Student Driven Publication 2011
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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 psychopathology 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 Schizophrenia 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 Psychology 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 psychopathologies 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.