Joan Luby, M.D., Early Emotional Development Center Director – Dr. Luby is a professor of child psychiatry at Washington University. She is founder and director of the Washington University School of Medicine Early Emotional Development Program, which focuses on the study and treatment of mood disorders in preschool-aged children. Dr. Luby’s clinical work and research also focuses on the emotional development of young children and how deviations in this trajectory relate to risk for early onset mood disorders. Dr. Luby and colleagues have conducted the first large-scale empirical studies to establish the criteria for identifying and validating the characteristics of depression in preschoolers. Dr. Luby and colleagues are currently investigating the role of experience and more specifically early relationships on brain development and risk for mood disorders as well as the effects of early onset depression on brain change. Dr. Luby earned her medical degree from Wayne State University and completed her residency in psychiatry at Stanford University, where she served as chief fellow in child psychiatry. She received NARSAD’s Young Investigator Award in 1999 and an Independent Investigator Award in 2004. In addition, Dr. Luby was honored with NARSAD’s Gerald L. Klerman Award for Outstanding Clinical Research in 2004. She serves on the editorial boards of Bipolar Disorders and the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
Department Website
lubyj@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Andy Belden, Ph.D., Research Instructor – Dr. Belden is a research instructor at Washington University School of Medicine in the Child Psychiatry Division.  He received a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Saint Louis University in 2006. From 2006 to 2009 Dr. Belden was a NIMH postdoctoral fellow under the mentorship of Joan Luby, M.D. Dr. Belden’s research examines atypical neural functioning associated with emotion regulation in healthy versus mood disordered children. More specifically, Dr. Belden is using fMRI to examine neural circuits in brain regions that subserve children’s use of cognitive strategies (e.g., looking on the bright side) while attempting to regulate their experiences and expressions of sadness. Dr. Belden’s research is currently funded by the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience (McDCSN). Building upon 5 years of support, collaborations, and mentoring from Dr. Luby and more recently Dr. Barch, Dr. Belden is currently seeking NIMH funding to begin establishing a career as an independent scientist in the field of translational developmental neuroscience with a program of research investigating neurobehavioral development and early onset mood disorders.
beldena@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Michael Gaffrey, Ph.D., Post Doctoral Research Scholar – Dr. Gaffrey is a NIAAA post-doctoral scholar in the Department of Psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine. In 2009, he completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and joined the EEDP shortly thereafter. Dr. Gaffrey’s research focuses on integrating behavioral, molecular genetics, and neuroimaging methodologies to better understand biological pathways underlying risk and resilience in childhood mood disorders.
gaffreym@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Hideo Suzuki, Ph.D. Post Doctoral Research Scholar - Dr. Suzuki received a Ph.D. degree in Social Psychology from Loyola University Chicago in 2009. At Loyola University Chicago, he had been involved in animal research in neuroendocrinology and neurochemistry in relation to aggressive behavior for about five years. In 2010, he joined the EEDP as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine. With three professional mentors (i.e., Dr. Luby, Dr. Botteron, and Dr. Barch), he is currently investigating structural and functional neuroimaging of early onset depression.
suzukih@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Jennifer Pautsch, Study Coordinator for PCIT-ED – Jennifer Pautsch, MA, LPC received her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has over seven years of clinical experience working with children and families. She has dual roles at the EEDP. She oversees the research mental health assessments within a research team investigating depression in preschoolers. She also worked closely with Dr. Luby in the development of Parent Child Interaction Therapy – Emotion Development and is the coordinator and a therapist for the program investigating the implementation of this treatment.  Please contact Jennifer if you are interested in participating in PCIT-ED.
pautschj@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Mary Grace Effinger, Study Coordinator for Preschool Longitudinal Study – Mary Grace received a Masters degree in Counseling and Family Therapy from Saint Louis University and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her work at the EEDP involves providing family therapy for preschoolers with symptoms of depression and their parents using Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT-ED). She also interviews parents using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. Her previous research experience includes substance abuse and its prevalence in families.
effingerm@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Becky Tillman, Senior Statistical Data Analyst – Becky received a Masters degree in statistics from the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign in 2002. She has worked in the Washington University psychiatry department as a statistical data analyst for the past 10 years. She is responsible for data management and statistical analysis for several of the research studies being conducted in the EEDP.
