Dr. Steven Siegel is the Franz Alexander Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, with additional roles as Professor of Neurological Surgery, Biomedical Engineering (Viterbi School), and Chief Mental Health and Wellness Officer at Keck Medicine. He holds a B.A. in Neuroscience from Colgate University and an M.D./Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His research focuses on schizophrenia, autism, and drug dependence, using animal models to study EEG, behavior, and molecular mechanisms. He pioneered a biodegradable implant for schizophrenia treatment, now FDA-reviewed. Dr. Siegel oversees a department of 200 faculty and expanded mental health services at USC, including student mental health integration. He has mentored over 150 trainees and published ~150 manuscripts. Key awards include being named a national outstanding clinician by NAMI. His work bridges clinical care, education, and translational research, with leadership in behavioral health systems and innovation in drug delivery systems.
Dr. Els van der Ven is an Associate Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, specializing in Clinical, Neuro- & Developmental Psychology. She holds a position in the APH - Mental Health department at the WHO Collaborating Center. Her research focuses on social determinants of mental health, particularly psychosis in ethnic minorities, global mental health inequities, and early intervention services. She leads projects like EU4Health’s U-RISE initiative for displaced persons and the NWO-funded METS program for trauma survivors. Dr. van der Ven also contributes to the HEROES study on healthcare workers’ mental health during the pandemic. Education: Doctorate in Psychology (not explicitly stated, inferred from title). Her research interests emphasize understanding psychosis disparities through biopsychosocial frameworks and improving population-level mental health interventions. Key projects include investigating migration’s role in psychosis risk and scaling mental health interventions for vulnerable groups. Dr. van der Ven’s work addresses global health goals, including mental health equity and sustainable development. She is involved in teaching courses such as Psychopathology and Global Mental Health at VU’s bachelor and master levels. Ancillary roles include serving as Head of Training at RINO Amsterdam and a clinical psychologist at ARQ Nationaal Psychotrauma Centrum. Her research outputs span over 50 publications, focusing on topics like cannabis use and psychosis, pandemic impacts on healthcare workers, and cultural barriers in mental health care. Projects often emphasize scalable solutions for marginalized populations, reflecting her commitment to addressing systemic inequities in mental health.
Gioia Bottesi is an Associate Professor at the Department of General Psychology, University of Padova. Her research focuses on trans-diagnostic vulnerability factors underlying emotional disorders, particularly intolerance of uncertainty and emotional dysregulation, with cross-cultural analyses across clinical and non-clinical populations. She examines dimensional models of personality disorders including maladaptive traits (DSM-5 Section III) and psychopathy (Triarchic Model), and develops assessments/treatments for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Her work emphasizes adolescent mental health, investigating sociocultural influences on body image, the role of digital media (e.g., Instagram) in appearance concerns, and psychopathy correlates in community samples. She explores interventions like mobile app-based therapies for OCD-related stigma and transdiagnostic group interventions targeting intolerance of uncertainty. Recent studies include longitudinal analyses of uncertainty processing in adolescents and cross-cultural comparisons of symptom comorbidity patterns. Key contributions involve advancing psychometric tools (e.g., Italian validation of assessment scales) and applying network analysis to understand psychological symptom interconnections. Her research bridges clinical and developmental psychology, addressing both individual-level mechanisms and broader societal impacts on mental health. No specific grants or student advisees are listed in available materials. Collaborative projects include multinational studies on physical activity behavior models and Italian consensus conferences on psychological therapies for anxiety/depression.
Professor Naomi Fineberg is a leading psychiatrist at the University of Hertfordshire , affiliated with the School of Life and Medical Sciences and Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science . She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Comprehensive Psychiatry and leads the NHS England Highly Specialised Service for Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. President Elect of the British Association for Psychopharmacology Co-chair of World Psychiatric Association Anxiety & Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Scientific Section Coordinator of Horizon Europe Network for Problematic Usage of the Internet Secretary of the International College of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Her research focuses on the neurobiology and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders and behavioral addictions , particularly exploring: Mechanisms linking compulsivity and digital behavior Novel pharmacological interventions (e.g., psilocybin studies) Cognitive flexibility in treatment-resistant OCD Neuromodulation approaches (tDCS, DBS) Psychopharmacological side effects in schizophrenia-OCD comorbidity Digital mental health interventions Recent publications demonstrate methodological innovation in mixed-methods analysis , pharmacological challenge studies , and neurocognitive biomarkers . She actively investigates the intersection of digitalization and mental health in post-pandemic Europe.
