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Director

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Contact Information

phone: (317) 274-6761

office: LD 100E

Jesse C. Stewart

jstew@iu.edu

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Psychology, School of Science, IUPUI
Affiliated Scientist, Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Regenstrief Institute
Faculty Scientist, Indiana University Diabetes Translational Research Center
Member, Indiana University Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases

I’m a Professor of Psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, better known as IUPUI. Since its launch in 2006, I've also been directing the CBM Lab. I have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Ohio University, and I completed postdoctoral training in cardiovascular behavioral medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. My primary research interests are: (1) psychosocial risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases, (2) biobehavioral mechanisms underlying psychosocial factor-cardiometabolic disease relationships, and (3) psychosocial interventions as primary prevention approaches for cardiometabolic diseases.

 

I'm also a self-taught (read: below average) guitar player and a music gear hoarder. My last two big scores were a Gretsch Catalina drum kit and a 1950’s all-tube Westinghouse record player console. My daughter and son love them…my wife, not so much. I'm also a lover of craft beer, indie rock, and the outdoors, especially when combined.

PhD Students

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Christopher A. Crawford

chricraw@iu.ed

I am a PhD candidate in clinical psychology in my fifth year at IU Indianapolis. I specialize in clinical health psychology and my research focuses on uncovering pathways that contribute to depression, particularly by exploring how biological factors like sleep and neurobiological markers interact with mental health outcomes. I am particularly interested in using genetic methodologies and deep phenotyping to advance our understanding of affective disorders Additionally, I conduct research in LGBTQ+ health, examining how systemic factors such as discrimination and healthcare inequities contribute to cardiometabolic and mental health disparities among LGBTQ+ populations, with a goal of improving health outcomes for my community. Outside of my research, I am deeply involved in the LGBTQ+ community through roles such as president of Graduate OUT in STEM, co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Health Special Interest Group of the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine, and as a volunteer for Indiana Youth Group. In my free time, I enjoy collaborating on interdisciplinary research projects, playing music, attending concerts, and exploring local breweries.

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Matthew D. Schuiling

mschuil@iu.edu

I am a third-year doctoral student at IUPUI in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, specializing in Health Psychology. I completed my B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Hope College in 2019. I then spent two years at Northwestern University in Chicago researching anxiety and depression comorbid with narcolepsy and the development of behavioral interventions relating to sleep disorders. I am excited to continue researching the connection between mental and physical health with the CBM lab. In my free time I enjoy doing improv comedy, expanding my musical ability and tastes, and learning whatever new hobby has piqued my interest in the given month.  

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Timothy C. Lipuma
tclipuma@iu.edu

I am a second-year doctoral student at IUPUI in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. I transferred to UC Davis from American River College in 2016 and graduated with a B.S. in Clinical Nutrition in 2019. My undergraduate research focused on nutritional strategies for performance nutrition. Over the next few years, I gained research experience in the areas of stress, sleep, and the brain-gut-microbiome axis by becoming a VT-PREP Scholar from 2020-2021 and attending University College Cork from 2021-2022 as a MSc graduate student. As a PhD student, I hope to use my cross-disciplinary background to examine how depression symptoms, such as changes in eating or sleeping, impact physical health. As a community college transfer and former VT-PREP scholar, I'm passionate about academic pipelines and mentorship—feel free to message me about transferring, undergraduate research, postbaccalaureate experiences and the like! Outside of the lab, I love food and travel! I grew up admiring Anthony Bourdain, and that's part of what brought me to Ireland several times in my life. 

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Michelle K. Williams

mw130@iu.edu

 

I am a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at IUPUI, specializing in Health Psychology. I obtained my B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida and my M.S. in clinical psychology from IUPUI. My research interests include a) examining the relationship between mental health conditions and cardiometabolic diseases and b) exploring the potential of novel interventions (e.g., internet cognitive-behavioral therapy) to improve both mental and physical health outcomes in marginalized groups. My other passions include reading, salsa dancing, and doing music covers.​

Insomnia/Depression Clinical Specialist

Krysha MacDonald

krysmacd@iu.edu

Hello! I'm Krysha - a licensed mental health counselor, the Insomnia Clinical Specialist for the SHADES trial, the Depression Clinical Specialist for the eIMPACT and eIMPACT-DM Trials, and the CBM Lab mom/morale booster/cheerleader. I graduated from Ball State University with a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and have 23+ years of mental health experience, ranging from school-based services to being an integrated behavioral health specialist in primary care settings. When I am not in the lab, you can find me traveling, out at a festival, seeing live music, or outdoors exploring nature. Besides having a huge case of wanderlust, another passion of mine is finding and indulging in good, locally sourced food and craft beverages. I'm also an avid animal advocate, rescuer, foster parent, and proud mama of 2 rescue fur babies.

Research Assistants

Gouri B. Ambily

gouambil@iu.edu

I am a research specialist in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine. My primary work focuses on maternal and child health, with an emphasis on pesticide exposure during pregnancy and its impact on child development. Specifically, I investigate how depression interacts with biological and demographic factors such as sleep quality, physical activity, and neighborhood environment and impact maternal health and birth outcomes including preeclampsia and preterm birth. My research aims to identify pathways that inform interventions to improve perinatal care and reduce health disparities.  As a research assistant in the CBM lab, I contribute to the SHADES study, which examines the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on cardiovascular health. My responsibilities include recruiting participants for the study and collaborating with clinical psychology PhD students on projects exploring the intersection of depression, insomnia, and cardiovascular health. I am committed to advancing research that addresses health inequities across diverse populations. Alongside my research, I am an active member of salsa and bachata performance teams at Latin Expressions, a Latin dance community. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, watching movies, and hanging out with friends.

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Zack M. Jones

joneszm@iu.edu

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and Spanish with plans of going to graduate school to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology. My interests lie in depression and diabetes, particularly how the two affect inflammatory biomarkers within the body and brain. I am also interested in obstetrics the intersection of the field and depression and how it affects cardiometabolic biomarkers. Outside of school and work, I love to travel and go the various state parks in Indiana, spend time with my cat, Dusty, and watch ancient history documentaries or Bones.

Alumni

Desiree Zielke, 2012

Clinical Psychologist, Becoming Balanced, Fargo, ND

Misty A.W. Hawkins, 2013

Associate Professor, Department of Health & Wellness Design, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington

Manisha Sawhney, 2013

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Mary, Bismark, ND

Tasneem Khambaty, 2015

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland – Baltimore County

Jessica Berntson, 2018

Registered Psychologist, Health + Anxiety Psychology Practice, North Vancouver, BC

Elizabeth A. Vrany, 2018

Assistant Professor, ​Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health and Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Brittanny M. Polanka, 2020

Assistant Professor and Benjamin‐Carver Scientist, Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

Loretta Hsueh, 2020

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago

Jay S. Patel, 2021

Clinical Psychologist, Washington Permanente Medical Group, Tacoma Mental Health and Wellness

Alexis Higgins, 2022

Medical Student, Indiana University School of Medicine

Aubrey L. Shell, 2023

Clinical Psychologist, IU Health Ball Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health

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