tillmanb@wustl.edu

Jennifer Edwards, Data Manager – Jennifer received a Master of Social Work Degree from Washington University and is completing a PhD in Political Science at the University of Missouri St. Louis. Approaching almost a decade of service with Washington University, Jennifer began her research career on the MRI Study of Normal Brain Development. In the EEDP, she provides leadership for our data management plan.
edwardsj@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Laura Rayhawk, Research Assistant – Laura received a Masters degree from Saint Louis University in Counseling and Family Therapy as well as School Counseling and Guidance. She also has a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Miami University in Ohio. Laura has worked as a counselor in academic and private practice settings. In the EEDP, she interviews parents and children for the longitudinal depression study.
rayhawkl@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Valerie Naeger, Research Assistant – Valerie received her B.A. in Psychology from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA. After moving back to St. Louis, she worked at a maximum security prison in Bonne Terre, MO for two and a half years. She worked as a psychometrist there, administering mental health assessments to the inmates as well as facilitating psycho-educational groups. She is currently a parent and child interviewer at the EEDP.
naegerv@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Janet Singer, Research Assistant - Janet graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience. While an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant in a cognitive psychology laboratory studying prospective memory in older adults. At the EEDP, Janet is a parent and child interviewer for the Preschool Depression Study. She also serves as a child interviewer for the Brain Development Study, in addition to preparing and accompanying preschoolers and their families during MRI scans.
singerj@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Lara Gershman, Research Assistant - Lara Gershman, Research Assistant – Lara graduated from the University of Michigan in 2010 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. During her time at Michigan, she conducted social psychology research, investigating the effects of peer feedback on the desire for social interaction. At the EEDP, Lara is currently serving as a parent and child interviewer for the Preschool Depression Study.
gershmal@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Rachel Dietrich, Research Assistant - Rachel received a B.A. in Psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, where she was on the Dean’s List. She minored in History and Writing. Rachel’s previous research experience includes investigating alcohol use and depression in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Currently, she administers MRI scans for the Preschool Depression Study and the Brain Development Study, and works as a child interviewer for the Brain Development Study and the PCIT study.
dietricr@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Shannon Gentry, Research Assistant – Shannon Gentry, MS, LPC, received her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Murray State University in Kentucky and her B.S. in Psychology from Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville. Shannon worked as a social worker and a co-facilitator of anger management groups at a residential treatment facility in North St. Louis for 2 and a half years. Additionally, she was a Network Coordinator at WUSM for a practice-based research network of community pediatricians in the St. Louis area for 2 and a half years before transferring to her position at the EEDP. At the EEDP, Shannon is currently serving as a parent and child interviewer for the Preschool Depression Study.
gentrys@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Timothy Oakberg, Research Assistant - Tim has a Master’s degree from the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology Program at Washington University in St. Louis, where he learned about neuroimaging. He also has undergraduate degrees in psychology and philosophy. Prior to joining the EEDP, Tim worked at Denver Academy, a premier school for students with learning differences. Tim helps coordinate and run MRI scans for the neuroimaging studies at the EEDP.
oakbergt@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Shannon Ickler, Research Assistant - Shannon Ickler received her Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and her B.S. in Psychology from the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She worked as a child and adolescent counselor in academic and community settings for 2 years. At the EEDP, Shannon conducts interviews on the adult longitudinal bipolar study.
icklers@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Jessica Varner, Research Assistant - Jessica received a B.A. in Psychology and is working on a Master of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Jessica previously worked as the Director of Client Services at a domestic violence/ substance abuse treatment facility, for women and children, in Southern California. She conducted intake interviews and facilitated self-help and parenting groups with shelter residents. She was also a Community Supervision Officer for the Substance Abuse Caseload in Orange, TX. There she facilitated a cognitive behavioral change program and conducted intake assessments for the State of Texas. In the EEDP, she administers adult interviews for the longitudinal adult bipolar study.
varnerj@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Laura April, Research Assistant - Laura graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2012 with a B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant in a geropsychology lab studying dementia and caregivers. She also worked in a weight management and obesity lab on a study of childhood obesity. At the EEDP, Laura is a parent and child interviewer for the Preschool Depression Study, and a child interviewer for the Brain Development Study. She also runs MRI scans for the neuroimaging studies at the EEDP. aprill@psychiatry.wustl.edu

Rebekah Onomivbori, Research Assistant – Rebekah graduated from Webster University in 2010 with a B.A. in Educational Studies and a minor in International Human Rights. Rebekah is currently completing the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at Washington University. At the EEDP, she assists with the Neurobehavioral study. onomivbr@psychiatry.wustl.edu