The Emotion Development Lab

Dr. Kristin Buss is Professor of Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies at Penn State University and also the Director of the Emotion Development Lab. She is interested in children’s emotional and social development. Her studies often focus on how early emotional experiences shape later development.

My research examines psychological factors that contribute to emotional well-being across the lifespan. By integrating neurocognitive, physiological, and behavioral techniques, I aim to gain insight into the complex processes that underlie risk and resilience throughout development. One current line of research uses this multi-method approach to investigate social context-sensitive biological signatures of emotion regulation flexibility in development.

Dr. Michelle Ramos received her Ph.D. in Developmental Science from Florida International University in 2021 under the mentorship of the late Dr. Bethany Reeb-Sutherland and Dr. Erica Musser. Her dissertation focused on understanding the development of risky behavior during adolescence by examining individual differences in reward- and control-related factors across multiple levels of analysis (i.e., behavioral, central, and peripheral nervous systems). Her dissertation explored these domains via EEG-linked neural activity (i.e, the FRN and N2, respectively), peripheral autonomic indexes of self-regulation (i.e., RSA) as well as performance-based indices of inhibitory control in relation to risk-taking behavior (reported and performance-based). She has also done work investigating brain-related changes in youth (ages 8-17) with and without anxiety following attention bias modification training (ABMT). Michelle has also examined neural correlates of error-monitoring (i.e., ERN) and how individual differences in attentional control (shifting and focusing attention) may help in reducing levels of anxiety. Moving forward she hopes to bridge her two lines of research to better understand how differences in the development of control-related processes may influence later risk-taking behavior.

Stacey LeVan joined the Emotion Development Lab in 2019 as a Lab Manager. Stacey is a Penn State graduate with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis on Adolescent Development. She received her M.Ed. in Higher Education in 2022. Prior research experience includes multiple projects on School Readiness under Dr. Karen Bierman. Her research interests include First Generation College Students.

Bridget Cahill joined the Emotion Development Lab in 2022 as a project coordinator after receiving a B.A. in psychology from the University of Delaware. Her prior research experience includes working as a research assistant at the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up lab which studies attachment between caregiver and infant dyads who experienced early adversity and tests the efficacy of a sensitive parenting intervention. Bridget’s current research interests include examining the effects of social media on adolescents’ mental health, especially social anxiety, and self-esteem. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical or counseling psychology in the future.

Tatum Gramly joined the Emotion Development Lab in 2023 as a research data manager. She graduated from Juniata College in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Psychology, and is currently back at Juniata pursuing her master’s in Bioinformatics. Her prior research experience includes work on the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. Her current research interests include epigenetics, the underlying biological influences on adolescent development and psychopathology, and the development and implementation of data pipelines. In her free time, Tatum enjoys watching soccer and painting.

Alina Hoff joined the Emotion Development Lab in 2023 as a project coordinator after receiving a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from Arizona State University. Her prior research experience includes working as a research assistant in the Adolescent Stress and Emotion Lab and the Arizona Twin Project. Her current research interests include examining how physiological markers of stress and internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety) are associated with sleep and cardiometabolic health outcomes throughout adolescence. In the future, Alina hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology.

Maggie Penner joined the Emotion Development Lab full-time in 2024 as a project coordinator after receiving a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Spanish and Sustainability Leadership from Penn State University. Her prior research experience includes working as an undergraduate research assistant and part-time employee for the Emotion Development Lab. Maggie’s current research interests include examining psychopathology from a longitudinal perspective, particularly related to psychophysiological (EEG) measures, mindfulness meditation, adolescence, and the development of novel treatment methodologies. In the future, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology.

Justin Wortman joined the Emotion Development Lab as a research assistant in 2024. Justin graduated from Penn State in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology. His prior research experience includes working as a research assistant in the Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience, where he worked under Dr. Suzy Scherf on the SAGA project, which focused on visual communication skills in adolescents with autism. His research interests include eye-tracking, and he hopes to pursue a PhD through the military.

Jihee Lee graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Rehabilitation and Human Services and Korean. Her prior research experience includes working as an undergraduate research assistant for the Emotion Development Lab and participating in the Partnerships for International Research and Education Grant with the Center for Language Science. Jihee is currently in graduate school pursuing a Master’s degree in Counselor Education with an emphasis in School Counseling. During her free time, she likes to spend time with her dog and take him on picnics. 

Aastha Soni joined the Emotion Development Lab part-time in 2024 as a research assistant after receiving a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Visual Arts from Penn State University. Her prior research experience includes working as an undergraduate research assistant for the Emotion Development Lab primarily helping with their Drawing and Anxiety Study. Currently, Aastha handles recruitment efforts and assists with data processing. This Fall, she will be starting her Master of Fine Arts degree in Medical Illustration at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Lauren graduated in May 2022 at Penn State University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Rehabilitation and Human Services. She started with the Emotion Development Lab as an undergrad research assistant in the spring of 2020. Lauren was a part of the touring organization, Lion Scouts, and the Operations Committee for THON. Lauren is currently in graduate school working on her Ph.D. in school psychology. She hopes to pursue a career as a school psychologist. During her free time, Lauren likes to watch TV, embroider, and hang out with friends.

