Do you respond to emails from prospective applicants?

You do not need email me to ask whether I’m taking students or to introduce yourself. Due to the large number of inquiries I receive, I’m not able to respond individually to these messages. All information about applying to the Rutgers Clinical Psychology PhD program is available on the department website. If you’re interested in the lab, please indicate this clearly in your personal statement—I read every application carefully. If you have a very specific question that’s not answered here or on the department’s website, you may email me, but please note that I may not always be able to reply.

What kinds of research projects do students in the Kleiman Lab work on?

Students in the lab are involved in a wide range of projects focused on understanding and improving suicide prevention efforts, particularly in inpatient psychiatric settings. Our work emphasizes real-world implementation and the integration of technology, for example, using smartphones, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and wearable sensors to enhance clinical care and intervention delivery.

Students are encouraged to take part in ongoing projects that align with their interests and to lead their own independent studies for their master’s thesis or dissertation. Many students develop original EMA projects, design new measures, or pilot technology-based interventions within clinical settings.

What types of training or skills are most useful for applicants?

Some familiarity with R (or another statistical programming language) is helpful, but it’s not required. As part of our PhD training, students in the lab gain substantial experience in R for data management, visualization, and advanced modeling. Curiosity about quantitative methods, technology-based research, and clinical intervention development is more important than specific technical skills at the outset.

Do you take students interested in assessment or basic mechanisms research (not intervention-focused)?

We are primarily looking for graduate students interested in intervention development, evaluation, and implementation in real-world settings. However, the lab also values and conducts considerable work on mechanisms of risk, assessment methods, and digital phenotyping, and we occasionally accept students with these interests—especially if they demonstrate exceptional fit and strong alignment with the lab’s overall mission.

What kind of mentorship style do you have?

I think of mentorship as a balance between structure and independence. On a scale from micromanaging to completely hands-off, I fall somewhere in the middle, offering frequent feedback and support early in training, and gradually encouraging students to become more independent as they progress through the program. The goal is for students to leave the lab confident in running their own research programs and collaborations.

Do I need to have prior experience with suicide research or clinical work?

Some prior experience working on suicide-related topics is helpful, but not strictly required. What’s most important is prior research experience and a genuine interest in suicide prevention and intervention science. A strong motivation to contribute to this area and openness to working with clinical populations are key.

What should I highlight in my personal statement or application if I want to work in your lab?

Use your statement to explain why you’re drawn specifically to the Kleiman Lab: what questions, populations, or methods excite you, and how they fit with our work on suicide-focused interventions in inpatient psychiatry. It’s also helpful to describe your research experiences, your comfort with data or technology, and how you see your interests evolving during graduate training.

What is your lab culture like?

Collaborative, supportive, and flexible. There’s no competition for data, time, or resources: students are encouraged to collaborate and share ideas. We value intellectual curiosity, kindness, and teamwork, and we meet regularly to discuss research progress, new ideas, and professional development.

What are recent graduates or current students working on?

Students in the lab work across a variety of projects. Some contribute to multi-site intervention and implementation studies; others design and run independent EMA projects, develop new assessment tools, or test digital interventions. Many of our students publish early and often, and graduates go on to research- and clinically-focused careers in academia, hospitals, and industry.

Do students have opportunities to collaborate with other labs or sites?

Yes. We have many multi-site studies and collaborative projects with other labs at Rutgers and beyond. Our frequent collaborators include Dr. Cassie Glenn (Old Dominion University), Dr. Matt Nock (Harvard University), and Dr. Richard Liu (Mass General Hospital/Harvard Medical School), among others. Students often get to work directly with collaborators and research teams across institutions. If you are interested in the work we do, and want to have an adolescent focus, Dr. Glenn is  also reviewing applications this year– we highly recommend applying to her too! 

What kinds of clinical training experiences do lab members typically pursue?

We have a very strong partnership with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC), including both the inpatient psychiatry unit and an intensive outpatient program called Early Intervention Support Services (EISS). The lab directly manages several of these training opportunities, which allows students to integrate clinical and research experiences seamlessly.

In many cases, if a student wants to create a new clinical opportunity—such as developing a new therapy group, adapting an intervention, or working in a new clinical setting—we can help make that happen. Our goal is to tailor each student’s clinical experiences to align with their research and career goals.