Bio

I am an assistant professor in the rehabilitation sciences program. My primary research focuses on exploring malleable risk and protective factors that can help people with disabilities manage stress more effectively. Specifically, I am interested in identifying and bolstering protective positive psychological factors (e.g., gratitude) that can buffer the negative effects of stress on mental health and well-being in people with neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). My other line of research examines factors that can improve psychosocial outcomes (e.g., employment) in people with disabilities, especially those from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities).

Awards and Honors

• Harold Yuker Award for Research Excellence - Division 22 of the American Psychological Association (01/01/2023-12/31/2023)
• Neurodegenerative Diseases Networking Group Early Career Poster Award - American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (01/01/2023-12/31/2023)

• Ph D in Rehabilitation Counselor Education, University of Wisconsin Madison (2020)

Publications

• Potentials of ionic liquids to overcome physical and biological barriers. Advanced drug delivery reviews 204 (2024), E Beaven, R Kumar, J M. An, H Mendoza, S C. Sutradhar, W Choi, Mahesh Narayan, Yun-Pai (Beatrice) Lee, Md Nurunnabi.
• A national study to assess validity and psychometrics of the Short Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin (2021), Emre Umucu, K Fortuna, Hyejin Jung, Anita Bialunska, Yun-Pai Lee, Thenral D. Mangadu, M Storm, G Ergun, D Mozer, J Brooks.
• Association of demographic and disability characteristics with total PROMISE expenditure: Wisconsin PROMISE findings – Brief Report. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin (2021), Emre Umucu, Yun-Pai Lee, Veronica Y. Estala-Gutierrez, Timothy Tansey.
• Psychometric Validation of a Measure Assessing Functional Limitations of Students With Disabilities: An Adaptation of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Journal of Rehabilitation 87 1 (2021), Beatrice Lee, Phillip Rumrill, Thenral Mangadu, Veronica .
• Measuring grit in veterans with mental illnesses: Examining the model structure of grit Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal (2020), Emre Umucu, Diana Villegas, Renee Viramontes, Hyejin Jung, Yun-Pai/Beatrice Lee.

Presentations

• Functioning and depression in Hispanic individuals with type 2 diabetes: The intermediary role of resilience. (2020), Emre Umucu, Thenral D. Mangadu, Sudip Bajpeyi, Hyejin Jung, Jeannie B. Concha, R Viramontes, D Villegas, Yun-Pai Lee.
• Functioning and depression in Hispanic individuals with type 2 diabetes: The intermediary role of resilience. (2020), Emre Umucu, Thenral D. Mangadu, Sudip Bajpeyi, Hyejin Jung, Jeannie B. Concha, Renee Viramontes, Diana Villegas, Yun-Pai/Beatrice Lee.

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