Mark J Sciutto is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Muhlenberg College. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Hofstra University and a B.A. from Villanova University. His teaching philosophy focuses on transformative education across psychology courses including Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychopathology, and Psychological Statistics, aiming to foster student growth through challenging academic experiences. Dr. Sciutto's research examines psychological help-seeking barriers, with two primary focuses: (1) stigma and misconceptions surrounding ADHD and other disorders, investigating how beliefs impact treatment decisions and social perceptions; and (2) mindfulness interventions in educational settings through partnerships with organizations like the Shanthi Project. His work emphasizes real-world applications in schools and clinical contexts. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong trends in ADHD research (diagnosis, stigma, adult adaptation), educational psychology (teaching methods, curriculum design), and mindfulness interventions. His scholarship consistently addresses practical applications in clinical, educational, and workplace settings. Notable recognition includes the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching (2016) He actively mentors students in research, with over 25 advisees contributing to conference presentations and publications. While no grants are explicitly mentioned, his community partnership with the Shanthi Project demonstrates applied research collaboration. He leads research seminars and teams focused on mindfulness and stigma studies.
Clare Kelly is an academic researcher with a focus on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. She has contributed to studies on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), leveraging large-scale neuroimaging data through collaborations like the ENIGMA Consortium. Her work emphasizes reproducibility in brain asymmetry research and understanding anatomical correlates of mental health conditions. Her research includes analyzing subcortical brain volumes, cortical thickness, and surface area across disorders, as well as developing utility weights for pediatric quality of life assessments in diverse populations. She has co-authored influential papers in journals such as the American Journal of Psychiatry and Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry . Clare Kelly was a Co-Investigator on the DYNAMO KIDNEY project (2021–2023), funded by the MRC Medical Research Council, exploring novel methods for assessing kidney functional reserve. This interdisciplinary work highlights her engagement with translational research. Her scientific contributions span neuroscience, psychiatry, and health economics, addressing both clinical and methodological challenges in mental health research. Collaborations with global working groups underscore her role in advancing collaborative, large-scale studies in neuroimaging and psychopathology.
Dr. Shabah Shadli is a Lecturer at the School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University (CSU), where he teaches PSY421 Psychological Interventions. Previously, he served as a Lecturer in Neuroscience at the University of New England (2022–2023) and held postdoctoral and research fellow roles at the University of Otago (2015–2022). He earned his PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology from the University of Otago in 2015, focusing on anxiety-specific biomarkers. His research employs EEG, fMRI, and source localization techniques to study anxiety and depression. Key projects include developing EEG-based biomarkers for anxiety disorders and investigating ketamine’s efficacy in treatment-resistant cases. His work is supported by grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand. He maintains an h-index of 9 and an i-10 index of 9. Teaching expertise includes units on neurobiology of mental disorders and research methods in neuroscience. He integrates DSM-5-TR criteria and treatment modalities into his pedagogy. Professional memberships include the Society for Neuroscience and Australian Cognitive Neuroscience Society.
Paul Gravel is an Associate Research Scientist at Yale School of Medicine, affiliated with the Radiology & Biomedical Imaging department and the PET Core. His work focuses on advanced neuroimaging techniques, particularly PET imaging, to study brain function and disorders. Key research areas include dopamine and serotonin receptor dynamics, Alzheimer’s disease, and the development of novel PET technologies for high-resolution brain imaging. Gravel contributes to cutting-edge studies involving motion correction, scatter correction, and next-generation PET scanners like the NeuroEXPLORER. His research also explores synaptic density in autism spectrum disorder and the impact of age and BMI on histamine receptors. Gravel collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary teams, advancing both clinical applications and fundamental neuroscience through innovative imaging methodologies. His publications span topics such as dopamine receptor availability in cocaine use disorder, serotonin synthesis in obsessive-compulsive disorder, and technical advancements in PET reconstruction algorithms. Gravel’s work bridges clinical neurology, radiology, and biomedical engineering, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic insights through advanced imaging tools.
Michael Crowley is an Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine's Child Study Center, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. His work focuses on key questions in social and affective neuroscience with an emphasis on child psychology. Dr. Crowley earned his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2004, where he studied under Nathan Fox. Clinically, he completed a child-focused clinical internship through the Brown University Clinical Psychology Training Consortium and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center Training Program in Child Neuropsychiatric Disorders under Linda Mayes, M.D. Dr. Crowley's research primarily investigates child anxiety and the neural substrates of avoidance, threat detection, and worry. He is particularly interested in how treatment might lead to brain changes for these factors in child anxiety and how biofeedback can supplement traditional approaches. His research methodology heavily utilizes dense array electroencephalography, peripheral physiology, and functional imaging in his work with children and adolescents. His work demonstrates a strong integration of computational modeling with traditional neuroscience approaches to understand attentional biases and emotional processing in youth. Dr. Crowley's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on neural mechanisms underlying anxiety disorders, with particular emphasis on social anxiety in adolescents. His work increasingly incorporates driving simulation studies, computational modeling of decision-making processes, and advanced EEG analysis techniques to understand attentional processes. He has made significant contributions to understanding how neural responses to social exclusion, risk avoidance behaviors, and attentional biases relate to anxiety symptoms in youth. NARSAD Young Investigator award Dr. Crowley has received continuous funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. He serves as a Sub Investigator on multiple clinical trials including studies on irritability in young adults, comprehensive therapy for teenagers with autism, and biomarkers for obsessive-compulsive disorder. His research collaborations include prominent Yale faculty members such as Linda Mayes, Federico Vaca, Barbara Banz, Helena Rutherford, and Marc Potenza. Dr. Crowley is affiliated with the Developmental Neurocognitive Driving Simulation Research Center (DrivSim Lab) and the Center for Brain & Mind Health at Yale, where he conducts research using advanced neuroimaging techniques to understand developmental psychopathology.
