look for programs/ profs that study depression

[hamsterpants]

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Hello all

I am trying to find a professor or program that matches my primary research interest: the biological and psychological etiology of major depression.

 

[psycguy85]

Ben Hankin at the University of Denver sounds like a good match for you, especially if you are interested in adolescent depression.

 

[hamsterpants]

Ben Hankin at the University of Denver sounds like a good match for you, especially if you are interested in adolescent depression.

Awesome. Thanks for the lead!

 

[Ollie123]

Really? I find that hard to believe..."biological and psychological etiology of major depression" is very broad and probably encompasses 80% of the depression researchers out there. Your questions are a bit more specific and you are unlikely to find anyone researching all of them, but it seems like it could easily fit within many peoples research programs

Some initial thoughts off the top of my head - locations might be off a bit, but I think they all worked there at some point:
Flett - York
Shankman - UIC
Alloy - Temple
Abramson - Wisc-Mad
Nolen-Hoeksema - Yale
Joormann - Miami
Gotlib - Stanford
Cuthbert - Minnesota
Half the department at Berkeley (Kring, Harvey, Levenson)

That should get you started

 

[hamsterpants]

Really? I find that hard to believe..."biological and psychological etiology of major depression" is very broad and probably encompasses 80% of the depression researchers out there. Your questions are a bit more specific and you are unlikely to find anyone researching all of them, but it seems like it could easily fit within many peoples research programs

Some initial thoughts off the top of my head - locations might be off a bit, but I think they all worked there at some point:
Flett - York
Shankman - UIC
Alloy - Temple
Abramson - Wisc-Mad
Nolen-Hoeksema - Yale
Joormann - Miami
Gotlib - Stanford
Cuthbert - Minnesota
Half the department at Berkeley (Kring, Harvey, Levenson)

That should get you started

Thanks!

I am already considering applying to 5 on your list so perhaps I am on the right track. A couple have already told me that they are not or are not sure if they are taking students so I wanted to have back-ups. I am also concerned I am not applying to a diverse enough pool of schools, I seem to have mostly big names/ top tier schools on my list and I know the competition is fierce.

I don't need my interests to be matched exactly. I hope to refine them during my training.

 

[northernpsych]

Dr. Abela at Rutgers also researches depression.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Duncan Campbell at Montana does work that might fit well with your gene x environment interests, though they (the faculty there) don't do imaging work due to lack of readily available equipment.

 

[hamsterpants]

Thank you both.

This is very helpful!

 

[Ollie123]

Duncan got into genetics work?!? That's news to me - and awesome news at that - I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for it, I'm curious where he's taking it

hamster - I did the same thing (applying almost exclusively to top tier programs). It depends on your attitude and your goal. I knew what I wanted to research, and wasn't willing to stretch it just to get accepted somewhere, doing work that I potentially did not want to do, making it more difficult to transition into that kind of work later on.

Especially if this is your first time applying and you don't have an explicit reason to hurry, I don't think its a bad approach. Now if you have applied 4 times before without success, then it might be time to start thinking about whether you need to broaden your search a bit. If it doesn't work out, its always possible to apply broadly next time around. Getting sucked into a school that really isn't a good fit for you because you wanted to make sure you got accepted somewhere is a lot more difficult to back out of.

 

[futureapppsy2]

No, not hard genetics specifically, but I know he looks at bio factors/possibly genetic predispositions some--his grad students (and hence him) have been doing work in this area more now and last I heard a few months back, are trying to incorporate more physiological health psych stuff through partnering with physicians. PM me if curious.

 

[LM02]

In addition to what has already been mentioned, I'd strongly suggest you take a look at Chris Beevers at UT-Austin.

Oh, and Steve Ilardi at Kansas.

 

[hamsterpants]

Thank you, Ollie123.

