Director
Contact Information
phone: (317) 274-6761
office: LD 100E
Jesse C. Stewart
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
Christopher A. Crawford
I am a fourth-year doctoral student at IUPUI in the clinical health psychology emphasis area. I completed my B.A. in Psychology at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) and completed my M.S. in Clinical Psychology here at IUPUI. In the CBM lab, I conduct research that explores heterogeneity in depression, both in terms of elucidating etiological pathways and assessing different patterns of symptoms. I am interested in applying genetic methodologies to clinical psychology, such as in exploring the role of sleep in affective disorders via deep phenotyping. I also conduct research in sexual minority health, especially pertaining to health disparities in cardiometabolic disease and psychopathology among those with intersectional identities. I volunteer extensively with the LGBTQ+ community on and off campus. In my free time, I collaborate on research projects (mainly in cognitive metaphor theory through the Cognitive Representations Lab at IUSB, but also in whatever else piques my interest). I also listen to and play music, go to concerts, sample local brews, and play board games.
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.
Matthew D. Schuiling
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.
Michelle K. Williams
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 Care Specialist
Krysha MacDonald
Hello! I'm Krysha - a licensed mental health counselor, the Insomnia Clinical Specialist for the SHADES trial, the depression care specialist for the eIMPACT and eIMPACT-DM Trials, and the CBM Lab morale booster/cheerleader. I graduated from Ball State University with a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and have 22+ 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
I work as a clinical research assistant at the IUPUI OB/GYN department. In 2022, I received my MA in psychology from University at Buffalo in New York. My research focused on the impact of depression on cognitive functioning in people with multiple sclerosis. My research interests include the role of culture in the intergenerational transmission of psychological disorders as well as biomarkers linked to depression and PTSD in pregnancy and the postpartum period. My research at Indiana University focuses primarily on how pesticide exposure during pregnancy affects the developmental phases of the offspring. I enjoy everything adventurous outside of work, like from going to theme parks to skydiving, dancing, working out, and binge-watching TV shows and movies.
Zack M. Jones
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
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