MA of Applied Psychological Sciences
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MA of Applied Psychological Sciences

Prianka Maharaj
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EDUCATION

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY HILLSBORO, OR
School of Professional Graduate Psychology
• September 2017 - August 2019
• Master of Arts: Applied Psychological Science

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY PULLMAN, WA
• August 2013 - May 2017
• Undergraduate: Major in B.S. Psychology, Minor in Neuroscience
• Overall GPA: 3.14, Major GPA: 3.50

ADMINISTRATIVE AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

JAIL PROGRAMS INTERN | WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION
Sept 2018 – July 2019
GRADUATE STUDENT INTERN
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division Programs facilitates a clinical learning environment for graduate interns by providing assessment, individual, and group therapy experience with inmates. Provided supervision for graduate interns to further professional growth.
• Graduate intern in Programs and supervised by Barbara Lybarger, LPC.
• Direct Hours: 260
• Total Hours: 765
• Assessment:
? LSI-R and LS/CMI intake assessment and Report Writing
? Use interface applications such as OMSWeb, Rehab, Tiburon, and PSWeb
• Intervention:
? Individual and group therapy with inmates 18 years and older
? Client presenting problems: PTSD, substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, panic disorder
? Facilitated weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) individual sessions with inmates
? Facilitated weekly psychoeducation group for cognitive reconstructing and decision making
• Consultation:
? Consultation with other Counselors and Programs staff regarding clients and case management as appropriate
? Receive one hour/week Individual Supervision, occasionally participated in Programs staff meetings, and participated in weekly practicum seminar case consultation
? Mentoring and facilitating observation for future interns

OFFICE ASSISTANT | PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
Oct 2017 – July 2019
STUDENT WORKER
The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions facilitates interview days, provides tours to potential students, and recruits future students. I help with the duties previously stated and do additional office work to help with the admissions process.
• Front desk student worker at Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
• Skills: Lead groups through campus tours, prepare student engagement activities such as interview packets, welcome packets, and prepping/organizing potential student files

RESEARCH ASSISTANT | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Aug 2015 – May 2017
STUDENT WORKER (Research Assistant in Dr. Quock’s laboratory)
Dr. Quock is an Honor’s College Fellow in the Psychology Department that facilitated different student research projects. I created and worked on a research project on opioid addiction and suppression of withdrawal symptoms.
• Researched opioid addiction in direct work with live mice
• Research focused on reduction of withdrawal symptoms and amount of TNFα in thalidomide-pretreated mice
• Looked for the mechanism of action within thalidomide in suppression of opiate withdrawal
• Tasks included: Trained in handling mice and performing animal surgeries, administering subcutaneous and i.p injections, using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, handling thalidomide injections, euthanizing mice, and observing physical behavioral signs of withdrawal in mice

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Jan 2015 – May 2015
STUDENT WORKER (Laboratory technician for undergraduate biology lab)
The Biology 107 course laboratory of the undergraduate Biology Department facilitated the maintenance and production of laboratory materials. I had various responsibilities including prepping material for key experiments, maintaining lab integrity, and overseeing upkeep of the student laboratory spaces.
• Tasks included: Creating and working with different types of media, aseptic techniques, and laboratory upkeep and maintenance
• Provided advanced knowledge on standard laboratory protocols

EXTRACURRICULAR/COMMUNITY SERVICE

NEUROSCIENCE CLUB | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERISTY
Mar 2015 – Dec 2016
MEMBER
The Neuroscience Club is comprised of undergraduate students interested in the STEM fields and the field of neuroscience. There were weekly meetings that discussed the breakdown of neuroscience courses, research opportunities, and held study sessions. As an active member I was able to learn leadership skills, research opportunities, and how to best communicate with faculty members.
• Attended meetings, participated in the facilitation of fundraising ideas, met with faculty members, and discussed topics related to Neuroscience
• Skills: Verbal and written communication, networking with faculty, and learning leadership skills to apply to future career roles

BISHOP PLACE SENIOR LIVING | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERISTY
Feb 2015 – Apr 2015
VOLUNTEER
Bishop Place is a senior living community that facilitates care for seniors. I provided beauty services, nutrition assessment, and socialized with the seniors.
• Education on elderly living, communication achieved through nail beauty services
Skills: Practiced the ability to: recognize certain mental/physical deficiencies related to nutrition, demonstrate communication with elderly patients, and active listening

