Research Interests
My program of research broadly aims to understand, improve the assessment of, and intervene upon processes that confer risk for suicidal ideation, intent, and behavior. Using a transdiagnostic framework, my research addresses two primary questions: (1) what contributes to the development and maintenance of suicidal thoughts and behaviors? and (2) when (and under what circumstances) do transitions from suicidal thoughts to actions occur? Specifically, one line of my research focuses on the interplay between cognitive dysfunction (rumination, attentional biases, hopelessness) and biobehavioral factors (agitation, sleep disturbances, overarousal) as short-term risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts. Another line of my research has focused on general and suicide-specific factors that may facilitate a transition from suicidal thoughts to actions, particularly in the hours to days preceding a suicide attempt.
Future complementary areas of research include:
1. Examining the phenomenology, etiology, and temporal dynamics of acute suicidal crises in the hours preceding a suicide attempt
2. Determining whether there are individual differences (e.g., genetic, neurobiological, psychological, sociocultural, and/or pragmatic moderators) in the trajectories of short-term suicide risk between individuals
3. Innovating suicide risk assessment and management through the development, validation, and dissemination/implementation of scalable, feasible, and tailorable interventions
4. Improving the precision and ecological validity of measurement
5. Applying advanced quantitative methods to these research questions
Future complementary areas of research include:
1. Examining the phenomenology, etiology, and temporal dynamics of acute suicidal crises in the hours preceding a suicide attempt
2. Determining whether there are individual differences (e.g., genetic, neurobiological, psychological, sociocultural, and/or pragmatic moderators) in the trajectories of short-term suicide risk between individuals
3. Innovating suicide risk assessment and management through the development, validation, and dissemination/implementation of scalable, feasible, and tailorable interventions
4. Improving the precision and ecological validity of measurement
5. Applying advanced quantitative methods to these research questions
Teaching Interests
My primary teaching interests include introductory and advanced quantitative methods and statistics.