I obtained a bachelor's of psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus, where I started to examine the effects of the 2003 Iraq war on children’s resiliency and on their academic performance.
Following my B.A., I participated in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research...
I obtained a bachelor's of psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus, where I started to examine the effects of the 2003 Iraq war on children’s resiliency and on their academic performance.
Following my B.A., I participated in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and afterward the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. This led to an Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to continue my research training. At both post-baccalaureate programs I explored the biology of anxiety in primates.
Seeking to expand my understanding of anxiety in humans and further develop my skills as a researcher, I pursued a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the NIMH-UCL Graduate Partnership Program, mentored by Drs. Christian Grillon and Daniel Pine at the NIMH, and Professor Neil Burgess at University College London (UCL). In my research, I explored neural activity involved in environmental discrimination learning using basic task-based fMRI methods. I created and validated a novel VR paradigm to study discrimination learning in healthy adults.
To further expand my previous research efforts to clinically relevant research in the field of PTSD, I was awarded a T32 Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University, under the mentorship of Dr. Yuval Neria. Afterwards, I was awarded a K01 grant and promoted to Assistant Professor at the Psychiatry Department. During this time, I acquired knowledge in the assessment and treatment of pathological anxiety and PTSD to understand the neural signatures of PTSD, using my VR tasks.
These experiences and projects have solidified my commitment to understanding the neural mechanisms of environmental discrimination learning in individuals with anxiety and trauma-related disorders. I am dedicated to supporting these communities through my research because of (1) my personal background, (2) the recent disproportional increases in PTSD and anxiety disorder diagnoses, particularly in the military population, and (3) how understudied and underserved these populations remain.
Faculty Appointments
Associate Professor
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Department of Neuroscience (SMD)
Associate Professor
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Center for Visual Science A&S (RC) - Joint
Credentials
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Supervisor: Dr. Yuval Neria.
Experience: Studied the neural bases of location-specific contextual fear in patients with PTSD. Investigated neural signatures of PTSD using MRI. 2016 - 2018
Education
PhD | UK-University College London.Neuroscience.2016
BA | Univ of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.Psychology.2009
Awards
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion award.2022
Competitive Renewal ACNP 2022 Annual Meeting Travel Award Recipient.2022
Furth Funds Award.2021
NIH-National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Utah NRMN Grant-Writing Coaching Groups.2021
Competitive Renewal ACNP 2021 Annual Meeting Travel Award Recipient.2021
National Institutes of Health Early Career Reviewer program at the Center for Scientific Review.2021
Outstanding science poster at the Second Annual Columbia Psychiatry Science Celebration.2020
Competitive Renewal ACNP 2020 Annual Meeting Travel Award Recipient.2020
Broadening the Representation of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience (BRAINS) Fellow.2019
American College of Neuropsychopharmachology (ACNP) 2019 Annual Meeting Travel Award Recipient.2019
Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship of the 2019 Amygdala Function in Emotion, Cognition and Disease Gordon.2019
Outstanding Graduate Research Recognition at NIH.2018
T32 Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) recipient at Columbia University.2016
Research
My research program aims to use virtual reality (VR), multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and machine learning to elucidate the psychological and neural signatures of PTSD and anxiety disorders. Particularly, to delineate the contextual aspects of threat and reward learning, discrimination,...
My research program aims to use virtual reality (VR), multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and machine learning to elucidate the psychological and neural signatures of PTSD and anxiety disorders. Particularly, to delineate the contextual aspects of threat and reward learning, discrimination, and monitoring. I am specifically interested in cases where an area within a larger environment becomes associated with threat, such as the area of a neighborhood where an assault or assaults took place, or the location on a battlefield where explosions occurred. Patients with PTSD and anxiety disorders often show an overgeneralization or an exaggerated response to threat in larger contexts, even in environments predicting safety. With this research, I plan to identify new brain measures to develop sensitive, personalized, and precise diagnostic and treatment tools for psychopathology.
