People
Lab Director
Prof. Brooke Ammerman is the director of the ASSIST Lab at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Director of the Notre Dame Suicide Prevention Initiative. She received her B.S. from North Dakota State University, M.A. from University of Northern Iowa, and Ph.D. from Temple University. She is most interested in better understanding the mechanisms underlying non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and how to translate what we learn in the laboratory to the “real world.” She has a specific interest in how interpersonal stress can influence the onset and maintenance of these experiences. When not at work, Prof. Ammerman enjoys running, exploring and photographing the outdoors, and spending time with her family, including her dog and two cats. For more information on Prof. Ammerman's research, see her CV (Ammerman CV). She can be reached at bammerm1@nd.edu.
Graduate Students
Caitlin O'Loughlin is a fifth year year student in the ASSIST Lab. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and completed a post-baccalaureate research fellowship at Drexel University’s Center City Clinic for Behavioral Medicine before returning to Notre Dame and completing her M.A. in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests broadly focus on cognitive and interpersonal factors associated with suicidality and other risky behaviors. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her family (particularly her puppy) and being outside.
Yeonsoo Park is a fifth year student in the ASSIST Lab. He graduated from New York University with a BA in Psychology and earned a MA in Counseling & Clinical Psychology from Sogang University in Seoul, Korea. Yeonsoo’s research interest is in the broad range of self-injurious behaviors (i.e., non-suicidal self-injury, suicide) with a focus on identifying their risk factors. More specifically, he is interested in how emotion and cognition interact to increase one’s risk, and how intrapersonal and cultural factors influence their manifestation. During his free time, Yeonsoo enjoys spending quality time with friends, playing sports, and listening to music.
Anne Knorr is a third year student in the ASSIST Lab. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Temple University and her Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics from Penn State University. Anne's research interests focus broadly on the course of and risk and protective factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, including the study of those engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. She is also interested in the use of machine learning to create and test risk prediction models that are translatable to the clinical setting. In her free time Anne enjoys cooking, playing sports, and traveling to new places.
Kerri-Anne Bell is a second year student in the ASSIST Lab. She received her BA in Psychology and Education from Vassar College, and earned a MA in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. Kerri's research interests focus broadly on the psychosocial underpinnings of minoritized individuals' self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Specifically, she is interested in exploring the relationship between sociocultural factors including minority stressors, healthcare discrimination, and stigma, and disclosure patterns among Black individuals who self-harm; as well as the predictive validity of such factors. In her free time, Kerri enjoys spending time with friends and family, eating out, and online window shopping.
Research Assistants
Oumayma Al-Shamary is a senior student majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine. She is currently involved in Neuroscience Club and MSA and has a passion for painting. After graduation, she plans on attending medical school in hopes of pursuing pediatric oncology and advocating for mental health. She's interested in psychology, more specifically, how perceptions of one's self through interactions with others influence self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and how they're exhibited across different cultures.
Qinxiao (Allie) Wu is a junior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Data Science. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school for a career in psychiatry and spread mental health awareness and resources to underserved countries. In her free time, Allie enjoys drawing, playing archery and spending time with friends.
Emily Wartner is a senior in the College of Arts and Letters with a major in Psychology, a supplemental major in Pre-Health, and a minor in Latino Studies. After graduation she plans to attend Physician Assistant School, which will give her the education to treat and diagnose patients in a holistic manner focusing on both physical and mental health. Outside of school, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, coloring, and going on walks around campus.
Sophia Cattaneo is a junior majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Digital Marketing. From Annapolis, Maryland, she hopes to attend medical school for a career in pediatric psychiatry or another pediatric focused medical field. She is passionate about studying mental disorders in children and the resulting impacts on childhood development. Outside of school, Sophia enjoys playing piano, running, and spending time with friends.
Ella Gaul is a sophomore Neuroscience major. Her goal, as of now, is to go to medical school to pursue psychiatry. Aside from academics, she enjoys spending time with friends, going on long runs, and eating dining hall ice cream.
Kimberly Jonas is a sophomore majoring in Psychology with a minor in French. She hopes to attend graduate school to achieve a doctorate in the field of psychology, with focus on clinical and abnormal psychology, after which she can treat communities in which mental health resources are not present or affordable. Aside from academics, Kimberly enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rhianna Hensler is a junior majoring in Psychology and Education, Schooling, and Society, with a minor in Science, Technology, and Values. After graduation, she hopes to teach through Notre Dame's ACE program before attending graduate school for psychology. She is passionate about sports psychology, child psychology, and clinical research. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing the ukulele, and participating on the university's swim team.
CJ Rodgers is a junior from Long Island, NY and joined our lab this fall. He is pursuing majors in Marketing, Psychology, and Studio Art and a minor in Real Estate. His primary areas of interest in psychology include attention and perception to inform his art, as well as consumer and organizational behavior to integrate with his marketing studies.