That is pretty much how I feel about it. I know what I want to study. This is my first time applying and my stats are pretty good (though everyone's are it seems) but I am quite a bit older than the average applicant (34). I have waited this long so I may as well get it right I suppose 😉 It is a big commitment and I do feel this is the area I am meant to research. I am trying to not think about the prestige of the schools I apply to but it does happen that most of my POI are at very selective institutions.

Do you study mood disorders by chance?

Duncan got into genetics work?!? That's news to me - and awesome news at that - I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for it, I'm curious where he's taking it

hamster - I did the same thing (applying almost exclusively to top tier programs). It depends on your attitude and your goal. I knew what I wanted to research, and wasn't willing to stretch it just to get accepted somewhere, doing work that I potentially did not want to do, making it more difficult to transition into that kind of work later on.

Especially if this is your first time applying and you don't have an explicit reason to hurry, I don't think its a bad approach. Now if you have applied 4 times before without success, then it might be time to start thinking about whether you need to broaden your search a bit. If it doesn't work out, its always possible to apply broadly next time around. Getting sucked into a school that really isn't a good fit for you because you wanted to make sure you got accepted somewhere is a lot more difficult to back out of.

 

[hamsterpants]

In addition to what has already been mentioned, I'd strongly suggest you take a look at Chris Beevers at UT-Austin.

Oh, and Steve Ilardi at Kansas.

Thank you!!!

 

[Ollie123]

Nope, primarily addictions. Interested in comorbidity, but haven't had a chance to do any work in that so far.

 

[cara susanna]

One of my undergrad profs worked with Dr. Ilardi and, from what I know of their research, it seemed very interesting. 😀

 

[hamsterpants]

One of my undergrad profs worked with Dr. Ilardi and, from what I know of their research, it seemed very interesting. 😀

Very cool, Thanks cara susanna.

 

[okayroots06]

Really? I find that hard to believe..."biological and psychological etiology of major depression" is very broad and probably encompasses 80% of the depression researchers out there. Your questions are a bit more specific and you are unlikely to find anyone researching all of them, but it seems like it could easily fit within many peoples research programs

Some initial thoughts off the top of my head - locations might be off a bit, but I think they all worked there at some point:
Flett - York
Shankman - UIC
Alloy - Temple
Abramson - Wisc-Mad
Nolen-Hoeksema - Yale
Joormann - Miami
Gotlib - Stanford
Cuthbert - Minnesota
Half the department at Berkeley (Kring, Harvey, Levenson)

That should get you started

fyi: lynn abramson isn't accepting students. correction: incorrect information (Anne Kring looks at emotion regulation and Alison Harvey looks at sleep in relation to Bipolar Disorder and Levenson looks at schizophrenia). S. Johnson looks at Bipolar Disorder in relation to positive rumination, BIS/BAS and other psychosocial risks.

other depression researchers:

constance hammen (ucla)
daniel klein (suny stony brook)
kate harkness (queens university)
brandon gibb (suny binghampton)
edward craighead (emory university)
susan mineka & emily durbin (northwestern)
mark whisman (university of colorado boulder)
john abela (rutgers)
benjamin hankin (university of denver)
christopher beevers (university of texas)
david cole & judy garber (vanderbilt)
susan nolen-hoeksema (yale)
lauren alloy (temple)
mitch prinstein & eric youngstrom: (university of north carolina)

this should help you out. you really need to decide whether you are more interested more in a biological, cognitive or integrative approach in depression. then, apply accordingly.


you might want to consider j. pettit (university of houston), rick ingram (university of kanas) and thomas joiner (florida state)

 

[thewesternsky]

Adding a few more at slightly lesser-known schools:

David Dozois (University of Western Ontario)
John Roberts (SUNY-Buffalo)
Mark Ellenbogen (Concordia)
Jeff Ciesla (Kent State)

Isn't John Abela at McGill? Or did he move recently?

 

[Ollie123]

Is Sheri Johnson at Berkeley now? Last I knew she was at Miami.

