Dr. Mackiewicz Seghete earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder, completing her clinical internship in the Department of Child Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. After graduation, she completed a two-year NIAAA postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at OHSU. Her basic research interests are focused on executive function, cognitive and affective neurobiological markers of risk for psychopathology, and the effect of childhood maltreatment on cognitive and affective brain processes across the lifespan. Additionally, Dr. Mackiewicz Seghete is interested in directly bridging basic neuroimaging work with clinical research on preventative interventions. As such, one current project is focused on examining the neurobiological mechanisms of action of a preventative, perinatal mindfulness-based intervention (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) in women at heightened risk of postpartum depression. Dr. Mackiewicz Seghete's research is strongly influenced by her areas of clinical work and expertise, which include pediatric neuropsychology, interpersonal trauma, mindfulness-based interventions, and dyadic work.

Dr. Nagel is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University, where she serves as the Vice Chair for Research in the Departmentof Psychiatry, directs the Developmental Brain Imaging Laboratory, and is the Director of pediatric neuropsychology and a practicing neuropsychologist within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Nagel's research focuses on adolescent brain and cognitive development in healthy and at-risk populations. Her work has primarily focused on understanding the development of executive, emotional, and reward-based networks in the brain using neuroimagingand how perturbations to these systems may result in a heightened vulnerability for mental illness during the adolescent years. More specifically, her lab has been conducting longitudinal neuroimaging studies of Portland-area youth for more than a decade, with aims toward identifying neurobiological markers of risk and resilience for psychopathology, including addiction, and hopes of ultimately informing more targeted intervention and prevention efforts. She is a Principal Investigator on several federally-funded National multi-siteprojects toward that end, including the National Consortium on Alcohol & Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD).

Dr. Graham is a developmental neuroscientist and clinical psychologist. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon and completed her clinical internship in the Child Development & Rehabilitation Center in the Department of Psychiatry at OHSU. Dr. Graham is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and a Principal Investigator in the Development Cognition and Neuroimaging (DCAN) Lab at OHSU. Dr. Graham studies the developing brain beginning soon after birth and is interested in how the early environment, beginning in the prenatal period, influences developing brain systems. Dr. Graham uses structural and functional MRI to characterize the developing brain in relation to environmental influences and patterns of behavioral development. Her work in the DCAN Lab also includes a focus on optimizing tools in order to better assess early brain development and how it differs between individuals. Dr. Graham's research also addresses how clinical intervention can be used to advance understanding of brain development and ameliorate effects of exposure to early life stress. The overarching goal of Dr. Graham's work is to prevent psychiatric disorders and support health brain development.

Senior Research Associate

Emily is a Senior Research Associate who joined the lab in March 2021. Emily graduated from Linfield University with a B.S. in Biopsychology and has over a decade of research experience in the Dept. of Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU. Emily is excited to transition her basic science and management expertise into a Senior Clinical Research Associate role in the INSPIRE Lab. Emily is particularly fascinated with understanding the neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to alcohol and substance use disorders; internalizing disorders, and the effects of maternal stress during pregnancy on offspring neurodevelopment.

Research Assistant

Katie started in the lab as a volunteer during her undergraduate studies at Portland State University. After graduating with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Psychology with a focus in Neuroscience, Katie joined the lab as a Research Assistant. Katie loves how this area of research mixes biological and social sciences to learn more about people and the world around us! She hopes to attend medical school in the future

Research Associate

Julia joined OHSU in 2011 as a project coordinator and has since worked for multiple research studies involving adults and children with ADHD, children with ASD, and pregnant people and infants. Currently she is working in the INSPIRE Lab on a project involving pregnant people and the impacts of the pandemic on stress during the postnatal period as well as infant social and emotional development.  

Julia completed her Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.)  at the University of Leipzig, Germany and the Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany, and her Diplom in Psychology (Master’s degree equivalent) at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany. 

Project Coordinator

Molly graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in International Relations and an M.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University. She has spent 3 years living in Cambodia first as a Peace Corps Volunteer and most recently Project Coordinator for a World Bank maternal, infant, and young child and nutrition project.  Her research interests include maternal and child health and nutrition. She is excited to join the lab and act as Research Coordinator for the PENGuIN Study. 

