Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Kimberly Van Orden, Ph.D.
Phone: (585) 275-5176

Prevention of late life suicide

Investigators

Aileen Aldalur, Ph.D.

Yeates Conwell, M.D.
Phone: (585) 275-6739

Risk factors for suicide in the second half of life and their implications for service system redesign.

Autumn Gallegos Greenwich, Ph.D.

Autumn M. Gallegos, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and licensed clinical psychologist. Her research explores targets for cognitive and emotion dysregulation and the effects of mind-body interventions on high stress populations. 

Lee Kehoe, Ph.D.

Corey A. Nichols-Hadeed, J.D.

Caroline Silva, Ph.D.

Caroline Silva, Ph.D., is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry. She completed the NRSA (T32) Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Silva completed her A.B. in Psychology at Harvard University and received her M.S. / Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Florida State University. She completed her clinical internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Broadly, her research has examined interpersonal risk factors for suicide via the lens of a contemporary theory of suicide—the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. In particular, Dr. Silva has examined the role of two forms of social disconnection—thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness—in suicide risk among high-risk populations including sexual minorities, military service members, and clinical outpatients. Dr. Silva’s current program of research is centered on the prevention of suicide among Hispanics. She has translated and evaluated a measure of social disconnection among native and heritage Spanish-speakers. Her current research focuses on using the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide to inform the development and evaluation of suicide prevention interventions for at-risk Hispanics. Her work is supported by a KL2 career development award from the UR CTSI.

Graduate Students

Gwyn DeLap

Gwyn is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Rochester. She received her BA in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she completed research on the impact of early maltreatment and life stress on emotional development. After graduation, she completed a two-year postbacc at the National Institute for Mental Health in the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, where she studied pediatric anxiety. Currently, at the University of Rochester, she studies how language and emotion processes impact the development of internalizing disorders. Clinically, Gwyn has worked with individual across the lifespan and is particularly interested in treating mental health in integrated medical settings. She is thrilled to contribute to the HOPE Lab as a study interventionist.

Tanya Garg

Tanya is a doctoral student in the Adult Clinical Psychology program at the University of Rochester. She earned her BS in Psychology and MS in Clinical Mental Health Sciences from University College London in the United Kingdom. Her current research focuses on the psychological and neural markers of trauma- and stressor-related disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), utilizing virtual reality and neuroimaging methods.

Abigail Zang Hoffman, LMSW

Abby is a PhD student in Human Development at the University of Rochester's Warner School. She earned her B.A. from Cornell University, and both a Master of Divinity and M.A. in social work from the University of Chicago. An ordained minister, Abby has led congregations in Upstate New York for the past 18 years, focused on developing a sense of belonging, community, and caring for people of all ages. Her research focuses on cultivating social connection in response to the epidemic of loneliness. She is grateful to participate in the HOPE Lab as a study interventionist.

Ben Rasmussen

Ben is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Rochester. His current research focuses on how psychological flexibility and mindfulness impact individual well-being and romantic relationships. He contributes to the HOPE Lab as a study interventionist.

Abigail Weiss

Abigail is a graduate student at the University of Rochester studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She received her BA in Psychology from Wesleyan University. Abigail hopes to study both short term and long term interventions for suicidality, depression, and trauma. She is excited to be a part of the HOPE lab!

Collaborators

Kathi Heffner, Ph.D.

Harry Reis, Ph.D.

Sarah Howd, M.D.

• Lifespan of Greater Rochester
  A guiding hand. At any age or stage of life, we can all use the comfort of knowing others are there for us—helping us through a difficult transition, showing us we have options and reminding us that with change comes new opportunity. For more than 45 years, Lifespan has been helping older adults and their caregivers approach aging with greater information, supportive services and the guidance to make the most of the years ahead.  

Research Staff

Ellen Beckwith, BS

April Buttaccio, MPH

Alumni

Rafayet Ali
Graduate Student

Dr. Ali contributed to the HOPE Lab as a doctoral student in computer science. He is now working as a Data Scientist. He led the affective computing component of a HOPE Lab project, Aging and Engaging, that developed and piloted a virtual agent to assist older adults in practicing conversational skills. Read more about this project.

Emily Bower, Ph.D.

​Dr. Bower completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the HOPE Lab and the Center for Excellence in Suicide Prevention at the Canandaigua VA. Emily is now an Assistant Professor at Pacific University.

Christopher Corona, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow

Jenn Daks
Graduate Student

Jenn contributed to the HOPE Lab as a doctoral student in clinical psychology. She is now completing a postdoctoral fellowship in geropsychology at the VA Boston.

Meghan Huang
Graduate Student

Meghan contributed to the HOPE Lab as a doctoral student in clinical psychology. She is now completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Durham VA.

Julie Lutz, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher

Julie completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the HOPE Lab and the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide. Julie is now a researcher at the Palo Alto VA, contributing to suicide prevention research with older Veterans.