Sara Lowmaster PhD
Sara Lowmaster
PhD
Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Clinical Psychology; Psychiatry; Psychology
Education and Training:
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston University School of Medicine/VA Boston Healthcare System (2014)
- Internship, Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2013)
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, Texas A&M University (2013)
- MS, Experimental Psychology, Villanova University (2007)
- BS, Psychology and Biology, Pennsylvania State University (2005)
Employment:
- Associate Director Continuing Medical Education, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo (2023-present)
- Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2022-present)
- Associate Professor, Psychology, University of South Dakota (2020–2022)
- Assistant Professor, Psychology, University of South Dakota (2014–2020)
Awards and Honors:
- Josie Olympia Award for Outstanding Overall Contributions to the Department of Psychiatry (2025)
- Distinguished Service Award (2025)
- Resident Teaching Award (2024)
- Collaborative Research Travel Award (2017)
- Early Career Travel Award (2014)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- October 2024–May 2026
Assessing the Impact of Jury Service
Department of Psychiatry Research Pilot Grant Program
Role: Principal Investigator
$21,000 - August 2024–May 2025
Understanding Psychiatric Treatment Response Among Adults
University at Buffalo Research and Creative Activities for Undergraduates
Role: Principal Investigator
$19,500 - July 2017–July 2022
Center for Genetics and Behavioral Health: Gut Flora, Immune Responses, and Genetic Influences on PTSD
South Dakota Governor's Research Center Program
Role: Co-Investigator
$3,400,000 - January 2015–January 2015
Woodcock Johnson University Outreach Program
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Role: Principal Investigator - August 2011–July 2012
Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics of Deployed Combat Troops
U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command
Role: Principal Investigator
$16,208
Journal Articles:
- Ranzenhofer L, Lowmaster S, Attia E. (2026) Identifying Adult Patients With Eating Disorder Symptoms in Outpatient Mental Health via a Two-Item Screener. The International journal of eating disorders (Sep).
- Halverson, M.M., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2024) Campus-based autism spectrum disorder support communities: Neurotypical students’ motives for participating. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (Jan), 39(2): 106-115. doi:https://doi-org.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/10.1177/10883576231221781
- Nails JG, Maffly-Kipp J, DeShong HL, Lowmaster SE, Kurtz JE. (2023) A crisis in college student mental health? Self-ratings of psychopathology before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological assessment (Nov), 35(11): 1010-1018.
- Nails, J. G., Maffly-Kipp, J., DeShong, H. L., Lowmaster, S. E., & Kurtz, J. E. (2023) A crisis in college student mental health? Self-ratings of psychopathology before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Assessment (Oct), 11(35): 1010-1018. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001241
- Lowmaster S. E. (2023) Clinical Applications: Validity Considerations in the Test Selection Process. Journal of Personality Assessment (May), 3(105): 445-446. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2023.2191279
- Lowmaster SE. (2023) Clinical Applications: Validity Considerations in the Test Selection Process. Journal of personality assessment (Jan), 105(3): 445-446.
- Doss RA, Lowmaster SE. (2022) Validation of the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure in a Community Sample. Psychiatry research (Dec), 318: 114935.
- Doss, R.A., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2022) Validation of the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure in a community sample. Psychiatry Research (Dec), 318: 114935. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114935.
- Lowmaster SE, Hartman MJ, Zimmermann J, Baldock ZC, Kurtz JE. (2020) Further Validation of the Response Inconsistency Scale for the Personality Inventory for DSM-5. Journal of personality assessment (Oct), 102(6): 743-750. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2019.1674320
- Sloan DM, Sawyer AT, Lowmaster SE, Wernick J, Marx BP. (2015) Efficacy of Narrative Writing as an Intervention for PTSD: Does the Evidence Support Its Use?. Journal of contemporary psychotherapy (Dec), 45(4): 215-225. doi:10.1007/s10879-014-9292-x
- Lee DJ, Liverant GI, Lowmaster SE, Gradus JL, Sloan DM. (2014) PTSD and reasons for living: associations with depressive symptoms and alcohol use. Psychiatry research (Nov), 219(3): 550-5. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.06.016
- Lowmaster SE, Morey LC. (2012) Predicting law enforcement officer job performance with the Personality Assessment Inventory. Journal of personality assessment (Jan), 94(3): 254-61.
- Morey LC, Lowmaster SE, Coldren RL, Kelly MP, Parish RV, Russell ML. (2011) Personality Assessment Inventory profiles of deployed combat troops: an empirical investigation of normative performance. Psychological assessment (Jun), 23(2): 456-62.
- Balsis S, Lowmaster S, Cooper LD, Benge JF. (2011) Personality disorder diagnostic thresholds correspond to different levels of latent pathology. Journal of personality disorders (Feb), 25(1): 115-27.
