Dr. Gonçalves is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and director of the Mood and Risk-Taking in Adolescence (MARTA) lab at The Catholic University of America. She completed her PhD in clinical psychology from George Mason University, including clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Hospital/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Gonçalves completed a two-year NIMH T32 postdoctoral fellowship at Western Psychiatric Hospital/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 

Her program of research examines the onset and maintenance of mood disorders across adolescence, with a special focus on the intersection of mood and maladaptive risk-taking behaviors such as substance use. To conduct this research, I employ a multi-method approach—including diagnostic interviews, ecological momentary assessment, questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and neuroimaging/psychophysiology (e.g., fMRI, HRV)—within a culturally humble framework. The goal of this research is to improve early identification of at-risk adolescents and to inform the development and adaptation of interventions for those with more severe or persistent trajectories.