Meet the Team
MICHAEL W. OTTO, PH.D.
Michael W. Otto, Ph.D., is Professor in the Psychological and Brain Sciences department at Boston University. Dr. Otto has had a major career focus on developing and validating new psychosocial treatments for mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. This work includes a translational research agenda investigating brain-behavior relationships in therapeutic learning. Attention to principles underlying behavior-change failures led him to an additional focus on health-behavior promotion, including investigations of addictive behaviors, medication adherence, sleep, and exercise. Dr. Otto has over 25 years of continuous funding from NIH, and has published over 500 articles, chapters, and books spanning his research interests. He has been identified as a “top producer” in the clinical empirical literature, an ISI Highly Cited Researcher, and recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology award from the American Psychological Association, Division 12 and the 2024 Outstanding Researcher award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). He is also recipient of a 2019 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for excellence in mentoring from the American Psychological Association and the 2023 Toy Caldwell-Colbert Award for Distinguished Educator in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Otto is past President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and Past President of the American Psychological Association Division 12, and his service to the field was recognized in 2010 by an Outstanding Service Award from ABCT. Dr. Otto is a regular provider of continuing education and continuing medical education workshops across the United States. In addition, Dr. Otto has been a frequent consultant to industry, and the broad scope of his work has led to popular media coverage in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Scientific American-Mind, Runner’s World, Self, and Outside Magazine. He also a firm believer in team science and serves as founder of the Mechanistic Behavior Research Consortium (https://www.mbrc-sobc.org/) and a member of the Exposure Therapy Consortium (https://www.exposuretherapyinfo.org/).
E. MARIE PARSONS, PH.D., RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Marie is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University. Her research interests focus on the examination of transdiagnostic mechanisms and the evaluation of interventions that target these mechanisms, with a particular interest in the transdiagnostic impact of shame. Marie’s research also focuses on increasing the accessibility of evidence-based treatments through digital intervention. Before arriving at Boston University, Marie received her Ph.D. from Miami University and completed her predoctoral internship at VA Boston Healthcare System.
HAYLEY FITZGERALD, Ph.D., POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE
Hayley is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University. Her research aims to advance evidence-based treatments for anxiety and fear-based disorders. Hayley is particularly interested in studying underlying mechanisms (e.g., anxiety sensitivity) and using translational research methods (e.g., fear conditioning) to work towards this goal. Hayley received her Ph.D. from Boston University and completed her predoctoral internship at VA Boston Healthcare System.
MARGOT STEINBERG, M.A., DOCTORAL STUDENT
Margot is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Otto. Her research interests include examining alternative and supplemental treatments for individuals with anxiety disorders.Prior to starting at Boston University, she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harvard College and worked as a research coordinator on treatment outcome research projects for anxiety populations at the Anxiety, Stress, and Prolonged Grief program at NYU Langone Health.
ANNELL OVALLES, M.A., DOCTORAL STUDENT
*Bio and picture coming soon!*
Emilie is the full-time Research Coordinator for the Translational Research Program. Emilie graduated from BU in 2025 and worked as an undergraduate research assistant within the lab for two years prior to graduation. She completed a senior Honors Thesis on a mood-based versus fitness-based approach to exercise motivation. Her research interests include etiology of anxiety and mood disorders, factors influencing therapeutic learning, and exercise as a treatment intervention. She currently works primarily on our Biomarker and Harm Avoidance studies.