Meet the RUSSL Team
Thomas Dinzeo, PhD
My research focuses on schizophrenia and the schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. I am interested in understanding the individual risk factors that contribute to the development (or exacerbation) of schizophrenia-related disorders. Over the last several years my lab has specifically examined neurocognitive functioning, personality factors, social/interpersonal functioning, & lifestyle behaviors. Recent research has included outpatients with schizophrenia and high-risk samples (e.g. college students with high levels of schizotypy). Most recently I have focused my attention on the relationship between health behaviors (e.g., substance use, stress management, exercise & nutrition) and outcomes in those with schizophrenia-spectrum conditions. The literature suggests a well-known link between schizophrenia and chronic illness / early mortality with lifestyle factors contributing significantly to these issues. I am interested in identifying 1) how problematic health-behaviors develop, 2) how these behaviors are maintained, 3) whether-or-not these behaviors can be successfully addressed through non-medical interventions.
Thomas O'Kane
Madalyne Blair
Thomas O'Kane, MA
Program: Clinical Psychology PhD
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Year in program: 5th year PhD student
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Years in the lab: Spring 2017 to present
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Academic interests: Clinical psychology, specifically the schizophrenia-spectrum and how to most effectively identify those at risk for developing symptomology. I am also interested in health psychology and how to use advanced quantitative methodology to deepen our understanding of the schizophrenia-spectrum.
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Professional goals: Either stay in academia full time, or engage in clinical work full time while remaining active in research.
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Dissertation: "The evaluation of non-specific risk indicators in improving detection of schizophrenia-spectrum liability"
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Francesca Crump, MA
Program: Clinical Psychology PhD
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Year in program: 5th year PhD student
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Years in the lab: Fall 2019 to present
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Academic interests: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders, prodromal symptoms or clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR), social cognition, stigma, early intervention.
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Professional goals: Provide early intervention services for at-risk populations and psychotherapy for psychosis and mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression; continue contributing to psychosis literature through clinical research opportunities that strive to promote the uptake of healthy lifestyle behaviors and integrated care.
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Dissertation "Resisting Internalized Stigma (RIS): Acceptability and Feasibility of a Novel Stigma Intervention for Psychosis-Risk
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-Received an Early Career Award from SIR
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Katie Beck-Felts
Program: Clinical Psychology PhD student
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Year in Program: 1st year PhD student
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Academic interests: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders, prodromal symptoms or clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR), health behaviors, social functioning, health intervention.
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Professional Goals: Provide physical and mental health intervention services for schizophrenia spectrum disorder populations and psychotherapy for psychosis and social functioning; continue
contributing to clinical research opportunities that enhance and proliferate healthy lifestyle behaviors in schizophrenia spectrum disorder populations.
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Adriann Lai
Program: Clinical Psychology PhD
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Year in program: 1st year PhD student
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Years in the lab: Fall 2023 to present
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Academic Interests: Decision making, visual perception, hallucinations, and oculomics in
schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Professional goals: Psychosis research
Kelly Devlin
Program: Psychology B.A
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Years in Program: Senior
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Academic Interest: Researching the brains of criminals and finding connections between personal life experience to behaviors
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Professional Goals: Work as a prison psychologist
Adaeze Njoku
Program: B.S in Biological Sciences & B.A Psychology
Year in Program: Senior
Academic Interest: Exploring how schizophrenia spectrum disorders develop, medicinal and non-medicinal treatments for symptoms, and external and internal environmental factors that can put populations at risk
Professional Goals: Planning to get my M.D and become a psychiatrist that also uses psychotherapy in practice along with medications
Ny'Asia Prilo
Program: Psychology B.A
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Year in Program: Junior
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Academic Interest: I am interested in Abnormal Psychology
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Professional Goal: I hope to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist.
Alec Patriarca
Program: B.S. in Psychological Science
Year In Program: Junior
Academic Interest: Gain a firm, working comprehension of Schizophrenia and the current state of it as an understood construct.
Professional Goals: My working plan is to become a Clinical Psychologist, acting as both researcher and practitioner.
