Personnel
Director
Matthew W. Gallagher, Ph.D.
Dr. Matt Gallagher is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics at the University of Houston. Dr. Gallagher received his Ph.D. in clinical and quantitative psychology with honors in 2011 from the University of Kansas. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. Dr. Gallagher was previously a staff psychologist in the Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. His research interests include evaluating the efficacy of transdiagnostic treatments for PTSD and anxiety disorders, identifying mechanisms of change of empirically supported treatments and understanding how positive thinking (e.g., hope, optimism, self-efficacy) promotes well-being and provides resilience to PTSD and other anxiety disorders. His research has been funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, the Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology, and the Department of Defense (DoD). He was recognized with the Rising Star Award by the Association for Psychological Science in 2016. He has published more than 115 articles, books and chapters and is a licensed clinical psychologist.
Dr. Gallagher's Google Scholar Profile
Current Pre-Doctoral Students
Lia J. Smith, M.A.
Lia is a seventh-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Houston. She is advised by Drs. Matthew Gallagher and Clayton Neighbors. Lia received her bachelor's degree in psychology, with a certificate in Human Needs and Global Resources, from Wheaton College in 2013 and her master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Houston in 2018. Lia's research interests focus on risk (e.g., sleep, distress tolerance) and resilience (e.g., mindfulness, psychological flexibility) processes at the intersection of addictions, trauma and health disparities. Recently, she was awarded an NIAAA F31 Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) for her study entitled, An Examination of the Effects of Global Sleep Disturbance and PTSD on Alcohol Cue Reactivity.
Lia Smith's Google Scholar Profile
Amy R. Senger, M.A.
Elijah Murphy, M.A.
Elijah Murphy is a third-year graduate student and teaching fellow in the clinical psychology doctoral program. He received his bachelor's degree in Psychology with Honors and his master's degree in Psychology: Clinical Science from American University in Washington D.C. His research interests include exploring the relationship between internalizing disorders and positive thinking (such as hope, optimism, and self-efficacy). He also aims to examine how identity, culture, and stigma influence the development and treatment of anxiety and stress-related pathologies.
Elijah Murphy's Google Scholar Profile
Zachary Ayers, M.A.
Zachary Ayers is a second-year graduate student and research assistant in the clinical psychology doctoral program. He received his B.A. from the University of Rochester and his M.A. in clinical psychology from The College at Brockport, State University of New York. His line of research focuses on the intersection of positive and clinical psychology. He is particularly interested in how positive psychology concepts such as optimism, hope, and self-efficacy are related to resilience. Clinically, he is interested in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders.
Jacqueline Ge, M.A.
Current Research Assistants
Post-baccalaureate Research Assistants
Sofia Lopez Esquivel, B.S.
Sofia Araly Lopez is a senior at the University of Houston currently pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Public Health. She is an undergraduate research assistant in the HART Lab and the Trauma and Stress Studies Center (TaSSC). After graduation, she plans to further her education by attending graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include anxiety disorders and stress and trauma-related disorders.
Lab Alumni
Angela Richardson, Ph.D.
Angela Richardson is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the STRONG STAR PTSD Consortium at UT Health San Antonio. She received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Houston and her master’s degree in psychology from Boston University. Her line of research focuses on identifying factors of resilience (e.g. gratitude, hope) in trauma and anxiety-related disorders, particularly within military and women populations. She is especially interested in how these factors may prevent or reduce psychopathology as well as improve overall well-being.
Angela Richardson's Google Scholar Profile
Tannah Chase, Ph.D.
Current Position: Dr. Chase offers psychological services at her private practice, The Anxiety Counseling Clinic in New Braunfels, TX.
Laura Long, Ph.D.
Laura Long is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) in Boston, MA. She received her B.A. from Vanderbilt University and her M.A. in psychology from the University of Houston. She is interested in how protective factors such as positive expectancies prevent and alleviate symptoms of emotional disorders, in addition to promoting resilience and well-being under stressful circumstances. She also examines mechanisms of change in CBT and transdiagnostic treatments for anxiety and trauma-related disorders. She is particularly interested in resilience to these clinical disorders in cancer populations, specifically the impact of hope and optimism on overall mental health and well-being.
Laura Long's Google Scholar Profile
Johann D’Souza, Ph.D.
Johann D’Souza is currently in the process of opening a private practice in Houston, TX. He received his bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of Dallas and his master’s degree in psychology from Boston University. His research interests focus on the intersection between positive psychology and psychopathology. Clinically, he is interested in forms of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) that utilize mindfulness, acceptance and values-based action, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Johann D'Souza's Google Scholar Profile
Former Research Assistants
Nina Glover, B.A.
Nina received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Houston. Outside of the HART lab, Nina worked in the Anxiety and Health Research Lab/Substance Use Treatment Clinic led by Dr. Zvolensky. Nina is interested in examining comorbidities of substance use and emotional disorders as well as how this pertains to diverse and/or underserved populations.
Current Position: Nina began her first year in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Louisiana State University in the fall of 2020.
Pelin Cunningham-Erdogdu, B.A.
Pelin received her B.A. in international relations at The University of Texas at Arlington [HJ1] [RL2] in addition to a B.A. in psychology at the University of Houston. In addition to working in the HART lab, she was also the Lab and Research Coordinator in the Social Influences and Health Behaviors Lab led by Dr. Neighbors. Pelin’s research interests include the impact of negative experiences on goal pursuit and health in addition to impacts of shame and guilt on trauma recovery.
Current Position: Pelin began her first year in the social psychology doctoral program at The University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2020.
Nicole Murciano
Nicole graduated from the University of Central Florida in December of 2019 with a B.S. in cinical psychology. In addition to working in the HART Lab, Nicole works in the Sleep and Anxiety Center of Houston Lab assisting in a study examining sleep-wake disorders across the menstrual cycle. Her research interests include memory capacity with anxiety and depression disorders, how sleep effects emotions and furthering psychological research in women. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. in clinical psychology.