Dr. Dan Grupe – Information for Prospective Graduate Students
Website: cultivatingjustice.chm.wisc.edu
Current research: Our research sits at the intersection of mental health, the criminal legal system, and interventions to promote well-being and flourishing for individuals who are impacted by or work in this system. Utilizing a community-engaged, mixed methods approach, we are investigating the impact of mindfulness-based interventions and restorative justice practices on psychological, biological, and “real-world” outcomes of high priority to community partners and stakeholders, both in people impacted by incarceration as well as police officers. The goal of this research is to foster individual and collective healing for those who experience trauma and suffering due to their involvement in the criminal legal system, while also working toward long-term, structural changes that promote justice and well-being for the greater community.
Communication Prior to Applying: Prospective students who have questions about my research and mentoring approach are welcome to contact me by email (grupe@wisc.edu). If the questions are not easily answered via email, I may suggest a video call. I will not privilege or prioritize applications from prospective students who have contacted me prior to applying or who have had a video call with me. This communication is really intended for prospective students to ask questions that will inform their decision about whether to submit an application. Any questions about the mechanics of completing/submitting the UW-Madison Psychology Department application itself are best addressed to our graduate coordinator, Kevin Belt (kbelt@psych.wisc.edu).
Areas I’m Willing to Advise Students in: Individualized Graduate Major, Clinical.
How I Evaluate Applicants: Like all faculty members in the Psychology Department, I evaluate prospective graduate students in a holistic manner. I will take into consideration applicants’ research experiences, relevant work and volunteer experiences, their academic record, and alignment between applicants’ research interests and the focus of our research. Successful applicants will likely have some post-baccalaureate research experience (utilizing either qualitative or quantitative methods), advanced research experience as an undergraduate, or relevant work experiences. Our research has a strong emphasis on community engagement and social change, and relies heavily on lived expertise in developing research questions and conducting research with the potential for real-world impact. To that end, I am interested in mentoring students whose lived experiences with incarceration and the criminal legal system inform their career interests and the questions that drive their research.
Other Information for Prospective Applicants: The Cultivating Justice CoLab is based in the Center for Healthy Minds (CHM), an interdisciplinary center focused on the scientific investigation of well-being and practices to promote well-being. My primary appointment is in CHM, and my affiliation with the Clinical Psychology Area group allows me to admit Psychology graduate students. I am open to co-mentoring arrangements with other faculty members in the Psychology Department or related disciplines outside of Psychology, including other CHM faculty. My previous research focused heavily on the neurobiology of stress, trauma, and anxiety disorders, and while I am no longer actively conducting brain imaging research, this earlier work informs my approach to research and the methodological approaches I can offer training and mentorship in.