about her Scientific Information. She is goals for the Society as currently one of 11 incoming president, Dr. international members of the Work Group to Clark stated wryly her primary aim is ―not to revise the Personality and Personality mess up the Society.‖ In her view, SRP is an extraordinarily well-functioning organization, interrelated, and that common processes cut distinguished by its annual meeting. Coming across many types of psychopathology. in with an agenda of tangential activities, she said, could dilute the Society’s focus. Dr. Dr. Clark is often regarded as a role model for Clark believes graduate students, particularly women. Even that it is the in the current tough Program employment Chair who is market, she advises faced with the that the road to greatest success for current challenge of students is pursuing the Executive research that truly Board; interests them in the organizing the most rigorous annual manner possible. "If meeting. Dr. you start following Clark the money,‖ she expressed said, ―you’ll lose great pride your passion.‖ She about having maintains that a identified career in academia Jennifer Tackett, the can be more difficult 2011 SRP Early Career Award Winner, for for women, but does not have to be. In the this role, before she knew that Jennifer had context of a range of possible personal life won the award: ―Part of my goal is to stay out choices and pursuits, she suggested—at the of her way, to try to be helpful to her … and to same time jokingly and very seriously—that work with her to make the next meeting at the most important step a woman can take is least as good as all the rest have been.‖ selecting the right partner. If a partner is open to moving, she explained as one example, it Dr. Clark joined SRP years ago, at the allows a young researcher to pursue the invitation of Drs. Susan Mineka and Don positions most commensurate with her Fowles. In reflecting on changes over the abilities and interests. With regards to having course of her membership, she noted that with a family, she adds: ―One thing I can say is that the emergence of methods like biometrics, the there is no good time to have children. You Society has become more focused on just have to do it. There are good things and neuroscience. She thinks that by and large, bad things about any time you pick. But in my however, members still recognize such perspective it’s absolutely worth it.‖ methods as tools to be used to understand psychopathology, rather than as shifting the In closing, Dr. Clark advised all graduate central focus of SRP toward genetics or students to take advantage of the knowledge of neurobiology. In her view, another way in more senior colleagues to further their careers: which the society has changed is that it now ―Don’t hesitate to ask your advisor to represents a greater breadth of introduce you to people at SRP. If your psychopathology research. This includes a advisor isn’t able to, take the bull by the horns, growth in personality disorder research, a and introduce yourself. Particularly in this greater focus on depression and anxiety, and Society, I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t the inclusion of previously unrepresented be willing to talk to a student. Don’t be such as eating disorders. intimidated! We all know that you are the She thinks that this increased scope of interest future.‖ is due in large part to the growing understanding that these conditions are Dr. Jack Blanchard, 2011 SRP Program Chair

Mara Hart, University of Louisville Catherine Robertson, University of Louisville Camille Wilson, University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC)

s part of the 2011 SRP Publication school years and his former mentee, Dr. Bill Committee, we had the opportunity to Horan. Both Drs. Kring and Horan are sit down with Dr. Jack Blanchard during prominent members of the society. Athe 2011 SRP conference. During our conversation with Dr. Blanchard, it was easy to Dr. Blanchard attended one of the first SRP see his enthusiasm for SRP. As someone who has meetings as a graduate student. He recalled been a part of SRP since its beginning, we were feeling amazed to meet people whose research able to catch a glimpse of how his he admired and influenced his involvement with the organization own interest in the field. When has shaped his career as well as how asked about his fondest SRP itself has grown and developed memories of SRP, he recounted over the years. the special exchanges and dinners over the years with Dr. Blanchard began his research mentors, colleagues, peers and career as a graduate student at students. Dr. Blanchard SUNY Stony Brook under the emphasized the importance of mentorship of Dr. John Neale. He these social (in addition to attributes Dr. Neale as the person intellectual) opportunities who most inspired his research offered by the annual interest in schizophrenia. It is fitting conference. that Dr. Neale is also this year's SRP winner of the Mentor Award, an honor given to As his career progressed over the years, so did outstanding mentors whose students have his involvement and role in SRP. In addition to progressed to productive and successful responsibilities as SRP Program Chair, he also academic careers. invests in current students and new researchers in the field – often sharing over lunch or dinner After completing his internship and his passion and commitment to research in postdoctoral fellowship at the Eastern schizophrenia. Dr. Blanchard noted that this Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute at the year marked the largest attendance in SRP’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, Dr. history – a long way from SRP’s early days as Blanchard’s research career in the experience a one-room meeting on Harvard’s campus. Dr. and expression of emotion in schizophrenia led Blanchard reflected on how psychopathology him to the University of New Mexico and then research has changed over the years, which can to his current position at the University of be seen through the evolution of SRP itself. Maryland, College Park where he currently Upon its inception, the conference focused on serves as the Director of the Clinical Program. schizophrenia research. The increasing complexity and broadening of the field of One of his recent ongoing projects is the psychopathology is reflected in the expanded Collaboration to Advance Negative Symptoms domains of research (e.g., depression, Assessment in Schizophrenia (CANSAS), a childhood disorders) emphasized at the workgroup dedicated to the development of a conference, as well as the increasingly new measure of negative symptoms in sophisticated methods of exploring these schizophrenia. His collaborators include Dr. disorders (e.g., fMRI). This collectively points Ann Kring, a colleague during his graduate to the exciting and dynamic state of the field of research in psychopathology.

