USC.edu

Katharina Kircanski

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Katharina Kircanski
Email katharina.kircanski@gmail.com

Education

  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 2011
  • B.A. Psychology, Stanford University, 2004
    • Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, 2011 – 2015

  • Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

    • Chief of Experimental and Quantitative Methods, Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Progra, 2020-2025
    • Staff Scientist, Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, 2019-2025
    • Research Fellow, Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, 2015-2019

  • Summary Statement of Research Interests

    My research incorporates clinical science, affective and cognitive neuroscience, and quantitative methods to study mechanisms of pediatric mood and anxiety disorders. I am particularly interested in understanding shared vs. specific mechanisms of symptoms that manifest during development and can be targeted toward early interventions. Much of my work focuses on anxiety, irritability, and depression in youth. I utilize a multi-modal approach that includes functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), behavioral paradigms, and ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Additionally, I am interested in translating knowledge gained in pathophysiology to guide interventions, and I investigate ways to optimize exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders.

    Research Keywords

    Mood and anxiety disorders; developmental psychopathology; affective neuroscience; fMRI; cognitive-behavioral therapy; quantitative methods

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