Curriculum Vita Molly E. K. McLaren, BS Contact Information Department of Clinical and Health Psychology University of Florida PO Box 100165 Phone: (608) 381-7243 Gainesville, Fl 32610-0165 Email: memclaren@phhp.ufl.edu Education and Training 2013- Present Doctor of Philosophy (APA-accredited) Clinical and Health Psychology Area of Concentration: Clinical Neuropsychology Expected graduation: May 2019 Mentor: Vonetta M. Dotson, PhD. 2011 Bachelor of Science Psychology, Neuroscience Minor: Chemistry GPA: 3.69, Magnum cum Laude, Neuroscience Department Honors Employment 2013-present 2013-present Volunteer Research Assistant Cognitive Aging and Memory Lab Institute on Aging, University of FL, Gainesville, FL Graduate Research Assistant Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging and Depression Laboratory 2011-2013 Research Assistant ENLIGHTEN Study Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 2010-2011 Undergraduate Writing Fellow 2009 Undergraduate Research Assistant Brain Aging and Cognitive Health Laboratory Research Experience 2013-Present Volunteer Research Assistant Cognitive Aging and Memory Lab Supervisor: Adam Woods, PhD Responsibilities: Assist in developing and executing cognitive neuroscience experiments investigating aging, cognitive impairment and
potential protective mechanisms to prevent cognitive decline. Help in designing, implementing and analyzing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) experiments. Assist in preparing data for publication and writing manuscripts. 2013- Present Graduate Research Assistant Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging and Depression Laboratory Supervisor: Vonetta M. Dotson, PhD Responsibilities: Assist in developing and executing neuropsychological and cognitive neuroscience experiments investigating mood (depression, apathy, anxiety, etc.), cognition, and aging. Help in designing, implementing and analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fmri) experiments. Assist in preparing data for publication and writing manuscripts. 2011-2013 Research Assistant ENLIGHTEN Study Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC Supervisors: Patrick J. Smith, PhD., James A. Blumenthal, PhD. Responsibilities: Recruited participants for an intervention study examining the effects of diet and exercise on cognitive and cardiovascular health. Administered and graded screening and baseline neurocognitive assessments; managed data entry. 2009-2010, 2011 Undergraduate Research Assistant Brain Aging and Cognitive Health Lab Supervisor: Destiny Miller, MS., Kirk Erickson, PhD. Responsibilities: Recruited older participants for behavioral and fmri studies. Administered behavioral experimental tests to participants. Assisted in preparing data for analysis and publication. Teaching Experience 2011 Teaching Assistant Introduction to Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience Responsibilities: Assisted in teaching related responsibilities which included co-teaching a two hour recitation once a week, attending lectures, answering students questions via email, holding study sessions, and proctoring exams. 2010-2011 Undergraduate Writing Fellow Department of Psychology Responsibilities: Assisted undergraduate students with revising and editing their research papers for Research Methods classes. Met with students individually to discuss ways to improve their writing. 2008 Teaching Assistant Introduction to Psychology, Department of Psychology
Responsibilities: Assisted in teaching related responsibilities including attending lectures, holding review sessions, grading quizzes/homework, proctoring exams, holding review sessions, answering questions via email and in-person tutoring sessions. Honors and Awards 2014 PHHP travel award winner 2014 Graduate student Council Travel award winner 2013- Present University of Florida, Graduate Assistantship 2010-2011 University of Pittsburgh Psi Chi Chapter President 2010 Induction into Phi Beta Kappa 2009-2010 Dr. John Knox Hall Jr. Scholarship recipient 2007-2011 University of Pittsburgh Presidential Scholarship Poster Presentations McLaren, M.E., Szymkowicz, S.M., O Shea, A., Woods, A.J., Manini, T.M., Anton, S.D., Dotson, V.M. (2015). Symptom dimensions of depression and frontal brain volume in older