When you participate in a research training program at IU School of Nursing, you join an elite group. These pre- and postdoctoral fellowships prepare you to conduct high-impact research, lead interdisciplinary teams, and create innovative approaches to the management of chronic conditions as you work with recognized nurse scientists to increase your knowledge and acquire intense research experience.
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: NINR National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (F31)
Faculty Advisor: Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, FAAN, FAES
Jennifer is a predoctoral research fellow who is passionate about supporting self-management among individuals with type 2 diabetes. She is interested in how health beliefs and family health communication influence individuals’ self-management of their type 2 diabetes. Jennifer has worked as a research assistant at Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Nursing for five years, contributing to numerous studies and serving as a nurse interventionist. She aims to develop educational interventions and health campaigns that promote diabetes self-management and aid individuals in avoiding complications. In 2020, Jennifer graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in Nursing with honors and highest distinction. She also a past research fellow on the IU School of Nursing NIH T32 grant (Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions).
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Katharine Head, PhD
Alexandra is a PhD student in Health Behavior at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, with a minor in Biostatistics & Epidemiology. Her anticipated completion is May 2028. She previously completed her Master of Public Health at Purdue University, College of Health & Human Sciences with a concentration in Family and Community Health. Her research examines how salon professionals can act as health interventionists with their clients. Using a mixed-methods approach and implementation science frameworks to focus on sexual and reproductive health and cancer prevention, specifically HPV-related cancers.
Predoctoral Fellow
Programs: Indiana University Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (IU LEAH)
Faculty Advisor: Amelia (Amy) Knopf, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Jisoo Kim is a predoctoral student in the PhD Nursing Program at Indiana University School of Nursing in Indianapolis. Her research includes chronic kidney disease, with a focus on challenges related to dialysis care, social determinants of health, symptom experiences, and family dynamics and caregiving. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from IU School of Nursing.
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Mosher, PhD
Megan is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology in the School of Science, Indiana University Indianapolis. She previously completed her B.S. in Psychology at the University of Iowa in 2022. Her research aims to understand the psychological processes that promote positive adaptation and quality of life among people with cancer and their family caregivers; examine how processes targeted by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) relate to psychological, physical, and existential well-being, as well as biological outcomes; and evaluate the psychometric properties of measures assessing ACT-related processes for use in cancer populations.
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Mosher, PhD
Stella Snyder is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at IU Indianapolis. She earned her B.S. in Biology from The University of Saint Francis and her M.S. from Purdue Fort Wayne. She worked for three years in Behavioral Science at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her research focuses on financial toxicity due to cancer treatment and the development and evaluation of psychosocial interventions for cancer patients and their caregivers. Her research aims to explore mindfulness-based interventions, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, to enhance emotion regulation and adjustment to cancer, ultimately improving quality-of-life outcomes for patients. Key outcomes of interest include the reduction of psychological distress and physical symptoms. Stella’s future research will investigate emotional expression and regulation and the potential benefits of supportive resources like meaning-making, mindfulness, and social support in psychosocial intervention trials.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Victoria Champion, PhD, RN, FAAN
Christa Torrisi is a T32 postdoctoral research fellow with research interests in cancer previvorship advocacy; decision-making and outcomes surrounding cancer prevention and risk-reduction; and supporting psychosocial aspects of cancer survivorship and previvorship, particularly in young people living in rural and medically underserved areas. She has worked as a nurse for over 15 years, earning her PhD in nursing from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 2024.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Victoria Champion, PhD, RN, FAAN
Jeanne Ward is from Louisville, KY, and she earned her Bachelor degree at Washington University and her Master degrees and PhD from the University of Louisville. She has experience as an oncology nurse and with rural cancer and suicide prevention efforts. Her research interests concern rural disparities and the factors associated with the wellbeing of cancer caregivers and patients. Dr. Ward also has worked in communications and consulting and recently led a statewide rural health promotion campaign in Kentucky.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: The Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness (CEQL)
Faculty Advisor: Janet S. Carpenter, PhD, RN, FAAN
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Kelly Wierenga, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAHA
Research Focus: Improving chronic disease outcomes by addressing physical activity behaviors in older adults
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdiscipliniary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control
Faculty Advisor: Sheri L. Robb, PhD, MT-BC
Research Focus: Development and testing of music-based interventions that mitigate the impact of medical trauma for children experiencing invasive medical treatment and their families
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Dean's Diversity Fellows
Faculty Advisor: Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Research Focus: Intervention development using a relational coordination training intervention to improve staff outcomes among healthcare professionals in the intensive care unit
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Mosher, PhD
Research Focus: Identifying subgroups of cannabis using cancer patients that may warrant different approaches to clinical care and characterizing longitudinal relations between cannabis use and symptom outcomes for patients undergoing cancer treatment
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Susan Rawl, PhD, RN, FAAHB, FAAN
Research Focus: SPADE (Sleep disturbance, Pain, Anxiety, Depression, and low Energy/fatigue) symptom management and self-management in adolescents with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, FAAN, FAES
Research Focus: Improving bowel self-management for adults with spina bifida
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Susan Rawl, PhD, RN, FAAHB, FAAN
Research Focus: Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Douglas Landsittel, PhD
Research Focus: Cervical cancer patient survival outcomes in the DRC by characterizing patient treatment trajectories
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Sheri L. Robb, PhD, MT-BC
Research Focus: Reduction of stress through active participation in music to affect feelings of loneliness for cancer survivors
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Community Outreach and Engagement Diversity Scholars
Faculty Advisor: Todd Skaar, PhD
Research Focus: Discovery and implementation of genomic predictors of drug response
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Prevention and Control (NCI T32)
Faculty Advisor: Karen Hudmon, DrPH
Research Focus: Improving the health outcomes of cancer patients, particularly those receiving orally administered anticancer medications
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Dean's Diversity Fellows
Faculty Advisor: Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Research Focus: Evaluating associations between the occurrence of palpitations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in neurotransmitter and potassium channel genes in women with breast cancer
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, FAAN, FAES
Research Focus: Self-management among people diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Susan Pressler, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Research Focus: Construct a phenotype of pain in heart failure (HF) from a biologic and behavioral perspective which will be used as a foundation for novel self management interventions for pain
Predoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, FAAN, FAES
Research Focus: Experiences of African American/Black women with self-management of cardiovascular disease following pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, FAAN, FAES
Research Focus: Adolescent Self-, Family-, and School-Management of Functional (Nonepileptic) Seizures
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisors: Yvonne Lu, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN & Eileen Hacker, PhD, APRN, AOCN, FAAN
Research Focus: Behavioral interventions for improving quality of life for older adults in long-term care settings
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions (T32)
Faculty Advisor: Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, FAAN, FAES
Research Focus: Development of a patient-tailored leisure activity intervention for people living with HIV who have neurocognitive decline
Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: IU School of Nursing Fellowship
Faculty Advisor: Rebecca J. Bartlett Ellis, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN
Research focus: Relationships of illness perceptions, fear of recurrence, and perceived stress in acute myocardial infarction survivors
