Mahmoodi, Vinus (vm2607)

Postdoctoral psychologist - Seleni Institute - Perinatal Mental Health clinical training

• Clinically - Focused on pregnancy planning, conception, pregnancy, and postpartum mental health
• Perinatal loss - miscarriage, stillbirth
• Infertility

PhD in Clinical Psychology - Palo Alto University/Stanford University

Pre-Doctoral Internship - Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Icahn School of Medicine

• • Specialized training in childhood trauma treatment
  • Rotations in child psychology, childhood trauma, psychological assessments, and inpatient psychiatric care

M.S. in Clinical Psychology - Palo Alto University/Stanford University

B.S. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry - University of San Francisco

Current Positions:

Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University Medical Center

Whitaker Scholar in Developmental Neuropsychiatry - CUIMC/NYSPI

Affiliate Researcher with the Lugo Lab at CUIMC/NYSPI

Lab Director at Muslim Perinatal Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University

• Quantitative Projects
• Qualitative Projects
  

Dr. Mahmoodi is an Assistant Professor at CUIMC/NYSPI where she provides both clinical care and conducts research.

Dr. Mahmoodi's research focuses on the mental health and neurobiology of perinatal period, especially in low-resource populations. She is a Whitaker Scholar in Developmental Neuropsychiatry focused on neurodevelopmental trajectories of perinatal women and influences on mental health under the supervision of Dr. Agnes Whitaker, a renowned expert in autism and neurodevelopmental challenges. Dr. Mahmoodi also works closely with Dr. Claudia Lugo-Candelas, an Associate Professor at CUIMC/NYSPI, who works on understanding how various exposures during the perinatal period impact child developmental trajectories utilizing longitudinal designs, large-scale datasets, and neuroimaging. Dr. Mahmoodi is building a K award application with Dr. Lugo-Candelas as her primary mentor. 

Dr. Mahmoodi's clinical interests are in perinatal mental health, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, perinatal loss, and infertility. She is also specialized in childhood trauma and Muslim mental health. She sees patients across the reproductive lifespan at CUIMC's Women's and Reproductive Mental Health Program at the Faculty Practice Organization. 

Current Projects at Teachers College - open to TC students :

Qualitative:

1. Conceptualizations of perinatal Loss in Muslim women in the United States - investigating an Islamically-integrated approach to addressing grief and distress related to miscarriage and stillbirth.  
2. Matrescence in Muslim women in the United States - investigating elements of faith that contribute to maternal flourishing and supporting women through their transition into motherhood.
3. Conceptualizations of Muslim mothering - how do Muslims mother?

Quantitative:

1. Collecting survey data on Muslim perinatal experiences
   

CUIMC Projects:

These projects are largely to contribute to manuscripts at this time. Future opportunities will emerge.

Students Interested in Muslim Perinatal Lab

For students interested in working in the Muslim Perinatal Lab, please email project coordinator, Noor Ali, nia2113@tc.columbia.edu

Courses - Fall 2025

Dr. Mahmoodi will not be teaching any courses in the Fall 2025.

IPs and Letters of Recommendation

At this time, I am only able to accommodate students involved in my lab or have an established relationship with me.