Principle Investigator
Heather C. Lench, PhD
Associate Professor & Department Head
Department of Psychology
Texas A&M University
4235 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4235
979-845-0377
Email: hlench@tamu.edu
Faculty Profile: https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/psychology/profile/heather-lench/
I welcome contact from anyone interested in the lab or with similar research interests. I would also appreciate any comments about the site or recommendations about information that is useful to students.
Doctoral Students
Jericka Battle
Email: jerickabattle@tamu.edu
Jericka S. Battle is a fourth year Ph.D student in the Social-Personality Psychology Program at Texas A&M University. Her primary research interests include the study of the behavioral and affective impact of ostracism within minority communities. In addition to her work on exclusion, Jericka is focused on: employing interdisciplinary theories and methods (cultural psychology, critical race theory, etc.) to better study minority populations; examining power dynamics that contribute to feelings of exclusion, and developing evidence-based intervention strategies to create a sustainable climate of inclusion in small group settings. Jericka is a recipient of the Texas A&M University Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Diversity Fellowship.
Ken Perez
Email: kenneth.perez@tamu.edu
Howdy, I am a fourth year graduate student in the Emotion Science Lab at Texas A&M University! My undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Economics were completed at University of Connecticut, Storrs. My research interests primarily revolve around the emotion of awe: its causes, outcomes, and implications for applied contexts.
Wan Yidou
Email: yidou@tamu.edu
Website: https://yidouwan.wordpress.com/
Hello! I am a fourth year Ph.D. student. I finished my B.S. in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My current research projects include the emotion of love, decision delegation and decision making, as well as replication studies. I enjoy teaching, so I am very excited that I will start teaching a psychology class this year.
Robert Tirso
Email: rtirso@tamu.edu
Hello, I am a fourth year PhD student and a new member of the Emotion Science Lab. I received my B.S. in psychology from Texas A&M University and am interested in two main lines of research. The first includes self-awareness both in general and with a focus on metacognition in educational settings. The second includes how self-perceptions of aging influence memory and other cognitive abilities in old age.
Lab Manager
Kaitlyn Kaiser
Email: kaitlyn.kaiser@tamu.edu
Hello, I am the lab manager for the Emotion Science Lab. I received my B.A. in psychology and anthropology from Southern Methodist University. My research interests center around interpersonal relationships, mate selection, and relationship satisfaction. I am excited to be a part of the Emotion Science Lab, and I’m looking forward to helping undergraduate students gain valuable research experience.
Research Assistants
Ashlee Sheafer
Howdy! My name is Ashlee Sheafer and I am a senior Psychology major, graduating in May 2020. WHOOP! Once I graduate, I hope to pursue a Master’s degree in Family Therapy and Counseling.
Alexis Broussard
Howdy! My name is Alexis Broussard and I am the loudest and proudest member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2022! I am a Psychology Major focusing on Bachelor of Arts with a Spanish minor. After graduating, I plan to get my Masters to eventually become a school district psychologist and focus on working with high school students! I am excited to dive deep into research with this team and learn more about the social realm of psychology, and how it influences people daily in life.
Cheyenne Miller
Howdy! I am a senior psychology major with a minor in sociology. I am very interested in abnormal human behavior, emotion, and forensic psychology. I hope to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology after graduating from Texas A&M in December 2020.
Hannah Porter
Howdy! My name is Hannah Porter and I am a senior psychology major graduating in May 2020. After graduation, I hope to get a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and provide affordable mental health care in under-resourced areas. I look forward to being part of the Emotion Science research team!
Jordan Hill
Howdy! I am a senior Psychology major here at Texas A&M. When I graduate I hope to pursue a career in clinical Psychology. Hopefully, in the future I can contribute to research in areas such as grief and anxiety.
Katherine Spurrier
Howdy! I am a junior undergraduate student from Longview, Texas. I plan to get my B.S. in psychology, then pursue a PhD. I’d like to lead research of my own one day, so working with the Emotion Science Lab makes me very excited to learn from those around me!
Kathryn Gray
Howdy! I am a junior psychology major. My research interests are primarily focused on emotions within child development, and I plan to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology after graduating from Texas A&M.
Kristen Akin
Howdy! My name is Kristen Akin and I am a senior working on my psychology major and chemistry and sociology minors. After I graduate from Texas A&M I plan to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology.
Lauren Schroeder
Howdy! My name is Lauren Schroeder and I’m a senior psychology major with a minor in business. After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD with hopes of becoming a child psychologist.
Raena Slate
Howdy! I am a Junior Psychology major with a minor in Spanish. I am from Decatur, Texas. I am so excited to be apart of the Emotion Science research team. After graduating in December 2020, I plan to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology.
Suzanna Gleason
Howdy! I am a senior Psychology major and neuroscience minor. After graduating from Texas A&M, I hope to pursue a Master’s or PhD in Clinical Psychology.
Zaria Sanders
Howdy! My name is Zaria Sanders and I am a sophomore Psychology and English double major. After I complete my Bachelor’s degree, I hope to obtain a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.