Lab Director
Lin Tan, PhD
Dr. Lin Tan is an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at the University of Arkansas. She received her Ph.D. in Human Development and M.A. in Applied Statistics from Virginia Tech. She completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. As a developmental psychologist and methodologist, Dr. Tan explores children’s emotional development and family dynamics. She also collaborates on projects investigating alcohol prevention among college students.
For more information: Faculty Page | Google Scholar
Senior Research Coordinator
Isabelle Nolan
Isabelle Nolan is a graduate student studying clinical mental health counseling at the University of Arkansas. Isabelle is particularly interested in studying the development of children’s emotions and attachment theory. She is passionate about translating research findings into impactful and accessible clinical practices.
Graduate Research Assistant
Cheng Hu, MS
Cheng Hu is a first-year Experimental Psychology PhD student in the Department of Psychological Science at the University of Arkansas. She received her MS in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Cheng is interested in children’s social-emotional capacities and development, especially focusing on preschoolers. Cheng is interested in how to establish a safe and healthy environment to promote children’s development in both school and family settings. Cheng is also interested in how social-emotional learning (SEL) can reduce preschoolers’ internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors.
Senior Undergraduate Research Assistants
Marta Balconi
Marta Balconi is an undergraduate student from Italy majoring in Psychology and Philosophy at The University of Arkansas. After graduation she plans to pursue a PhD in behavioural neuroscience. She is interested in how brains and bodies can be affected by traumatic experiences and the different paths to recovery, with a focus on generational traumas. She cares about mental health and believes it should be accessible for everyone.
Alivia Dulaney
Alivia DuLaney is a fourth-year honors student majoring in psychology, criminology, and sociology. She is interested in child psychology and how children develop emotional regulation skills within the family environment and seeks to expand her knowledge in this area through continued research. Alivia plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career working with victimized women and children.
Lauren George
Lauren George is a senior undergraduate student majoring in psychology with a minor in medical humanities. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy. She hopes to work with children as an OT. Lauren’s research interests include emotion regulation, sensory-processing disorder, and child development.
Anna Schmiedeke
Anna Schmiedeke is a junior at the University of Arkansas majoring in Psychology. After graduation, she plans to get her master’s degree in counseling and one day pursue a career in Sports Psychology. Anna is particularly interested in how sports affect the mental health of athletes. She is passionate about expanding awareness towards athlete mental health.
Naomi Stein
Naomi Stein is a third-year honors undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. After graduation, she plans on continuing her education with graduate school in either IO psychology or clinical psychology with a focus on children. Her work experience with children and adults has inspired research aspirations involving emotion regulation, mindset, and motivation.
Bethany Thomas
Bethany Thomas is an undergraduate student studying Psychology at the University of Arkansas. She is planning on graduating in the Fall of 2024 and exploring opportunities for more experience in Child Developmental Psychology. After working with young children for many years, she is particularly interested in child trauma responses and coping mechanisms. She is excited for the opportunity to explore more about children and their emotions in the FEELab.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Lydia Bednar
Lydia Bednar is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in marketing and human development and family sciences. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for clinical mental health counseling. Lydia is passionate about working with families and children, and she is excited to apply her knowledge and skills to support their mental health and well-being.
Olivia Kline
Olivia Kline is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas, majoring in psychology and minoring in Substance Abuse Disorders. After graduation, she plans to pursue her master’s in clinical psychology or social work in hopes of one day becoming a children’s therapist. She is especially interested in emotional development in children and how it is affected by environmental contexts and experiences.
Taylor Maddox
Taylor Maddox is an undergraduate at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Psychology. She has an extensive background working with children as a Registered Behavior Technician, a lead preschool teacher, and owns a nannying business. She strongly believes in the power of play-based learning and is especially interested in developmental disorders in children. Taylor plans to attend graduate school and earn a doctorate of occupational therapy.
Madison Rownd
Madison Rownd is a junior undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in human development and family sciences. She is currently in the process of becoming a Registered Behavior Technician to provide ABA therapy for children with autism. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in children’s developmental trauma.
Alyssa Schmit
Alyssa Schmit is a sophomore honors undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. This is her first year working with the FEELab. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to become a clinical psychologist working with adolescents or specializing in sports psychology.
Anna Shirey
Anna Shirey is a senior undergraduate student majoring in psychology with a minor in communication. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to become a clinical psychologist focusing on working with children. Working with children for many years has peaked her interest in emotional regulation and development in children, so she is very excited to learn more about children’s emotions through the FEELab.
Lexi Webb
Lexi Webb is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Psychology with minors in medical humanities and human development and family sciences. She is particularly interested in cognitive and socio-emotional development due to her years of experience working with children. After graduation she plans on attending graduate school in pursuit of a marriage and family therapy degree in hopes of becoming a child and adolescent therapist.