My program of research involves applying basic science findings on mindfulness, maternal-child health, parent-child relationships, and developmental processes to the design of intervention programs that integrate contemplative practices with prevention science strategies. My goal is to systematically investigate the efficacy and real-world effectiveness of these interventions among diverse populations with attention to contextual factors, psychological function, and biological mechanisms of action. I pursue opportunities to create programs that may improve upon ‘gold standard’ prevention approaches while capitalizing on existing, national dissemination networks. I use this strategy in an effort to maximize the potential public health impact of the interventions while also reducing the typical time lag between positive trial results and evidence-based changes in clinical and educational practice guidelines. My recent focus has been on: a) investigating the neural and behavioral outcomes of prenatal delivery of Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting, and b) supporting leadership among women of color, to both address major issues with the cultural relevance of our approaches in this field, and to build our understanding of how contemplative practices may support health equity and reduce health disparities experienced by children, families, and communities.

I completed my doctoral training in Clinical Psychology with a developmental focus at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, followed by a clinical internship at the University of Washington Medical School and a postdoctoral fellowship focused on Clinical Developmental Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. Throughout this training and continuing as an Assistant Professor of Psychology, I have been interested in bridging biological and behavioral science disciplines to better understand how risk for stress-related disorder is passed down within families, and how we can better identify and intervene to interrupt such risk pathways. As part of this work, I have investigated both early risk predictors and mental health outcomes associated with neuroendocrine (cortisol), neural, and behavioral responsiveness to interpersonal stress in romantic couples and parent-child dyads. My growing interest in mindfulness as a potential protective factor has led to research showing that dispositional and/or situation-specific mindfulness predict differences in brain and neuroendocrine responses to challenging interactions that may help to explain mental health benefits. In my current work, I will extend these (correlational) findings with tests of how mindfulness training may shift mothers’ biobehavioral responses to their infant, and how this shift may mitigate intergenerational transmission of risk.

Professor Eran Halperin is the former Dean of the School of Psychology and Professor at IDC Herzliya. An award-winning pioneer in examining emotional processes using field experiments, Dr. Halperin’s research uses psychological and political theories to investigate causal factors driving intergroup conflicts. More specifically, his work develops new approaches for modifying the psychological roots of intolerance, exclusion and intergroup violence. The unique case of Israeli society in general, and of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular, motivates much of his work and, hence, most of his studies are conducted within the context of that “natural laboratory.” His laboratory currently spearheads a government sponsored project to standardize social inclusion in Israeli education. Halperin has published more than 130 peer reviewed papers in journals such as Science, PNAS and Psychological Science, and has been awarded with competitive research grants of more than 3 million dollars just in the last three years. He earned his Phd from Haifa university (summa cum laude) and his post doc from Stanford University (Fulbright scholar). In 2013 he was chosen as the most promising young political psychologists by the International Society of Political Psychology.

Yoni Levy is a neuroscientist studying the way the brain functions during intergroup conflicts. He collaborates with various experts to develop conflict-changing interventions. He then assesses the impact of these interventions on brain, hormones and behavior, in the aim of promoting prosocial change. He received his scientific training in France, Australia, The Netherlands, India & Israel.