Yvette Z. Szabo

Yvette Z. Szabo, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA). She directs the PROSPER Lab, focusing on psychoneuroimmunology, stress, PTSD, emotion, and recovery. Her teaching spans courses like Psychopathology, Clinical Psychology, and Research Methods. She mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research involving inflammation, trauma, and stress responses.

Education:

• B.S. Psychology, San Jose State University (2012)
• M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of Louisville (2014)
• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Louisville (2017)
• Predoctoral Internship, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (2017)
• Postdoctoral fellowship, VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans (2019)

Research Interests: Her work examines how stress/trauma link to poor health via inflammation, emotion, and cognition. Collaborations span clinical psychology, neuroscience, and public health. Current projects address trauma’s biological impacts, veteran mental health, and antiracism in academia/healthcare.

Recent Work Trends: Publications focus on veterans’ mental health, pandemic effects on social isolation, inflammation biomarkers, and equity initiatives. Recent studies include longitudinal analyses of trauma, cortisol responses, and neuromodulation strategies.

Professional Activities:

• Psychosomatic Medicine Early Career Editorial Board (2022-2024)
• American Psychosomatic Society Anti-Racism Task Force Member/Co-Chair (2021-present)
• Ad hoc program reviewer for American Psychosomatic Society

Mentoring & Grants: Hierarchical lab mentoring emphasizes professional development and collaborative research. Students gain skills in experimental/observational methods. Active recruitment for 2025/2026 MA program applicants is ongoing.

Labs/Teams: Leads the PROSPER Lab at Cal State LA, emphasizing interdisciplinary research on stress, trauma, and recovery.