People

Prof. Brooke Ammerman is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and the director of the ASSIST Lab at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She received her B.S. from North Dakota State University, M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa, and Ph.D. from Temple University. She is most interested in better understanding the mechanisms underlying non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and how to translate what we learn in the laboratory to the “real world.” She has a specific interest in how interpersonal stress can influence the onset and maintenance of these experiences. When not at work, Prof. Ammerman enjoys running, exploring and photographing the outdoors, and spending time with her family, including her dog and two cats.

Kerri-Anne Bell (she/her) joined the ASSIST lab in 2021, and is a fourth year graduate student in the lab. She received her BA in Psychology and Education from Vassar College, and earned a MA in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to joining the ASSIST Lab, Kerri worked with Christine Cha in the Laboratory for Clinical and Developmental Studies. Kerri’s research interest broadly focused on the socioemotional factors related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among Black individuals. Specifically, she’s interested in exploring unique, cultural risk factors related to STBs and disclosure of STBs among this group. In her free time, Kerri enjoys cuddling with her pup, Kylo, spending time with loved ones, trying out new restaurants, and going on unnecessary trips to Target and Sephora.

Irene (they/them) is a second-year graduate student in the clinical program. They hold a BA in Psychology and Statistics from Smith College and previously worked in the Nock Lab at Harvard and the BaCH Tech Lab at McLean Hospital. Irene’s research focuses on the risk and protective factors in suicidal behaviors, particularly why some individuals stop themselves while others proceed with suicide attempts. Their work seeks to understand how the capacity to engage in different strategies varies between (e.g., sociocultural factors, individual differences) and within individuals (e.g., during crises), with the goal of developing personalized and accessible interventions that account for these complexities. Beyond research, Irene is committed to disseminate scientific findings and implement scalable interventions in minoritized communities. Outside of work, Irene enjoys watching sunsets and meditation. Learn more about Irene here.

Connor is a first-year graduate student in the ASSIST Lab. He received his B.S. in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he also worked as a research assistant. He then joined the ASSIST lab in February of 2023 and worked as a research coordinator in the lab through June 2024. Connor’s research focuses on understanding daily risk and protective factors for non-suicidal self-injury, as well as understanding mindfulness and acceptance among individuals with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Outside of the lab, Connor enjoys hiking, swimming, reading, and good coffee.

Huda Ahmed (she/her) is a first year M.S. student in the Data Science in Human Behavior (DSHB) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the ASSIST Lab in 2024, she received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she worked as a research professional at the Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab (MAPL) and as an undergraduate research assistant at the Research on Adolescent Depression (RAD) Lab. After completing her master’s degree, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to research suicidal ideation in the Muslim community, as well as to develop culturally and religiously informed interventions for the same. In her spare time, she likes watching TV shows, traveling and watching sunsets outdoors.