The Suicidology Lab @ USU
The Suicidology Lab is housed within the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. We research suicide and self-harm, particularly among youth and young adults. Our ultimate goal is to help others build a life worth living.
Suicidology is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field that overlaps with many areas of psychology, psychiatry, social work, public health, sociology, legal studies, philosophy, applied statistics, and more. It also touches many related areas of study within health service psychology, including nonsuicidal self-injury, mood disorders, assessment, psychotherapy, borderline personality disorder, and crisis.
We conduct quantitative psychology research within suicidology. Past work has examined measurement problems, the risks associated with firearm access, and conceptual work on school-based practice issues.
Work with us (!?)
I plan to accept a PhD student for fall 2027.If you're interested in applying to the school psychology program at USU and joining the lab as a PhD student, please read the information in this linked blog post. There are currently no undergraduate openings in the lab. Occasionally I may have the availability to take on an EdS student from the school psychology program; typically they work to support the research of PhD students in the lab.
People
Erik J. Reinbergs, PhD
Dr. Reinbergs leads the suicidology lab. He is an assistant professor in the psychology department at Utah State University. He's a licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist. He obtained his PhD in school psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. When he's not working, Dr. Reinbergs enjoys spending time with his dogs, running, meditating, and reading.
Tiffany Harris, BS
Tiffany is a second-year PhD student. She is interested in investigating adolescent suicide interventions that can be successfully implemented in schools. Additionally, she has a strong interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion in both research and (future) practice. Before starting her PhD, she completed post-baccalaureate research at Brown University, working on both autism and suicide studies. Tiffany is excited to contribute to the body of research on suicidology and hopes to help reduce suffering through this work. When she's not studying, Tiffany loves doing crafts, going on walks, reading, and spending time with her friends, and traveling with her husband.
Ellie Azamian, MA MSc
Ellie Azamian is a second-year PhD student. She is passionate about understanding the dynamic nature of suicide ideation and attempts among the youth population, particularly through the lens of interpersonal relationships. She is a strong advocate for translational science and aims to translate the fundamental knowledge gained in suicidology research into practical prevention and intervention programs. Before joining the USU, she completed her master’s degree in Psychological Science at the University of South Florida. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Iran University of Medical Sciences before immigrating to the United States. In her free time, Ellie enjoys spending time with her cat, Felfel (which means Pepper!), watching movies, cooking, and socializing with her friends.
Lab alumni
Doctoral students at the University of Houston Clear Lake: Jay Short, Carmen Ibarra, Mary Beth Morgan, Kelsey Bishop, and Charmaine Flakes.
Masters students at the University of Houston Clear Lake: Anara Makahani.
Lab mascots
🐶 Frost, Tessy, & General
🐈 Felfel