LAB MEMBERS
DR. ERIN KAUFMAN
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
University of Utah
Dr. Kaufman received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Utah, where she specialized in the department's Clinical Child and Family Track. She completed her clinical internship and post-doctoral training years at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Kaufman is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah and an adjunct faculty member in the department of psychology at the University of Western Ontario.
Dr. Kaufman's research focuses on interrupting pathogenic factors that contribute to self-inflicted injury (SII), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and suicide. She uses the developmental psychopathology perspective as a framework for conceptualizing and studying these complex problems. Dr. Kaufman studies SII and BPD conjointly because they share many phenotypic features, potentiating factors, and often co-occur along a common developmental trajectory. Her work builds on existing research that identifies both (a) markers of biological vulnerability to SII and BPD, and (b) environmental risk factors (e.g., coercive family processes, emotion invalidation) that shape vulnerabilities into more advanced and difficult-to-treat patterns of stress reactivity over time. Dr. Kaufman incorporates biological, self- and informant-report, behavioral, and ecological momentary assessment methods into her research designs.
JIN PRUNUSKE, B.S.
Study Coordinator
BRIANNA MEDDAOUI, M.S.
Graduate Student
Brianna is a Ph.D. student in the Clinical Science and Psychopathology program at Western University. Her research interests include characterizing developmental changes (e.g., cognitive, social, and affective) that confer risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviours during adolescence and identifying targets for intervention and prevention among individuals at risk of developing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). She is also generally interested in the role that research methodology plays in improving the prediction of acute suicide risk.
Jin received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Oregon, where she completed her honors thesis examining the moderating role of positive maternal involvement on the relationship between maternal emotion dysregulation and preschoolers’ internalizing and externalizing problems. Jin's research interests include exploring environmental factors that may contribute to the development of psychopathology, examining intergenerational transmission of mental health challenges, understanding features of Borderline Personality Disorder, and analyzing the efficacy of prevention and intervention efforts for mental health disorders. Jin’s commitment to exploring factors that may contribute to the development of psychopathology motivates her to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of contributing to both research and clinical practice.
JENNY NGUYEN
Research Assistant
Jenny graduated from the University of Utah in May 2025 earning her Honors B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Her research interest combines sociocultural-, community-, and systems-based contexts to understand childhood adversity and prolonged stress-exposure among youths from marginalized and underserved backgrounds. More specifically, she hopes to understand the role of culture in shaping identity development, emotion regulation, and social relationships in ways that may contribute to negative mental health outcomes. Jenny plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology.
JENNIFER LEE
Research Assistant
Jennifer is a Junior at the University of Utah, working towards an Honors B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Korean Studies. Her research interests focus on the development of psychopathology spanning from infancy to adulthood. In particular, she is interested in investigating how family dynamics and cultural factors shape mental health outcomes, especially among minoritized populations. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Jennifer intends to continue her educational pursuits in graduate school, with the end goal of refining and applying holistic interventions as a practicing clinician.
TAEGAN SCOTT
Research Assistant
Taegan is a second year student at the University of Utah working towards an Honors Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Modern Dance. Her research interests include understanding psychophysiological symptoms and their impact on wellbeing. She is particularly interested in working with vulnerable populations and minority groups with hopes of contributing to research which improves their day to day lives. With her dance background and minor, she hopes to examine the ties between movement and intense emotional states. Taegan intends to continue school after completing her Bachelors degree by completing a graduate degree with the goal of a career in movement or psychotherapy.
Aidan is in his 3rd year of an Honors Psychology B.S. on a pre-medical track at the University of Utah. His research interests center around understanding how developmental and relational pathways across adolescence shape the use and persistence of maladaptive coping mechanisms. More specifically, Aidan is interested in how changes in attachment styles and identity development in the context of adverse childhood experiences can influence coping trajectories in response to challenges with emotions, stress, and identity. He is pursuing medical school with the goal of a career in child and adolescent psychiatry.
JESUS LOYA-RODRIGUEZ
Research Assistant
Jesus is a third year psychology (honors) and criminology double major at the University of Utah. They are also completing an honors integrated minor in human rights and resources and sociology. Jesus’ is interested in studying systematic trauma through social structures that perpetuate ostracization and psychopathology among divested-marginalized communities through an abolitionist lens. After completing their undergraduate degree, Jesus anticipates pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Outside of research and academics, Jesus enjoys organizing, reading, and spending time with loved ones.
AIDAN PETERSON
Research Assistant
PAST LAB MEMBERS
Aileen Duong
Salem Hull
Vanit Shah
Carmon Wong
Myah Pazdera
Petr Horgos
Jason Chung
Le Li
Biancca Iddiols
Cici Guo
Kelly Chiu
Abitha Suthakaran
Catherine Taian-Jiao Li
Sarah Smith
Veronica Kim
Carly Biderman
Ragini Singh
Alvira Khurram
Fatima Zahra
Soha Khorsand
