Hadley Rahrig is a predoctoral candidate pursuing a career in social affective neuroscience. Her graduate research contributions have broadly focused on studying the role of mindfulness in intra- and inter-personal functioning through the use of biophysical imaging technology (e.g., fMRI, EEG, fNIRS). For example, her Master’s Thesis explored the neural substrates of self-views and their potential relationship to dispositional mindfulness. She is currently testing the effects mindfulness and reappraisal training on neural (fMRI) responses in a retaliatory aggression task and evaluating the extent to which these training programs regulate anger via distinct executive control mechanisms. Her most recent project–funded by the Mind & Life Institute–applies classic theories of emotion regulation to investigate intergroup emotion in Democratic voters in an ecologically valid paradigm. This research aims to compare to effects of brief mindfulness training and reappraisal training on reducing moment-to-moment emotion reactivity– indexed via self-report and neural response profiles–during passive viewing of emotionally unpleasant political videos. Prospective findings will potentially inform neural models of mindfulness training in naturalistic paradigms.

I received my PhD in 2015 from University of Southern California where I continued my research work as postdoctoral researcher and later joined the faculty (non-tenure track). My research interest is the neurobiology of decision making and self-regulation. One focus of that research is the impact of mindfulness training on children and adolescents. This was the topic of my dissertation. I published over a dozen articles, including the Adolescent and Adults Mindfulness Scale (AAMS, Personality and Individual Differences) that is being translated to several languages, and a review of mindfulness programs in schools (Psychology in the Schools). My other research consolidated and systematized our neuroscientific knowledge of the insula’s role in decisions and addiction by publishing two articles: an overall review of the insula cortex (IC) role in decision-making (Frontiers of Behavioral Neuroscience) and a focused review of IC role in addiction (Trends In Cognitive Science).

I am a second year, neuroscience PhD student at Wake Forest School of Medicine, and am interested in studying traumatic and mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI and mTBI). I am currently conducting research in an imaging lab, where we employ multiple imaging modalities to effectively examine changes to the brain. I have worked with youth, high school, and collegiate athletes to study changes induced by repetitive head trauma from competing in a collision sport. Ultimately, my goals are to examine the short term neurological changes from this observed head impact exposure as well search for methods to alleviate the long term ramifications that have been seen in athletes who have finished their careers. I have spent countless hours collecting and examining bio mechanical and neurological data in previous studies and intend to utilize that skill set in this current endeavor.

Nabila Farhin Jahan explores the characteristics and effects of contemplative states and practices (e.g., mindfulness, self-inquiry, meditation) on human functioning and wellbeing. Personally, and as a clinical psychology graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, she is particularly interested in investigating impacts of social conditioning, language, thought- and identity-formation on mindful awareness, compassion, and healthy living. Residing in both Bangladesh and the US, with exposure to Eastern and Western cultures, Nabila integrates both contemplative lenses in her exploration. She also applies modern technology to investigate and disseminate contemplative teachings/practices, while promoting their accessibility to underserved populations through individual/group therapy and discussions.

Amanda Shallcross is a board-certified naturopathic physician with clinical and research expertise in preventative and integrative behavioral medicine and public health. Her research utilizes multiple methodologies including laboratory tasks, experience sampling, behavioral coding, and autonomic nervous system responding. 

The overarching goal of her work is to adapt and test mindfulness-based interventions for individuals with co-morbid mood disorders and chronic disease, with an emphasis toward making mindfulness-based interventions more available, accessible, and affordable for individuals with diverse backgrounds (e.g., racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse populations). Her career development award (K23) supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is focused on testing the effects of a telephone-delivered mindfulness intervention for patients with co-morbid depression and chronic disease. She is also Co-Investigator of two randomized controlled trials that focus on adapting and testing a telephone-delivered mindfulness intervention for individuals with chronic disease and elevated psychological distress. 

Gunes Sevinc is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School. Her current research interests include the relationship between mindfulness meditation and moral cognition. She is specifically interested in the structural and functional changes associated with mindfulness practice as they relate to moral reasoning and prosocial behaviors. Currently, she works with Dr. Sara Lazar and utilizes multivariate neuroimaging analysis methods to investigate the effects of mindfulness practice in improving cognition.

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. Specifically, I am affiliated with a Reproductive Mental Health Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness. I have a background and have been involved in projects in the fields of mental health, neuropsychopharmacology, e-mental health and application of technology in health, addiction, mindfulness and resilience. My prior training includes teacher training in MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), and PhD in e-mental health. My research interests are: mental well-being, mental health care and prevention; awareness, compassion, mindfulness and other ways to support human flourishing; interpersonal dynamics of mindfulness. Currently, my biggest passion are research projects exploring mindfulness and contemplative practices offered to perinatal families. And examining ways that can lead to flourishing relationships, healthier parent-infant interactions, attachment, as well as support healthy early development of the child.