tom dodson

I work on two research projects that deal with the neurobiology of PTSD and the autonomic stress response system in trauma-exposed individuals. The Principal Investigator of these studies is Ann Rasmusson, M.D. My responsibilities include screening participants, operating two sets of psychophysiological recording equipment, running a cold pressor task and loud tone task, and keeping up with research documents and digital files (e.g., IRB forms, DoD forms, study data, and participant contact information).

I tracked client behaviors, prepared and served food, and interviewed clients at intake.

I maintained patient rosters for different patient units, answered patient questions, coordinated new initiatives for psychosocial rewards-based program, and worked with staff to execute the program requirements.

I organized activities for groups of adolescents who were completing community service and I mentored adolescents.

I tutored Spanish and Statistics for undergraduate and graduate students. I also created statistics competency exams used at the new tutor interviews and I trained incoming tutors.

I ran participants through study protocols, operated several different pieces of recording equipment (e.g., BIOPAC psychophysiological recording equipment, A6000 Eyetrac equipment), administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV disorders and self-report questionnaires. During my senior year I also completed an honors thesis. I developed a research idea, study design and protocol, recruited and ran 120 research participants, and analyzed and presented my study findings.

I currently work in a trauma-focused research lab. I am working on forming a research idea and paradigm for my Masters thesis, I supervise an analogue research paradigm, and I handle other lab related tasks. I also am a full-time student in the Doctoral Program.