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Research Interests

The PEBLab studies basic and clinically relevant aspects of emotion, personality, and behavior. The lab utilizes a variety of research methods, including self-report questionnaires, clinical interviews, laboratory tasks, and psychophysiological indices of emotion and nervous system activity. Click the links below to learn more about our research interests and activities.

  • Suicide

  • Emotion

  • Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

  • Borderline Personality Disorder



    Research Funding

    We are fortunate to have received support for our research from a number of government and non-profit organizations.

    "Suicidality in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Interaction Between Biological Vulnerabilities and Cognitive Dysfunction"
    American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
    10/1/20 - 9/30/22; Total costs: $89,357
    Role: Mentor (PI: Carly McMorris)


    "Advancing the Measurement of Emotional Experience"
    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
    3/1/18 - 2/28/22; Total costs: $95,800
    Role: Principal Investigator

    "What Reduces Suicide Ideation in Online Crisis Chats? A Study of Crisis Counselor & Client Processes"
    American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
    10/1/17 - 9/30/19; Total costs: $85,000
    Role: Mentor (PI: Dan Cox)

    "Advancing Lifesaving Enhancements to the Follow-Up of Suicidal Individuals"
    Anonymous Donor (to Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC)
    5/1/16 - 4/30/18; Total costs: $200,000
    Role: Co-Principal Lead (w/ Sandy Biggerstaff)

    "Examining a New Model of Suicide and Suicide Risk Assessment in High-Risk Adult Psychiatric Patients"
    Surrey Hospital and Outpatient Centre Foundation
    4/1/16-3/30/17; Total costs: $10,000
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator (PI: Michelle Tsai)

    "Assessing Motivations for Suicide Attempts"
    American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
    10/1/14 - 9/30/15; Total costs: $30,000
    Role: Principal Investigator

    "Toward More Precise Measurement of Emotional Experience"
    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
    3/15/11 - 3/14/15; Total costs: $104,000
    Role: Principal Investigator

    "The Functions of Adolescent Self-Injury: Measurement, Structure, and Mental Health Implications"
    National Institute of Mental Health (R03)
    6/06/08 - 5/30/11; Total costs: $152,134
    Role: Principal Investigator

    "Translational Approaches to the Study of Emotion in Self-Injury"
    National Institute of Mental Health (F31 Training Grant)
    Pre-Doctoral Fellowship to Catherine Glenn, 2009-2011
    Role: Sponsor

    "Personality Disorder and Suicide"
    American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
    7/01/07 - 7/31/08; Total Costs: $20,000
    Role: Principal Investigator

    "Self-Injury in Youth: Consolidating Definitional and Methodological Approaches"
    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
    6/01/07 - 5/31/09; Total costs: $30,000
    Role: Investigator

    "Establishing a Laboratory for Adolescent Psychopathology"
    Office of the Vice President of Research, Stony Brook University
    9/01/05 - 8/31/08; Total costs: $56,000
    Role: Principal Investigator

    "Deliberate Self-Harm"
    National Institute of Mental Health (F31)
    9/01/02 - 8/31/04; Total Costs: $49,000
    Role: Principal Investigator