Welcome

to the SUPER Research Lab

The focus of the SUPER lab is to investigate the intersection of gender-based violence (GBV), substance use, and sexual and reproductive health. Our externally and internally funded research program aims to reduce GBV by:

(1) identifying the individual, dyadic, and event-level risk and protective factors for perpetrating GBV;

(2) identifying the risk and resiliency factor that contribute to recovery and healing after experiencing GBV victimization; and

(3) informing intervention and prevention programming

Our program of research uses different methodologies, including laboratory, survey, and longitudinal, to study different forms of GBV toward various targets and in different contexts, such as acute alcohol intoxication, sexualized-drinking contexts.

Prospective Doctoral Students

I am accepting a student for the PhD in Clinical Psychology program at the University of Missouri -- Kansas City for the 2024-2025 cycle. I do not prioritize students who contact me prior to/outside the formal admissions process. Due to the high volume of inquiries and considering disparities in accesss to mentorship around admissions to PhD programs, I do not meet with interested applicants outside the formal admissions process. Please see the Contact Us section for more information on my mentoring and doctoral admissions.

Research Program Overvieww

The SUPER lab seeks to understand the sexual health, substance use, and GBV experiences in collaboration with and to benefit communities. Consistent with this goal, the SUPER lab is currently conducting several research studies that investigate (1) the roles of formal and informal sex education from religious institutions and communities in the sexual health and decision-making; (2) the interactive effects of emotion regulation and impulsivity on sexual health, substance use, and GBV perpetration and victimization; (3) emotion regulation and distress tolerance factors as factors contributing to substance use. It is the goal of these projects to better understand the specific needs of communities and develop culturally-informed and community-participatory prevention and intervention efforts.

For more questions, contact Dr. Neilson at ecneilson@umkc.edu.