Dr. Hamilton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and an affiliate faculty member in the Center for Youth Social Emotional Wellness in GSAPP. Her research focuses on identifying modifiable risk and protective factors for the onset and worsening of adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors, with a focus on social media and sleep. Given that depression and suicide risk rise during adolescence, Dr. Hamilton’s research applies a developmentally-informed approach to understand the unique factors that impact the development and course of depression and suicide risk during this period. Her research centers on three interrelated questions: 1) which adolescents are most at risk?, 2) what contributes to when adolescents are most at risk?, and 3) How does technology both impact risk for suicide and improve our ability to capture (and ultimately modify) these risk processes in real time? Her research leverages technology through innovative methods of smartphone sensing, actigraphy (to capture behavioral sleep), and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to better identify and detect suicide risk in the real world and in real time to inform prevention and early intervention programs among diverse youth. The ultimate goal of this research is to inform suicide prevention programs and promote adolescent mental health using clinical and developmental science, and to ensure that mental health research is accessible and equitable across youth from diverse backgrounds.
Please visit Dr. Hamilton’s website to learn more about her work and whether she plans to review graduate student applications this year.