People in the Lab
Lab Director
Kenneth H. Rubin (B.A., McGill University; Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University)
Graduate Students
Rachel GhoshRachel Ghosh is a second-year Human Development doctoral student with a specialization in Developmental Science. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a minor in Community Action and Social Change. Her research interests include father-child relationships, father absence, and the impacts of father involvement on children’s social and emotional development throughout the lifespan. She is also interested in father-inclusive parenting interventions, and intervention work that promotes healthy development and resilience among fatherless children. Rachel is co-mentored by Dr. Natasha Cabrera in the HDQM department, where she works on a parenting intervention for low-income black and Latinx first-time parents and their infants. Rachel is also working on our lab's international COVID-19 Project (see COVID page here).
Resume Email: ghoshra@terpmail.umd.edu Mazneen HavewalaMazneen is a second-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program (Dr. Cixin Wang, advisor). She earned her first Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2008 in India, after which she worked as a Clinical Psychologist for two years. She moved to the United States in 2011, and received her second Master’s degree in Personality and Social Psychology from the American University, Washington, DC in December 2012. Mazneen is interested in studying the effects of parental influences and culture on child development, with a specific focus on child and adolescent internalizing symptoms. In addition, she is coordinating the data gathering responsibilities for the India site that is involved in our lab's international COVID-19 Project (see COVID page here).
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Email: mazneen@umd.edu Hailey FleeceHailey is a first-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program (Dr. Hedy Teglasi, advisor). She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2020 with a Master’s degree in Human Development, mentored by Dr. Rubin. Her thesis focused on the effects of observed friendship formation on group level peer experiences in behaviorally inhibited preschool children. Her current research interests include early childhood shyness and social withdrawal, friendships, and parent-child relationships.
Email: hfleece@umd.edu |
Post Doc
Kelly SmithKelly Smith received a Ph.D. in Human Development and Quantitative Methodology in 2020. She received a B.A, in psychology from Georgetown University. Kelly's research interests include the development of the role of personality and emotion regulation in the development of social reticence and withdrawal. Additionally, she is interested in the influence of parenting on children's social development and interventions to improve the quality of children's relationships. Read about Kelly's recent dissertation study here which focused on children's social interactions while playing video games. Kelly is currently doing a Post-Doc with Nicholas Wagner (Boston University) and continues to provide leadership in the lab's COVID-19 and shyness intervention projects (for details, refer to our research pages).
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Email: ksmith56@umd.edu |
Research Assistants
Amber KaiserAmber Kaiser is a sophomore pursuing a B.A. double major in Psychology and Criminology & Criminal Justice. Her research interests include abusive relationships during adolescence, specifically on how they impact future romantic relationships and parent-child relationships as a predictor of how healthy future romantic relationships for the child will be. In the future, Amber plans to attend graduate school. |
Stephanie PhamStephanie Pham is a junior pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and Hearing and Speech Sciences. Her research interests include adult and child psychopathology, social and identity development, and mental health outcomes and interventions in underrepresented and at-risk populations. Stephanie ultimately wants to attend graduate school to pursue a degree in clinical psychology or speech-language pathology. |
Abigail WidmerAbigail Widmer is a junior working towards a B.S. in psychology with a minor in neuroscience. Her research interests include developmental pathways of psychopathology, parent-child and peer relationships, and early intervention. Abigail plans to attend graduate school to attain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. |
Stacey CabreraStacey Cabrera is a junior pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development. Her research interests include parent-child relationships and their impact on children's academic, social, and emotional development, particularly among ethnic minority and low-income communities. Stacey plans to attend graduate school to obtain her Ph.D. in Developmental or School Psychology. |