Graduate Students

Dr. Moskowitz is accepting graduate students for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

Dr. Moskowitz accepts students from two programs: 1) Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences (PhD in Clinical Psychology), and 2) the Feinberg School of Medicine Health Sciences Integrated PhD (HSIP) program (PhD in Health Sciences). She does not currently accept master’s students.

Her lab studies behavioral and psychosocial factors in the context of significant illness or other life stress. Their current research is focused on the adaptive role of positive emotion regulation for support of beneficial health behavior change (such as diet and physical activity) and prevention of maladaptive health behaviors (such as substance abuse). Her work addresses health and health behaviors in a range of patient populations, including dementia caregivers, high school students, people with type 2 diabetes, women with stage IV breast cancer and people living with HIV. She examines the unique adaptive role of positive emotion in the process of coping with various types of health-related and other life stress and, through randomized trials, determines whether a positive emotion regulation intervention can increase positive affect, reduce stress and depression, and improve health behaviors in at-risk samples.

Prospective graduate students with interest in stress, coping, emotion, and health and experience in running experimental or clinical trials are especially encouraged to apply.

Mentorship Model

One of the most frequently asked questions concerns Dr. Moskowitz’s mentorship style. Supportive mentorship is core to her identity as a scientist and she cares deeply for the experience and success of her graduate students. In recognition of her outstanding mentoring, she was awarded the Northwestern Medical Faculty Council’s 2023 Mentor of the Year.

She meets with first year graduate students individually at least once a week, tapering off as the trainee gains more independence.

Here is a representative section from her lab manual:

“I prioritize each team members’ growth as a scientist. This involves laying out opportunities (usually more than the team member could reasonably pursue) to contribute to ongoing projects, apply for funding and awards, and take ownership of new ideas. I will do my best to serve as a support, guide, and collaborator on team members’ work — but the onus is on the team member to see ideas through to completion. This means that, while significant support is available, lab members do a large amount of work independently.”  (PPHIG Lab Manual, 2023)

! Please note

Dr. Moskowitz cannot meet with prospective applicants until after applications are submitted. If you have questions about whether your research interests might fit in Dr. Moskowitz’s lab, please contact her via email at: moskowitz-lab@northwestern.edu.