Julia Chafkin, MA, LPA

Julia Chafkin

Undergraduate School
Oberlin College

 

Graduate School
University of Texas at Austin

 

Interests and Career Goals

My current research is focused on teenage hormones and development, and is driven by three primary questions: what does a ‘psychologically healthy’ biological profile look like, and how does an ‘at risk’ profile differ? How do the methods we use to address those questions impact our findings? And how can we make psychobiological research more accessible? I am interested in examining the methods we use to measure hormones and other biomarkers, and in developing new models that better reflect the systems they represent. I’m also broadly interested in using these novel methods in pursuit of improving our understanding of how hormones may be related to health and wellbeing in individuals throughout the lifespan. Clinically, I am interested in the delivery of empirically-supported care in a flexible, patient-centered manner. I hope to pursue a career in an academic medical setting that allows me to give my time to a balance of clinical work, research and teaching.

Favorite Pastimes

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends (and my dog!), exploring new neighborhoods and areas in and around Durham, running, and listening to music.

Why I Chose Duke

I was drawn to the Adult CBT program for the opportunity to strengthen and expand my skills in delivering empirically supported care in a flexible, patient-centered manner. Duke’s simultaneous focus on breadth and depth in training, and in particular the ability to gain training in specific CBT techniques such as full-model Dialectical Behavior Therapy, to broaden my training in eating disorder therapies, and to gain training in family and couples therapy, made me particularly excited about completing my internship here. Finally, I am excited to have the chance to continue to develop as a clinical scientist with the support of the impressive faculty and staff at Duke.

Research

Graduate Student Researcher, Population Research Center, Mindset Scholars Group, University of Texas at Austin (2016-present)

  • Primary role: planned and coordinated longitudinal salivary sample collection for hormone analysis for “Estimating and understanding effects of teaching teens that people can change.” R01 HD084772, NICHD. 2015-2020. Growth Mindset Intervention Effectiveness Study. Trained research assistants on study protocol, specimen collection, storage and analysis using enzyme immunoassay and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Coordinated on-site data collection across multiple high schools in the Austin area. Participated in data cleaning and suicidal ideation assessment of participants.

Graduate Student Researcher, Clinical Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin (2016-present)

  • Co-Investigator on “Effect of Testosterone on Cognitive Performance.” Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT02361190. Conducted WISC-IV and WRAT assessments, maintained IRB, and collected salivary samples for hormone analysis for a randomized control trial examining the effects of a testosterone nasal spray on anxiety and cognitive performance in women.
  • Co-Investigator on “Virtual Challenges: Hormonal Reactivity to Stressors and Potential Downstream Effects.” Randomized control trial comparing hormonal and behavioral reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Task and the Carbon Dioxide Challenge.

Clinical Interviewer, SAMHSA National Study of Mental Health (NSMH) (2020-2021)

  • Primary role: Field Interviewer. Scheduled and conducted SCID-5 interviews and GAF assessments with respondents, secondary informants, and/or Legally Authorized Representatives to help determine the national prevalence of specific mental health diagnoses in households, psychiatric facilities, jails, and prisons in the United States

Research Assistant/Project Coordinator, Columbia University Medical Center (2013-2016)

  • Primary role: Project coordinator for multiple studies assessing the immediate and longitudinal effects of a behavioral intervention for mothers and infants in the NICU

Research Assistant, Columbia University Teacher’s College (2012-2013)

  • Primary role: grant writer for R01 renewal for R01 assessing the longitudinal trajectories of mother-child dyads in which mothers were diagnosed with substance use disorders or mood and anxiety disorders

Research Assistant, Yale Child Study Center/APT Foundation (2011-2013)

  • Primary role: research assistant for R01 assessing the longitudinal trajectories of mother-child dyads in which mothers were diagnosed with substance use disorders or mood and anxiety disorders