Think we must be referring to different Levenson's The one I'm referring to is a basic emotion researcher - primarily psychophys. I think there is another Levenson - I might be wrong about who is at Berkeley. The others are perhaps a bit more of a stretch, but I know Kring has done some work related to mood/anxiety since her schizophrenia work is mostly related to affective components.

 

[okayroots06]

Is Sheri Johnson at Berkeley now? Last I knew she was at Miami.

Think we must be referring to different Levenson's The one I'm referring to is a basic emotion researcher - primarily psychophys. I think there is another Levenson - I might be wrong about who is at Berkeley. The others are perhaps a bit more of a stretch, but I know Kring has done some work related to mood/anxiety since her schizophrenia work is mostly related to affective components.

i stand corrected. you're right, i got confused with a different levenson. yep, s. johnson arrived last year from u miami and likewise for john abela who is now at rutgers.

 

[hamsterpants]

fyi: lynn abramson isn't accepting students. correction: incorrect information (Anne Kring looks at emotion regulation and Alison Harvey looks at sleep in relation to Bipolar Disorder and Levenson looks at schizophrenia). S. Johnson looks at Bipolar Disorder in relation to positive rumination, BIS/BAS and other psychosocial risks.

other depression researchers:

constance hammen (ucla)
daniel klein (suny stony brook)
kate harkness (queens university)
brandon gibb (suny binghampton)
edward craighead (emory university)
susan mineka & emily durbin (northwestern)
mark whisman (university of colorado boulder)
john abela (rutgers)
benjamin hankin (university of denver)
christopher beevers (university of texas)
david cole & judy garber (vanderbilt)
susan nolen-hoeksema (yale)
lauren alloy (temple)
mitch prinstein & eric youngstrom: (university of north carolina)

this should help you out. you really need to decide whether you are more interested more in a biological, cognitive or integrative approach in depression. then, apply accordingly.


you might want to consider j. pettit (university of houston), rick ingram (university of kanas) and thomas joiner (florida state)

Fantastic. This rocks! Thank you. It looks like I have a lot of articles to read this weekend 😉

I am definitely most interested in an integrative approach.

 

[hamsterpants]

Adding a few more at slightly lesser-known schools:

David Dozois (University of Western Ontario)
John Roberts (SUNY-Buffalo)
Mark Ellenbogen (Concordia)
Jeff Ciesla (Kent State)

Isn't John Abela at McGill? Or did he move recently?

Great! Thanks.

 

[cbyoung]

Hi!
I also have similar interests. Are there any suggestions for professors who use neuroimaging to examine major depression?

 

[hamsterpants]

Hi!
I also have similar interests. Are there any suggestions for professors who use neuroimaging to examine major depression?

hello cbyoung

I don't have any specific names for you but many of the names listed above do neuroimaging.

Good luck!

 

[cbyoung]

Great thanks! I will look into it.

 

[PsychPhDone]

That's a pretty good list already.

Other depression researchers/researchers who have done at least some related projects:

John Curry (Duke)
Rob DeRubeis (University of Pennsylvania)
Adele Hayes (University of Delaware)
Anne Simons (University of Oregon
Timothy Strauman (Duke)
Dan Strunk (Ohio State)
Don Tucker (University of Oregon)

 

[AryaStark]

I collaborated with Sheri Johnson last semester and she was at UC Berkeley.

Is Sheri Johnson at Berkeley now? Last I knew she was at Miami.
edit: oops that was already said. However, just more of a confirmation? haha.
Think we must be referring to different Levenson's The one I'm referring to is a basic emotion researcher - primarily psychophys. I think there is another Levenson - I might be wrong about who is at Berkeley. The others are perhaps a bit more of a stretch, but I know Kring has done some work related to mood/anxiety since her schizophrenia work is mostly related to affective components.

 

[hamsterpants]

That's a pretty good list already.