Research Assistant

Annie is a Research Assistant in the SPIRE Lab working on the COPE Study. She graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from Ohio University and was thrilled to move to the West Coast to build her research career. Her research interests span eating disorders, social media and mind-body interventions. She plans to expand her research skills at OHSU before pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Aside from psychological research, her interests include trail running, yoga and fashion.

Research Assistant

Jessica Orvis graduated from Pomona College with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and anthropology. Prior to joining the COPE study at OHSU, Jessica spent years traveling the world conducting research on a wide array of topics including the perceptions of unhoused Nepali beggars, microbusiness practices in rural eSwatini, and the effects COVID on the lives and well-being of young adults in the United States. Jessica loves working with children and plans to pursue a career in child development with a focus on cultural factors.  

When Jessica isn’t at the office, you’ll either find her inside baking pastries, painting, or roaming around the coast to hike, surf, bike, climb, fish, or do any other activity that lets her get outside. 

Research Associate

Samuel Carpenter oversees the MR imaging components of our studies. He has been involved in a variety of neuroimaging research studies over the course of the last decade. As a result he’s scanned all ages from day old infants to octogenarians. He adores the little ones the most. As a certified phlebotomist, he also conducts many of our visits involving blood draws and other bio sample collection. He also dedicates himself to educational outreach and regularly volunteers with at-risk youth in a variety of settings. Outside of work, he enjoys … well … being outside! On weekends you can find him partaking in the pacific northwest lifestyle whether it be hiking, climbing, trail running, skiing or mountain biking. He is a self-certified space enthusiast and will talk your ears off about space exploration and his favorite science fiction series. You have been warned.

Research Assistant

Nick is a Research Assistant who joined the lab in August 2021. Nick graduated from Portland State University with a BS in Biochemistry and a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate Nick was a scholar in the NIH funded BUILD EXITO program, where he joined a Psychology lab researching gender and violence intervention and prevention. He has also volunteered as a researcher in the Transgender Health Program at OHSU focusing on patient interaction with health professionals. Nick is excited to be apart of the INSPIRE lab because his work involves both his biomedical and psychological training as well as interactions with participants in a clinical research setting.

Aarika completed her B.S. in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience and behavior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is currently in her third year of Pacific University's Clinical Psychology PhD Program. Her research interests are in executive function and other neuropsychological functioning, childhood trauma, risk, resilience, and the function of behaviors within different contexts.

Ray came to the SCAN Lab with over 10 years professional experience in early therapeutic intervention, residential care, and clinical work. They hold an A.A. in human development, an A.S. in general science, and a B.S. in health sciences focusing on the Pre-Health Physician Assistant Program. Ray was part of the SCAN Lab as a research assistant. 

Gracie graduated one year early from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Psychology and a focus in Neuropsychology. There she researched motivational and affective influences on eating behaviors and how the brain correlates behind those behaviors. Her primary research experience has involved preventative interventions, cognitive reappraisal, and neuroimaging. Her research interests include preventative science, maternal and natal well-being, early childhood intervention, and positive emotionality. Gracie coordinated the Maternal Well-Being study and Roo Study.  

Kathleen graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a B.S. in Psychology. While at Loyola, her honors thesis was concerned with the role of bilingualism on executive functioning in Latino, school-age children. Most recently, she graduated from TeachersCollege, Columbia University with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. At Columbia, her concentration was Women, Gender, and Sexuality. Her thesis was related to the impact of division of household labor on relationship satisfaction, parenting stress, and cortisol levels in queer mothers. As of present, her research interests include maternal psychology, women’s studies and gender studies, and stress & resilience in gender and sexual minorities. Kathleen worked with SCAN Lab  as the Research Coordinator for a NIDA-funded research study with pregnant and postpartum women.

Kara graduated Magna Cum Laude from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Studies. She is currently earning her Master of Public Health at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health in Public Health Practice.  

Her research interests include the transference of intergenerational trauma through epigenetic mechanisms, social determinants of health and chronic disease prevention, and the rapidly growing field of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). 

She was placed with SCAN lab through the Build EXITO program at PSU, which specializes in training biomedical undergraduates with a focus on research. Her undergraduate project examined the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in adolescents with a history of maltreatment. After that, she spearheaded a project that analyzed the effects of stress on correctional officers, and she headed recruitment efforts and provided study support for the Roo Study.