Catharine E. Fairbairn M. S.
3137 Sennott Square
210 South Bouquet Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Email:
EDUCATION
Graduate:
2009 - present
University of Pittsburgh PITTSBURGH, PA
Joint Clinical/Biological & Health Psychology Ph.D. program gpa: 3.97
· Doctoral Candidate (april 2013)
Dissertation Title: Personality Differences in Subjective Effects of Alcohol: A Dynamic Examination of the Pathways Explaining Alcohol-Related Reward. Adviser: Michael A. Sayette, Ph.D. Anticipated completion date: July 2013
· Specialty Paper (2012): An Examination of Subjective Response to Alcohol in a Social Context. Adviser: Michael A. Sayette, Ph.D.
· Master’s of Science (2012): The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on the Displayed Affect of White Individuals Engaging in Interracial Interactions. Adviser: Michael A. Sayette, Ph.D.
Undergraduate:
2002- 2006
BARNARD COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY
B.A., Psychology and Music (double major) GPA: 3.92
HONORS
2013 Nationality Program International Research Award, $4000, University of Pittsburgh
2012-2013 Graduate Student Merit Award, Research Society on Alcoholism
2012 E. B. Huey Research Award, $1,000, University of Pittsburgh)
Diversity Travel Award, $1,000, University of Pittsburgh
2009-2010 School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
2006 Phi Beta Kappa, Barnard College
Summa Cum Laude
Ethel Stone LeFrak Prize, $2,000, Music Department award for writing)
Barnard College Commencement Speaker
2005-2006 Barnard College Writing Fellowship
2004 National Geographic/Glimpse Magazine—2004 2nd place “Forgone Conclusions” essay competition
Abroad View Magazine—published fall 2004 “Personal Journeys” essay competition
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Sponsor: Michael A. Sayette, department of psychology
Funding: $41,000 per year (total costs), September 2011 – September 2014
Description: Supporting cross-disciplinary graduate research in health and social psychology
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide
Institution: University of Oslo
Sponsor: Arnoldo Frigessi, department of statistics
Funding: $24,147, August 2013 – December 2013
Description: Supporting international collaboration and training in computational analysis for high-dimensional data
PUBLICATIONS
Fairbairn, C. E., Dundon, W. D., Plebani, J. G., Xie, H., Lynch, K. G., Kampman, K. M. (2008). Study blinding and correlations between perceived group assignment and outcome in a cocaine pharmacotherapy trial. The American Journal on Addictions, 17, 387-391.
Sayette, M. A., Creswell, K. G., Dimoff, J. D., Fairbairn, C. E., Cohn, J. F., Heckman, B. W., Kirchner, T. R., et al. (2012). Alcohol and group formation: A multimodal investigation of the effects of alcohol on emotion and social bonding. Psychological Science, 23, 869–878.
Fairbairn, C. E., Sayette, M. A., Levine, J. M., Cohn, J. F., Creswell, K. G. (In Press). The impact of alcohol on the emotional displays of white members of interracial groups. Emotion.
Yang, Y, Fairbairn, C. E., Cohn, J. F. (In Press). Detecting depression severity from vocal prosody. Transactions in Affective Computing.
Fairbairn, C. E., Sayette, M. A. (In Press). The effect of alcohol on emotional inertia: A test of alcohol myopia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Fairbairn, C. E., Sayette, M. A. (Manuscript in Preparation). An examination of subjective response to alcohol in a social context.
Fairbairn, C. E., Sayette, M. A. (Manuscript in Preparation). Individual differences in subjective effects of alcohol according to personality: A dynamic approach.
POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Graber, E. C., Hiller, A. D., Fairbairn, C. E., Berenson, K., Rafaeli, E. (2006). Using daily diary data to measure affective instability in borderline patients. Association for Psychological Science. New York, NY.
Kampman, K. M., Lynch, K., Pettinati, H. M., Dackis, C., Dundon, W., Varillo, K., Fairbairn, C., O’Brien, C. P. (2007). The measurement of craving in cocaine pharmacotherapy trials: what do we learn from it? College on Problems in Drug Dependence. Quebec City, Quebec.
