Principal Investigator
Sabra Inslicht, Ph.D.
Sabra has been conducting human clinical research on the psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for the past 14 years, serving as Principal Investigator on projects sponsored by the DoD, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and the Clinical Translational Science Institute at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research goals include: 1) to identify psychobiological causes and consequences of traumatic stress symptoms; 2) to characterize sex differences in the biology of PTSD; and 3) to develop drug treatments that have potential for facilitating extinction learning and improving the treatment of PTSD. She has led clinical studies using a human laboratory paradigm to examine fear conditioning in PTSD and has examined complex steroid pathways, reproductive hormones, and immune function. Her ultimate goal is to use the knowledge gained on the neurobiology of PTSD to inform novel interventions for ameliorating prolonged posttraumatic stress responses. The possibility that there may be sex differences in the neurobiology of PTSD may lead to more tailored treatments for men and women.
Post-Doc Fellows
Carolyn Gibson, Ph.D.
Carrie is an Advanced Fellow in Women’s Health at the San Francisco VAMC. She received a BA in Psychology from the University of Virginia, an MPH from Dartmouth, a PhD in Clinical and Biological/Health Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed her Clinical Psychology Internship at the Seattle VA. Before starting graduate school, she worked in women's health research and program development at the National Institute of Mental Health, the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Institute for Women's Health, and the Journal of Women's Health. Her research focuses on the relationships between the menopause transition, psychological health, and cardiovascular risk factors among midlife and older women.
Lab Manager
Callan Lujan, M.A.
Callan Lujan recently graduated from San Francisco State University with her MA in Psychology with a concentration in Mind Brain and Behavior studies. She has experience and interest in studying PTSD using electrophysiological measures. Callan plans on pursuing a clinical PhD in the coming years. In her free time, Callan loves to spend time with friends, family, and her dog, Reuben. She loves living in San Francisco and rooting for the Giants.
Study Coordinators
Maureen Barrientos, B.A.
Maureen is a recent graduate from the University of San Francisco where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. She aspires to earn a PhD in clinical psychology and conduct research investigating the influence of minority group status, such as age and gender, on stress management. She has been active in the military community as a volunteer at Swords to Plowshares and as a research assistant at Tripler Army Medical Center prior to joining our team at the San Francisco VA. Maureen spends much of her free time reading, cooking, and exploring San Francisco.
Research Assistants
Michaela Booker, B.S.
Michaela graduated from San Francisco State University in 2014 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Neuromuscular Control. Her previous research experience at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center involved improving diagnosis and treatment approaches for frontotemporal dementia. As an aspiring physician, she is currently enrolled in the Pre-Heath Professions Certificate Program at SFSU. In her free time, Michaela enjoys hiking, reading, and playing basketball.
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Marissa Bannister, Ph.D. Candidate
Marissa graduated from UC San Diego in 2015 where she earned a B.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Neuroscience and Behavior. She worked in a TBI Neuroimaging lab at the San Diego VA, before returning to the Bay Area to pursue a PhD. in Clinical Psychology from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University. Her research interests revolve around Veterans with PTSD, particularly the dynamics of military families. She spends her free time doing crossfit, rock climbing, and cooking!
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Kaila Tang, M.A.
Kaila earned her B.S. in psychology and social action from Palo Alto University, and recently received her M.A. in clinical psychology from Columbia University. As a master’s student she researched signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse, barriers that prevent survivors from disclosing their abuse, and ways to foster openness in psychotherapy. She has also presented research on the impacts of ethnicity and age on honest disclosure at local and national conferences. Her clinical and research interests involve the etiology, expression, prevention, and treatment of trauma and stress disorders in individuals living and working in violent settings. Kaila plans to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology, and is currently interning with a mental health non-profit organization where she helps facilitate wellness and recovery groups for consumers of behavioral health services in San Francisco. When she isn’t working, Kaila enjoys reading, eating, traveling, watching documentaries, and spending time with her pup.
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Alumni
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Study Coordinator: Tierney Baum, B.S.
Tierney received her B.S. in Neuroscience and Literature from UC Santa Cruz in 2014. Past research has involved the intersection of environmental and genetic factors on Multiple Sclerosis susceptibility and most recently the role of certain proteins in axonal transport and neurodegenerative disease. She plans to either pursue a PhD or MD in the next few years and is currently living in Berkeley, CA. Her hobbies include running, rock climbing, reading, and Argentine tango.
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Clinical Interviewer: Laurel Shiba, M.S.
Laurel received her Master of Science in Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2015 and is currently working toward her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She has worked as a therapist at community mental health clinics in San Jose and San Francisco and as a research assistant at Stanford's Etkin Lab. She is interested in how changes in everyday activities such as eating, sleeping, and exercising can affect mental health. In her spare time, Laurel enjoys singing, cooking, reading, and dancing.
