Psychology Graduate Student Recipient of National Institute of Mental Health Research Award
Fri, 02/19/2021 - 08:34am | By: David Tisdale
University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Psychology graduate student Brian
Bauer has earned a prestigious National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National
Research Service Award, only the fourth student at the University to be recognized
with this honor.
A native of Preston, Wash., Bauer is a fifth-year doctoral student in the School鈥檚 Clinical Psychology Program, studying under Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Dan Capron in his Anxiety and Trauma Research Program (ATRP). The NIMH award will provide support for his dissertation research training and related activities.
Bauer鈥檚 research focuses on furthering our understanding of why people die by suicide as well as decision-making processes relevant to suicide.
鈥淭his award allows me to receive advanced training in clinical psychophysiology and statistical methodologies, as well as cognitive bias and suicide research from leaders in these fields,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淚t also provides me the unique opportunity of being the principal investigator of a longitudinal study with a high-risk population as a graduate student. Each of these are invaluable experiences that will better prepare me as a clinical psychology researcher.鈥�
To date, Bauer鈥檚 research has focused primarily on decisions occurring well before a suicide attempt and using 鈥榥udges鈥� 鈥� small alterations that attract our attention and influence our behavior 鈥� to help people select choices that are in their own self-declared best interests.
鈥淭his NRSA-supported project focuses on what might occur closer to the time of an attempt,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淪pecifically, we are studying if stress impacts neural measures of emotion regulation and reward valuation using electroencephalography (EEG). I will be assessing if there are important differences between people who have suicidal thoughts and those who have attempted suicide. Moving forward, I hope to merge my work on behavioral economics with the methodologies I鈥檓 learning through the NRSA to study suicide using neuroeconomics.鈥�
At USM, Bauer has been recognized on multiple occasions for his work, including with the American Association for Suicidology Annual Citizen Scientist Award; the U.S. Department of Defense Military Suicide Research Consortium Dissertation Completion Award; NIH ERP Boot Camp Scholarship; the USM Graduate Student Research Innovation Award; the USM Proposal Project Award; and was recently inducted into the USM Graduate School Hall of Fame.
Bauer is currently in the process of interviewing for his clinical internship year. After his internship, he will pursue a research-focused position allowing him to continue studying decision-making in the context of mental health, with a specific focus on understanding and preventing suicide. Ultimately, he wants to establish his own laboratory and use his research to help alleviate mental suffering.
"Brian's research at USM has been truly amazing, putting our University in the national limelight,鈥� Dr. Capron said. 鈥淎s my first graduate student, he didn't have the advantage of coming into an already functioning research infrastructure, and he had the disadvantage of a mentor who was learning on the job. This award is a fitting capstone to his incredible research career here. Brian is also helping train younger students in the lab to be competitive to apply for the NRSA Award in coming years, so the future is very bright for the USM School of Psychology.鈥�
Bauer鈥檚 experience at Southern Miss has been invaluable in setting the stage for his career after graduation.
鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful for my mentor, Dr. Capron, the clinical faculty, my lab mates and the students in the program,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淏ecause of my training experiences at USM, I feel well-prepared both as a researcher and a clinician.鈥�
Bauer says research conducted in the ATRP shows an overwhelming majority of people
believe if you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you should reach out for help.
鈥淲e have a lot of great resources on campus like Student Counseling Services and the Behavioral Health Clinic that have clinicians who specialize in helping people experiencing suicidal thoughts,鈥�
he said. 鈥淭hese places can also help you get in contact with community resources or
online resources if you are more comfortable with that format. Even if you are not
experiencing suicidal thoughts yourself, it is a good idea to have a crisis line in
your phone because it could help someone you care about if they are going through
a tough time. 1.800.273.8255 is a good number to save.鈥�
Individuals interested in participating in Bauer鈥檚 research or studying suicide should contact the . For information about the USM School of Psychology, which is housed in the College of Education and Human Sciences, visit usm.edu/psychology.