- Lowmaster SE, Morey LC, Baker KL, Hopwood CJ. (2010) Structure, reliability, and predictive validity of the Texas Christian University Correctional Residential Self-Rating Form at Intake in a residential substance abuse treatment facility. Journal of substance abuse treatment (Sep), 39(2): 180-7.
- Morey LC, Lowmaster SE, Hopwood CJ. (2010) A pilot study of Manual-Assisted Cognitive Therapy with a Therapeutic Assessment augmentation for Borderline Personality Disorder. Psychiatry research (Aug), 178(3): 531-5.
- Markey, P. M., Lowmaster, S. E., & Eichler, W.C. (2010) A real-time assessment of interpersonal complementarity. Personal Relationships (Jan), 17(1): 13-25. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01249.x
- Antonius, D., Leo, R.J., Ficarro, S.M., Lowmaster, S.E., Johnstone, S., Mariotti, B., & Leidenfrost, C.M. (1900) The impact of pain on psychiatric treatment outcomes among incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services (Jan)
- Ficarro, S.M., Lowmaster, S.E., Johnstone, S., Leidenfrost, C.M., & Antonius, D. (1900) Concordance of self-report and clinician-rated assessments of psychotic symptoms: Implications for predicting psychological change in correctional settings. Schizophrenia Research (Jan)
- Quittner, A., Georgiopoulos, A., Wei, R., Mullen, T., He, J., Chaudhary, N., Canda, E., Nowakowski, A., Tillman, L., White, K.C., Lowmaster, S., Smith, B.A. (1900) Development and psychometrics of novel instruments for mental health comorbidities and modulator side-effects for cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis (Jan)
- Staal, J.B., Lowmaster, S.E., Del Regno, P., Foster, N.D., Edwards, J., McPherson, J. I., Chizuk, H., Leddy, J. J., & Nader, M. N. (1900) Clinical characteristics and recovery outcomes of assault-related concussions at work. Brain Injury (Jan)
- Lowmaster, S.E., Ghosh, A., & Gilbert, K. (1900) Development and evaluation of a brief Levels of Personality Functioning measure. (Jan)
Books and Book Chapters:
- Morey, L.C., Lowmaster, S.E., Harwood, T.M., & Platt, D. (2011) The Personality Assessment Inventory. In: Integrative Assessment of Adult Personality (3rd edition). The Guilford Press, 190-218.
- Rosenfeld, B., Edens, J. F., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2011) Measure development and validation. In: Research methods in forensic psychology. Wiley, 26-42.
- Morey, L.C., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2010) The Personality Assessment Inventory. In: The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, 1200-1203.
Abstracts:
- Nezha, A., Steele, E.H., Floss, H.M., Singh, J., Benedict, L.L.W., Smith, B.A., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2026) Implementation of measurement-based care in outpatient psychiatry: Qualitative insights from providers and administrative staff. Department of Psychiatry's Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New York (Sep) Poster; Oral
- Quittner, A., Georgiopoulos, A., Bruce, A., Bathgate, C., Seng, E., Lowmaster, S., Canda, E., White, K., Nowakowski, A., Tillman, L., & Smith, B.A. (2026) Psychometric validation of the General Mental Health Screener and Modulator Side-Effects instruments: Novel research design. European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Lisbon, Portugal (Jun) Poster
- Lowmaster, S.E., Antonius, D., Leidenfrost, C.M., Eagan, S., Farrow, C., & Dubovsky, S.L. (2026) Evaluating the effects of vicarious trauma on self and other beliefs related to core psychological needs. Society for Personality Assessment. Toronto, Canada (Mar) Poster
- Ficarro, S.M., Lowmaster, S.E., Johnstone, S., Leidenfrost, C.M., & Antonius, D. (2026) Concordance of self-report and clinician-rated assessments of psychotic symptoms: Implications for predicting psychological change in correctional settings. Society for Personality Assessment. Toronto, Canada (Mar) Poster
- Quittner, A. Georgiopoulos, A.M., He, J., Chaudhary, N., Wei, R., Mullen, T., Canda, E.R., Nowakowski, A., White, K.C., Lowmaster, S.E., & Smith, B.A. (2025) Development of a general mental health screener (GEMS-CF) and modulator side-effects (GEMS-MOD-SE) Measure: Preliminary psychometric properties. North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Seattle, WashingtonUnited States (Oct) Oral
- Lowmaster, S.E., Antonius, D., Leidenfrost, C., Farrow, C., Eagan, S., & Dubovsky, S. (2025) Vicarious trauma among jurors. Department of Psychiatry’s Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New YorkUnited States (Sep) Poster; Oral
- Fuentes, E., Lowmaster, S.E., Leidenfrost, C., Ficarro, S., Steele, E., & Antonius, D. (2025) Insights from pre-employment fitness for duty evaluations of law enforcement officers. Department of Psychiatry’s Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New YorkUnited States (Sep) Poster; Oral
