Faculty Mentor: Eric Garland
Title: Associate Professor & Associate Dean for Research
College: Social Work
Email: eric.garland@socwk.utah.edu
Project description
Dr. Garland conducts clinical research on mindfulness-based treatments for addiction, stress-related conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD), and chronic pain. His lab employs neuroscience measures (e.g., heart rate measures of stress reactivity, EEG measures of brain activity) to predict risk of drug relapse and other self-destructive behaviors. Several ongoing clinical research projects are examining the effects of mindfulness meditation-based therapies on physical and mental health.
Student Role: Students will assist with conducting research assessments, processing physiological data, creating databases, reviewing therapy recordings, and writing scientific articles.
Student Benefits: Students will participate in NIH and DOD-funded research. They will learn to conduct clinical research and develop neuroscience skills. Students may be able to publish.
Project Duration: The project will last for the next 3-5 years. The student will work on the project for 5 - 20 hours per week.
Opportunity Type: Volunteer; Prepare a UROP proposal; Write an Honors Thesis; Earn independent study credit; This is a work-study research position
Is this a paid opportunity: No
Minimum Requirements: Maturity; good work ethic; attention to detail; high level of organization; interest in neuroscience and mental health