Faculty

Adam T. Hirsh
Lab Director
Associate Professor, Psychology
athirsh@iupui.edu
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). I established the Pain Research Laboratory at IUPUI in 2010. I received my PhD in Clinical & Health Psychology from the University of Florida and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington School of Medicine. At the broadest level, I am interested in the biopsychosocial aspects of pain and functioning in humans. This allows me to examine a wide variety of clinically-important research questions (see above links for details), which challenges me scientifically and creatively and also satisfies my natural curiosity. Outside of the lab, I am kept busy by a semi-domesticated American Dingo (Rosie) and a voracious appetite for the outdoors and good beer.

Amy Williams
Clinical Director of Riley Pain Center
Associate Professor, Clinical Psychiatry
amyewill@iupui.edu
I am an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine, and am the Clinical Director of the Riley Pain Center. My clinical and research interests are in pediatric psychology. I work clinically in the Riley Pain Clinic and on the Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service at Riley Hospital for Children. My research focuses on psychological factors associated with pediatric pain. In particular, I am interested in pain coping and adjustment, strategies to identify children at risk for development of chronic pain (including quantitative sensory testing), and improving interventions to prevent and/or treat chronic pain conditions. In my free time I chase around 3 young kids…if that counts as free time.

Veronica Derricks
Research Faculty
Assistant Professor, Psychology
vderrick@iupui.edu
I am an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). I completed my MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado, Denver, and my MS and PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Michigan. My research program focuses primarily on understanding the psychological mechanisms that perpetuate disparities in health and academic outcomes. Moreover, I am interested in using this knowledge to develop interventions that improve healthcare delivery and mitigate threat in academic settings, particularly for members of minoritized groups. Additional information about my research interests can be found at https://www.veronicaderricks.com. In my free time, I like to try new restaurants and watch true crime documentaries.
PhD Students

Phil Procento
I am a sixth-year student in the Pain Lab and the Clinical Psychology PhD program at IUPUI. I earned my BA in psychology from Lake Forest College, a small liberal arts college in Lake Forest, IL. Generally, my research interests lie at the intersection of psychosocial variables, cognition, and pain. For my master's thesis, I examined the role of pain catastrophizing in working memory deficits associated with pain. I am also interested in racial disparities in pain treatment, with an emphasis on interventions to help Black veterans with chronic pain achieve parity and more effective treatment. Beyond graduate school and psychology, I love spending time with my friends and family, cooking (thanks to my Italian grandmothers), and listening to podcasts.
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Alexis Grant
@alexisinindy
I am a fourth-year student in the Pain Lab and the Clinical Psychology program at IUPUI. I earned my BS in Biology and Neuroscience from Davidson College and my MA in Psychology from Montclair State University. My research interests include psychosocial factors affecting chronic pain treatment, substance use outcomes, and racial disparities in healthcare. I am also interested in spiritual and religious competencies for mental health professionals. In my spare time, I can be found listening to podcasts, walking my dog along the Monon trail, and baking all kinds of vegan desserts.


Kristina Bogdan
I am a third-year student in the Pain Lab and the Clinical Psychology program at IUPUI. I earned my BS in Health Psychology from MCPHS University and my MS in Pain Research, Education, and Policy from Tufts University School of Medicine. My research interests broadly include the doctor-patient relationship, pain assessment, pain education for health professionals, and the long-term management of complex pain disorders (such as fibromyalgia). I plan to utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods to answer research questions about pain. In my leisure time I enjoy working on various art projects, playing cooperative online games with friends, exercising, gardening, and spending time with my birds.

Margaret Rose-McCandlish
I am a second-year student in the Pain Lab and the Clinical Psychology program at IUPUI. I earned my BA in psychology from Middlebury College. My research interests include psychosocial factors affecting pain perception and treatment, gender and racial disparities in pain care, and barriers to pain management. In my spare time I enjoy listening to podcasts and audiobooks, cooking, and exploring the parks around Indy.
Lab Alums
Graduate/Postdoctoral
Tracy Anastas, PhD, 2022 (graduate)
Postdoctoral Fellow in Integrated Behavioral Health, University of Washington School of Medicine
Lauren Mehok, PhD, 2022 (graduate)
Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Health Psychology, New Mexico VA Health Care System
Mary Milder, PhD, 2021 (postdoctoral)
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine
Megan Miller, PhD, 2019 (graduate), 2021 (postdoctoral)
Assistant Professor, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics
Nicole Hollingshead, PhD, 2017 (graduate)
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Samantha Meints, PhD, 2017 (graduate)
Assistant Professor, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Jennifer Steiner, PhD, 2013 (graduate)
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Emory School of Medicine
Undergraduate
Erin Clark
Alexis Ridenour
Kaitlyn Walsh
Eva Kimberly
Tori Rone
David Wuest
Kayla Jackson
Madison Stout
Sam Abplanalp
Kayla Najera
Anna Squillace
Macey Miller
Charnelle Free
Amanda Neufer
Stephanie Middleton