James A. Waltz, PhD , is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Principal Investigator of the IDRIS lab at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) in Catonsville, Maryland. His federally-funded program uses behavioral experiments, functional neuroimaging, and computational modeling to understand how disturbances in reinforcement learning and reward processing give rise to the motivational and cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia. Education & Training BA, Psychology (Cognitive Science), Yale University (1994) MA, Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience), University of California, Los Angeles (1995) PhD, Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience), UCLA (1999) Post-doctoral Fellow, Neurophysiology Department, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany (1999–2004) Post-doctoral Fellow, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (2004–2006) Research Interests Dr. Waltz’s work centers on the neural and computational mechanisms of reinforcement learning and decision-making , with a translational focus on schizophrenia . His lab combines functional MRI, EEG, eye-tracking, and computational modeling to dissect how abnormalities in dopaminergic reward circuits—particularly fronto-striatal networks—contribute to anhedonia , avolition , and other negative symptoms of psychotic illness. Current projects examine (1) altered reward-prediction-error signaling in striatal and cortical regions; (2) effort-cost computations and motivational impairment; and (3) cognitive flexibility deficits and their relationship to delusions and hallucinations. Ongoing clinical protocols recruit first-degree relatives, patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, and healthy volunteers to probe the impact of stress, genetics, and antipsychotic medications on reward processing and learning. Scientific Awards & Honors National Research Service Award, NIH (1998–1999) Joseph A. Gingerelli Award for Distinguished Dissertation, UCLA (1999) H. McKee Jarboe Award for Outstanding Research in Psychiatry, UMSOM (2009) Young Investigator Mentor, International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (2013) Funding & Collaborations Dr. Waltz’s research is supported by an NIH R01 grant (R01MH094460) and is conducted in close collaboration with the Gold CANS Lab at MPRC, the Neuroimaging Research Branch at NIDA (Dr. Elliot Stein), and the Section of Human Neurogenetics at NIAAA (Dr. David Goldman). The IDRIS lab is embedded within MPRC’s Center for Brain Imaging Research (CBIR) , which houses a 3-Tesla Siemens Trio MRI scanner, 64-channel EEG suites, and eye-tracking facilities. Advising & Team The laboratory trains a continuum of researchers, from undergraduate volunteers through post-doctoral fellows. Current trainees include Adam J. Culbreth, PhD (Assistant Professor), Jacob Nudelman, BS (Senior Clinical Research Assistant), Elie Holzel, BA, and Safa Riaz, BA. Lab alumni have progressed to faculty positions at Charité Medical University, Maastricht University, KU Leuven, and Northwestern University.
Dr. Evrim Özkorumak Karaguzel is a Professor at the Medical School of Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) in Turkey, serving as the Chief of the Psychiatry Department. She completed her medical education at Marmara University Medical School in 1999 and undertook residency in Psychiatry at KTU from 2001 to 2007. Research Interests: Her work focuses on Anxiety Disorders, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Female sexuality and sexual dysfunction Intersections of psychiatric conditions with medical diseases Metrics: She has contributed to 143 publications (WoS), 46 in Scopus, and supervised 9 thesis advisories. Her H-Index is 318 (WoS) and 393 (Scopus). Contact Information: Email: eozkorumak@ktu.edu.tr , Office Phone: +90 462 377 5391, Fax: +90 462 377 5495, Address: KTÜ Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri AD, Turkey.