Publications

  • Chafkin, J.E., O’Brien, J.M., Medrano, F.N., Lee, H.Y., Yeager, D.S., Josephs, R.A. Chemiluminescent Immunoassay Overestimates Hormone Concentrations and Obscures Testosterone Sex Differences Relative to LC-MS/MS in a Field Study of Diverse Adolescents. (2022). osf.io/j3kdu. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100132.
  • Ludwig, R.J., Myers, M., Chafkin, J.E., Hane, A.A., Isler, J.R., Barone, J.L., Chow, C.M.Y., Grunau, R., Welch, M.G. (2021). Preterm infant heart rate is lowered after Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU: Evidence in support of autonomic conditioning. Early Human Development. 161, 105455.
  • Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., Lee, H.Y., O’Brien, J.M., McAfee, C.A., Yeager, D.S. (2021). Gonadal and Adrenal Hormones Interact with Pubertal Maturation to Predict Depressive Symptoms in a Group of High School Females. Development and Psychopathology, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420001935.

Under Review/In Preparation

  • Sarkar, A., Chafkin, J.E.*, Chaudhary, N.*, Harty, S., Mehta, P.H., Surbeck, M., Henrich, J., Josephs, R.A. A Hierarchy Concordance Model of Testosterone and Social Status. [R&R].
  • Chafkin, J.E., O’Brien, J.M., Medrano, F.N., Lee, H.Y., Josephs, R.A., Yeager, D.S. A Dual-System, Machine Learning Approach Reveals How Daily Pubertal Hormones Relate to Psychological Well-Being in Everyday Life. https://osf.io/hxq6w [Under Review].
  • *Sarkar, A., *Chafkin, J.E., Harty, S., Feldman, R., Erdman, S., Josephs, R.A.. Neuroendocrine control of parenting and caregiving behavior. [solicited based on pre-submission].
  • Seo, E.J., Awad, G.G., Chafkin, J.E., Dillard, J., Clapper, M., Jamieson, J., Yeager, D.S., Daily Discrimination and Well-being. [in preparation].

Oral Conference Presentations 

  • *Chafkin, J.E., O’Brien, J. M., Josephs, R.A., Medrano, F.N., Yeager, D.S. Confirmatory Factor Analysis with Seven Steroid Hormones of the HPA and HPG Axes: Does Biology Drive Fit? Association for Psychological Science Virtual Convention Flash Talk. May 26-27, 2021 [virtual].
  • *Chafkin, J.E., O’Brien, J. M., Josephs, R.A., Medrano, F.N., Yeager, D.S. Method Matters: Does Measuring Hormones with LCMS or Immunoassay Produce Different Relationships with Psychopathology? Society for Research in Child Development. Biennial meeting Flash Talk Paper Symposium. Measurement Issues in Developmental Research. April 7, 2021 [virtual].
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., Yeager, D.A. Comparison of Adolescent Cortisol and Testosterone Measured by Chemiluminescent Immunoassay and Liquid Chromatography Dual Mass Spectrometry.  Oral presentation. International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology, 50th Annual Meeting [virtual], August 27, 2020.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., O’Brien, J.M., Lee, H.Y., McAfee, C.A., Yeager, D.A. Pubertal Development and Hormones are Correlated with Internalizing Symptoms in Ninth Grade Girls. Society for Research in Adolescence. Biennial Meeting Paper Symposium, 2020.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., O’Brien, J.M., Lee, H.Y., McAfee, C.A., Yeager, D.A. Pubertal Development Moderates the Association Between Hormones and Depression in Ninth Grade Girls. Society for Research in Child Development. Biennial meeting symposium. Toward Multisystemic Models of Pubertal Timing and Tempo. March 23, 2019.

