BRUNA MARTINS-KLEIN, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

Dr. Bruna Martins-Klein, Ph.D is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research interests focus on identifying mechanisms that can promote emotional wellbeing and resilience across the lifespan, using cutting-edge neuroscience and evidence based methods. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in health psychology, psychology of aging, adult assessment, and supervises clinicians in training. 

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In her clinical work, she specializes in providing emotional support to adults and older adults struggling with a variety of problems, including mood disorders, caregiving burden, grief, navigating retirement, sleep difficulties, and chronic illness management. She specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and helps clients learn tools to increase mindfulness, self-compassion, and commitment to goals grounded in personal values.

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She received her B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh, her M.A. and and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, with a specialization in Clinical Aging, and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship in Geropsychology at the VA Boston Healthcare System. 

KRISTIN HEIDEMAN

Lab Manager

I graduated from UMass Amherst in May 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology on the Neuroscience track and will soon be pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology! I intend to explore the neuroscientific underpinnings of mental illness—specifically mood and anxiety disorders, and PTSD. Additionally, I am fascinated by psychological resilience and the individualized experience of trauma. I hope to gain the full picture (i.e., neurobiology, personality traits, family history/genetics, trauma, attachment/parenting style, cultural background) of each individual with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, so I can build a personalized treatment plan to mirror their unique situation. I am eager to take my next steps toward becoming a neuroscience-informed clinician, and providing precision mental health care within a multidisciplinary team. 

IRINA ORLOVSKY

Graduate Student

 Im a fourth year student in the clinical psychology doctoral program on the neuropsychology program track. I graduated from UMass Amherst with a BS in Psychology and Neuroscience, and received my Masters in Psychology at Brandeis University. Prior to grad school, I served as a cognitive science research fellow with the US Army, and held a dual research coordinator/ psychometrist role with the Harvard Aging Brain Study and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment. In the NRV Lab, my broad research interests include the neural, cognitive, and behavioral substrates of memory that support late-life emotion regulation. Clinically, I am interested in geriatric neuropsychology and early detection of memory disorders. 

Hirni Patel

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a sophomore in the Commonwealth Honors College on the pre-medical track, double majoring in Biochemistry and Neuroscience. I have aspirations to become a neurologist.

Ally Wood

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a junior double majoring in Biochemistry and Psychology on the Neuroscience and Pre-Med track. I have interest in potentially pursuing Psychiatry or OBGYN. 

KAREN HARELI

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a junior Honors student majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and minoring in Psychology. I am currently on a Pre-Health track and would like to pursue a career in either medicine or nursing.

DAN OCONNOR

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a senior majoring in Psychology and Biology. Upon graduation, I hope to pursue a career in medicine, possibly in Neurology or Psychiatry, studying and treating neurodegenerative disorders.