Prof. Dr. Feryal Çelikel serves as a full-time Professor in the Psychology Department within the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences at Işık University. With a medical foundation from Istanbul University's Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine (1985-1991) and specialized training at Istanbul Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital (1992-1997), she bridges clinical psychiatry with academic psychology. Her research program centers on mental health disorders with particular emphasis on: Biological and psychological mechanisms of depression and bipolar disorder Cultural adaptation of psychological assessment instruments Childhood trauma and its long-term psychological consequences EMDR therapy applications Emotion regulation strategies across various disorders Analysis of her recent publications reveals a sophisticated integration of genetic, biochemical, and psychological approaches to understanding mental disorders, with increasing focus on mediating and moderating factors in treatment outcomes and symptom development. Professional Affiliations: EMDR Association (Member since 2011) Turkish Neuropsychiatry Association (Member since 2001) Turkish Psychiatric Association (Member since 2001) Dr. Çelikel has supervised an extensive portfolio of graduate research at Işık University, with 44 theses from 2017-2025 examining diverse aspects of trauma, emotion regulation, and mental health. Her supervisory work demonstrates consistent attention to both theoretical frameworks and practical clinical applications, particularly regarding culturally-specific manifestations of psychological distress and resilience. Her academic contributions connect rigorous scientific methodology with clinical relevance, especially in adapting Western-developed psychological instruments for Turkish populations and investigating culturally appropriate mental health interventions.
Jennifer B Freeman is a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research) at Brown University and Director of the Pediatric Anxiety Research Center (PARC) at Bradley Hospital. She also serves as Associate Director of Research for Bradley Hospital and Associate Director of the Research Fellowship Program (RFP) within the Brown Clinical Psychology Training Consortium. Rhode Island Psychological Association (RIPA) International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF) PhD in Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo (1999) BA in Psychology, Wesleyan University (1992) Her research focuses on pediatric OCD and anxiety disorders , emphasizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) , exposure therapy , and dissemination of evidence-based practices . She has led large-scale trials like POTS Jr. and PCORI-funded studies comparing home-based vs. office-based CBT and exploring telehealth adaptation during the pandemic. Jennifer Freeman has secured over $13 million in grant funding from NIMH and PCORI for projects including family-based treatment models , therapist training , and integration of research and clinical care . Her work highlights community engagement , stakeholder collaboration , and novel service delivery models to improve equitable access to care. Notable awards include the Toy Caldwell-Colbert Excellence in Teaching Award (2010), the DPHB Faculty Mentoring Award (2020), and leadership roles in the DPHB Anti-Racism Steering Committee and Lifespan Research Management Committee .
Pierre Orban is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology. He focuses on functional neuroimaging, biomarker development for schizophrenia, and neuromodulation techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation. Affiliation: CR-IUSMM (Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal) Research Grants: IRSC (2019-2031), FRQS (2019-2023, 2020-2021), RBIQ (2017-2018) His research integrates functional brain connectivity analysis, machine learning for treatment prognosis, and neuromodulation. Key projects include optimizing non-invasive brain stimulation for schizophrenia and studying inter/intra-individual variability in brain dysconnectivity. Recent publications address network subtypes in psychiatric disorders and Parkinson's disease neurophysiology. Scientific awards include the FRQS Researcher Fellowship (Junior 1, 2019-2023). He mentors graduate students in schizophrenia neuroimaging and mental health technology. Collaborations span Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and Quebec Parkinson Network.
Lauren R Charlot, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School, affiliated with the T.H. Chan School of Medicine. Her work bridges clinical psychiatry and developmental psychology, focusing on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism spectrum disorder, and complex psychiatric presentations. Her educational background includes a PhD in Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Simmons College, and a BS in Liberal Arts & Sciences from Suffolk University. This interdisciplinary training supports her integrative approach to mental health research and practice. Dr. Charlot's research centers on psychiatric diagnosis, mood and anxiety disorders, psychotropic medication use, and behavioral challenges in IDD populations across the lifespan. Her work addresses critical gaps in understanding dual diagnoses, medication side effects, and crisis intervention strategies. Key themes include diagnostic overshadowing, geriatric psychiatry in IDD, and the validation of assessment tools like the MASS interview. Her recent publications analyze trends in psychiatric hospitalization, medication use in youth and older adults with IDD, and the complexities of diagnosing mental illness in cognitively impaired populations. These studies collectively highlight a sustained focus on improving clinical outcomes through evidence-based assessment and treatment. Psychiatric diagnostic dilemmas in IDD (2022) Medication use in older adults with IDD (2022) Psychotropic use in youth with IDD (2021) Hospitalization in START program referrals (2016) Non-psychiatric health problems in inpatients (2011) While no formal awards or grants are listed in the provided text, her work has been cited in policy sources, news outlets, and social media, indicating real-world impact. She has collaborated with researchers such as Jean Frazier, William McIlvane, and Curtis Deutsch, contributing to a growing body of literature on IDD and mental health. Dr. Charlot is actively involved in research and clinical scholarship, with no indication of retirement or former status. She has not listed any advisees or students in the available data. She is part of a research network focused on intellectual disability and autism, and her work is frequently discussed in academic and public forums.
