A Pitt postdoc was honored by the International Academy of Suicide Research

University of Pittsburgh postdoctoral researcher Nermin Toukhy received an Early Career Award from the International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR).

IASR supports and promotes rigorous scientific study of suicidal behavior, including through fostering collaboration among researchers, hosting conferences and publishing a peer-reviewed journal. Its Early Career Award highlights promising early-stage researchers whose work advances understanding of suicide risk and informs evidence-based prevention efforts.

A Fulbright scholar and postdoctoral fellow in the School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, Toukhy received the recognition for her research focusing on identifying biological and cognitive markers that may help clinicians better understand suicide risk, particularly in young adults.

Toukhy, who worked as a clinical psychologist for a decade before coming to Pitt, said the award felt validating personally and professionally.

“It’s very meaningful that they chose my work, which really acknowledges and affirms the importance of my findings to families with lived experience,” she said. “There’s no other recognition more important than that.”

Her recent work examines how stress- and inflammation-related biomarkers — specifically cortisol and C-reactive protein — relate to decision-making and executive functioning during stressful situations. Her findings indicate that elevated levels of these biomarkers are associated with poorer cognitive performance under pressure, which suggests they may contribute to ongoing vulnerability among individuals at elevated risk for suicidal behaviors.

By exploring the connections between biological processes and cognitive functioning, she  aims to broaden the tools available for assessing risk beyond traditional self-report approaches. In addition to biomarker research, Toukhy contributes to projects developing digital mental health interventions that can expand access to support, especially for communities with limited mental health resources.

Toukhy credited the Department of Psychiatry and her mentors for supporting her and developing a culture of “unconditional acceptance and belonging.”