PARTICIPATE
Current Studies
Want to help make a difference? Check out the listing below to read about our ongoing studies and see if you may be eligible to participate!
About Us
The MEND2 laboratory uses biopsychosocial tools, including neuroimaging, performance, self-report and other-report, and blood and saliva assays in mood disorders. We use these tools to identify biomarkers to inform precision medicine, including diagnosis, risk, prevention/treatment selection, treatment effectiveness, and course modification.
MOOD DISORDERS
Mood disorders include depressive disorders and bipolar disorders. Much of our work focuses on understanding how mood disorders look in the brain and how to help.
SELF-INJURIOUS THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS
Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors include thoughts of suicide and self-harm as well as suicidal and non-suicidal behavior.
TREATMENT
Some of our studies look at how specific treatments, like rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RF-CBT) helps people with mood disorders and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. We are also interested in how these treatments change the brain.
NEURODEVELOPMENT
The MEND2 Lab has conducted research across the lifespan. Currently, many of our studies focus on teens because mood disorders and self-injury often begin around this time. By understanding and treating these challenges earlier, we might be more successful in reducing suffering. This is because the brain is more flexible in childhood and adolescence.
Faculty
Scott Langenecker, PhD
Professor, The Ohio State University
Adjunct Professor, University of Utah
Dr. Langenecker is a Professor and Neuropsychologist within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University and has spent decades investigating neurobiological mechanisms of mood disorders in adolescents and adults.
Dr. Langenecker’s CV
Mindy Westlund Schreiner, PhD
Instructor, University of Utah
Dr. Westlund Schreiner is an Instructor and Psychologist within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and interventions in adolescents.
Dr. Westlund Schreiner’s CV
Erin Kaufman, PhD
Instructor, University of Utah
Dr. Kaufman is an Instructor and Psychologist within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Utah. Dr. Kaufman’s program of research focuses on interrupting pathogenic factors that contribute to self-inflicted injury (SII), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and suicide.
Dr. Kaufman’s CVStudents and Staff
Maci Jacobson, BS
Graduate Student
Maci Jacobson graduated with a BS in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University. Her interests in reward and motivation pathways has driven her to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Utah and to join the MEND2 Lab. Her motto is “I study how we work in order to maximize that work!” When she is not studying or in the lab, Maci loves watching and playing sports, reading Harry Potter with her husband, and spending time in the mountains.
Rebecca Easter, MA
Graduate Student
Rebecca Easter is a clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is currently completing her doctoral internship in New Mexico and is collecting data for her dissertation. Becca is interested in mental health culture and diversity.
Brian Farstead, BS
Research Associate
Brian is a Research Associate in the MEND2 Lab, who graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. He is involved in running and maintaining multiple lab studies. He is primarily interested in suicide prevention, symptomology of mood disorders, and executive function. Brian plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with the long-term goal of working with the Latinx community.
Myah Pazdera, MS
Research Associate
Myah is a Research Associate in the MEND2 Lab where she is involved in running and maintaining all lab studies. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a M.S. in Cognitive and Developmental Science. Myah is interested in prevention science, especially as it relates to development, trauma, and cognitive neuroscience among at-risk youth. In her free time, she enjoys being outside with her dogs.
Daniel Feldman, BA
Research Associate
Daniel is a Research Associate in the MEND2 Lab where he is involved in running and maintaining all lab studies. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology. Daniel is interested in understanding the neurological basis of mood disorders and improving methods in the study of non-invasive mental health treatments. He hopes this research can help mental health treatments become more specific, effective, and accessible. Daniel plans on pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience after gaining more experience at MEND2.
Sarah Cote, MS
Independent Evaluator
Sarah is currently a clinical psychology doctoral student at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She completes diagnostic evaluations with MEND2 research participants.
Caitlyn Stringham, MA
Research Associate
Caitlyn is a research study coordinator and has extensive experience working with patient populations. Prior to joining MEND2, Caitlyn completed neuropsychological assessments at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). In addition to her role in the MEND2 lab, she is also a clinical psychology doctoral student.
Matthew Thompson, MPhil
Research Associate
Matthew is a Research Associate in the MEND2 lab where he is involved in running and managing data for multiple lab studies. He graduated from the University of Oslo with a MPhil in Cognitive Neuroscience. Matthew is interested in the neurobiological mechanisms of affect, especially in the context of mood disorders.
Anna Jacobsen
Research Associate
Anna is a Biomedical Engineering masters’ student at the University of Utah. In the MEND2 lab, she helps with data acquisition, analysis, and management for several studies. Anna is passionate about research into the biological basis of mood changes. She hopes to develop more personalized mental health medicine. Outside of research, Anna loves listening to music and roller skating.
Ava Alexander, BA
Independent Evaluator
After graduating with a B.A. in psychology from Bowdoin College, Ava spent three years working for an integrated mental health team in the juvenile justice system in New York City. Her interest in trauma and mental health among at-risk youth then led her to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Utah, where she matriculated in 2021. Her current research is focused on reciprocal links between trauma, incarceration, and gang involvement among adolescents.
Miriam Gutierrez, BS
Independent Evaluator
Miriam is an Independent Evaluator for the MEND2 Lab. She has her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Weber State University. She currently works at Latino Behavioral Health Services as the Youth Program Coordinator. She is a CPSS (certified peer support specialist) where she uses her own experience with mental health to help youth ages 12-26 in their recovery journey. Her passion is helping others, being the adult she wishes she could have had in her life as a teen, and Winnie the Pooh. In her free time you can find her at the movie theaters or hanging out with her siblings / friends.
The information posted on this site is consistent with the research reviewed and approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB). However, the IRB has not reviewed all material posted on this site. Contact the IRB if you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant. Also contact the IRB if you have questions, complaint, or concerns which you do not feel you can discuss with the investigator. The University of Utah IRB may be reached by phone at (801) 581‐3655 or by e-mail at irb@hsc.utah.edu.