Student Section

Welcome to the Student Section of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. As a student member of ISTSS, you will receive many opportunities to enhance your knowledge of research and training in trauma and become involved in ISTSS.

If you are not yet a member of ISTSS, please review the benefits of joining:

Membership Benefits

Student membership in ISTSS includes a subscription to the Journal of Traumatic Stress, the peer-reviewed bimonthly journal of ISTSS, and Traumatic StressPoints, a bimonthly newsletter with new developments in the field and the latest news associated with the society.

As a student member, you will also receive the following benefits:

Reduced membership fees.
Reduced registration fees for the ISTSS annual conference where you will find opportunities to learn from and network with senior researchers and professionals in the field as well as fellow students. Students may also present their own scholarly work at this conference.
Access to a student listserv, where student members can post questions, provide information and communicate with peers who share similar interests.

Please join us and become a student member of ISTSS by applying online or contacting ISTSS Headquarters at istss@istss.org. The student listserv is for members only. To join the listserv, email istss@istss.org.

Student Section Leadership

Leadership for the student section includes a Chair and Vice Chair, who oversee the section, plan student-focused activities and events for the annual conference (including luncheons, internship and postdoc networking fairs, panels, presentations, and other social events) and manage the student awards. These individuals are elected into these positions by the student membership and serve two-year terms.

Current Student Section Leaders

Namik Kirlić, BS, Chair, 2011-2013, is a second year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Tulsa under the direct supervision of Dr. Elana Newman. He is an international student, studying in the U.S. and during his undergrad he had the opportunity to study for four months in Berlin, Germany. Through his studies he has looked at trauma and adversity from multiple perspectives, including physiological, emotional, and behavioral responses to stress, treatment effectiveness, assessment, and ethical considerations in research. Namik is a recent recipient of The University of Tulsa Chapman Graduate Scholar Presentation Award in the amount of $1500, awarded for participation at the 12th Annual European Conference on Traumatic Stress in Vienna, Austria.

Andrew J. Smith, MA, Vice Chair, 2011-2013 is a first year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Virginia Tech University. He has diverse experience in which he served four years and two combat tours in the Army and accomplished home deconstruction in the Lower 9th Ward following Hurricane Katrina. Andrew has also participated in a mission to establish a medical clinic in rural Haiti and completed summer internships with Habitat for Humanity. In addition he has research, teaching, and clinical experience. His Master’s degree is characterized by trauma focused research and psychotherapy training. He has earned numerous academic honors and received both an Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

Student Section Awards

Learn more about the recognition awarded to outstanding students and mentors through the student section.

Student Section Research Grants

Learn more about the Student Research Grants offered each year.