Plebani, J. G., Kampman, K. M., Pettinati, H. M., Dackis, C., O’Brien, C. P., Varillo, K., Yama, M., Fairbairn, C. (2007). Implications of early in-treatment cocaine abstinence for later abstinence on high CSSA patients. College of Problems on Drug Dependence. Quebec City, Quebec.
Fairbairn, C. E., Kampman, K. M., Alterman, A. I., Dundon, W. D., Plebani, J. G., Lynch, K. G., Pettinati, H. M. (2008). Antisocial participants report differing amounts of drinking in two outpatient pharmacotherapy trials. Association for Psychological Science. Chicago, IL.
Creswell, K. G., Fairbairn, C. E., Dimoff, J. D., Heckman, B. W, Sayette, M. A. (2012). Alcohol and group formation: A multimodal investigation of the effects of alcohol on emotion and social bonding. Research Society on Alcoholism. San Francisco, CA.
Fairbairn, C. E., Sayette, M. A., Cohn, J. F., Levine, J. M., Antimarino, M. A., Sayers, W. M. (2012). The effect of alcohol on White members of interracial groups. Research Society on Alcoholism. San Francisco, CA.
Sayette, M.A., Creswell, K.G., Dimoff, J.D., Fairbairn, C.E., Cohn, J.F., Heckman, B.W, Kirchner, T.R., Levine, J.M, & Moreland, R.L. (2012, May). Effects of alcohol on emotion and social bonding during group formation. Association of Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.
Sayette, M.A., Creswell, K.G., Dimoff, J.D., Fairbairn, C.E., Cohn, J.F., Heckman, B.W, Kirchner, T.R., Levine, J.M, & Moreland, R.L. Moreland (2012, October). The impact of alcohol on social bonding during group formation. Society of Experimental Social Psychology, Austin, Texas.
Creswell, K.G., Sayette, M.A. Manuck, S.B., Dimoff, J.D., & Fairbairn, C.E. (2013, June). Interactive Effects of the DRD4 VNTR Polymorphism and Group Alcohol Consumption on Perceived Humor of a Seinfeld Comedy Clip. Poster accepted for presentation at the Research Society on Alcoholism. Orlando, FL.
Fairbairn, C.E., Sayette, M.A., Dimoff, J.D., & Creswell, K.G. (2013, June). Whiskey River Take my Mind: A Dynamic Test of Alcohol Myopia. Poster accepted for presentation at the Research Society on Alcoholism. Orlando, FL.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
9/09-Present University of Pittsburgh—Graduate Student Pittsburgh, PA
Project Description: A large (N=720) alcohol administration study investigating the effects of alcohol on emotion, cognition, social bonding processes, and social behavior in a community sample of male and female social drinkers. Responsibilities: Supervise a team of 5 undergraduate research assistants, create and maintain programs for computer-assisted coding of time-locked video coding, code facial expressions using Paul Ekman’s Facial Action Coding System, devise and implement data analytic strategies examining clustered time-dependent discrete time series data, dissemination of study findings.
10/06-8/09 University of Pennsylvania Treatment Research Center—Project Manager Philadelphia, PA
Project Description: Outpatient pharmacotherapy treatment trials with a community sample of cocaine and alcohol dependent individuals (N=200).
Responsibilities: Conducted structured clinical interviews with study participants, coordinated communication with Institutional Review Board, scheduled appointments, coordinated study personnel, conducted independent research using existing study data, formulated research questions, formulated and implemented data analytic strategy, manuscript preparation and dissemination of study findings.
5/06-10/06 Columbia Substance Use Research Center—Research Assistant New York, NY
Project Description: Inpatient cocaine administration trials examining the impact of pharmacotherapy and contingency-management programs on human cocaine self-administration in controlled laboratory settings.
Responsibilities: Performed telephone screenings, performed EKGs, administered cognitive tests (WAIS and Stroop), programmed and monitored study computers, retrieved data.
8/05-9/06 Barnard Affect and Relationships Lab—Research Assistant New York, NY
Project Description: Daily diary studies using palmtop computers examining daily emotional fluctuations of subjects with borderline personality disorder.
Responsibilities: Active role in development of experimental protocols, performed literature searches, designed poster presentations, retrieved data from palmtop computers, performed statistical analyses.
