Research Trainee Spotlight: Emma G. Lindquist

Healing has always been on Emma G. Lindquist’s mind. “I’ve always been interested in how people move through psychological pain,” she explains. Growing up in Austin, Texas, Emma began studying self-injurious thoughts and behaviors while earning her undergraduate degree at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

When Emma moved on to graduate school at USC, her primary research advisor Dr. Amy E. West encouraged her to continue this research. A Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at CHLA and the Keck School of Medicine at USC who holds an affiliate appointment in USC’s Department of Psychology, Dr. West is also the Associate Director for Education, Research and Mentorship in CHLA’s Department of Psychology and Director of the CHLA Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology Internship. Emma came to USC to work in Dr. West’s lab, the Pediatric Intervention in Anxiety and Mood Disorders (PIRAMD) Lab.

Now a Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Emma uses a variety of methods in her research to understand treatment experiences and the needs of young people who engage in self-harm.

“I'm trying to answer questions like, ‘Why do most people who self-harm avoid treatment?’ and ‘What would someone who self-harms like to see in treatment?’” Emma explains. To do this, she utilizes qualitative strategies, machine learning methods and a combination of local, international and social media data.

Emma’s ultimate goal is to become a clinical psychologist in an academic medical setting. She wants to be able to conduct both clinical work and research to improve treatment accessibility and efficacy for stigmatized populations.

When she’s not working, Emma likes to spend time with her friends, be active and travel.