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 Coordinator. 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 and the impact on generalized anxiety.

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 the longitudinal effects of stress on physiological, psychological, and emotional outcomes during adolescent development. In the future, Alina hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology.

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.

Maddie is a second-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 second-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.

Maddie is a biology major on the premedical track set to graduate in 2024. She has worked in the medical field as a scribe since 2021 and is involved with Greek life and THON. When not in the lab, she can be found spending time with her friends, taking a nap, or on the phone with her dad.

Jennifer is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Psychology with a Neuroscience BS option. She is following a pre-medical track and is hoping to pursue a career as a psychiatrist. Jennifer is involved in a THON committee and serves as the Membership Chair for the Liberal Arts Ambassadors. During her free time, she enjoys drinking coffee (particularly Dunkin’), spending time with friends, and watching Netflix.

Keya is junior majoring in Psychology and following the Neuroscience track and minoring in Spanish and Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies. Keya is involved in Sisters on the Runway and Spanish Club. Additionally, she is an Education Abroad Peer Advisor, hoping to spread the joy she found while studying abroad during the summer of 2022 in Mexico. In her free time, you can find Keya at the library, working at the PSU tennis center, or in one of the boba cafes downtown enjoying a matcha milk tea.

Emma is a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in Psychology with a BS option. 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. 

Anjali is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Psychology with a Neuroscience BS option and minoring in Biology. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology with the hope to have a career as a Neuropsychologist. She is currently an aspiring Paterno Fellow and a member of the Online Chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success. She also spent one summer mentoring and aspiring kids one on one to find a love for STEM at The Learnatory. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to music, and baking.

Madison is a Junior 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. 

Jihee is a senior at Penn State pursuing a major in Psychology. After graduation, Jihee plans on attending graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she likes to play the piano, watch TV, play with her dog, and spend time with family and friends. 

Maggie is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish. She has worked as a babysitter and camp counselor for children of all ages. She has also volunteered through her high school to make care packages for chemotherapy patients. After graduation, Maggie hopes to attend graduate school but is still working out the specific area of study. She hopes to be a therapist after grad school. In her free time, Maggie enjoys spending time with friends, being outdoors, and trying new things. 

Isabel is a sophomore 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.