1/06-7/06 Columbia Medical School Center for Education Research—Research Assistant New York, NY
Project Description: Education intervention protocols examining the impact of prevention versus promotion focused trainings on graduate student achievement
Responsibilities: Participated in the composition of research proposals and grant proposals, evaluated and gave feedback on both content and style of research papers.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
1/13-5/13 University of Pittsburgh Sports Concussion Clinic—Graduate Psychology Extern Pittsburgh, PA
Administered and interpreted neuropsychological batteries including ImPACT on children and adults; assessed vestibular and ocular disturbances related to concussion; conducted semi-structured intake interviews to diagnose and disseminate treatment for concussions; coordinated care with other health care professionals including ocular therapists, physical therapists, neurologists, and neuropsychologists.
9/12-5/13 Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic—Graduate Psychology Extern Pittsburgh, PA
Lead psychotherapy groups for patients with comorbid psychiatric diagnosis and chemical dependency enrolled in the partial hospitalization program at the Center for Psychiatric and Chemical Dependency Services. Implement cross-disciplinary psychological interventions, leading patients in both structured and unstructured treatment modules including psycho-education, group activities, and group processing.
5/10-Present University of Pittsburgh Clinical Psychology Center—Graduate Student Clinician Pittsburgh, PA
Provide individual and group therapy using empirically-supported treatments in an outpatient mental health clinic; received training in cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and group therapy; conducted structured clinical interviews (SCID) and personality assessments (e.g., MMPI-2); participated in group and peer supervision; wrote integrative reports; consulted regarding mediations with psychiatrist.
5/05-8/05 Coler-Goldwater Hospital—Undergraduate Psychology Extern New York, NY
Led AIDS and substance abuse support groups for inpatients, visited individual patients, and administered surveys and questionnaires.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Summer ’10 – Spring ‘12 Directed Research Alcohol and Smoking Research Lab--Research Mentor Pittsburgh, PA
Supervise and mentor 5-7 undergraduate student researchers enrolled in the Directed Research Seminar each semester. Responsibilities include: selecting readings, designing the syllabus, leading group discussions, creating assignments, grading final research papers.
Spring ’11 - Summer ‘11 Introduction to Social Psychology—Teaching Fellow Pittsburgh, PA
Designed and taught two introductory social psychology lecture courses to a diverse group of undergraduates at the University of Pittsburgh during both Spring (90 students) and Summer (30 students) sessions. Duties included selecting course content, writing and delivering PowerPoint presentations and designing class activities, writing and grading tests and quizzes, and meeting with individual students.
Summer ‘10 Learning and Motivation Laboratory—Teaching Fellow Pittsburgh, PA
Designed and taught an advanced undergraduate laboratory course at the University of Pittsburgh. Responsibilities included: designing class activities, creating and giving PowerPoint lectures, creating assignments, grading student work.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
9/12-Present Psychology Department Clinical Training Program—Student Representative
Attend faculty meetings and advocate for student interests in discussions pertaining to future training options, department hiring decisions, departmental budget, etc. Manage student funds, help organize departmental functions, organize student events, and keep minutes of faculty meetings.
9/09-Present Psychology Department Diversity Committee—President
The Diversity Committee aims to increase awareness of diversity within the psychology department at the University of Pittsburgh through the mentoring of minority undergraduate students and support for diversity-oriented graduate student research. Duties as president include managing committee funds, coordinating diversity committee activities including colloquium speaker and poster session, and selecting student applications for diversity research mini-grants and travel awards.
SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND LANGUAGES
Advanced Statistical Analysis and Programing
Hierarchical Linear Modeling (1/11-5/11): University of Pittsburgh Psychology of Education Department
Time Series Analysis (9/11-12/11): University of Pittsburgh Statistics Department
Structural Equation Modeling (1/12-5/12): University of Pittsburgh Psychology Department
Data Programing in SAS (1/13-5/13): University of Pittsburgh Biostatistics Department
Behavioral Analysis
Facial Action Coding System: Completed 100 hours of training to become a certified FACS coder.
Languages
Spanish (9/08-2/09): Intensive language study in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Italian (9/03-12/04): Intensive language study at Columbia University and Padova, Italy.