Graduate Students

Allison BorgesI am a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Rutgers University, and I am working with Dr. Teresa Leyro and Dr. Edward Selby, who leads the Emotion and Psychopathology Lab. My interests lie at the intersection of the two labs, and my research examines the role of transdiagnostic affective vulnerabilities in the maintenance of substance use. I also hope to extend my research into work on treatment development and dissemination using a harm reduction framework. Prior to graduate school, I received my B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience from Boston University in 2013. As an undergraduate, I worked in the Translational Research Program with Dr. Michael Otto. There I worked on research examining risk factors for anxiety disorders and cigarette smoking. Following graduation, I worked as a research assistant in the General Medicine Research Unit at Butler Hospital with Dr. Michael Stein. As an RA I assisted with two randomized controlled trials investigating brief interventions targeting chronic pain and depression for individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence as well as for individuals living with HIV.

Mark VersellaI am a 3^rd year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, studying under the direction of Dr. Teresa Leyro. Previously, I received my B.A.H and M.S at Villanova University. My research interests are varied, and include examining the comparative effects of nicotine delivery systems (e.g., electronic cigarettes), understanding factors that predict differential treatment response in nicotine use, the interaction between anxiety and anxiety relevant processes, substance use disorders, and evidence-based treatment for anxiety. In addition, I also have a strong clinical interest in behavioral medicine.