Joana Andrade | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Forensic Scientist

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Joana Andrade | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

Portucalense University | Portugal

Dr. Joana Andrade is an Assistant Professor at Portucalense University, Portugal, and a Visiting Assistant Professor at ISPA and Universidade Lusófona. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience in prison counseling, psychological assessment, and forensic mental health. Her career reflects a balance between academia and applied practice, combining teaching, research, and clinical work. With active participation in European-funded projects and international collaborations, she has become a recognized voice in forensic psychology and correctional interventions, contributing to evidence-based practices that advance both mental health care and justice systems.

Professional Profile

Scopus

ORCID

Education

Dr. Joana Andrade earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minho, Portugal, where her doctoral research focused on the mental health and rehabilitation of prison populations. She pursued her academic training in forensic and applied psychology, equipping her with expertise in psychological assessment, intervention strategies, and risk management in justice-involved populations. Her education not only provided a strong theoretical foundation but also cultivated applied research skills that bridge clinical psychology with correctional rehabilitation.

Experience

Throughout her career, Dr. Joana Andrade has combined teaching, clinical practice, and applied research. As an Assistant Professor at Portucalense University and visiting faculty at ISPA and Universidade Lusófona, she mentors students and contributes to curriculum development in psychology and criminology. She has worked as a consultant and researcher on European Erasmus+ projects such as ActiveGames4Change, Blended Learning Environment for European Prisoners, and Coding-OUT, focusing on rehabilitation and social reintegration of offenders. Additionally, she co-founded and practices at clinical psychology centers including ReConstruir, Normaliza Psicologia, and CPF, where she provides psychological services and training.

Research Interests

Dr. Joana Andrade’s research interests lie in forensic and applied psychology, with emphasis on mental health challenges among incarcerated and justice-involved populations. She investigates intervention effectiveness, trauma, antisocial behavior, suicide risk, and violence prediction in remand prisoners. She is also interested in restorative justice practices, offender rehabilitation, and psychosocial approaches to criminal behavior. Through systematic reviews, clinical trials, and applied studies, her work seeks to promote humane correctional practices, reduce recidivism, and improve mental health outcomes for offenders and victims alike.

Awards

Dr. Joana Andrade received an Honorable Mention in Academia OPP from the Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses in recognition of her academic excellence. Her impactful research has gained international attention, leading to multiple publications in leading indexed journals and active contributions to cross-national projects on correctional reform and offender rehabilitation. She is now nominated for the Best Researcher Award for her outstanding contributions to forensic psychology, applied prison research, and European innovation initiatives in offender reintegration.

Publications

Dr. Joana Andrade has authored influential publications in indexed journals, addressing forensic mental health, intervention effectiveness, and correctional psychology. Some of her notable works include:

Tittle : Adapt Life on Remand: A Pilot Randomized Trial With Individuals in Pretrial Detention
Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychology
Published on: 2025

Tittle : In or Out: Justice-Involved Women Characterization and Their Perceptions about Penal Sanctions
Journal: Women & Criminal Justice
Published on: 2025

Tittle : Pre-trial detention as a last resort measure?
Journal: European Journal of Criminology
Published on: 2025

Tittle : Inmates’ mental health and violent outcomes: An exploratory study
Journal: Psychology of Violence
Published on: 2025

Tittle : Effectiveness of Intervention Programs for Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence with Substance Abuse and/or Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review
Journal: Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Published on: 2024

Tittle : Validity of the Violence Risk Scale (VRS) in a Portuguese sample of remand prisoners
Journal: Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
Published on: 2024

Tittle : Remand Prisoners’ Specific Needs: A Systematic Review
Journal: Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
Published on: 2023

Tittle : Suicide concerns among pretrial detainees: Validation of the SCOPE-2 (Portuguese version)
Journal: Journal of Forensic Practice
Published on: 2023

Conclusion

Dr. Joana Andrade has established herself as a distinguished researcher in forensic psychology, bridging academic research with applied practice in correctional and clinical contexts. Her innovative contributions to offender rehabilitation, mental health interventions, and risk assessment have advanced the scientific understanding of justice-involved populations in Portugal and beyond. With a strong publication record, international collaborations, and impactful Erasmus+ project leadership, she has significantly influenced both policy and practice in correctional systems. Her nomination for the Best Researcher Award reflects her commitment to excellence, societal impact, and the advancement of psychological science in justice settings.