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Research Assistant: Conrad J. Camit, MBA
Conrad is currently a first year PhD graduate student in Clinical Psychology at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University. He had previously been an IT software consultant for 16 years after receiving a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA degree from Texas A&M University. He is interested in studying trauma and suicidal behavior among diverse populations, especially in individuals who identify as LGBTQ. During free time, he enjoys traveling, cycling, dining out, and being outdoors.
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Research Assistant: Arcadea Taylor, B.A.
Arcadea graduated from UC Berkeley in 2014 with a B.A. in Development Studies with an emphasis on Health and Politics in Central Africa. She is currently enrolled in the Pre-Health Professionals Certificate Program at San Francisco State University and will be applying to medical school. She enjoys cooking, reading, writing, and traveling. She has lived in Cambodia and the Czech Republic and has traveled all over Europe and Southeast Asia.
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Research Assistant: Darush Koohestani, B. S.
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Study Coordinator: Cynthia Villanueva, B.A.
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Darush received his B.S. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from UC Davis. His past research experiences include investigating the role of heat shock protein 60 in apoptosis and heart failure; specifically, whether HSPs in heart failure paradoxically have a detrimental effect on the heart mediated by the immune system and an inflammatory response. Darush is interested in a career in medicine and is currently completing his final semester at the Pre-Health Professions Certificate Program at San Francisco State University with plans to attend medical school in 2017. In his free time Darush enjoys being active in his community, hiking, cycling, playing tennis, and spending time with family, friends, and his dog.
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Cindy earned a Bachelors in Psychology with a Minor in Linguistics from UC Berkeley in 2013. She is interested in the development and treatment of mental illness, and in particular, how potential contributing factors, like sleep and emotion regulation, may be targets for intervention. She currently volunteers at the Emotion & Emotion Regulation Lab (EERLAB) at UC Berkeley, where she investigates possible biological, psychological, emotional, and social factors that contribute to well-being and mental health. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and become a practicing therapist. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, practicing taekwondo, and attending punk rock shows.
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Research Assistant: Gilbert Soon, B.S.
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Post Doc Fellow: Lindsey Hopkins, Ph.D.
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Gilbert served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. After deploying to Afghanistan with the 2nd Marine Division 8th Marine Regiment, Gilbert received his Bachelors of Science in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale while working in the Camp Johnson Medical Clinic in North Carolina. He is an aspiring physician and is currently enrolled in the Pre-Health Professions Certificate Program at San Francisco State University. Gilbert enjoys hikes with friends, Muay Thai, and finding new places to eat.
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Lindsey is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Advanced Fellowship for Women’s Health at the SFVAMC. She completed her Ph.D. at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and her predoctoral clinical internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Hopkins’ research examines anxiety and stress-related processes that underlie maladaptive eating behavior and substance use. She also investigates the efficacy and mechanisms of complementary and integrative approaches (e.g., yoga, exercise) for anxiety and stress-related behavioral health problems.
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Study Coordinator: Lindsey Smith, MPH
Lindsey joined the research team at the VA in 2013 after completing her graduate degree in Public Health. She has conducted various health research projects and clinical trials over the last ten years and is particularly interested in health psychology, medical decision making, and medical history. Lindsey now works as a Clinical Trials Management Associate at Gilead Sciences, investigating new and more effective treatments for HIV/AIDS. Outside of work, Lindsey spends her free time exploring Bay Area back roads, eating, and enjoying the company of her cat.
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Research Assistant: Kim Leon, B.A.
Kim graduated from Stanford University in 2014 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in Creative writing and a minor in African Studies. Her previous research has taken her to Kenya and Papua New Guinea where she has served rural communities with limited access to medical facilities and directed HIV/AIDS counseling in partnership with Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK). She is currently working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at UC San Francisco, until starting medical school in fall of 2016.
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Research Assistant: Celeste Swain, B.S.
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Research Assistant: Emma Wallace, B.A.
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Celeste graduated from Bowdoin College in 2012 with a Neuroscience major. She spent two years as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital investigating the neuropathogenesis of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and postoperative delirium in elderly surgical patients and the neurotoxicity of anesthesia. She is currently a medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. A former two-sport collegiate athlete, Celeste now enjoys running, yoga, and attempting to surf.
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Emma graduated from UC Berkeley in 2015 with a bachelors degree in psychology. In the past, she has worked as a research assistant studying impulsivity in teenage girls, and is currently a research assistant in a sleep lab on campus developing better sleep therapies for teens. She recently began working as an ABA therapist for children with Autism, and plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology in the near future. In her free time, Emma loves cooking, trying new restaurants, and going to concerts.
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