adults. Poster to be presented at the 43 rd annual International Neuropsychological Society (INS) meeting, Denver, CO. Szymkowicz, S. M., McLaren, M. E., O Shea, A., Woods, A. J., Manini, T. M., Anton, S. D., & Dotson, V. M. (2015). Subthreshold depressive symptoms are associated with age-related structural brain changes. Poster to be presented at the 43 rd annual International Neuropsychological Society (INS) meeting, Denver, CO. McLaren, M.E., Rohani, J.Y., Kirton, J.W., Manini T.M., Anton, S.D., & Dotson, V.M. BDI-II factors relationship to neural activity during the n-back task in older adults. Poster to be presented at the 2014 Cognitive Aging conference in Atlanta, Georgia. McLaren, M.E., Rohani, J.Y., Kirton, J.W., Manini T.M., Anton, S.D., & Dotson, V.M. BDI-II factors relationship to neural activity during the n-back task in older adults. Poster to be presented at the 2014 PHHP Research Day at the University of Flordia in Gainesville, Fl. Rohani, J.Y., McLaren, M.E., Kirton, J.W., Szymkowicz, S.M., Anton, S.D., Manini T.M., & Dotson, V.M. fmri Activity during Working Memory Related to Subclinical Depression and Anxiety in Older Adults. Poster to be presented at the 2014 Cognitive Aging conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Rohani, J.Y., McLaren, M.E., Kirton, J.W., Szymkowicz, S.M., Anton, S.D., Manini T.M., & Dotson, V.M. (2014) fmri Activity during Working Memory Related to Subclinical Depression and Anxiety in Older Adults. Poster presented at the 2014 University of Florida Institute for Learning in Retirement Student Research on Aging Exposition in Gainesville, Florida. Miller, D.L., McLaren, M., Brown, R., McGarry, C., Lane, J., Weinsteing, A. and Erickson, K.I. (2010). Cueing the Target: Examining the effect of cues to ameliorate age-related deficits in attentional control. Cognitive Aging Conference (CAC), Atlanta, GA. Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts Dotson VM, Szymkowicz SM, Kirton JW, McLaren ME, Green ML, et al. (2014) Unique and Interactive Effect of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms on Cognitive and Brain Function in Young and Older Adults. J Depress Anxiety S1:003. doi: 10.4172/2167-1044.S1-003
Smith, P.J., Potter, G.G., McLaren, M.E., Blumenthal, J.A. (2013). Impact of aerobic exercise on neurobehavioral outcomes. Mental Health and Physical Activity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2013.06.008. Erickson, K. I., Prakash, R.S., Voss, M.W, Chaddock, L., Heo, S., McLaren, M., Pence, B.D., Martin, S.A., Vieira, V.J., Woods, J.A., McAuley, E., Kramer, A.F. (2010). Brain derived neurotrophic factor is associated with age-related decline in hippocampal volume. J. Neurosci. 30 (1), 5368-5375. DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6251-09.2010. Organizational Memberships 2013- Present Student Member, American Psychological Association, Division 40 Community Service August, 2014 University of Florida Craniofacial Camp Keystone Heights, Fl Responsibilities: Organized and lead group activities for 11-12 year olds with cleft lip or palate. 2013 Gator Global Initiative- Group Facilitator Gainesville, Fl Responsibilities: Organized and ran small group discussions designed to promote volunteerism and community leadership. 2012-2013 Durham Crisis Response Center Durham, NC Responsibilities: Provided emotional support and information regarding community resources to sexual and domestic violence assault victims admitted to Durham country hospitals. Assisted in training new advocates. 2010 University of Pittsburgh Medical Center- Shadyside Pittsburgh, PA Responsibilities: Helped improve the comfort of patients admitted to the emergency department by providing blankets, pillows, etc. and comforted patients and family. References Vonetta M. Dotson, PhD Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida PO Box 100165 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32610 (352) 273-6041 vonetta@phhp.ufl.edu Patrick J. Smith, PhD, MPH Department of Psychiatry/ Behavioral Medicine, Duke University
DUMC 3119 Durham, NC 27710 (919) 681-3006 patrick.j.smith@duke.edu Kirk Erickson, PhD Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh 3107 Sennott Square Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (412) 624-4428 kiericks@pitt.edu