Nicole R Nugent

Nicole R. Nugent is a Professor at Brown University’s Alpert Brown Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, with academic appointments in Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine. She directs the Rhode Island Resilience Lab and co-leads the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Initiative, integrating clinical care and research to address stress-sensitive disorders.

Her research explores the interplay of biological and socio-environmental factors on psychological outcomes like PTSD, depression, and suicidality in adolescents during stress and transition periods. She has over 20 federal grants, focusing on trauma’s neurobiological impacts, digital communication’s role in mental health, and epigenetic mechanisms in women’s chronic stress.

Recent publications highlight her work in epigenetics, PTSD biomarkers, and digital health interventions. Key trends include epigenetic aging, social media’s influence on youth mental health, and trauma resilience across diverse populations. Her studies span military cohorts, refugee communities, and urban minorities.

Scientific Awards: Recipient of the 2011 Norbert and Charlotte Rieger Award for best paper in JAACAP.

Labs & Teams: Founding Director of the Rhode Island Resilience Lab and Associate Director of the STAR Initiative, collaborating nationally on trauma and stress research.