Lab Director

Dr. Gruhn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A central theme in Dr. Gruhn’s research involves the developmental consequences of early life adversity. Specifically, she is interested in the biological and psychosocial mechanisms that compound risk for physical and mental health problems following traumatic stress. Dr. Gruhn’s current work investigates stress responses in adolescents who have experienced early life adversity, including neural and physiological activation patterns, emotion regulation (ER) efforts, and ER flexibility. The long-term goal of this work is to inform, develop, and disseminate preventive interventions for high-risk individuals.

Jake is a full-time research assistant and serves as the Reactivity & Regulation lab coordinator. After graduating from University of Southern California in 2022, where he studied Psychology, Jake worked as a research coordinator for two years at the University of Washington's Trauma Survivors Outcomes and Support (TSOS) Lab. While working for TSOS, Jake assisted with the data collection and care management efforts for an intervention effectiveness trial that provided emotional and practical support for survivors of traumatic injuries at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Jake is interested in how early life adversity leads to the development of internalizing and externalizing challenges. Jake plans to pursue a doctoral degree to develop research and clinical skills related to investigating the unique factors that increase both vulnerability to and promote resilience against psychopathology. In addition, Jake hopes to contribute to the development and refinement of evidence-based treatments to lessen the negative impacts of adverse experiences. In his free time, Jake enjoys cooking, skiing, and playing ultimate frisbee. In fact, Jake has played four seasons in the professional ultimate league, the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA). (Pronouns: he/him/his).

GoogleScholar

Michaela is a second-year undergraduate at Vanderbilt University, double majoring in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society with a concentration in health behaviors. She is passionate about clinical research, particularly in understanding the neurobiological impacts of mental health interventions. Michaela is excited to be a part of the lab, where she can apply her research skills to explore how stress regulation impacts mental health trajectories.

She aspires to pursue an MD-PhD, specializing in psychiatry, with the goal of developing innovative, accessible mental health interventions. Outside of research, Michaela enjoys sewing, competitive Model United Nations, and exploring different international cuisines.

Aram is a second-year Neuroscience major at Belmont University with a strong passion for understanding the lasting impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences. She aspires to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, combining research with clinical practice to explore how early life experiences shape the brain, behaviors, and beliefs. She is particularly interested in why individuals respond differently to the same stimuli, making her eager to contribute to this lab’s work. Aram is excited to gain hands-on research experience and expand her knowledge in a field she loves while being in this lab. Outside of research, she enjoys baking, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Bethlihem is a second-year at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in Neuropsychology and how certain stimuli affect a person’s neuro- and psychophysiological responses. Bethlihem is excited to take part in this lab work on exploring how early life experiences shape stress responses and impact long-term health as well as engaging and gaining hands-on research experience. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and swimming

Mia is a senior undergraduate student in neuroscience at Belmont University. She is interested in behavioral neuroscience and neuropsychology and is interested in MRI methods. Mia plans to pursue a career in science and law after completing her undergraduate studies. Outside of the academic field, she enjoys hiking, running, and traveling to other parts of the world.