(he/him/his)

Professor, The Ohio State University

Adjunct Professor, University of Utah

Dr. Langenecker is a Professor, Neuropsychologist, and Vice Chair of Research within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University and has spent decades investigating neurobiological mechanisms of mood disorders in adolescents and adults. He works on multiple studies including RuMe, ReSIST, and SOAR at both The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In his free time, he likes to hike, bike, cook, and spend time with his two cats Bowie and Mushu.

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ResearchGate

(she/her/hers)

Psychologist & Clinical Scholar, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University

Dr. Westlund Schreiner is an Assistant Professor and Psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital with a joint appointment at The Ohio State University. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and interventions in adolescents. She works on the ReSIST, LoTUS, and RuMe studies. She enjoys audiobooks, baking, crocheting, and spending time with her three little ones (1 human, 2 feline).

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ResearchGate

(she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor, University of Utah

Dr. Kaufman is an Assistant Professor and Psychologist within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Utah. Dr. Kaufman’s program of research focuses on interrupting pathogenic factors that contribute to self-inflicted injury (SII), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and suicide.

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ResearchGate

(he/him/his)

Ohio State University

Ross graduated from Louisiana State University with his Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology Emphasis) and completed his clinical internship in Neuropsychology and Neuroscience at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in 2025. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in neuropsychology and late-life depression research with the MEND2 lab. He is interested in using cognitive (traditional neuropsychological testing, virtual reality) and biobehavioral technology approaches (neuroimaging, inflammatory and cerebrovascular markers, EMA) to understand the complex relationship between mood, suicidal behavior, and cognitive aging. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and going to the movies.

(she/her/hers)

Clinical Research Specialist

Ohio State University

Caty joins the lab with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Latino Studies and a Master’s in Applied Clinical and Preclinical Research from The Ohio State University. With a strong foundation in medical studies spanning cancer, diabetes, genetic heart disease, wound care, and neurological surgery, she brings a clinically informed perspective to our translational research. Her background fuels a deep interest in public health and preventive health science, aligning with the lab's mission to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying depression and identify targets for early intervention and treatment. By integrating clinical insight with neurobiological discovery, she aims to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of depression and its far-reaching impacts on individual and population health. She is bilingual and hopes to draw more Spanish-speaking participants into research studies. Beyond research, she has a passion for being outdoors or out of the country, off roading, undertaking extreme home renovations.

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Research Associate

Ohio State University

Matthew is a Research Associate in the MEND2 lab where he is involved in running and managing data for multiple lab studies, including RuMe and SOAR. He graduated from the University of Oslo with a MPhil in Cognitive Neuroscience. Matthew is interested in the neurobiological mechanisms of affect, especially in the context of mood disorders.

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Senior Research Associate, Independent Evaluator

Ohio State University

Leah joined the MEND2 Lab in 2019. She graduated with a Master’s in psychology from the University of Utah after obtaining a Bachelor’s in Psychology from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo. Leah’s research interests focus on the underlying risk and protective mechanisms in the development of mood disorders. She works primarily on the RuMe and SOAR studies. Leah comes from a cute fairytale-like village in Germany.

(she/her/hers)

Research Associate

University of Utah

Myah is a Research Associate in the MEND2 Lab where she is involved in running and maintaining all lab studies. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a M.S. in Cognitive and Developmental Science. Myah is interested in prevention science, especially as it relates to development, trauma, and cognitive neuroscience among at-risk youth. In her free time, she enjoys being outside with her dogs.

(she/her/hers)

Independent Evaluator

University of Utah

After graduating with a B.A. in psychology from Bowdoin College, Ava spent three years working for an integrated mental health team in the juvenile justice system in New York City. Her interest in trauma and mental health among at-risk youth then led her to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Utah, where she matriculated in 2021. Her current research is focused on reciprocal links between trauma, incarceration, and gang involvement among adolescents. Ava grew up in the city The Office takes place in!

