I joined the psychology faculty at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) in the Fall of 2012 after obtaining my Ph.D. in clinical psychology. My research interests lie within a developmental psychopathology framework.  I investigate factors that contribute to the onset and course of emotional and behavioral problems in young children, including temperament, psychosocial functioning, stressors, and parenting behavior. I am particularly interested in mood, anxiety, and personality disorders as well as distinguishing normative and pathological psychological development.

Education

2003              B.S. Cornell University (Human Development)

2012              Ph.D. Stony Brook University (Clinical Psychology)

Training

2003-2005     Post-Baccalaureate Research - Columbia University/New York

                          State Psychiatric Institute (Child Psychiatry)

2010-2011     Predoctoral Clinical Internship - Yale University

Fellowships

2005-2010     Graduate Council Fellowship - Stony Brook University

2009-2012     National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Fellowship

                          National Research Service Award (F31 MH084444)

PUBLICATIONS

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., Rose, S. R., & Klein, D. N. (2012). Preschool psychopathology: Continuity from age 3 to 6. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169, 1157-1164. (Editorial by Luby)

Danzig, A. P., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N.  (In press). Longitudinal associations between preschool psychopathology and school-age peer functioning. Child Psychiatry and Human Development.

Dougherty, L. R., Tolep, M. R., Bufferd, S. J., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Traditi, J., Rose, S.A., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (In press). Preschool anxiety disorders: Comprehensive assessment of clinical, demographic, temperamental, familial, and life stress correlates. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Dougherty, L. R., Smith, V., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Bufferd, S. J., Rose, S. R., & Klein, D. N. (In press). Maternal psychopathology and early child temperament predict young children’s salivary cortisol 3 years later. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

Sheikh, H. I., Kryski, K. R., Smith, H. J., Dougherty, L. R., Bufferd, S. J., Klein, D. N., Singh, S. M., & Hayden, E. P. (In press). Catechol-O-Methyltransferase gene val158met polymorphism and depressive symptoms during early childhood. Neuropsychiatric Genetics.

Hayden, E. P., Olino, T. M., Bufferd, S. J., Miller, A., Dougherty, L. R., Sheikh, H. I., Singh, S. M., & Klein, D. N. (In press). The 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms and maternal history of depression: Associations with cognitive vulnerability to depression in childhood. Development and Psychopathology.

Kim, J., Carlson, G. A., Meyer, S. E., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Dyson, M. W., Laptook, R. S., Olino, T. M., & Klein, D. N. (2012). Correlates of the CBCL-dysregulation profile in preschool-aged children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53, 918-926.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2011). Parent-reported mental health in preschoolers: Findings using a diagnostic interview. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 52, 359-369.

Dougherty, L. R., Bufferd, S. J., Carlson, G. A., Dyson, M. W., Olino, T. M., & Klein, D. N. (2011). Associations between temperament and psychopathology in a community sample of preschoolers. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40, 295-306.

Cellucci, T., Bufferd, S., Peltan, J., Humphreys, K., & Norcross, J.C. (2011). Division 12 benefits as viewed by graduate students and early career members. The Clinical Psychologist, 64, 4-9.

Hayden, E. P., Klein, D. N., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Bufferd, S. J., Durbin, C. E., Sheikh, H. I., & Singh, S. M. (2010). The dopamine D2 receptor gene and depressive and anxious symptoms in childhood: Associations and evidence for gene-environment correlation and gene-environment interaction. Psychiatric Genetics, 20, 304-310.

Nemeroff, R., Levitt, J. M., Faul, L., WonPat-Borja, A. J., Bufferd, S. J., Setterberg, S., & Jensen, P. S. (2008). Establishing ongoing, early identification programs for mental health problems in our schools: A feasibility study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47, 328-338.

CHAPTERS AND REVIEWS

Klein, D. N., Bufferd, S. J., Ro, E., & Clark, L.A. (In press). Depression and comorbidity: Personality disorders. In C. S. Richards and M. W. O’Hara (Eds), The Oxford Handbook of Depression and Comorbidity. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Klein, D. N., Kotov, R., & Bufferd, S. J. (2011). Personality and depression. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 7, 5.1-5.27.

Klein, D. N., Torpey, D. C., Bufferd, S. J., & Dyson, M.W. (2008). Depressive disorders. In T.P. Beauchaine and S.P. Hinshaw (Eds.), Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (pp. 477-509). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Parisette, A., Bufferd, S. J., & Klein, D. N. (2013, August). Parental Predictors of Shame and Guilt at Age 6 in a Multi-Method, Longitudinal Study. Poster to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Honolulu, HI

Bufferd, S. J., Kim, J., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2013, June). The Age 3 CBCL-Dysregulation Profile Predicts Psychopathology and Impairment at Age 6. Poster to be presented at the meeting of the International Society for Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ISRCAP), Leuven, Belgium.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Laptook, R. S., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2013, April). Predictors of the Course of Anxiety Diagnoses in a Multi-Method Longitudinal Study of Preschool-Aged Children.  Poster presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Seattle, WA.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Rose, S. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M.W., Laptook, R. S., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2012, October). Predictors of the Onset of Depression Diagnoses in Young Children: A Multi-method, Multi-informant Longitudinal Study from Ages 3 to 6. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), San Francisco, CA.

