
Our team
Graduate Student
Karallyn Fitisone
Hi! Everyone, I am a doctoral student in the experimental psychology program at UK! My research interests include, risk, resilience, substance and alcohol use, and stress.
Graduate Student
Courtlyn Fields, M.A., M.S.
Hello! I am a graduate student in the Experimental Psychology Program at UK. My research interests broadly include emotion, family dynamics, and problem behaviors.

Graduate Student
Julie Bowling
Hello! I am a doctoral student in the experimental psychology program at UK. My research interests include Appalachia, family relationships, socioeconomic disadvantages, and addiction.

Undergraduate RA
Olivia Lee
Olivia is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology with a neuroscience minor. She is interested in child development and emotional regulation.

Undergraduate RA
Sophie Imler
Hello, I am Sophie Imler and I am a sophomore here at the University of Kentucky. I am currently majoring in psychology with a minor in gender and women's studies as well as family sciences! Eventually, I would love to become a clinical psychologist and potentially specialize in post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Undergraduate RA
Catherine McGrath
Catherine is a junior at UK majoring in Psychology. Her research interest are in child
development in an educational setting.

Undergraduate RA
Lucas Teodorescu
Lucas Teodorescu is a junior at the University of Kentucky majoring in psychology, neuroscience, and chemistry. He plans to pursue an MD-PhD program with a focus on research and clinical care. Lucas currently works as a research assistant at the university’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). He is also a recipient of the Summer Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) and serves as a resident advisor on campus

Undergraduate RA
Joseph Estelita III
My name is Joseph and I am a sophomore at UK! I major in Psychology and Finance with a goal to go to graduate school for Clinical Psychology. My interest are risk perception & cognitive biases, personality disorders, and how stress impacts a person's wellbeing.

Undergraduate RA
Olivia Carroll
Olivia is a junior, pre-med psychology, interested in adolescent psychology and how trauma impacts development. She is from Paducah, KY.

Undergraduate RA
Madison Clarke
I am going into my junior year and will be graduating in December of 2026. I am majoring in psychology with a minor in health promotion. My research interests include substance use, anxiety, and mental/physical well-being!

Undergraduate RA
Gabby Shish
Hi! My name is Gabby Shish, and I am a Junior majoring in Psychology and Communication. My interests include child development, mental health, and family relations and I am hoping to be a therapist once I finish school.

Undergraduate RA
Leah Kokocinski
My name is Leah Kokocinski and I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology with a minor in neuroscience. I am mostly interested in researching personality disorders, PTSD and other mood disorders, and substance abuse. I would love to one day become a clinical psychologist and work with kids in a hospital recover from a traumatic experience.


Our Collaborators
Lab Highlights