Leah is a first-year graduate student in the Child-Track Clinical Psychology PhD program at Penn State, working with Dr. Kristin Buss. She received her BA with a double major in Psychology and History from the University of Michigan in 2022. Previously, she served as an undergraduate research assistant in the Michigan Neurogenetics and Developmental Psychopathology Lab (directed by Dr. Luke Hyde) and as the lab manager/research coordinator for the Trauma History Investigation of Neurodevelopment in Kids Lab (directed by Dr. Hilary Marusak). She is interested in exploring how stress and trauma confer risk for fear-based disorders in children and adolescents through alterations in fear and safety learning.

Maddie is a third-year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program, working with Dr. Kristin Buss and the Emotion Development Lab. She received her BA in Psychology from Cornell College with a minor in Applied Statistics, and completed an undergraduate research fellowship with Dr. Jasmine Fardouly at Macquarie University in Sydney, AU. After graduating, Maddie completed her Masters in Clinical and Developmental Research at Vanderbilt University, where she was mentored by Dr. Autumn Kujawa and worked as a research assistant for Dr. Judy Garber. At Vanderbilt, Maddie became fascinated with developmental psychopathology, multi-method research (including EEG/ERP and EMA) and quantitative methods. She is excited to study both longitudinal and proximal risk factors for the emergence of internalizing psychopathology during adolescence, particularly related to social-emotional processing, temperament, and interpersonal stress. In her free time, Maddie likes watching baseball (go Cards), spending time outside, and trying new recipes.

Jianing is a third-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program working with Dr. Erika Lunkenheimer and Dr. Kristin Buss. She received her master’s degree in psychology from Beijing Normal University, China in 2022. Her research interests are the impact of family risks (e.g., child maltreatment) on child outcomes, physiological pathways between childhood adversity and health, and individual differences in above associations. In pursuing her Ph.D., she hopes to further investigate how familial adversities and parent-child dynamic contribute to child physiology and psychopathology, and the protective processes in parent-child relationships.

Alyssa is a first-year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program working with Dr. Kristin Buss and Dr. Koraly Pérez-Edgar. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Psychological Science at Western Kentucky University through their joint undergraduate masters program. Under the mentorship of Dr. Diane Lickenbrock, she worked as an undergraduate/graduate research assistant for 5 years. Alyssa’s interests in emotion development include using a multimethod approach to understanding individual differences in cardiac autonomic reactivity (RSA/PEP), temperament (behavioral inhibition), and parent-child interactions. She is particularly interested in exploring these factors as they work dynamically, in tandem to shape the way children respond to stress. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, calligraphy, and spending time with friends and family.

Daiqing Zhao (Iris) is a fourth-year graduate student in Developmental Psychology working with Dr. Jenae Neiderhiser and Dr. Kristin Buss. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2018, where she primarily studied individual differences and personality structure with Dr. Colin DeYoung, and childhood social cognition with Dr. Melissa Koenig. She received her M.A. from Boston University, where she worked with Dr. Michael Lyons on genetic and environmental risk factors of Mild Cognitive Impairment in mid to late-age twins. Her interests lie in mechanisms of childhood and adolescence adjustment problems (e.g. internalizing and externalizing problems), development of temperament and personality, and how gene-environment interplay could explain the above.

Lana Burke is a junior at Penn State University majoring in psychology with a focus in neuroscience. She plans to attend medical school after graduating in hopes of pursuing psychiatry. She is excited to get research experience to further her knowledge of neuroscience. Outside of the lab, she enjoys participating in spirit activities at Penn State, going on adventures with friends, and reading her favorite books.

Emma is a junior at Penn State University majoring in Psychology. She currently plans to attend graduate school but is still figuring out the specific area of study. Emma ultimately hopes to pursue a career in the research field. In her free time, she likes to bake, play volleyball, hang out with friends and family, and take naps with her cat. 

Madison is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a Psychiatrist. Over the summer, she worked as a babysitter for young children. Outside the lab, she is a member of the Student Programming Association and she is involved with Greek life. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. 

Dana is a junior at Penn State University majoring in Psychology and Criminology and minoring in Security and Risk Analysis. She plans on attending graduate school in hopes of becoming a corrections counselor. During the breaks, she works at her local juvenile detention center supervising juvenile first-time offenders. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her friends, listening to true crime podcasts, and dancing jazz.  

Morgan is a senior at Penn State majoring in psychology and minoring in neuroscience and biology. She plans on attending graduate school but is unsure what area she specifically wants to study. She is interested in the research field and is excited to be a part of this lab. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and swimming when it’s warm out.  

Madison Miller a junior majoring in Psychology and Criminology with a minor in Spanish. She plan on attending graduate school in hopes of becoming a Forensic Psychologist. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, exercising, cooking, and trying new restaurants. 

Zoe Snitzer is a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in psychology with a focus in neuroscience. She plans to attend medical school after graduating and is excited to gain research experience in the lab before pursuing further education. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, participating in Penn State activities, and going on outdoor adventures.  

Isabel is a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Rehabilitation and Human Services. She currently plans to go to graduate school to receive a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She has also worked with children as a camp counselor. Outside of school, Isabel loves musical theatre and playing ukulele. She also loves to hang out with her friends and drink tea.