Dr. Patricia "Trish" L. Kaminski earned her doctorate in psychology (counseling) at Colorado State University. Her interest in the construct of Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder began as a postdoctoral fellow in clinical psychology at the Menninger Clinic (1995-1997). Dr. Kaminski, an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of North Texas, has published and presented more than a dozen papers related to interpersonal trauma.
Dr. Justin Litvin earned his doctorate from the UNT Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program in 2019, and he continues to collaborate with the Scientia Conquisitor Lab on research projects. He is interested in the psychological effects of trauma, measurement of trauma, and coping strategies. For Justin's master's thesis, he developed and validated the Complex Trauma Inventory (CTI), the first published instrument that specifically measures the ICD-11 trauma disorders. For his dissertation, Justin help identify empirically-based cutoff scores for the CTI.
Andrew Pereira is a 5th year Counseling Psychology PhD student at the University of North Texas, and is currently completing dissertation research and preparing himself for pre-doctoral internship. His research interests include male body image and disordered eating, LGBT minority stress, sexual risk behaviors, and intersectionality.
Nina Calmenson Istrin is a 5th year Counseling Psychology PhD student at the University of North Texas. She is interested in the academic, social, and emotional functioning of individuals with developmental disorders. Her research has focused on assessment and college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Nick Ross is a 4th year doctoral student in UNT's Counseling Psychology PhD program. His research interests include attachment theory, contemporary psychoanalytic thinking, theory of mind, shame, trauma, qualitative methods, psychophysiology, and multicultural/diversity issues.
Carlie McGregor is a 4th year student in the UNT Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program. She is interested in the protective aspects of self-concept, specifically related to weight and activity. She enjoys hearing people's unique stories and eating really good breakfast burritos
James Rushton is a 2nd year Counseling Psychology PhD student. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He is still developing his research interests, but would like to work with collegiate athletes.
Dominique Dotty is a 1st year student in the UNT Counseling Psychology PhD program. Her overarching research interests include: the manifestations of PTSD during childhood/ adulthood, and the various protective/ vulnerability factors that impact the development of PTSD. She would also like to explore the role of attachment theory in the context of those protective and vulnerability factors.
Scientia Conquisitor Lab Research Assistants:
Hannah Phillips
Olivia Augustat
Helen Parker
Nikki Nielson
Sonja Hunter
Will Archuletta
Anna Sever