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Author: Christopher Fagundes, Ph.D.

Working in the area of psychoneuroimmunology, Dr. Fagundes uses theories and methods from clinical, social, and developmental health psychology to examine how stress “gets under the skin” to impact diseases of older adulthood such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. He is also interested in how the immune system regulates neuronal function in ways that influence mood and health behaviors. He has authored more than 100 articles and book chapters. His theoretical work has focused on the adoption of attachment theory to understand how attachment security can buffer the negative consequences of current and past life stressors. He is developing theoretically-based interventions to improve the negative physical health consequences of stress. As a principal investigator, his current grant portfolio consists of two longitudinal observational studies funded by the National Institute of Health, and one clinical trial funded by the National Endowment of Arts. He is a co-investigator on two additional NIH grants using mobile health sensing technology to identify when people are most at risk for poor health behaviors. He was named a “Rising Star” by the Association of Psychological Science. He was the recipient of the Robert Ader New Investigator Award from the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society, the Neal E. Miller New Investigator Award from the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, the Excellence in Health Psychology Research Award by an Early Career Professional from Division 38 of the American Psychological Association, and the Herbert Weiner Early Career Award from the American Psychosomatic Society.

Dr. Fagundes has served as a mentor on individual NIH training applications at the post-bachelor, pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and junior faculty level. If interested in applying to his laboratory as a Ph.D. student, please contact him directly to determine the research interest group (area) that will best fit your needs. Regardless of specialization, Dr. Fagundes requires his graduate students to take courses in health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, social psychology, emotion regulation, translational research methods, and clinical trial design. To maximize funding prospects, potential post-doctoral fellows, and research assistant professors (grant-funded, non-tenure track) should contact him well in advance of their ideal start dates (i.e., 6-18

Photo credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University