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Hannah graduated with a Bachelors in Neuroscience from the College of Wooster (2024) with minors in Biology and Public Health. She is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator for the MEND2 lab at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, working primarily on the RuMe and ReSIST studies. She has an interest in clinical treatments for suicidality/self-injurious behavior and health equity and hopes to pursue these topics in graduate school. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts and playing with her cats, Soup and Crouton.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Leo earned a BA from Sarah Lawrence College (2024), where he studied psychology and neuroscience. His primary research interests include suicide and self-injurious behaviors in at-risk populations. He is particularly interested the identification, development, and interaction of risk/protective factors — especially social connectedness. Leo aspires to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and continue to dedicate his career to suicide prevention. He primarily works on ReSIST and RuMe. Leo enjoys running, drinking coffee, and mixed media arts (leokalotihos.com).

(she/her/hers)

Clinical Research Associate

Ohio State University

Jisoo earned her B.A. in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies from Denison University in 2023. She is particularly interested in developing intervention and prevention strategies for depression, with a focus on minority populations. At the lab, she primarily works on the RuMe and MARIS studies. Originally from South Korea, Jisoo also spent three years living in China. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new cafes and trying different kinds of coffee. 

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Clinical Research Associate

Ohio State University

Jordan is currently a Clinical Research Assistant for the MEND2 lab at Ohio State University. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Ohio University (2025) with a minor in Philosophy. She has an interest in clinical treatments and prevention measures for depression and short-term risk assessment for suicidality/self-injurious behavior. She hopes to pursue these topics in Clinical Psychology PhD programs in the future. Outside of research, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with her friends. 

Clinical Research Associate

The Ohio State University

Helenna is currently a Clinical Research Assistant for the MEND2 lab at Ohio State University. She previously attended the University of Kansas, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience, supplementing her education with a certificate in Data Science. She plans on pursuing a Master’s degree at Ohio State University to further her education and data science skills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, listening to live music, and learning how to cook (recipe recommendations are always appreciated!)

(she/her/hers)

Advancing Directives in Neuroimaging Research Fellow

Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Cindy is an ADNiR fellow working for the MEND2 lab. She is earning a Bachelors in Computational Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in statistics at The Ohio State University and will graduate in 2027. Her research interests include uncovering the neurological underpinnings of suicidal behavior and psychosis to inform development of individualized treatments. Cindy hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology following these interests. In her free time, she loves making oil paintings of desserts.

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Undergraduate Researcher

Ohio State University

Anika is pursuing a major in neuroscience and a minor in clinical psychology at OSU and will graduate in 2027. She works on SOAR and RueMe and is interested in studying the underlying mechanisms of psychological disorders and their treatments. Anika loves to travel and has been to places like Egypt, London, Paris, Costa Rica, Peru, and Italy.

(she/her/hers)

Undergraduate Researcher

Ohio State University

I am majoring in Psychology on the Pre-Med track, with a minor in Medical Humanities and will graduate in 2026. I work with SOAR and MARIS, and I’m interested in underlying causes of mental illness and innovative treatment methods. A fun fact about me is that I have been dancing for 15 years.

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Research Associate

University of Utah (2020-2024)

Brian was a Research Associate in the MEND2 Lab, who graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. He was involved in running and maintaining multiple lab studies. He is primarily interested in suicide prevention, symptomology of mood disorders, and executive function. In his free time, Brian enjoys woodworking and playing with his corgi. Brian is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi.

(he/they)

Clinical Research Assistant

Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (2024-2025)

Chuck earned a Bachelors in Neuroscience with minors in Clinical Psychology and Philosophy from The Ohio State University (2023). His research interests include intergenerational transmission of depression/trauma and developing efficient and culturally appropriate psychological assessment strategies for low- and middle- income countries. He primarily worked on RuMe and SOAR. Chuck is also a giant (latin -> old french) etymology (latin -> greek -> old french again) fan (latin, fanaticus). He is currently in Cambodia with the Peace Corps.

Research Associate

University of Utah

Anna was a Biomedical Engineering masters’ student at the University of Utah. In the MEND2 lab, she helped with data acquisition, analysis, and management for several studies. Anna is passionate about research into the biological basis of mood changes. She hopes to develop more personalized mental health medicine. Outside of research, Anna loves listening to music and roller skating. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Zurich.

Undergraduate Research Associate

University of Utah

Raina was a Research Associate in the MEND2 Lab working on her B.S. in Psychology at University of Utah. She assisted with multiple studies, particularly studies of self-injury and suicide. Raina is interested in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, suicide prevention, and emotion dysregulation. In her free time, Raina loves coffee, music, and being outdoors. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Denver.