CLASP Lab

Cognition, Language, and Affect in Serious Psychopathology (CLASP) Laboratory

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About the lab
Dr. Kyle Minor
Lab members
Current research
Join the lab
Former students

Join the lab

As an undergraduate research assistant, you will direct research projects working alongside faculty and graduate students. If you are interested in joining our lab, please submit the Research Assistant application.

The CLASP Lab is directed by Dr. Kyle Minor.

The Cognition, Language, and Affect in Serious Psychopathology (CLASP) laboratory focuses on implementing innovative methodologies to measure and treat psychosis symptoms both inside the laboratory and in daily life.

Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, account for an annual disease burden of $150 billion in the United States alone. Psychotic symptoms are multifaceted and heterogeneous--making them difficult to identify and treat.

As part of CLASP's mission, our team develops instruments that accurately assess psychotic symptoms and creates interventions to improve the lives of people with psychosis. Our work occurs across different stages of the psychosis spectrum (e.g., schizotypy, clinical high risk, first episode, chronic psychosis).

Kyle Minor, Ph.D.

I am an Associate Professor in IUPUI's Department of Psychology. Prior to arriving at IUPUI, I earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Massachusetts Mental Health Center. At IUPUI, I have been the director of the CLASP laboratory since 2013.

The long-term goals of my research are to develop instruments that accurately assess psychotic symptoms and create interventions to improve the lives of people with psychosis. My work examines psychosis at different stages of illness (e.g., clinical high risk, first episode, chronic psychosis) and has three primary objectives:

create novel assessments to identify mechanisms of psychosis in the laboratory and in daily life;
link clinical risk markers to functional outcomes; and
establish effective interventions for people on the psychosis spectrum.

These objectives are closely linked: the first develops and validates novel assessments to identify mechanisms; the second links those mechanisms to functional deficits; and the third targets identified mechanisms by tailoring interventions, leading to improved functioning. Each objective is critical to gain a better understanding of—and intervene in—psychosis.

I will NOT be accepting a graduate student for Fall 2024.

I am also interested in mentorship at all levels, including iPREP, post-bacc, and undergraduate students. I will be reviewing applications for any of these positions.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2013
Center for Early Detection, Assessment, and Response to Risk, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Ph.D., 2012
Clinical Psychology
Louisiana State University

Clinical Psychology Internship, 2012
Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

B.A., 2004
English
Northern Kentucky University

B.A., 2004
Psychology
Northern Kentucky University

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Lab members

Danielle Abel
(she/her)

Danielle is currently on internship at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System - West Haven. Danielle received her B.A. in Psychology from Villanova University and M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Psychology from IUPUI. Danielle's research and clinical interests include schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and integrated, recovery-oriented care. Her program of research uses ambulatory assessment to examine how social and emotional dysfunction manifest in daily life for people experiencing psychosis. Ultimately, she hopes to translate this research to help develop targeted interventions for increasing social engagement and personal well-being in this population. When not in the lab, Danielle enjoys spin classes, game nights, and walking her dogs.

Jessica Mickens
(she/her)

Jessica is a fifth-year doctoral student in IUPUI’s clinical psychology program. Jessica received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Richmond and earned an M.P.S. in Clinical Psychological Science from the University of Maryland- College Park. Jessica's research interests include understanding the impacts of perceived racial discrimination in individuals with psychosis (e.g., symptoms and social functioning). Outside of school, she enjoys watching horror movies, completing DIY projects, and training her new puppy (Brooklyn)

Mahogany Monette
(she/her)

Mahogany is a fourth-year doctoral student in IUPUI's clinical psychology program. Mahogany received her B.A. in Psychology and African, African American, and Diaspora Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and M.S. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois. Mahogany's research and clinical interests include using systems theory and strengths-based approaches to improve quality of life. Her program of research uses multisite survey data, ambulatory assessment, and qualitative interviews to examine risk and resilience factors for Black people experiencing psychosis (including, but not limited to, racial identity, social support, and adverse experiences). Ultimately, she hopes to translate this research to help develop culturally informed interventions and assessments for Black people in the United States diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. When not in the lab, Mahogany enjoys concerts, live music, and watching college and professional sports.

Evan Myers
(he/him)

Evan is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in IUPUI's clinical psychology program. Evan received a B.A. in Psychology from Macalester College and worked with Dr. Scott Sponheim at the University of Minnesota prior to coming to IUPUI. Evan's research interests include understanding metacognitive deficits, social cognitive deficits, and disorganized symptoms in those with schizophrenia. In his free time, Evan enjoys hiking, baking, and playing ping pong.

Madisen Russell
(she/her)

Madisen is a second-year doctoral student in IUPUI's clinical psychology program. She received her B.S. in Psychology at Arizona State University. Madisen’s research uses ambulatory assessment to examine social and functional deficits across different phases of psychotic disorders. She is also interested in examining risk and protective factors for various functional outcomes across minoritized groups, especially SGM individuals. Ultimately, she hopes to translate this research into the development of mobile assessment and intervention strategies that can be broadly dispersed, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged or historically excluded individuals who may not have access to traditional treatment options. Outside of research, Madisen enjoys trying new restaurants, taking care of her plants, and playing guitar to her cat.

Current research

In this study, our goals were to identify specific protective and promotive factors across different levels (e.g., biological, psychological social, environmental) that are linked to greater well-being in young adults experiencing psychotic-like experiences. To date, most studies of psychotic-like experiences focus primarily on risk; however, we know that many of these individuals experience positive academic and functional outcomes. This multi-site study will determine which are protective and promotive factors are key candidates to predict resilience in those with psychotic-like experiences.In this study, our goals were to identify specific protective and promotive factors across different levels (e.g., biological, psychological social, environmental) that are linked to greater well-being in young adults experiencing psychotic-like experiences. To date, most studies of psychotic-like experiences focus primarily on risk; however, we know that many of these individuals experience positive academic and functional outcomes. This multi-site study will determine which are protective and promotive factors are key candidates to predict resilience in those with psychotic-like experiences.

In this study, we assessed objective and subjective stress responses to photographs across two conditions: a neutral condition (where participants viewed neutral photographs of teachers) and a discrimination condition (where participants viewed police officers in high-stress situations). Responses were assessed in separate college and community samples, with responses expected to differ based on participant race and mental health status.

Join the lab

Undergraduate students

Dr. Minor is always interested in providing undergraduate students the chance to get involved in research.

To find out if you would be a good fit for the lab, or just want to learn more, submit the application.

Lab Requirements:

Attend meetings (held every other week)
5-15 hrs/week commitment (this will be true for some weeks, but the work load will be less other weeks)
Respond to emails within 24 hours (except weekends)

Apply now

Graduate students

Graduate students who are interested in working in the CLASP lab are welcome and should contact Dr. Minor to learn more.

Former graduate students

Beshaun Davis, Ph.D. – Program Director of Minoritized Communities’ Mental Health Research at the NIMH
Kat Hardin – M.A.
Matt Marggraf, Ph.D. – Licensed Neuropsychologist at the University of Minnesota Medical School

Former IPREP fellows

Alexandra Ayala, B.S. – Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of North Texas
Ceouna Hegwood, B.A. – Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of California, Irvine
Mahogany Monette, M.S. – Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at IUPUI