Other depression researchers/researchers who have done at least some related projects:

John Curry (Duke)
Rob DeRubeis (University of Pennsylvania)
Adele Hayes (University of Delaware)
Anne Simons (University of Oregon
Timothy Strauman (Duke)
Dan Strunk (Ohio State)
Don Tucker (University of Oregon)

The more the merrier! Thanks so much. I don't know what I would have done without this board as most of my original list either wasn't taking students or after reading their work, I realized POI's interests didn't overlap enough with my own.

 

[ScarletKnight62]

I know he's been said already, but Dr. Abela at Rutgers is great, I work for him now.

 

[hamsterpants]

I know he's been said already, but Dr. Abela at Rutgers is great, I work for him now.

thank you. Such "inside" information is very helpful. I have heard nothing but praise about him. Good to know.

 

[cara susanna]

I know someone who worked with him too and (s)he loved it.

 

[hamsterpants]

I know someone who worked with him too and (s)he loved it.

very cool. Reading his work currently. It's funny, I was originally going to apply to McGill and he was one of my POI.

I would love to apply to Canadian schools although I know the accreditation thing is up in the air. I am much more research focused than clinical but it seems a shame to rule it out. I am also worried about international aid/ financing. Applying in the US seems complicated enough right now!
But I wouldn't mind living in Canada for awhile.

 

[hamsterpants]

any other suggestions are welcome! 😉

 

[futureapppsy2]

Stanford doesn't have a clinical or counseling program. Where are you applying to there?

Also, that's a list filled with very competitive programs. Are you okay with that? Have you considered looking for a less competitive program or two that match your interests?

 

[hamsterpants]

Stanford doesn't have a clinical or counseling program. Where are you applying to there?

Also, that's a list filled with very competitive programs. Are you okay with that? Have you considered looking for a less competitive program or two that match your interests?

Yeah, they are all very competitive and as I mentioned before- I wish they weren't so. I don't care about the prestige or location (except I don't drive so I need to take that into account) - I am only looking at POIs but this is how things have shaken out so far. I would love to add more programs, any ideas? My stats are pretty good - esp GRE but I know that is far from a guarantee.

Thank you though, this is good food for thought.

 

[LM02]

Why no UT-Austin? Chris Beevers is doing some really interesting work.

Based on your interests, I've been pretty limited in the people I've suggested over here. There are a lot of great depression researchers who do not do the type of work you're interested in (eg, psychotherapy outcome research).

With that said, a couple of additional people have come to mind.

Jutta Joorman - Univ. of Miami. She was actually at Stanford, working with Gotlib, for a while.

Andy Tomarken - Vanderbilt.

Dan Klein - Stony Brook. I'm guessing that you are applying to UIC to work with Stew Shankman - he studied with Dan Klein.

 

[hamsterpants]

[............

 

[LM02]

LM02,

Out of curiosity, who would you recommend that does psychotherapy outcome work?

For depression, and off the top of my head, here are some people who come to mind:

Steve Hollon - Vanderbilt
Rob DeRubeis - Penn
Keith Dobson - Calgary
Sona Dimidjian - Colorado-Boulder
Dan Strunk - Ohio State
Tim Strauman - Duke

 

[hamsterpants]

For depression, and off the top of my head, here are some people who come to mind:

Steve Hollon - Vanderbilt
Rob DeRubeis - Penn
Keith Dobson - Calgary
Sona Dimidjian - Colorado-Boulder
Dan Strunk - Ohio State
Tim Strauman - Duke

Many Thanks

 

[LM02]

Just remembered another:

Adele Hayes - U. Delaware

Robin Jarrett also does excellent depression treatment research, but I think (??) she's primarily in psychiatry and not psychology at UTSW in Dallas.

 

[hamsterpants]

Just remembered another:

Adele Hayes - U. Delaware

Robin Jarrett also does excellent depression treatment research, but I think (??) she's primarily in psychiatry and not psychology at UTSW in Dallas.

Thank you for all your help.