Seeking graduate student genetics + clinical psychology
Glayde Whitney (whitney@DARWIN.PSY.FSU.EDU)
Fri, 24 Jan 1997 14:06:52 -0500 (EST)
Dr. Barbara Licht of the Clinical Program in the Psychology Department at
Florida State University has an interesting position for a graduate student
wanting clinical psychology and genetic research. Her address is at the end
of the following description:
>
>I am on the clinical psychology faculty at Florida State University, and I
>am writing to see if you have any excellent undergraduate students who are
>seeking admission to graduate school in clinical psychology. Recently, I
>changed my research focus so I am now trying to recruit a graduate student
>with interests in genetics and assessment issues. Our clinical psychology
>program is APA approved and provides well-rounded training from a
>scientist-practitioner model. My current research focus is described below.
>Please contact me if you know any good graduate school applicants who might
>be interested in this type of research.
>
>I am the principal investigator of a long-term investigation of the genetic
>basis of primary (idiopathic) epilepsy in dogs. Although we are
>investigating canine models of epilepsy, we believe that dogs can provide
>good naturally occurring models for some of the genetic human epilepsies.
>Additionally, the research strategies that we are employing are identical to
>those used in human genetics. That is, we plan to analyze pedigrees of
>purebred dogs rather than conduct selective breeding studies. Our research
>strategies also are similar to those used in human genetics in that we are
>employing extensive, structured clinical interviews to aid our diagnostic
>process. Importantly, there is no positive diagnostic test for primary
>epilepsy in either humans or dogs. Rather, the diagnosis is made after
>ruling out all "secondary" causes of seizures (e.g., head trauma, toxins,
>infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, tumors, developmental anomalies,
>etc.). Ruling out these factors not only requires medical testing, but also
>requires obtaining an extensive history from both the owner and breeder of
>the relevant dogs in the pedigrees. The clinical interview is necessary to
>assess factors such as prior injuries, exposure to toxins, prior illnesses,
>as well as to obtain detailed descriptions of the seizure episodes and
>conditions under which they occur. (As an aside, we also are attempting to
>assess the temperaments of these dogs.)
>
>Our current research involves a behavior genetics approach, and the rest of
>the team includes: another clinical psychologist, a statistician
>specializing in pedigree analysis, a veterinary neurologist, a general
>veterinarian, and a canine geneticist. We also have discussed a potential
>future collaboration with some molecular geneticists.
>
>Our current funding comes from the American Kennel Club Canine Health
>Foundation and from the Poodle Club of America Research Foundation.
>Currently, we are focusing on Poodles, which are among the more than 25
>breeds of dogs that are affected by primary epilepsy.
>
>Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. If you have any
>applicants in clinical psychology to recommend, please contact me or
>encourage them to so.
>
>Sincerely,
>Barbara
>------------------------
>Barbara G. Licht, Ph.D. Voice: (904) 644-6272
>Department of Psychology EMAIL: blicht@psy.fsu.edu
>Florida State University FAX: (904) 644-7739
>Tallahassee, FL 32306-1051