Graduate Students
Ava Fergerson, MS
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Ava Fergerson earned her B.S. in Psychological Sciences with a minor in Gender & Women's Studies in 2018 at Western Kentucky University. She also earned her M.S. in Psychological Sciences at WKU, studying suicide and self-harm behavior in young adults under the mentorship of Dr. Amy Brausch. She is now a doctoral student in the University of Southern Mississippi's Clinical Psychology PhD program, under the mentorship of Dr. Dan Capron in the Anxiety & Trauma Research Program. Ava is primarily interested in explicating suicide risk and points of intervention in survivors of sexual assault, particularly in LGBTQ samples. |
Recent Publications:
Fergerson, A.K., Caulfield, N.M., Dworkin, E.R., & Capron, D.W. (2023) Sexual Assault History May Moderate Posttraumatic Cognition and Posttraumatic Stress Among Trauma-Exposed Sexual Minority Women, Behavior Therapy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2023.07.001
Fergerson, A.K., Karnick, A., Rigney, K., & Brausch, A. (2022) Sexual Victimization and Suicide Ideation: An Atemporal Indirect Effects Model, Archives of Suicide Research, 10.1080/13811118.2022.2152768
Fergerson, A.K., Caulfield, N.M., Dworkin, E.R., Capron, D.W. (2023). Sexual Assault History May Moderate Posttraumatic Cognition and Posttraumatic Stress Among Trauma-Exposed Sexual Minority Women, Behavior Therapy, doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2023.07.001
Fergerson, A. K., & Brausch, A. M. (2020). Resilience mediates the relationship between PTSD symptoms and disordered eating in women who have experienced sexual victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0886260520918581
Fergerson, A.K., Caulfield, N.M., Dworkin, E.R., & Capron, D.W. (2023) Sexual Assault History May Moderate Posttraumatic Cognition and Posttraumatic Stress Among Trauma-Exposed Sexual Minority Women, Behavior Therapy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2023.07.001
Fergerson, A.K., Karnick, A., Rigney, K., & Brausch, A. (2022) Sexual Victimization and Suicide Ideation: An Atemporal Indirect Effects Model, Archives of Suicide Research, 10.1080/13811118.2022.2152768
Fergerson, A.K., Caulfield, N.M., Dworkin, E.R., Capron, D.W. (2023). Sexual Assault History May Moderate Posttraumatic Cognition and Posttraumatic Stress Among Trauma-Exposed Sexual Minority Women, Behavior Therapy, doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2023.07.001
Fergerson, A. K., & Brausch, A. M. (2020). Resilience mediates the relationship between PTSD symptoms and disordered eating in women who have experienced sexual victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0886260520918581
Morgan Buerke, MA
[email protected]
Morgan received her B.S. in Psychology from Kent State University in 2014. After graduation, she started work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where she studied risk factors for suicidal behavior in older adults. Past projects that she’s been involved on include: understanding the relationship between anger rumination and aggression, examining childhood trauma and decision-making patterns in early vs. late-onset suicide attempters, defining the trajectory of suicidal ideation over years, and determining age differences in risk factors for suicidal behavior. Her current research extends further into the realm of rumination, anxiety sensitivity, thought control, and suicide. She also aims to tailor her focus towards interventions for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. |
Selected Publications:
Chang, Y., Buerke, M., Galfalvy, H., & Szanto, K. (2024). Childhood Trauma is Associated with Early-Onset but not Late-Onset Suicidal Behavior in Late-Life Depression. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610223000662
Bailey, A. L., Capron, D. W., Buerke, M. L., & Bauer, B. W. (2023). The associations between sport-and physical activity-related concussions and suicidality, suicide capability, and hopelessness among high school adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12179
Galfalvy, H., Szücs, A., Chang, Y., Buerke, M., & Szanto, K. (2023). Long-term suicidal ideation profiles in late-life depression and their association with prospective suicide attempt and death by suicide. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.22m14469
O’Brien, E., Whitman, K., Buerke, M., Galfalvy, H., & Szanto, K. (2022). Life-Satisfaction, Engagement, Mindfulness, Flourishing, and Social Support: Do they Predict Depression, Suicide Ideation, and History of Suicide Attempt in Late Life? The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2022.12.192
Buerke, M., Galfalvy, H., Keilp, J., Sheftall, A., Burke, A., Bridge, J., Mann, J. & Szanto, K. (2021). Age Effects on Clinical and Neurocognitive Risk Factors for Suicide Attempt in Depression— Findings from the AFSP Lifespan study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.014
Perry, M.* & Buerke, M.*, Szücs, A., Allen, T. A., Bruin de Bruine, W., Szántó, K., & Dombrovski, A. Y. (2021). A lifetime of challenges: real-life decision outcomes in early- and late-onset suicide attempters. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 4, 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100105
*Denotes equal contribution as first authors
ResearchGate Profile
Google Scholar
Chang, Y., Buerke, M., Galfalvy, H., & Szanto, K. (2024). Childhood Trauma is Associated with Early-Onset but not Late-Onset Suicidal Behavior in Late-Life Depression. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610223000662
