Sarah E. Victor

Sarah E. Victor, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University. She joined the university in Fall 2019 and leads the TRTL (Translational Research on Trauma and Life Events) lab. Her work focuses on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide prevention, and the mental health of marginalized populations including LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities.

Education:

• Stanford University – BA in Psychology (2008)
• University of British Columbia – MA in Clinical Psychology (2012)
• University of British Columbia – PhD in Clinical Psychology (2017)

Research Interests: Dr. Victor's research is organized around three key areas: (1) suicide and self-injury during high-risk transitions, especially post-inpatient psychiatric care; (2) gender minority stress and resilience among transgender and non-binary individuals; and (3) ableism and mental health among people with disabilities. She employs ecological momentary assessment (EMA), longitudinal designs, and community-engaged methodologies to explore how stigma, discrimination, and daily stressors influence mental health outcomes over time.

Publications and Trends: Dr. Victor has published extensively on NSSI, suicide risk, and mental health disparities in high-impact journals such as Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, Clinical Psychology Review, and Perspectives on Psychological Science. Her work spans theoretical development, scale validation, and applied clinical research, with a strong emphasis on inclusion of lived experience and advocacy for marginalized communities.

Grants and Funding: She is currently funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and the National Eye Institute (NEI). Notable grants include:

• NIMH R21MH124794 – Longitudinal study of suicide risk post-inpatient discharge
• AFSP YIG-0-138-21 – Gender minority stress and resilience in transgender adults
• NEI R01EY036676 – Ableism and mental health in children with visual impairment

Advising and Mentorship: Dr. Victor mentors a diverse group of graduate students in the TRTL lab, including Kirsten Christensen, Amanda Bianco, Elizabeth Hoelscher, Stacey Demirelli, and Swanaya Gurjar. She also sponsors doctoral students on NIMH-funded fellowships (e.g., F31MH136767 for Kirsten Christensen).

Lab and Team: The TRTL lab is part of the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University. It includes graduate and undergraduate researchers, postdoctoral alumni, and collaborators across institutions. The lab is committed to inclusive research practices and community engagement.