PALOUSE CLEARWATER ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERISTY
Feb 2015 – Mar 2015
VOLUNTEER
PCEI is a group that focuses on sustainable living and preserving natural resources. I did nature preservation and education while here.
• Environmental service project, removal of invasive species
• Skills: Obtained knowledge about what invasive species and harmful vegetation are native to the area and the removal of it how to remove it

COUGAR UNDERGRADAUTE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (CURE) | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Mar 2015 – Mar 2015
PARTICIPANT
CURE is an introduction of undergraduate research that gives students an insight to what research is like, to meet faculty members, and visit a handful of research sites. I was a student participant during this program.
• Began forming thesis on critical undergraduate research, toured research facilities on campus
• Skills: Utilizing top research methods, mock interviews, and best practices for communicating with faculty members


STUDENT AMBASSADOR | PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
Feb 2018 – Present
PARTICIPANT
The student ambassador position at Pacific University is comprised of multiple first-year student’s in the Applied Psychological Science Master’s program. I and my peers assist with various events for potential students that are reviewing Pacific University.
• Conduct and lead student panels, give tours, provide and assist with interview days, assist in registration, and sit-in with faculty members and help facilitate interviews with potential students.
• Skills: Utilizing knowledge about Pacific University to answer questions and give potential students an insight into the school, gain more leadership skills, conduct myself in a professional manner that represents the school, and build relationships with faculty and staff of Pacific University

STUDENT MENTOR | PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
Sept 2018 – Present
PARTICIPANT
The student mentor position at Pacific University is comprised of the second-year students in the Applied Psychological Science Master’s program. I and my peers are assigned to multiple first-year students in the APS program and we mentor and assist in any academic and professional needs they may have.
• Provide insight on future classes, assist in areas of academia where it is needed, provide information on licensure, and provide resources and anecdotal experience from practicum interviews and experiences.
• Skills: Utilizing knowledge from previous experience in classes, practicum interviews, current practicum sites, and experiences during the first year of the APS program to answer questions and guide mentees

PRESENTATIONS

SURCA | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
PULLMAN, WA Mar 2017
Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) is a symposium that offers students the chance to present research or creative activities that have been facilitated at WSU.
• Presented my poster on my research in Dr. Quock’s laboratory
• Conclusion of project findings: Thalidomide did suppress withdrawal symptoms.
• Future research: to observe if thalidomide was the catalyst of the suppression of withdrawal or if it sedated the mice enough to cause the appearance of suppression of withdrawal symptoms
• Skills: Advanced proficiency in public speaking, poster presentation, explanation of scientific research in lay term

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
PULLMAN, WA Apr 2017
This research symposium offered undergraduate psychology students the chance to present the research facilitated at Washington State University.
• Poster presentation to showcase the research I had done in Dr. Quock’s laboratory

GRANTS AND AWARDS

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE RESEARCH (ADARP) | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
May 2016 - Aug 2016
• Co-wrote the grant proposal with my PI that demonstrated the: background information, the implications of the project, and proposed budget was submitted to the ADARP organization
• Awarded grant through the ADARP program at Washington State University
• Grant funds went towards my research project in Dr. Quock’s laboratory
• Presented research findings at the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Create Activities (SURCA) at Washington State University in the Spring of 2017


PSYCHOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT | WASHINGTON STATE UNVIERSITY
Oct 2016- Apr 2017
• I was the Fall 2016 recipient of the Undergraduate Research Grant in the Psychology Department at Washington State University
• Grant funds went towards my research project in Dr. Quock’s laboratory
• Presented research findings at the Department of Psychology Undergraduate Research Symposium at Washington State University in the Spring of 2017

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (APA)
May 2019
• Graduate Student Affiliate Member of APA

ASSOCIATION FOR CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (ACBS)
June 2019
• Student Member of ACBS

PUBLICATIONS & POSTER PRESENTATIONS

• Nicoara D, Zhang Y, Nelson J.T., Brewer A.L., Maharaj P.N., DeWald S.N., Shirachi D.Y., and Quock R.M. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment suppresses withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. Brain Research, 1648: 434–437, July 2016.
• Quock, R.M., Maharaj, P.N., DeWald, S.N., Health, E.K., Brewer, A.L. and Shirachi, D.Y. Contribution of oxygen and hyperbaric pressure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) suppression of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 43:422. 15 (2017).
• Brewer, A.L., Maharaj, P.N., DeWald, S.N., Health, E.K., and Quock, R. M. Thalidomide-induced suppression of naloxone-precipitated physical withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstract 43:422. 16 (2017).