Bailey, A. L., Capron, D. W., Buerke, M. L., & Bauer, B. W. (2023). The associations between sport-and physical activity-related concussions and suicidality, suicide capability, and hopelessness among high school adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12179
Galfalvy, H., Szücs, A., Chang, Y., Buerke, M., & Szanto, K. (2023). Long-term suicidal ideation profiles in late-life depression and their association with prospective suicide attempt and death by suicide. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.22m14469
O’Brien, E., Whitman, K., Buerke, M., Galfalvy, H., & Szanto, K. (2022). Life-Satisfaction, Engagement, Mindfulness, Flourishing, and Social Support: Do they Predict Depression, Suicide Ideation, and History of Suicide Attempt in Late Life? The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2022.12.192
Buerke, M., Galfalvy, H., Keilp, J., Sheftall, A., Burke, A., Bridge, J., Mann, J. & Szanto, K. (2021). Age Effects on Clinical and Neurocognitive Risk Factors for Suicide Attempt in Depression— Findings from the AFSP Lifespan study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.014
Perry, M.* & Buerke, M.*, Szücs, A., Allen, T. A., Bruin de Bruine, W., Szántó, K., & Dombrovski, A. Y. (2021). A lifetime of challenges: real-life decision outcomes in early- and late-onset suicide attempters. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 4, 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100105
*Denotes equal contribution as first authors
ResearchGate Profile
Google Scholar
Faith Stoneking, MA
[email protected]
Faith earned her B.A. in Psychology from Randolph College in 2016. She then earned her M.A. in Psychology from American University in 2018, where she studied the impact of social media content on body image. Subsequently, she worked at Washington University School of Medicine on projects examining and implementing accessible, effective substance use treatments. She joined LSU's Clinical Psychology program in 2021. Her current research interests include identifying and understanding factors that influence body image and related constructs. Additional interests include assessment of body image, maladaptive eating and substance use behaviors (especially within sexual and gender minority populations), and increasing accessibility of evidence-based treatments.
Faith Stoneking is currently in her third year at Louisiana State University. |
Recent Publications:
Buckner, J.D., Shepherd, J., Stoneking, F.R., & Zvolensky, M.J. (2023). Dual electronic and combustible cigarette use: Understanding the relation of cannabis use with e-cigarette outcomes. Substance Use and Misuse. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2275570
Fentem, A..C. & Stoneking, F. (2023). The impact of couples’ conflicts on everyday sadists’ relationship satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 213: 119319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112319
Buckner, J.D., Threeton, E.T., Morris, P.E., & Stoneking, F. (2023). Sexual orientation and cannabis outcomes among Black individuals: The role of cannabis use motives. Addictive Behaviors. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107635
Bray, M., Chang, Y., Baker, T. B., Jorenby, D., Carney, R. M., Fox, L., Pham, G., Stoneking, F., Smock, N., Amos, C. I., Bierut, L., & Chen, L. S. (2022). The promise of polygenic risk prediction in smoking cessation: Evidence from two treatment trials. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 24(10), 1573-1580. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac043
Ramsey, A. T., Baker, T. B., Stoneking, F., Smock, N., Chen, J., Pham, G., James, A. S., Colditz, G. A., Govindan, R., Bierut, L. J., & Chen, L. S. (2022). Increased Reach and Effectiveness With a Low-Burden Point-of-Care Tobacco Treatment Program in Cancer Clinics. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN, 20(5), 488–495.e4. https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2021.7333doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2021.7333
Google Scholar
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6737-3598
Buckner, J.D., Shepherd, J., Stoneking, F.R., & Zvolensky, M.J. (2023). Dual electronic and combustible cigarette use: Understanding the relation of cannabis use with e-cigarette outcomes. Substance Use and Misuse. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2275570
Fentem, A..C. & Stoneking, F. (2023). The impact of couples’ conflicts on everyday sadists’ relationship satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 213: 119319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112319
Buckner, J.D., Threeton, E.T., Morris, P.E., & Stoneking, F. (2023). Sexual orientation and cannabis outcomes among Black individuals: The role of cannabis use motives. Addictive Behaviors. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107635
Bray, M., Chang, Y., Baker, T. B., Jorenby, D., Carney, R. M., Fox, L., Pham, G., Stoneking, F., Smock, N., Amos, C. I., Bierut, L., & Chen, L. S. (2022). The promise of polygenic risk prediction in smoking cessation: Evidence from two treatment trials. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 24(10), 1573-1580. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac043
Ramsey, A. T., Baker, T. B., Stoneking, F., Smock, N., Chen, J., Pham, G., James, A. S., Colditz, G. A., Govindan, R., Bierut, L. J., & Chen, L. S. (2022). Increased Reach and Effectiveness With a Low-Burden Point-of-Care Tobacco Treatment Program in Cancer Clinics. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN, 20(5), 488–495.e4. https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2021.7333doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2021.7333
Google Scholar
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6737-3598
