As the head of the REID Lab at Northeastern University, I’m thrilled that you’re considering joining our team of researchers. Unfortunately, I'm unable to hold pre-application meetings with prospective graduate students. I understand that this is a pivotal period for you, and I regret not being able to personally engage with each candidate.

Learn More About Our Lab and Science

Since we won't be able to meet individually before you apply, I invite you to:

1. Read Our Publications: Familiarize yourself with our latest research papers to get an in-depth understanding of our current projects and methodologies.

2. Explore Our Lab Website: Here, you will find information about ongoing projects, lab members, and our broader academic objectives. You can also read more about Dr. Reid at www.briemreid.com

3. Follow Us on Social Media: We often share lab updates, recent publications, and relevant scientific discussions that can give you a well-rounded view of our work.

My trainees and I will be in the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University. I have appointments in Psychology and Health Sciences and can train and mentor students from both departments. My doctoral training was primarily in developmental psychology, with a doctoral minor in epidemiology.

The REID Lab provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary training experience, designed to equip you with a wide range of skills essential for a successful career in academia or industry. I aim to prepare you for a successful and impactful career in scientific research. Your goals will inform the emphasis of your training.

My aim is to have trainees come away with expertise and experience collecting and analyzing multiple methods, depending on their career goals. Examples include cortisol, immune biomarkers, newborn neurodevelopmental assessments (e.g., NNNS), placental biomarker collection, nutrition biomarkers, nutrition assessment, questionnaire and interview delivery, census tract/geocoding data collection and analysis, and possibly actigraphy for sleep and heart rate in parents and babies. I believe that a well-rounded graduate experience involves both participant-facing data collection and secondary data analysis. There will be plenty of opportunities for publications while the ongoing data is collected for the lab’s primary pregnancy and infancy cohort(s).

Below are some key areas of training you can expect:

Developmental Stress Biology

Our lab specializes in studying the effects of stress during different developmental stages. You will gain firsthand experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing experiments related to developmental stress biology. This will involve designing and running experiments with participants alongside secondary data analysis.

Cortisol and Biological Specimen Collection

Training includes the collection, storage, and analysis of biological specimens like blood and saliva to measure cortisol levels and other biomarkers (e.g., inflammation, nutrient biomarkers, immune biomarkers, etc.). Strict ethical guidelines are followed.

Working with Pregnant and Infant Populations

You will receive training in working sensitively and ethically with vulnerable populations, such as pregnant people and infants, including acquiring informed consent and ensuring participant well-being.

Stress-Nutrient Interactions

Our research often intersects with the field of nutritional sciences, particularly how nutrients can modulate stress responses. You’ll learn to design and interpret studies involving these complex interactions.

Scientific Writing and Communication

You will gain extensive experience in drafting manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations. We regularly hold internal peer-review sessions to enhance your writing, design, and communication skills.

Statistics

A solid foundation in statistics will be provided. Proficiency in statistical software such as R and SPSS is emphasized.

Grant Writing

You will be involved in the process of grant writing, from identifying funding opportunities to drafting proposals, budget planning, and submission.

Career Development

We hold regular career development sessions focusing on project management, goal setting, networking, academic job search, industry transition, and other essential skills for your future.

Additional Training Opportunities with Co-mentors

The lab collaborates with experts in various fields, providing opportunities for specialized training. For instance, if you are interested in neuroimaging, arrangements can be made for additional training with our co-mentors who are experts in this area.

I love mentoring, and I see my mentees as part of my scientific legacy. I view myself as a senior colleague and coach. I treat mentees as junior colleagues, which means you are in charge of your career direction and I am here to support your career goals. To use a sports metaphor, you are the “Olympic athlete” - I can provide training on technique and coach you on your strengths and where to improve, and encourage regular rest and recovery. But, you’re the athlete in the pool/track/game/etc - your goals are ultimately up to you!

Authoritative & Supportive: I have high expectations for my trainees, and that comes along with setting realistic boundaries for research longevity and providing the high level of support necessary to meet them. As a mentee, you'll be encouraged to set ambitious career and academic goals while balancing your personal and professional commitments and values. My job will be to guide you toward the resources you need and advocate for you, ensuring that you're well-supported in your journey.

Collaborative: Our lab uses a team science model, fostering intra and inter-lab collaboration. Co-advising is common and encouraged. The goal is to create research that integrates the expertise and skills of multiple mentors into a cohesive and impactful direction.

Direct & Responsive: I value up-front and direct communication. Whether it's via email or face-to-face, you can expect prompt and thoughtful responses during working hours. Technology (Slack, Asana) is often utilized to facilitate communication and project management.

Scaffolding: Initial hands-on guidance gradually transitions to mentee-led research, equipping you for independence.

Lab Involvement & Co-mentoring: Active participation in lab projects is a must, with mentorship occurring both vertically and horizontally among lab members.

To give you an idea of what we are and will be working on, I recommend looking through:

Our current grants on the NIH Grant Reporter (for example: K99/R00, R01HL149709).

Review: The Interaction between Psychological Stress and Iron Status on Early-Life Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Dr. Brie Reid’s Google Scholar Profile