- Quittner, A. Georgiopoulos, A.M., He, J., Chaudhary, N., Wei, R., Mullen, T., Canda, E.R., Nowakowski, A., White, K.C., Lowmaster, S.E., & Smith, B.A. (2025) Preliminary validation of the general mental health screener (GEMS-CF): Frequency and impact of mental health comorbidities in a diverse sample of adults with cystic fibrosis. 48th European Cystic Fibrosis Society Meeting. Milan, Italy (Jun) Poster
- Alam, A., Antonius, D., Anker, J.L., Benedict, L., Cogswell, A., Kandefer, S., Smith, B.A., Dubovsky, S.L., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2025) The Alternative Model of Personality Disorders and treatment outcomes for depression and anxiety disorders. Society for Personality Assessment. Denver, ColoradoUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Gurbacki, J.N., Antonius, D., Anker, J.L., Benedict, L., Cogswell, A., Kandefer, S., Smith, B.A., Dubovsky, S.L., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2025) Comparison of the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure to clinician-produced psychiatric diagnoses in an outpatient psychiatric setting. Society for Personality Assessment. Denver, ColoradoUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Roberts, R., Lowmaster, S.E., & Roberts, M. (2025) Correctional officer misconduct: Pre-employment personality factors that predict risk. Society for Personality Assessment. Denver, ColoradoUnited States (Mar) Oral
- Lowmaster, S.E., Roberts, R., & Roberts, M. (2025) Sexual misconduct among correctional officers: Pre-employment personality factors that predict risk. Society for Personality Assessment. Denver, ColoradoUnited States (Mar) Oral
- Tennity, C.L., Principino, H., Leidenfrost, C.M., Charles, N.E., Ficarro, S.M., Lowmaster, S.E., & Floyd, P. (2025) Trauma symptoms in detained adolescents: Gender differences and implications for treatment. American Psychology-Law Society 2025 Conference. San Juan, Puerto Rico (Mar) Oral
- Tennity, C.L., Charles, N.E., Lowmaster, S.E., & Barry, C.T. (2024) Examining Personality Profiles of At-Risk Adolescents Based on Substance Use History. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy. Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaUnited States (Nov) Poster
- Roberts, R., Lowmaster, S.E., & Vablais, C. (2024) Assessing bias in the public safety applicant population with the PAI and CPI public safety reports. International Association of Chiefs of Police. Boston, MassachusettsUnited States (Oct) Oral
- Parashar, K., Antonius, D., Anker, J.L., Benedict, L., Cogswell, A., Kandefer, S., Smith, B.A., Dubovsky, S.L., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2024) Adult ADHD: Assessment and Sex Differences. Department of Psychiatry's Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New YorkUnited States (Sep) Poster
- Gurbacki, J.N., Antonius, D., Anker, J.L., Benedict, L., Cogswell, A., Kandefer, S., Smith, B.A., Dubovsky, S.L., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2024) Effect of psychotropic sleep aids on outpatient psychiatric patients’ self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality. Department of Psychiatry's Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New YorkUnited States (Sep) Poster
- Lucente, L., Camp, C., Mariotti, B.L., Del Regno, P., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2024) Educating future educators: A psychiatry residency elective in medical student education. Department of Psychiatry's Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New YorkUnited States (Sep) Poster
- Maples, M.E., Clifton, C., Lowmaster, S.E., & Caraway, S.J. (2024) Perfectionism and health behaviors. Society for Personality Assessment. San Diego, CaliforniaUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Chavin, R.S., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2024) Differences in personality pathology among non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior patterns: A latent class analysis. Society for Personality Assessment. San Diego, CaliforniaUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Lowmaster, S.E., Antonius, D., Anker, J.L., Mikowski, A., Cogswell, A., Kandefer, S., Smith, B.A., & Dubovsky, S.L. (2024) The DSM-5 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure as a transdiagnostic outcomes monitoring tool. Society for Personality Assessment. San Diego, CaliforniaUnited States (Mar) Oral
- Kennedy, L., Charles, N.E., Leidenfrost, C., Antonius, D., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2024) Evaluating the applicability of the PAI's Level of Care Index (LOCI) for the Personality Assessment Inventory–Adolescent. Society for Personality Assessment. San Diego, CaliforniaUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Popivker, Z., Lowmaster, S.E., Fornari, V.M., Foley, C.A., Scharf, M.A., Fremont, W., Zuckerbot, R., Borcherding, Br., Winseman, J., Bhatia, I., & Kaye, D.L. (2023) Project TEACH: The effect of the pandemic on case severity and internalizing symptoms. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. New York, New York (Oct) Poster