Huggins AA, Baird CL, Briggs M, Laskowitz S, Hussain A, Fouda S, Haswell C, Sun D, Salminen LE, Jahanshad N, Thomopoulos SI, Veltman DJ, Frijling JL, Olff M, van Zuiden M, Koch SBJ, Nawjin L, Wang L, Zhu Y, Li G, Stein DJ, Ipser J, Seedat S, du Plessis S, van den Heuvel LL, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zhu X, Kim Y, He X, Zilcha-Mano S, Lazarov A, Neria Y, Stevens JS, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, van Rooij SJH, Fani N, Hudson AR, Mueller SC, Sierk A, Manthey A, Walter H, Daniels JK, Schmahl C, Herzog JI, ?íha P, Rektor I, Lebois LAM, Kaufman ML, Olson EA, Baker JT, Rosso IM, King AP, Liberzon I, Angstadt M, Davenport ND, Sponheim SR, Disner SG, Straube T, Hofmann D, Qi R, Lu GM, Baugh LA, Forster GL, Simons RM, Simons JS, Magnotta VA, Fercho KA, Maron-Katz A, Etkin A, Cotton AS, O'Leary EN, Xie H, Wang X, Quidé Y, El-Hage W, Lissek S, Berg H, Bruce S, Cisler J, Ross M, Herringa RJ, Grupe DW, Nitschke JB, Davidson RJ, Larson CL, deRoon-Cassini TA, Tomas CW, Fitzgerald JM, Blackford JU, Olatunji BO, Kremen WS, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Gordon EM, May G, Nelson SM, Abdallah CG, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I, Krystal JH, Dennis EL, Tate DF, Cifu DX, Walker WC, Wilde EA, Harding IH, Kerestes R, Thompson PM, Morey R
Molecular psychiatry.. 2024 March 29 (3):611-623. Epub 01/10/2024.
Yang J, Huggins AA, Sun D, Baird CL, Haswell CC, Frijling JL, Olff M, van Zuiden M, Koch SBJ, Nawijn L, Veltman DJ, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zhu X, Neria Y, Hudson AR, Mueller SC, Baker JT, Lebois LAM, Kaufman ML, Qi R, Lu GM, ?íha P, Rektor I, Dennis EL, Ching CRK, Thomopoulos SI, Salminen LE, Jahanshad N, Thompson PM, Stein DJ, Koopowitz SM, Ipser JC, Seedat S, du Plessis S, van den Heuvel LL, Wang L, Zhu Y, Li G, Sierk A, Manthey A, Walter H, Daniels JK, Schmahl C, Herzog JI, Liberzon I, King A, Angstadt M, Davenport ND, Sponheim SR, Disner SG, Straube T, Hofmann D, Grupe DW, Nitschke JB, Davidson RJ, Larson CL, deRoon-Cassini TA, Blackford JU, Olatunji BO, Gordon EM, May G, Nelson SM, Abdallah CG, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I, Krystal JH, Morey RA, Sotiras A
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.. 2024 February 49 (3):609-619. Epub 11/28/2023.
Suarez-Jimenez B, Lazarov A, Zhu X, Zilcha-Mano S, Kim Y, Marino CE, Rjabtsenkov P, Bavdekar SY, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y, Larson CL, Huggins AA, Terri deRoon-Cassini , Tomas C, Fitzgerald J, Kennis M, Varkevisser T, Geuze E, Quidé Y, El Hage W, Wang X, O'Leary EN, Cotton AS, Xie H, Shih C, Disner SG, Davenport ND, Sponheim SR, Koch SBJ, Frijling JL, Nawijn L, van Zuiden M, Olff M, Veltman DJ, Gordon EM, May G, Nelson SM, Jia-Richards M, Neria Y, Morey RA
Biological psychiatry global open science.. 2024 January 4 (1):299-307. Epub 06/08/2023.
Zhu X, Kim Y, Ravid O, He X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zilcha-Mano S, Lazarov A, Lee S, Abdallah CG, Angstadt M, Averill CL, Baird CL, Baugh LA, Blackford JU, Bomyea J, Bruce SE, Bryant RA, Cao Z, Choi K, Cisler J, Cotton AS, Daniels JK, Davenport ND, Davidson RJ, DeBellis MD, Dennis EL, Densmore M, deRoon-Cassini T, Disner SG, Hage WE, Etkin A, Fani N, Fercho KA, Fitzgerald J, Forster GL, Frijling JL, Geuze E, Gonenc A, Gordon EM, Gruber S, Grupe DW, Guenette JP, Haswell CC, Herringa RJ, Herzog J, Hofmann DB, Hosseini B, Hudson AR, Huggins AA, Ipser JC, Jahanshad N, Jia-Richards M, Jovanovic T, Kaufman ML, Kennis M, King A, Kinzel P, Koch SBJ, Koerte IK, Koopowitz SM, Korgaonkar MS, Krystal JH, Lanius R, Larson CL, Lebois LAM, Li G, Liberzon I, Lu GM, Luo Y, Magnotta VA, Manthey A, Maron-Katz A, May G, McLaughlin K, Mueller SC, Nawijn L, Nelson SM, Neufeld RWJ, Nitschke JB, O'Leary EM, Olatunji BO, Olff M, Peverill M, Phan KL, Qi R, Quidé Y, Rektor I, Ressler K, Riha P, Ross M, Rosso IM, Salminen LE, Sambrook K, Schmahl C, Shenton ME, Sheridan M, Shih C, Sicorello M, Sierk A, Simmons AN, Simons RM, Simons JS, Sponheim SR, Stein MB, Stein DJ, Stevens JS, Straube T, Sun D, Théberge J, Thompson PM, Thomopoulos SI, van der Wee NJA, van der Werff SJA, van Erp TGM, van Rooij SJH, van Zuiden M, Varkevisser T, Veltman DJ, Vermeiren RRJM, Walter H, Wang L, Wang X, Weis C, Winternitz S, Xie H, Zhu Y, Wall M, Neria Y, Morey RA
NeuroImage.. 2023 December 1283 :120412. Epub 10/18/2023.
