RESEARCH INTERESTS & COLLABORATORS

I am a PhD student in Clinical and Developmental Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, mentored by Dr. Sophia Choukas-Bradley in the Teen and Young Adult Lab. I study the development and prevention of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating during adolescence. Most of my work investigates the unique body image concerns of LGBTQ+ youth. Broadly, I'm interested in understanding how sociocultural factors, like the proliferation of social media, contribute to adolescents' body image and disordered eating. I hope to develop eating disorder prevention protocols for vulnerable adolescent populations, such as LGBTQ+ youth.

My research typically incorporates some or all of the following themes: 

AWARDED GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

For additional information on the projects in the Teen and Young Adult Lab, click here.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Transgender and Cisgender Adolescents' Body Dissatisfaction: Using Eye-Tracking and Growth Curve Modeling to Elucidate a Novel, Gender-Inclusive Model 

​2020 - 2023

Total funds: $138,000


PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Project DAISY: Disordered Eating, Academics, Identity, and Sexual Experiences among Young Adults

2020-2021

​Co-PI: Anne J. Maheux, M.S.

Advisor: Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Ph.D.

Funded by the Psi Chi Mamie Phipps Clark Diversity Research Grant and Psi Chi Junior Scientist Fellowship

Total funds: $1,000


Project DAISY is a cross-sectional, self-report, anonymous online survey among young adults ages 18-25. The survey assesses a range of mental health concerns relevant to the developmental stage of emerging adulthood, in addition to academic achievement and identity development. I am interested in learning how young adults' appearance ideals, gender, and romantic and sexual experiences shape their disordered eating behaviors and body image. Data collection was completed in Spring 2021. Analyses are ongoing.


ARTS & SCIENCES FELLOWSHIP

University of Pittsburgh​

2019 - 2020

Total funds: $23,500

COLLABORATORS

I have the great fortune of working with a variety of incredible collaborators in the areas of body image, disordered eating, and LGBTQ+ mental health. Below is a list of some of my collaborators, in alphabetical order:

Sophia Choukas-Bradley, PhD

Primary Advisor, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Tiffany Brown, PhD

Assistant Professor, Auburn University

Anna Ciao, PhD

Associate Professor, Director, Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Western Washington University

Allegra Gordon, ScD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Boston University

Sasha Gorrell, PhD

Assistant Professor, University of California, San Francisco

Deb Mitchison, PhD

NHMRC Research Fellow, Western Sydney University, Australia