Lab Director

Dr. Margaret “Maggie” T. Davis, PhD. (she/her)

Associate Professor | Yale School of Medicine

Co-appointed faculty | Yale Department of Psychology

Dr. Davis is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Yale Department of Psychiatry, co-appointed in the Department of Psychology. As an emergent expert in trauma-and-stressor related conditions, her work seeks to identify neurobiological mechanisms underlying behavioral responses related to PTSD, borderline personality disorder and other forms of trauma related psychopathology (e.g. eating disorders, substance use), and their link to suicide behaviors and functional impairment.  Specifically, using PET imaging and fMRI Dr. Davis aims to explore novel biomarkers and potential treatment targets with the potential to reduce risk in survivors of trauma.  Her current K08, R21 and R01 grants (funded my NIMH) and Young Investigator grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) investigate the role of endogenous glutamate and opioid systems on 1) trait markers for suicide behaviors, 2) molecular and behavioral differences across biological sex, and 3) whether these systems have further implications for the risk of opiate misuse and other forms of serious comorbidity in those living with BPD and PTSD.  

Beyond her personal research projects, Maggie is a specialist with expertise and clinical experience in prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (various protocols) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She serves as the faculty lead for data integration and research management for the Yale New Haven Health Adult Behavioral Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Further, Dr. Davis participated in the piloting and validation of the two most widely used assessments for PTSD in the DSM-5 (PCL-5 and the CAPS-5). Dr. Davis commits her life’s work to serving and connecting those in distress to lifesaving interventions and resources. Her impact and experience in the field spans from the treatment of individuals coping with trauma and emotion dysregulation-related symptoms to the system-wide codification of such conditions.  

Outside of her work at UPLiFT, Dr. Davis enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs - Teddy, Hopper, and Foz.