When asked if he had a ―plan B‖ for his life in the event his research career did not work out, Dr. Blanchard laughed and said that he always knew he wanted to pursue research in some capacity, though uncertain as to how things would unfold. Throughout his career, unexpected opportunities emerged that continued to confirm his academic and research interests. Dr. Blanchard encourages current graduate students and researchers early in their careers to be prepared for these unexpected opportunities. Graduate school goes quickly, he reminded us. Thus, making the most of each moment, remembering that these years are a time to evolve into the clinician or researcher that you want to become, is important. He advisors can serve as a valuable resource to advises students to be intentional and strategic navigate a career path. Dr. Blanchard was a in seeking out training opportunities beyond beneficiary of enriching mentorship, which he the classroom, towards developing skills and now shares with future colleagues in preparedness for their careers. Mentors and psychopathology research at SRP and beyond.

Dr. Deanna Barch, SRP President Elect

Tim Campellone, University of California, Berkeley Erin Lawton, Washington University in St. Louis Rachel Waford, University of Louisville

s a part of this year’s SRP Publication At some point during their education, every Committee, we had the honor of student thinks about their ―Plan B.‖ For some of interviewing Dr. Deanna Barch, us, our Plan B represents a radical departure AProfessor of Psychology, from the world of psychology. For Dr. Barch, and Radiology at Washington University in St. however, it was very clear that her passion and Louis and President-Elect of SRP. Dr. Barch her path were in psychology. In high school, Dr. received her Ph.D. from the University of Barch served as peer counselor, a position that Illinois and is now a leading researcher in the led her to choose psychology as a major in area of emotion-cognition interactions in college. After graduation, Dr. Barch worked as a schizophrenia. case manager at a mental health facility, when she realized her desire to In an effort for us as students to turn toward the world of seek guidance from Dr. Barch, research. This led her to we first asked what she wished graduate school and she knew as a graduate student. ultimately to where she is She responded that life post- today. graduate school only gets busier, so current graduate students During her very should now ―take time to smell productive career as a the roses‖. researcher, Dr. Barch has been part of several important studies, including serving as Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Barch’s commitment to the exploration and on the recently completed first phase of support of new research is reflected in her CNTRICS. Among all her work, Dr. Barch extensive resume and integral presence at SRP. recalled one study as being the most fun. This When asked what it is about SRP that she enjoys study, conducted in 2005 with Dr. Cameron so much, Dr. Barch quickly stated that SRP is Carter, explored whether administration of d- the only meeting she attends annually and that amphetamine (a dopamine agonist) improves this ―smallish‖ meeting is full of the ―best cognition among medicated patients with people in the field doing all kinds of interesting schizophrenia. More than the study results, things.‖ She further stated, ―it’s not about which showed improvements in cognition, Dr. showing each other up; it’s all about sharing.‖ Barch recalled enjoying the ability to directly In terms of future research, Dr. Barch predicts improve the lives of the individual study strong efforts to develop treatments for the participants. cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Dr. Barch stated, ―At this point, Dr. Barch’s current negative symptoms research represents have not received in part a shift from the same level of her earlier work in research attention cognition and (relative to schizophrenia positive (which she is still symptoms), so continuing). When they will become asked what the focus.‖ In her contributed to this own work, Dr. shift, Dr. Barch Barch has plans stated, ―it was to adapt reward serendipitous; a processing and colleague came disorganization knocking.‖ Dr. Joan tasks to push this Luby, Associate effort forward. Professor of Child Psychiatry and Founder and Director of Washington University School of Consistent with the focus of a number of SRP Medicine's Early Emotional Development presentations this year, Dr. Barch also sees the Program, approached Dr. Barch about a possible need to examine the currently arbitrary collaboration regarding the use of imaging to distinction between schizophrenia, explore depression in preschool-age children. schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. Dr. Barch stated, ―We are forcing categories. I Dr. Barch identified her long-standing interest in hope we can do a better job of identifying those developmental psychopathology as the directions and creating a common definition.‖ ―methodological‖ link between her earlier work This sentiment was expressed by a number of and present work. She described previous work speakers in widely varied fields at this year’s using a sibling model to study schizophrenia, but meeting. With all of this ―cross-fertilization,‖ it described frustration in being able to recruit very is no wonder Dr. Barch likes SRP so much! young siblings in this work. Her current work allows her to pursue research interests related to Regarding plans and ideas for SRP’s future early developmental mechanisms of growth, Dr. Barch foremost identified a desire to psychopathology. Dr. Barch remains interested reinstate discussion groups for women in science in developmental work in schizophrenia, and she to address their unique challenges. Secondly, she indicated that improved models are needed in aims for development of additional graduate this area. student opportunities. SRP’s policy is, and has been, that students are limited to poster presentations. Dr. Barch relayed a story about Dr. Barch’s enthusiasm for psychological being in the audience during a less than science and SRP was evident throughout our successful graduate student talk, and discussion. Her commitment to advancing the understands that first presentations in large field, as well as the organization, has clearly venues can be nerve racking. Nonetheless, Dr. been present over the course of her career. Her Barch would like to provide a venue for students enthusiasm and commitment toward the field to be involved with talks or discussions, perhaps and the society are both palpable and as a lunch session or in a data-blitz format (for contagious. example, a number of students afforded 5 minutes each).