Sun D, Rakesh G, Haswell CC, Logue M, Baird CL, O'Leary EN, Cotton AS, Xie H, Tamburrino M, Chen T, Dennis EL, Jahanshad N, Salminen LE, Thomopoulos SI, Rashid F, Ching CRK, Koch SBJ, Frijling JL, Nawijn L, van Zuiden M, Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Sierk A, Walter H, Manthey A, Stevens JS, Fani N, van Rooij SJH, Stein M, Bomyea J, Koerte IK, Choi K, van der Werff SJA, Vermeiren RRJM, Herzog J, Lebois LAM, Baker JT, Olson EA, Straube T, Korgaonkar MS, Andrew E, Zhu Y, Li G, Ipser J, Hudson AR, Peverill M, Sambrook K, Gordon E, Baugh L, Forster G, Simons RM, Simons JS, Magnotta V, Maron-Katz A, du Plessis S, Disner SG, Davenport N, Grupe DW, Nitschke JB, deRoon-Cassini TA, Fitzgerald JM, Krystal JH, Levy I, Olff M, Veltman DJ, Wang L, Neria Y, De Bellis MD, Jovanovic T, Daniels JK, Shenton M, van de Wee NJA, Schmahl C, Kaufman ML, Rosso IM, Sponheim SR, Hofmann DB, Bryant RA, Fercho KA, Stein DJ, Mueller SC, Hosseini B, Phan KL, McLaughlin KA, Davidson RJ, Larson CL, May G, Nelson SM, Abdallah CG, Gomaa H, Etkin A, Seedat S, Harpaz-Rotem I, Liberzon I, van Erp TGM, Quidé Y, Wang X, Thompson PM, Morey RA
NeuroImage.. 2022 November 1261 :119509. Epub 07/30/2022.
Sun D, Rakesh G, Clarke-Rubright EK, Haswell CC, Logue M, O'Leary EN, Cotton AS, Xie H, Dennis EL, Jahanshad N, Salminen LE, Thomopoulos SI, Rashid F, Ching CRK, Koch SBJ, Frijling JL, Nawijn L, van Zuiden M, Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Sierk A, Walter H, Manthey A, Stevens JS, Fani N, van Rooij SJH, Stein M, Bomyea J, Koerte I, Choi K, van de Werff SJA, Vermeiren RRJM, Herzog J, Lebois LAM, Baker JT, Ressler KJ, Olson EA, Straube T, Korgaonkar MS, Andrew E, Zhu Y, Li G, Ipser J, Hudson A, Peverill M, Sambrook K, Gordon E, Baugh L, Forster G, Simons R, Simons J, Magnotta V, Maron-Katz A, du Plessis S, Disner S, Davenport N, Grupe D, Nitschke J, deRoon-Cassini TA, Fitzgerald J, Krystal JH, Levy I, Olff M, Veltman DJ, Wang L, Neria Y, De Bellis MD, Jovanovic T, Daniels JK, Shenton M, van de Wee NJA, Schmahl C, Kaufman ML, Rosso IM, Sponheim SR, Hofmann DB, Bryant RA, Fercho KA, Stein DJ, Mueller SC, Phan L, McLaughlin KA, Davidson RJ, Larson C, May G, Nelson SM, Abdallah CG, Gomaa H, Etkin A, Seedat S, Harpaz-Rotem I, Liberzon I, Wang X, Thompson PM, Morey RA
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging.. 2022 September 7 (9):935-948. Epub 03/15/2022.