On Internship
Nicole (Nikki) Caulfield, MA
[email protected]
Nikki Caulfield graduated from The Catholic University of America with a Bachelors in Psychology and Minor in Hispanic Studies. During her time at Catholic, she was a Research Assistant in David Jobes’ Suicide Prevention Lab, where she focused on using CAMS in military settings. After graduation, Nikki became a Research Assistant at The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, where she was on the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS). There, she worked on research regarding how recent stressors and social support relates to suicide in active-duty personnel. Nikki is currently a 5th year student in the Anxiety and Trauma Research Program. She is interested in assessing the association between dissociation, trauma, and suicide risk, specifically in military personnel and survivors of sexual assault. She is focused on using new technology such as Virtual Reality to create realistic scenarios to further understand these relationships. |
Recent Publications:
Caulfield, N. M., Karnick, A. T., Fergerson, A., Bauer, B. W., & Capron, D. W. (2022). Exploring the indirect effects of acute dissociation on capability and suicide risk: A multi-method investigation with augmented reality. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12863
Caulfield, N. M., Karnick, A. T., & Capron, D. W. (2022). Exploring dissociation as a facilitator of suicide risk: A translational investigation using virtual reality. Journal of Affective Disorders, 297, 517–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.097
McGrew, S. J., Caulfield, N. M., Capron, D. W., Franklin, C. L., & Raines, A. M. (2022). The role of distress intolerance in suicidality among military sexual trauma survivors. Traumatology, 29 (2), 261-264. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000383
Caulfield, N. M., Martin, R. L., Smith, N. S., Karnick, A. T, Norr, A. M., & Capron, D. W. (2020). A preliminary assessment of the link between anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation through dissociative symptoms. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2021.1989112
Caulfield, N. M., Gutierrez, P. M., Comtois, K. A., Johnson, L. L., O’Connor, S. S., & Jobes, D. A. (2019). Exploring the content of suicidality in military personnel and veterans. Military Behavioral Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2019.1611509
ResearchGate Profile
Caulfield, N. M., Karnick, A. T., Fergerson, A., Bauer, B. W., & Capron, D. W. (2022). Exploring the indirect effects of acute dissociation on capability and suicide risk: A multi-method investigation with augmented reality. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12863
Caulfield, N. M., Karnick, A. T., & Capron, D. W. (2022). Exploring dissociation as a facilitator of suicide risk: A translational investigation using virtual reality. Journal of Affective Disorders, 297, 517–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.097
McGrew, S. J., Caulfield, N. M., Capron, D. W., Franklin, C. L., & Raines, A. M. (2022). The role of distress intolerance in suicidality among military sexual trauma survivors. Traumatology, 29 (2), 261-264. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000383
Caulfield, N. M., Martin, R. L., Smith, N. S., Karnick, A. T, Norr, A. M., & Capron, D. W. (2020). A preliminary assessment of the link between anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation through dissociative symptoms. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2021.1989112
Caulfield, N. M., Gutierrez, P. M., Comtois, K. A., Johnson, L. L., O’Connor, S. S., & Jobes, D. A. (2019). Exploring the content of suicidality in military personnel and veterans. Military Behavioral Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2019.1611509
ResearchGate Profile
Aleks Karnick, MPH, MA
[email protected]
Aleks received his B.A. in philosophy from Indiana University in 2008. There he studied ethical concerns in the use of hormone treatment therapies in young athletes. Subsequently, Aleks attended the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Public Health where he conducted research on injury prevention and epidemiology. Aleks has also, in partnership with the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, studied technical skill acquisition and assessment during general surgery residency training. Aleks is currently interested in studying risk factors for suicide as well as suicide prevention strategies. |
Recent Publications:
Karnick, A., Bauer, B., & Capron, D. (2023). Negative Mood and optimism bias: An experimental investigation of sadness and belief updating. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101910
Karnick, A., Buerke, M., Caulfield, N., Trussell, D., Capron, D., & Vujanovic, A. (2022). Alcohol Use in First Responders: A Network Model of Behaviors and Transdiagnostic Risk. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109677
Karnick, A., Fergerson, A., Caulfield, N., Buerke, M., Albanese, B., Schmidt, N.B., & Capron, D.W. (2022). Toward an integrative model of transdiagnostic risk factors and suicide: A network comparison of psychiatric outpatients. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 154, 252-260. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.050
Karnick, A., Bond, A., Kaufman, E., Anestis, M., & Capron, D.W. (2022). Injury characteristics and circumstances of firearm trauma: Assessing suicide survivors and decendents. Suicide and Life-threatening Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12916
