Principle Investigator
Sunhye Bai, PhD MPH
Dr. Sunny Bai is an assistant professor for the Ballmer Institute and Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon. She received her MPH degree from UC Berkeley in 2010, specializing in Maternal and Child Health, and received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA in 2017, where she also completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship. Her research broadly focuses on adolescent development in the context of daily family and school life. This work integrates human development, family studies and clinical and health research, and relies heavily on naturalistic measures of youth and family functioning including daily diaries, passive recordings, and actigraphy. Dr. Bai's faculty webpage. |
Postdoctoral Scholars
Doctoral Students
Nathan Chiang Nathan is a fourth year graduate student in the Human Development and Family Studies Department at Penn State. His research focuses on family relationships and adolescent emotion dynamics, and how these emotional experiences are related to the development of psychopathology, suicide, and substance abuse. Dr. Bai is currently accepting a graduate student at UO! |
Research Project Coordinator
Kaitlyn Ewing
Kaitlyn Ewing is the Research Coordinator for the SAFE Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English in from Washington & Jefferson College, and she is currently working towards her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University online. She was a research assistant in her undergraduate program, and she completed two internships in private and public counseling centers. Kaitlyn also has worked in an inpatient behavioral health unit as a mental health tech. Her experience also includes serving in the United States Army as an officer and platoon leader.
Kaitlyn Ewing is the Research Coordinator for the SAFE Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English in from Washington & Jefferson College, and she is currently working towards her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University online. She was a research assistant in her undergraduate program, and she completed two internships in private and public counseling centers. Kaitlyn also has worked in an inpatient behavioral health unit as a mental health tech. Her experience also includes serving in the United States Army as an officer and platoon leader.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Jane Sluis Jane is a second-year undergraduate student at Penn State University majoring in Psychology with minors in Human Development and Family Studies and Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies. Jane is from Chicago, Illinois and is involved in THON and Greek Life. She plans on going to graduate school and getting a master's degree in clinical psychology and hopes to work in the mental health field in the future. Emerson Pedroza Emerson is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Oregon majoring in Psychology with a minor in Global Health. Emerson is from San Gabriel, California and is involved in Greek Life. She plans on pursuing a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Emma Wesolowski Emma is a third-year student at Penn State University studying Human Development and Family Studies and Digital and Print Journalism. Emma is a writer and editor for Her Campus at PSU, as well as a peer writing tutor for Penn State Learning. She plans on pursuing a master's degree and hopes to one day work in education or social work. Olivia Mundale Olivia is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Oregon majoring in Psychology with minors in Criminology and Forensic Anthropology. Olivia is from Orange County, California and she also works as a coach and choreographer for a High School Color Guard in Salem. She plans on pursuing a master's degree and a Ph. D. in Forensic Psychology Aine Byrne Aine is a second-year student at Penn State University majoring in Biobehavioral Health with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She is from State College, Pennsylvania and is involved in THON and work outside of Penn State. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school and stay involved in research. Lily Roach Lily is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Oregon majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration.She is from Bend, Oregon and is involved in intermural soccer and frequently competes in tennis tournaments. After graduation, she'd like to attend graduate school and travel as much as she can. Shixing Yuan Shixing is a third-year undergraduate student at Penn State University studying Secondary English Education and Human Development and Family Studies. She is from Beijing, China. Shixing also works as a part of the New Student Orientation Team, welcoming students and facilitating activities that would help new students from various identities get more involved. She loves to help others and in her free time, she also volunteers at a local animal shelter. Anna Wallin Anna is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Oregon majoring in Data Science with a minor in Spanish. She is from Lake Oswego, Oregon just outside of Portland and she is also working for the ambassador program at UO and is a member of the Women in Computer Science Club (WICS). After graduation she wants to use her knowledge in Data Science to improve political representation in our country or find better methods of political polling, and to get a job that improves people's lives. Meghan Riccio Meghan is a third-year undergraduate student at Penn State University majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Rehabilitation and Human Services. She is from Montgomery, Pennsylvania and is involved in WorkLink and Book Club. Previously she worked as a Behavior Technician at Merakey. Her current goals after graduation is to get a masters degree and continue to get more experience in the research field. |
Sophie Grunzweig Sophie is a second year undergraduate student at Penn State University majoring in Psychology. She plans on having a focus in Developmental Psychology and adding a minor in Rehabilitation and Human Services or Human Development and Family Studies. She is from Cleveland, Ohio and is involved in THON. Her goals are to attend graduate school and one day get a Ph.D. in Psychology. Talia Werthaim
Talia Werthaim is a fourth year undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She is from Marlboro, New Jersey and is involved with Greek Life, THON, Penn State Homecoming, as well as the Jewish organizations on campus. In the future, she hopes to get her masters in school counseling and be able to work with kids. |
Yejin Park Yejin Park is a third year undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She is from South Korea, and is involved with HHD honor society, and has experienced working in psychiatric hospital as intern researcher. She likes to support people in terms of mental health and her goals after graduation are to attend graduate school and study psychology. |
Lorrany DaCosta Lorrany DaCosta is a third-year undergraduate student at Penn State University majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She is from Souderton, Pennsylvania, and is involved in Women in Business and THON. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in supporting the development of children and families. She also plans to stay involved in research and one day go to graduate school. Mariana Azpurua Mariana Azpurua is a third year undergraduate student at Penn State University, majoring in Advertising and developing a double minor in Digital Media Trends and Analytics and Human Development and Family Studies. She is from Caracas, Venezuela, she is also involved in the Venezuelan Student Organization at Penn State and in The Daily Collegian Newspaper at Penn State. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career that encapsulates everything she is studying. She plans to one day go to graduate school. Scott Bevilacqua Scott is a second year Nursing Student at Pennsylvania State University. He is from a small town outside of Scranton, PA and has a passion for human health. Outside of the academic year, Scott is a Nurse's Aide and lives by he fact that his patients are his friends. His ultimate goal is to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice, with his specialty being in labor and delivery. |