Julie A. Suhr

Julie A. Suhr is a Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowa and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Her research integrates clinical psychology and neuroscience, focusing on the psychological influences on neuropsychological performance.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellow (Clinical Neuropsychology), Department of Neurology, University of Iowa College of Medicine (1994–1997)
• Ph.D. (1994) in Clinical Psychology, University of Iowa
• Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Neuropsychology, Brown University (1993–1994)
• M.A. (Clinical Psychology), University of Iowa (1990)
• B.A. (Psychology, German), Luther College (1988)

Dr. Suhr’s research emphasizes the impact of non-neurological psychological factors—such as malingering, anxiety, depression, and personality—on neuropsychological test performance. Her work spans diverse populations, including individuals with dementia, ADHD, chronic pain, and substance use. A major focus is on aging-related cognitive changes, dementia worry, and driving safety. She employs neuroimaging techniques like Near Infrared Spectroscopy to study cerebral oxygenation during executive tasks. She has led community-based cognitive screening programs since 1997, contributing to early dementia detection research.

Her recent publications highlight trends in validity assessment, malingering in ADHD, pandemic-related mental health, and the psychological underpinnings of cognitive complaints. She has authored influential consensus statements on performance validity and has extensively studied illness identity in neuropsychological conditions.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• No formal awards listed, but extensive national and international invited talks and workshops reflect high professional esteem.

Dr. Suhr has chaired over 25 Ph.D. dissertations and mentors current graduate students including Claire Alexander, Kaley Angers, Taylor Lambertus, Grace Lee, Kendra Pizzonia, and Olivia Revels-Strother. She has secured multiple NIH and institutional grants, particularly in aging, ADHD, and cognitive validity. She is actively involved in clinical training and professional development, presenting on topics such as gender disparities in academia and ethical issues in peer review. She also conducts outreach through the Ohio University Collaborative on Aging and local Alzheimer’s Association events.

Laboratories and Research Teams:

• Her lab conducts research on cognitive screening, executive functioning, and validity assessment.
• Collaborates with Dr. Brian Clarke at OMNI and Dr. France on health factors like hypertension and stress.
• Utilizes neuroimaging (NIRS) and psychophysiological methods in aging and ADHD research.