Dr. Bulls is a clinical psychologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. The mission of Dr. Bulls’ highly productive, NIH-funded research and clinical practice is to improve pain management and optimize quality of life for people across the cancer continuum. Her leadership experience includes developing and co-leading the CHAllenges in Managing and Preventing Pain (CHAMPP) clinical research center with Director Jessica Merlin, alongside national service to direct scientific programming in pain research in professional societies.

Dr. Bulls is dedicated to empowering early career scientists learning to navigate academic careers, with emphasis on people from backgrounds under-represented in science. She is also enthusiastic about building systems, skills, and supports that make an academic research career sustainable. Dr. Bulls balances her professional responsibilities with parenting two small children and enjoys hobbies including tennis, kickboxing, and maintaining her NYT Crossword streak.

Dr. Merlin is a physician and behavioral scientist at the University of Pittsburgh. She leads the CHAllenges in Managing and Preventing Pain (CHAMPP) clinical research center and runs a large, federally-funded clinical research program which includes a center grant, many collaborating faculty, and trainees. She is a passionate and experienced mentor, and holds a K24 mid-career mentoring award. She has mentored dozens of post-docs and early career faculty. She is excited to bring her experience as a successful research leader to EMERGE. She is also passionate about empowering early career investigators through negotiation and career strategic planning.

Dr. Treble Barna is a neuropsychologist…