Karnick, A. T., Martin, R. L., Caulfield, N. M., Winchell, R., & Capron, D. W. (2021). Suicide and Self-Injury Outcomes for Patients with Comorbid Psychiatric and Physical Health Conditions. Psychiatry Research, 114345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114345
Karnick A, Caulfield NM, Bauer BW, Martin RL, Kaufman EJ, Winchell R, & Capron DW (2021). Substance use and suicide outcomes among self-injured trauma patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 226, 108906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108906
Karnick A*, Limberg J*, Bagautdinov I, Stefanova D, Aveson V, Thiesmeyer J, … Fahey TJ. (2021). Can general surgery interns accurately measure their own technical skills? Analysis of cognitive bias in surgical residents’ self-assessments. Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2021.04.008
ResearchGate Profile
Curriculum Vitae
Karnick, A., Bauer, B., & Capron, D. (2023). Negative Mood and optimism bias: An experimental investigation of sadness and belief updating. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101910
Karnick, A., Buerke, M., Caulfield, N., Trussell, D., Capron, D., & Vujanovic, A. (2022). Alcohol Use in First Responders: A Network Model of Behaviors and Transdiagnostic Risk. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109677
Karnick, A., Fergerson, A., Caulfield, N., Buerke, M., Albanese, B., Schmidt, N.B., & Capron, D.W. (2022). Toward an integrative model of transdiagnostic risk factors and suicide: A network comparison of psychiatric outpatients. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 154, 252-260. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.050
Karnick, A., Bond, A., Kaufman, E., Anestis, M., & Capron, D.W. (2022). Injury characteristics and circumstances of firearm trauma: Assessing suicide survivors and decendents. Suicide and Life-threatening Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12916
Karnick, A. T., Martin, R. L., Caulfield, N. M., Winchell, R., & Capron, D. W. (2021). Suicide and Self-Injury Outcomes for Patients with Comorbid Psychiatric and Physical Health Conditions. Psychiatry Research, 114345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114345
Karnick A, Caulfield NM, Bauer BW, Martin RL, Kaufman EJ, Winchell R, & Capron DW (2021). Substance use and suicide outcomes among self-injured trauma patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 226, 108906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108906
Karnick A*, Limberg J*, Bagautdinov I, Stefanova D, Aveson V, Thiesmeyer J, … Fahey TJ. (2021). Can general surgery interns accurately measure their own technical skills? Analysis of cognitive bias in surgical residents’ self-assessments. Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2021.04.008
ResearchGate Profile
Curriculum Vitae
Graduates
Brian W. Bauer, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, University of Georgia - Athens, GA
Brian graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Philosophy in 2011. Upon graduation, he worked as a research assistant in the Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington investigating brief dialectical behavioral therapy interventions, where he developed an interest in studying suicide. Brian studied ADHD and suicide as a research assistant at the Oregon Health & Science University and suicide in the Veteran population as a research associate at the Portland VA. He recently graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a M.S. in Counseling Psychology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. Brian is currently interested in using multi-method approaches (e.g., EEG/ERP, behavioral tasks) to understand proximal suicide risk and testing theoretical assertions using mathematical models. |
Rachel L. Boska (Martin), Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow, VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention - Canandaigua, NY
Rachel Martin received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from The Catholic University of America. While at Catholic, Rachel worked for Dr. David A. Jobes in his Suicide Prevention Lab. Rachel has also worked as a research assistant for Dr. Michael Anestis on a Military Suicide Research Consortium funded study examining suicide risk in a large military sample. Her research focuses on military deployment trauma and how deployment related experiences interact with individuals’ aggression to cause interpersonal distress. Specifically, she is interested in aspects of trauma such as moral injury and post-battle experiences. Rachel has had her research highlighted in the Center for Deployment Psychology’s research update, won the USM Clinical Psychology research award, and won USM’s Psychology Department’s Outstanding Graduate Research Award. Her publications can be accessed through her ResearchGate profile (link below). |
Nicole S. Trapp (Smith), Ph.D
Postdoctoral fellow, MEDVAMC - Houston, Texas
Nicole graduated from Drake University with a B.S. in Psychology in 2013. After graduation, she worked as a research assistant in the Memory Lab at Washington University, where she studied the cognitive abilities of individuals with superior memory skills. She also contributed to projects that applied basic memory research to educational practice. Her research in cognitive abilities led to an interest in studying cognition in anxiety disorders. Nicole is especially interested in cognitive biases in anxiety and in applying the principles of basic educational research to learning based treatments for anxiety. Most recently, Nicole has studied the phenomenon of nocturnal panic attacks, especially the differences between those who experience panic attacks only while awake and those who experience panic attacks both while awake and during sleep. |