Amsalem D, Lopez-Yianilos A, Lowell A, Pickover AM, Arnon S, Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Ryba M, Bergman M, Such S, Zalman H, Sanchez-Lacay A, Lazarov A, Markowitz JC, Neria Y
Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy.. 2022 May 14 (4):578-586. Epub 09/16/2021.
Dennis EL, Disner SG, Fani N, Salminen LE, Logue M, Clarke EK, Haswell CC, Averill CL, Baugh LA, Bomyea J, Bruce SE, Cha J, Choi K, Davenport ND, Densmore M, du Plessis S, Forster GL, Frijling JL, Gonenc A, Gruber S, Grupe DW, Guenette JP, Hayes J, Hofmann D, Ipser J, Jovanovic T, Kelly S, Kennis M, Kinzel P, Koch SBJ, Koerte I, Koopowitz S, Korgaonkar M, Krystal J, Lebois LAM, Li G, Magnotta VA, Manthey A, May GJ, Menefee DS, Nawijn L, Nelson SM, Neufeld RWJ, Nitschke JB, O'Doherty D, Peverill M, Ressler KJ, Roos A, Sheridan MA, Sierk A, Simmons A, Simons RM, Simons JS, Stevens J, Suarez-Jimenez B, Sullivan DR, Théberge J, Tran JK, van den Heuvel L, van der Werff SJA, van Rooij SJH, van Zuiden M, Velez C, Verfaellie M, Vermeiren RRJM, Wade BSC, Wager T, Walter H, Winternitz S, Wolff J, York G, Zhu Y, Zhu X, Abdallah CG, Bryant R, Daniels JK, Davidson RJ, Fercho KA, Franz C, Geuze E, Gordon EM, Kaufman ML, Kremen WS, Lagopoulos J, Lanius RA, Lyons MJ, McCauley SR, McGlinchey R, McLaughlin KA, Milberg W, Neria Y, Olff M, Seedat S, Shenton M, Sponheim SR, Stein DJ, Stein MB, Straube T, Tate DF, van der Wee NJA, Veltman DJ, Wang L, Wilde EA, Thompson PM, Kochunov P, Jahanshad N, Morey RA
Molecular psychiatry.. 2021 August 26 (8):4315-4330. Epub 12/19/2019.
Wang X, Xie H, Chen T, Cotton AS, Salminen LE, Logue MW, Clarke-Rubright EK, Wall J, Dennis EL, O'Leary BM, Abdallah CG, Andrew E, Baugh LA, Bomyea J, Bruce SE, Bryant R, Choi K, Daniels JK, Davenport ND, Davidson RJ, DeBellis M, deRoon-Cassini T, Disner SG, Fani N, Fercho KA, Fitzgerald J, Forster GL, Frijling JL, Geuze E, Gomaa H, Gordon EM, Grupe D, Harpaz-Rotem I, Haswell CC, Herzog JI, Hofmann D, Hollifield M, Hosseini B, Hudson AR, Ipser J, Jahanshad N, Jovanovic T, Kaufman ML, King AP, Koch SBJ, Koerte IK, Korgaonkar MS, Krystal JH, Larson C, Lebois LAM, Levy I, Li G, Magnotta VA, Manthey A, May G, McLaughlin KA, Mueller SC, Nawijn L, Nelson SM, Neria Y, Nitschke JB, Olff M, Olson EA, Peverill M, Luan Phan K, Rashid FM, Ressler K, Rosso IM, Sambrook K, Schmahl C, Shenton ME, Sierk A, Simons JS, Simons RM, Sponheim SR, Stein MB, Stein DJ, Stevens JS, Straube T, Suarez-Jimenez B, Tamburrino M, Thomopoulos SI, van der Wee NJA, van der Werff SJA, van Erp TGM, van Rooij SJH, van Zuiden M, Varkevisser T, Veltman DJ, Vermeiren RRJM, Walter H, Wang L, Zhu Y, Zhu X, Thompson PM, Morey RA, Liberzon I
Molecular psychiatry.. 2021 August 26 (8):4331-4343. Epub 12/07/2020.
Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zilcha-Mano S, Lazarov A, Arnon S, Lowell AL, Bergman M, Ryba M, Hamilton AJ, Hamilton JF, Turner JB, Markowitz JC, Fisher PW, Neria Y
Human brain mapping.. 2021 April 1542 (6):1930-1939. Epub 02/05/2021.