Smith, V. C., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Bufferd, S. J., Rose, S., & Klein, D. N. (2012, May). Maternal Depression and Early Child Temperament Predict Young Children’s Salivary Cortisol During Early Childhood. Poster presented at the meeting of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), Chicago, IL. *Distinguished Contribution Award

Pennock, A. T., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., & Klein, D.N. (2012, May). Longitudinal Associations between Preschool Psychopathology and School-Age Peer Functioning. Poster presented at the meeting of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), Chicago, IL.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2011, October). Preschool Psychopathology: Rates, Comorbidity, and Stability of DSM-IV Disorders. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Toronto, ON.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2011, September). Rates  and Stability of Preschool Psychopathology from Ages 3 to 6. Poster presented at the  meeting of the Society for Research in Psychopathology (SRP), Boston, MA.

Tolep, M. R., Bufferd, S. J., Condit, C. S., Olino, T. M., Rose, S. A., Dougherty, L. R., &  Klein, D. N. (2011, May). Preschool anxiety disorders: Comprehensive assessment of  clinical demographic, child and familial correlates. Poster presented at the meeting of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), Washington, DC.

Klein, D. N., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L.R., & Carlson, G. A. (2010, May). Parent- reported depression in early childhood: Prevalence and stability. In A. Angold (Chair), Preschool psychopathology. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), Boston, MA.

Klein, D. N., & Bufferd, S. J. (2010, April). Psychotherapy of depression: Efficacy in adults and youth. Invited Grand Rounds presentation, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., Bromet, E. J., & Klein, D. N. (2010, March). Parent-reported mental health in preschoolers: Findings using a diagnostic interview. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Psychopathological Association (APPA), New York, NY.

Klein, D. N., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L.R., & Carlson, G. A. (2009, June). Parent- reported depression in early childhood: Prevalence and stability. In K. Keenan (Chair), Early developmental characteristics of depressed mood: Implications for developmental phenotypes. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the International Society for Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ISRCAP), Seattle, WA.

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., & Carlson, G. A. (2008, May). Psychopathology in preschoolers: Prevalence and validity in a community sample. Poster presented at the meeting of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), Chicago, IL.

Bufferd, S. J., WonPat-Borja, A.J., Levitt, J.M., & Jensen, P.S. (2005, March).  Enhancing School-Based Mental Health Services with an Evidence-Based Assessment Tool.  Poster presented at the 18th Annual Research Conference on Children’s Mental Health Service Systems, Tampa, FL.

Levitt, J.M., Bufferd, S.J., WonPat-Borja, A.J., & Jensen, P.S.  (2004, October). Evidence-based mental health assessments in New York City schools.  In K. Hoagwood (Chair), School-based mental health and evidence-based practices.  Symposium conducted at the meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Washington, DC.

Levitt, J.M., WonPat-Borja, A.J., Bufferd, S.J., & Jensen, P.S. (2004, July). Implementing evidence-based assessment strategies in schools.  Poster presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Honolulu, HI.

Bufferd, S.J.  (2003, April).  Ethnic diversity in adolescent stress exposure, risk and protective factors, and psychological outcomes.  Poster presented at the 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Forum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Psyc 328 Developmental Psychopathology

Psyc 330 Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood

Psyc 336 Abnormal Psychology

Psyc 395 Research Methods in Developmental Psychology

Psyc 498 and 499 Independent Research

Research Assistants

I am not currently accepting any new RAs into my lab. However, I may be accepting RAs in the future. If you are interested in volunteering to work in my lab and can commit to 9 hours/week for at least two semesters, please complete the lab application. I will review applications and let you know if open spots become available.

Letters of Recommendation

Please e-mail me a brief message informing me that you would like to request a letter of recommendation (include the general program you are applying to and the earliest due date).

I will let you know if I can write you a letter, and then you should complete and e-mail me this recommendation questionnaire at least one month prior to the first deadline.

Psychology Careers and Graduate School: Recommended Readings

General

Article: Good and Bad Reasons to go to Graduate School

Book: Career Paths in Psychology

Website: Careers in Psychology

Graduate study in psychology

Book: Getting In

Book: Insider's Guide

Article: Before you apply and gaining post-Baccalaureate experience

Applying to Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology (there is good general career/graduate school advice in these articles as well)

Blog: How to apply to clinical psychology Ph.D. programs

Article: Advice for applying to graduate school in clinical psychology

Article: Step-by-step guide to applying to clinical psychology programs

Current graduate students

Article: How to be a good graduate student

Article: Tips for juggling the roles of researcher, teaching assistant, and student

If you are a parent of a 3- to 5-year-old child living in San Diego County and would like to participate in a research study on children's emotions, please contact us by telephone or e-mail:

Telephone: (760) 410-8363

E-mail: ChildEmotionProject@gmail.com

Please include the following information:

Child's Date of Birth

Parent Name

Telephone Number

E-mail Address

Zip Code

How you heard about our study

Research staff will respond to your message as soon as possible, but please contact us again if you do not get a response within one week.