Honor Society® member
Crystal McClain
- *|MERGE6|*
- clinical psychology
- Class of 2025
- denver, Colorado
Member since October 2020
About
My initial research experience was under the mentorship of a researcher in Psychiatry when I studied Biochemistry for my Bachelor'sDegree. I studied the anatomy of the non-human primate amygdala to establish possible links with possible causes of depression. I earned a distinction in researcher for my undergraduate degree and published in the Journal of Comparative Neuroanatomy. During my Neuroscience Ph.D. with the University of Rochester School of Medicine, I focused on researching cellular mechanisms for potential therapies, leading to publications in Nature Biotechnology and the Journal of Neuroscience. Now, my focus centers on clinical psychology work to advance therapies in the behavior field.
Education
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University of Rochester
neuroscience
2006 – 2012
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University of Rochester
biochemistry
2002 – 2004
Honors and awards
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Distinction in research
Distribution of pcreb and bcl-2 in the primate amygdala: implications for the treatment of mood disorders. Identification of progenitor cells surrounding emotional regulatory regions of primates with Julie Fudge, M.D.
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Summer scholar in graduate education in biological sciences
Vestibulo-collic reflex in awake, behaving squirrel monkeys with Greg Gdowski
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
To characterize a novel candidate as a means to mobilize glial progenitor cells
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Community Studio
Denver Art Society community award
Goals and interests
- Career goal
This Fall, I started a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program to bring my neuroscience expertise to the humanistic level. This first year of training is online, and I aim to gain clinical understanding and develop a research focus during this period. I aim to treat those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and disorders with psychosis after I receive my clinical degree. I have over fifteen years of research experience in neuroscience, and I intend to apply my advanced skills to developing new therapeutic approaches in the clinic. Thus, with neuroscience experience and enthusiasm for clinical psychology, I aim to contribute to this research while learning about clinical work with psychosis.
- Graduate school interests
In Clinical Psychology, my interests reside in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and disorders with psychosis. My research efforts are focused on developing therapeutic tools to help patients cope with positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. I am also interested in utilizing these tools to improve emotion regulation in personality disorders.
- Outside the classroom
Abstract fine art painting, crafting wreaths for home decor, knitting, crochet, guitar, botanical research, botanical tonics, botanical cosmetics, vegan baking.
Volunteering
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Board member, media team lead, grant team researcher, class co-facilitator, volunteer.
Denver Art Society
Jun 2019 – Oct 2020
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Theory of Living Matter group, event organizer
University of Cambridge
Jan 2014 – Mar 2016
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Pint of Science Communication Festival Beautiful Mind group, and Relay Team, Cambridge UK Fundraising, event organization, team coordination
Pint of Science
Nov 2013 – May 2015
Languages
- English (US) Advanced
Additional information
Organizations