Poster Presentations

  • *Chafkin, J.E., O’Brien, J. M., Medrano, F.N., Josephs, R.A., Yeager, D.S. Within-Person Factor Structure of Adolescent Hormones. International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51st Annual Meeting [virtual], September 7-9, 2021.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., Yeager, D.A. Adolescent Hormones: How Many Days Do We Need? Society for Research in Adolescence, Biennial meeting poster, March, 2021 [virtual].
  • McAfee, C.A., Miller, M., Champagne, F. A., DiVita, A., Sears, S., Chafkin J. E., Josephs, R. A. Comparison of Testosterone, Cortisol, and Subjective Emotional Distress Reactivity to the 35% CO2 Challenge and TSST In Women. Steroids and Nervous System Conference poster, February 25-26, 2021 [virtual].
  • Myers, M.M., Welch, M.G., Ludwig, R.J., Chafkin, J.E., Schulz, A.M., Barone,, J.L., Isler, J.R., Grunau, R., Chow, C.M.Y., Hane, A.A., Stark, R.I., Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU Lowers Heart Rate in Preterm Infants: Possible Evidence for Autonomic Conditioning. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology Virtual Conference poster, October 21-23, 2020 [virtual].
  • Welch, M.G., *Chafkin, J.E., Stark, R., Grieve, P., Isler, J., Ludwig, R.J., Myers, M.M. Family Nurture Intervention Alters Relationships Between Preterm EEG Coherence And 18 Month Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (Society for Neuroscience Conference. October, 2015, Chicago, IL)
  • Hane, A.A., Myers, M.M., Hofer, M.A., Ludwig, R.J., Halperin, M.S., Kaplan, A.D., Firestein, M.R., *Chafkin, J.E., Austin, J., Welch, M. G. Family Nurture Intervention Improves Maternal Caregiving Behavior in the NICU. (International Society for Developmental Psychobiology Conference. November, 2014, Washington, D.C.)

Invited Talks

  • *Chafkin, J.E., O’Brien, J.M., Medrano, F.N., Josephs, R.A., Yeager, D.A. Teenage Hormones and Daily Experience. Department of Research & Evaluation. Austin Independent School District. Austin, TX. March 23, 2022.
  • Brinks, D., Harden, K.P., Moser, R., Yeager, D.S. Chafkin, J.E. (panel moderator). Social Science Faculty Research Panel. What Starts Here Capital Campaign Launch. AT&T Center, University of Texas at Austin. March 4, 2022.
  • *Chafkin, J.E. Improving Methods in Adolescent Hormone Measurement. Guest lecture in Topics in Clinical Psychology (CARE). University of Texas at Austin. April 5, 2021 [virtual].
  • Stein, A.T. and *Chafkin, J.E. Tracking Clinical Hours Using Time2Track. Guest lecture in Topics in Clinical Psychology (CARE). University of Texas at Austin. February 8, 2021 [virtual].
  • Tao-Foster, A., Hannah, J., Mahajan, G., Simpson, A., Ren, H. Moderator: Chafkin, J.E. Identity in the Clinical Space. Panel organizer and moderator, Topics in Clinical Psychology (CARE). October 26, 2020.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., O’Brien, J.M., Lee, H.Y., McAfee, C.A., Yeager, D.A. Pubertal Development Moderates the Association Between Hormones and Depression In Ninth Grade Girls. J.E. Chafkin. November 26, 2018. University of Texas at Austin. Visiting Lecture. Adolescent Development Undergraduate Course.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., O’Brien, J.M., Lee, H.Y., McAfee, C.A., Yeager, D.A. Pubertal Development Moderates the Association Between Hormones and Negative Affect In Ninth Grade Girls. J.E. Chafkin. April 13, 2018. University of Texas at Austin. Research Presentation.
  • *Chafkin, J.E. “M” Case presentation. April 16, 2018. University of Texas at Austin. Clinical Case Presentation, Clinical Area Meeting.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Yeager, D.S. Adrenal Hormones Moderate the Interaction Between Estradiol and Depressive Symptoms. Visiting talk, SPIT lab. November 6, 2017. Iowa State University. Ames, Iowa.
  • *Chafkin, J.E. Stress in Adolescence: A multi-axis Perspective. October 3, 2016. University of Texas at Austin. Visiting lecture, Adolescent Development Seminar.
  • *Chafkin, J.E. Adolescent Hormone Development. November 7, 2016. University of Texas at Austin. Invited speaker, Adolescent Development Seminar. Undergraduate Psychology Department. University of Texas at Austin.
  • *Chafkin, J.E., Josephs, R.A., Yeager, D.A. The Cortisol-DHEA Ratio: Moderating the Dual Axis Approach. University of Texas at Austin. Psychology Department.
  • Jin, E.S., *Chafkin, J.E., Rice, L.K., Josephs, R.A. Using Testosterone in the Clinical Treatment of Anxiety and Cognitive Performance. Guest lecture in Topics in Clinical Psychology (CARE) November 7, 2016. University of Texas at Austin.