- Ficarro, S.M., Steele, E.H., Lowmaster, S.E., Antonius, D., Martin, P.S., Bisson, A.E. (2023) Development of an enhanced mental health treatment program for justice involved youth: Identifying treatment needs and intervention outcome measures. Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New York (Sep) Poster; Oral
- Lowmaster, S.E., Antonius, D., Anker, J.L., Mikowski, A., Cogswell, A., Kandefer, S., Smith, B.A., & Dubovsky, S.L. (2023) Transdiagnostic treatment outcomes: Perspectives from an outpatient psychiatry clinic. Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry Conference. Buffalo, New York (Sep) Poster
- Lowmaster, S.E., Ficarro, S.M., Leidenfrost, C.M., & Antonius, D. (2023) Using the Personality Assessment Inventory to predict recidivism in offenders with serious mental illness. Society for Personality Assessment. Austin, Texas (Apr) Poster
- Maples, M.E., Lowmaster, S.E., & Caraway, S.J. (2023) The role of borderline personality features in the relationship between self-injury and the pain experience. Society for Personality Assessment. Austin, Texas (Mar) Poster
- Chavin, R.S., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2023) Understanding how different personality models can predict non-suicidal self-injurious tendencies. Society for Personality Assessment. Austin, Texas (Mar) Poster
- Chavin, R.S., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2022) Understanding the relationship between Criterion A’s personality functioning and NSSI. Society for Personality Assessment. Chicago, IllinoisUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Ahrenholtz, M.S., Chavin, R.S., Van Fossen, R.P., McGinnis, B., Ghosh, A., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2022) Psychological symptoms and performance as a function of the menstrual cycle. Society for Personality Assessment. Chicago, IllinoisUnited States (Mar) Poster
- Van Fossen, R.P., Chavin, R.S., McGinnis, B., Ahrenholtz, M.S., & Lowmaster, S.E. (2022) Congruence of the self-concept and Criterion A personality functioning. Society for Personality Assessment. Chicago, IllinoisUnited States (Mar) Poster; Oral
Professional Memberships:
- Society of Clinical Psychology, Division 12 of the American Psychological Association
- Society for Personality Assessment
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- American Psychological Association's Division 12, Section IX (Assessment Psychology)
Presentations:
- "Conducting Psychological Fitness-for-Duty Evaluations for Law Enforcement Officers" Society for Personality Assessment Grand Rounds (2026)
- "Psychological Assessment and Measurement-Based Care" University of Louisville, Clinical Psychology Colloquium (2025)
Service Activities:
- Served as poster judge for 20th Annual Summer Research Poster Symposium hosted by CSTEP; Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) poster judge (2026)
- Manuscript Reviewer; BMC Psychiatry (2026–present)
- Faculty Council; Member (2025–present)
- Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR) Committee; Committee Member (2025–present)
- Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Awards Selection Committee; Reviewer (2025)
- Clinical Psychology Internship; Associate Training Director (2025–present)
- ; Department of Psychiatry Scientific Review Committee (2024–present)
- Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12); Program Co-Chair for the American Psychological Association Convention (2024–2025)
- ; Clinical Trials Committee (2024)
- ; Co-Director 19th Annual Review of Psychiatry Conference (2024)
- manuscript review; Psychological Medicine (2024)
- ; Poster Judge, Medical Student Annual Research Forum (2024)
- ; UB Doctoral Psychology Internship Training Committee Member (2024–present)
- Website Committee; Member (2023–2024)
- Trauma and Resilience in Schools. Buffalo Public Schools Counselor Training; Presenter (2023)
- Psychological Injury and Law; Consulting Editor (2023–present)
- Continuing Education Committee, Society for Personality Assessment; Member (2023–present)
- Faculty Search Committee; Committee Member (2023)
- American Psychological Association, Division 12, Section IX (Assessment Psychology); Membership Chair (2022–2025)
- American Psychological Association, Division 12, Section IX (Assessment Psychology); Secretary (2019–2022)
- ; Consulting Editor, Journal of Personality Assessment (2019–present)
- Society for Personality Assessment, Student Matters Committee; Member-at-large (2018–present)
- ; Consulting Editor, Assessment (2014–present)
- ; Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- ; Journal of Personality
- ; Journal of Personality Disorders
- ; Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
- Manuscript reviewer; Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science
- ; Journal of Research in Personality
- ; Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
- ; Personality and Individual Differences
- ; Psychiatry Research
- ; Psychological Assessment