Emily Kemp | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Forensic Scientist

Dr. Emily Kemp | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Scholar | University of California, San Diego | United States

Dr. Emily C. Kemp, Ph.D., is a dedicated scholar and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. With a focus on child and adolescent psychology, she investigates emotional processing deficits and callous-unemotional traits. Her passion lies in advancing evidence-based practices to improve mental health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Profile

Scopus

Google scholar

Orcid

Strengths for the Awards

  1. Strong Academic and Research Background
    • Dr. Kemp has an exemplary academic history, graduating summa cum laude with departmental honors and completing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University, with specialization in child and adolescent psychology.
    • Her dissertation on emotional reactivity and recognition deficits in individuals with callous-unemotional traits showcases her expertise in a niche, impactful research area.
  2. Prolific Research Output
    • She has authored 15 peer-reviewed publications, including six as the first author. With an h-index of 11 and 466 citations (as of December 2024), her work demonstrates a meaningful impact on the field of psychology.
    • Her research spans diverse, high-priority areas, such as psychopathy, emotional processing deficits, trauma, and youth conduct problems.
  3. Recognition and Awards
    • Dr. Kemp has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Cheryl Wynne Hare Memorial Award, the Senate of College Councils Award for Contributions to Research, and multiple travel grants.
    • Her ability to secure competitive funding, such as the $3,000 Rapoport-King Thesis Scholarship, underscores her capability as a researcher.
  4. Interdisciplinary and International Contributions
    • Her collaborative work with international researchers (e.g., on callous-unemotional traits in multinational samples) reflects her ability to contribute to global knowledge in her field.
  5. Commitment to Mentorship and Knowledge Dissemination
    • As a mentor and speaker, Dr. Kemp has shown dedication to training the next generation of researchers and engaging in public education initiatives.
  6. Focus on Societal Relevance
    • Her studies on trauma, youth mental health, and psychopathy have direct implications for clinical practices, public health, and juvenile justice policy, amplifying the societal impact of her research.

Education 🎓

Dr. Kemp completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (2020–2024) at the Medical University of South Carolina, where her research emphasized traumatic stress. She earned her M.A. in Psychology (2018–2020) and B.S. in Psychology (2011–2014) from Louisiana State University and The University of Texas at Austin, respectively, graduating with the highest honors. Her thesis and dissertation explored emotional reactivity, recognition deficits, and psychopathy-related traits in youth.

Experience 💼

Currently, Dr. Kemp serves as a Postdoctoral Scholar under the mentorship of Dr. William E. Pelham III. Her prior roles include research assistant positions and clinical internships emphasizing child and adolescent mental health. With extensive expertise in trauma, psychopathy, and emotional regulation, she has contributed to advancing psychological assessment and intervention techniques.

Research Interests On Psychology 🔬

Dr. Kemp’s research centers on understanding emotional deficits and callous-unemotional traits in children and adolescents. She is particularly interested in the developmental pathways of antisocial behavior, emotion recognition impairments, and interventions for trauma-affected youth. Her work bridges clinical psychology, neuroscience, and developmental psychopathology.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Dr. Kemp has received numerous accolades totaling $10,750 in funding. Notable honors include the Roy Crumpler Memorial Travel Award (2024), Cynthia Belar Internship Scholarship (2023), and the Cheryl Wynne Hare Memorial Award (2021). She has also been a finalist for prestigious awards, such as the Distinguished Dissertation Award at Louisiana State University.

Publications 📚

  • Familism moderates the association between parent-child conflict, interpersonal needs, and suicidal ideation among adolescents
    • Authors: Picou, P., Kemp, E.C., Ferreira, R., Sharp, C., Hill, R.M.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 1
  • The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) Self-Report Version: Factor Structure, Measurement Invariance, and Predictive Validity in Justice-Involved Male Adolescents
    • Authors: Kemp, E.C., Ray, J.V., Frick, P.J., Steinberg, L., Cauffman, E.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 0
  • Associations Between Callous-Unemotional (CU) Traits and Emotion Recognition Abilities in School Children: The Influence of Conduct Problems and Age
    • Authors: Kemp, E.C., Clark, J.E., Matlasz, T.M., Frick, P.J.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 0
  • Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance in an Adolescent Multinational Sample
    • Authors: Kemp, E.C., Ray, J.V., Frick, P.J., Ciucci, E., Bijttebier, P.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 5
  • Developmental pathways to antisocial behavior: Implications for Juvenile justice policy and practice (Book Chapter)
    • Authors: Frick, P.J., Kemp, E.C., Speck, J.S.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • The Brief Adolescent Depression Screen: A Brief Screening Tool for Depression and Suicidal Behavior in Inpatient Adolescents
    • Authors: Vaughan, E.P., Kemp, E.C., Robertson, E.L., Frick, P.J., de Back, J.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • The Mood Disorder Assessment Schedule: Initial validation of a new measure for early identification of bipolar spectrum disorders in inpatient adolescents
    • Authors: de Back, J., Vaughan, E.P., Kemp, E.C., Walker, T.M., Picou, P.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 2
  • Developing Cutoff Scores for the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) in Justice-Involved and Community Samples
    • Authors: Kemp, E.C., Frick, P.J., Matlasz, T.M., Steinberg, L., Cauffman, E.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 24
  • Conduct Disorders and Empathy Development (Review)
    • Authors: Frick, P.J., Kemp, E.C.
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 58
  • Callous-Unemotional traits and risk of gun carrying and use during crime
    • Authors: Robertson, E.L., Frick, P.J., Walker, T.M., Steinberg, L., Cauffman, E.
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 18

Conclusion ✨

Dr. Emily C. Kemp’s career exemplifies excellence in research, education, and clinical application. Her contributions to the field of child and adolescent psychology, particularly in addressing emotional and behavioral challenges, have positioned her as a rising leader in her discipline.