lab director
Rona Carter, PhD, LLP, RYT
Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology
Dr. Carter received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology at Florida International University and her post-doctoral training at the Institute for Social Research and Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. Her research explores how biological transitions and interpersonal relationships (peers, friends, teachers) in the school context influence adolescent girl’s academic and psychological outcomes and how intersecting identities (gender, ethnicity-race)and social expectations shape girls' interpersonal experiences in school. Dr. Carter draws upon both secondary data analysis and original data collection and uses a multi-method (i.e., survey, experimental, observational), multi-informant (i.e., the adolescent, their close friend, parent, and teacher) design framework to address her research questions. Faculty Profile
staff
graduate students
Joonyoung Park
Doctoral Student
Joonyoung Park is a fifth-year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Michigan. Joon is broadly interested in how society and parents convey information about puberty to adolescents just entering puberty. She is currently examining the relationship between adolescents’ early pubertal development, parent-adolescent relationships, and risky sexual behaviors. Her goal is to work in policy settings related to adolescent development. When Joon is not in the lab, she loves watching movies, and you might be able to find her in either the State or Michigan theater on weekends.
Jessica Pitts
Doctoral Student
Jessica Pitts is a third-year Ph.D. student in Developmental Psychology at the University of Michigan. She is interested in studying ethnic and racial socialization. More specifically, she is interested in how Black youth (children and adolescents) learn about race & racism and how this influences the development of their gendered and ethnic identities. Outside of research, Jessica likes to rollerblade, read books (especially books written by Octavia Butler), and dance.
Anushree Bhatia
Doctoral Student
Anushree Bhatia is a third-year graduate student in the Combined Ph.D. Program in Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan. Anushree is broadly interested in exploring how parents and teachers can support children and youth of color through culturally responsive interventions. She examines the connections between well-being, academic outcomes, parent-child relationships, and racial-ethnic socialization. Before graduating, Anushree worked as a Project Manager at Child Trends in Washington, DC. Outside of the lab, she loves engaging in various creative projects.
collaborating graduate students
post-bac students
undergraduate students
Bethany Tan
Research Assistant
Bethany is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. Though undeclared, she is interested in developmental psychology and was drawn to this lab because of its focus on a child's adolescent years. She hopes to continue studying Psychology post-grad while further narrowing her interests. Outside of education, Bethany is in the Vietnamese Student Association and, in her free time, enjoys watching TV shows, drawing, and baking.
Brayden Moore
Research Assistant
Brayden Moore is a thrid-year undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. She is studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) and hopes to join the field of medicine as an adolescent psychiatrist. Regarding research, Brayden is interested in adolescent physiological, mental, and social development and how it relates to relationships and identities. She hopes to gain more experience conducting research that can impact what is known about psychology and improve patient outcomes in relation to medicine. Brayden enjoys baking, gardening, and music in her free time.
lab alumni
graduate students: Change Kwesele, Amira Halawah, Janelle Blazek undergraduate students: Andrea Bavikatty Lexi LaChappa, Sydney Kayne, Jessica Mills, Cathleen Nick, Ashley Yaldo, Emee Ta, Balsam Elajouz, IIana Herzberg, Bridget Mary Putt, Rachel Carretta, Noah Cook, Kareem Hakim, Erika Donaldson, Jessica Gelfarb, Asia Bond, Briauna Horton, Taylor Garland, Jenna Funsten, Briana Akani, Lauren Devincent, Millicent Gyamfuah, and Samantha Kim, Tamara Mackie and Chelsea Schwandt