Current members

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.

Adriann Lai

Program: Clinical Psychology PhD

Year in program: 2nd year PhD student

Years in the lab: Fall 2023 to present

Academic Interests: Decision making, visual perception, hallucinations, and oculomics in
schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Professional goals: Psychosis research

Joseph Paul Skinner

Program: Clinical Psychology PhD

Year in program: 1st year PhD student

Years in the lab: Fall 2023 to present

Academic interests: Generally, I aim to understand how health behaviors related to nutrition, exercise, and sleep might be utilized as points of intervention to better outcomes for those with SSD. Currently, I am focusing on the relationship between schizotypy and problematic technology usage as well as the factors that may be important in developing problematic technology usage for those with high levels of schizotypy.

Professional Goals: I am keeping an open mind about where my path with clinical psychology may lead me. Potentially, I see myself working in an academic medical center splitting my time between clinical work and research.

Katie Beck-Felts, MA

Program: Clinical Psychology PhD student

Year in Program: 3rd year PhD student

Academic interests: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders, prodromal symptoms or clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR), health behaviors, social connectedness, social determinants of health, health intervention.

Professional Goals: Continue contributions to clinical research opportunities that enhance and proliferate healthy lifestyle behaviors in schizophrenia spectrum disorder populations; enhance understanding of social determinants of health as psychosis risk and maintenance factors; investigate the mechanisms underpinning the relationship between social disconnectedness and psychosis risk and maintenance.

Thesis: "A Social Ecology Model for Social Determinants of Health as Psychosis Risk Factors"