Lab Mission
Our lab aims to identify modifiable risk factors for the development and worsening of depression and suicidality (i.e., suicidal thoughts and behavior) among adolescents. Our lab seeks to identify who and when adolescents are most at risk for suicidality in real time and across development, with a particular focus on sleep and social media as both potential risk factors and opportunities for early intervention. Our research applies a developmentally-informed approach and uses novel technological methods (e.g., smartphone sensing, ecological momentary assessment, actigraphy) to examine risk factors in the real world that are dynamic and modifiable. Our goal is to improve the identification of adolescent suicide risk, as well as the generalizability and scalability of research and interventions aimed at preventing depression and suicide across diverse populations.
Community Engagement and Public Outreach
Our lab aims to develop a research-community pipeline that enhances the quality of our research and its access to the public and local community. To this end, we seek community input in our research (e.g., focus groups, Youth Advisory Board) and engage our participants as citizen scientists to ensure our research is relevant and accessible across different communities. Our lab is actively involved in publishing in peer-reviewed journals and disseminating research at scientific conferences, which are important scientific endeavors. We also recognize that the research pipeline often ends there. Our goal is to disseminate our work and its potential impact more broadly by writing articles for popular press media, creating accessible media (e.g., infographics, social media), and connecting with local and national organizations, schools, and community organizations to provide psychoeducation and resources.