RESEARCH TEAM

SANIYA WU

Graduate Student

Saniya is currently a second year graduate student in psychological science program at UT Dallas. She joined the team in Fall 2015. Her research interests are conflict recovery and what makes some partners feeling more intimate and understanding in their relationships than other partners.

ITZEL ORTIZ

SONYA SHUNYAKOVA

EMILY GARNER

FOROUZ SHIRVANI

JULIE BIEMER

Graduate Student

Julie is a third year graduate student in the psychological sciences department at UT Dallas. She joined the team in Fall 2014 and her research interests include how couples trust each other, communicate with each other (both verbally and nonverbally), and maintain their intimate connection.

KAREN J. PRAGER

Ph.D., A.B.P.P.

Dr. Prager earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from

The University of Texas at Austin. She is the founder of the Couples' Daily Lives study. She is also a diplomate in Couple & Family Psychology as well as a professor of psychology and program head for gender studies at the University of Texas at Dallas.

JESSE POUCHER

Doctoral Student

Jesse is a 6th year Ph.D. candidate in the psychological sciences department at UT Dallas. He joined the research team back in 2010. He specializes in contingent self-worth and its impact on intimacy in romantic couples, and research design. He also enjoys painting, improvisational cooking, and public speaking.

QURATULAIN ADAM

JOURDAN THERIAULT

Undergraduate Student

Jourdan is an undergraduate majoring in psychology and minoring in gender studies. She would like to work within the LGBT community with a specific interest in transgender counseling.

ERIN KNEBEL

JACKIE WELCHMAN

YAZMIN MORA

Shayan Persaei

Undergraduate Student

Shayan is a senior with a major in Biology and a minor in Psychology and is en route to medical school. He joined the research team in the Summer of 2015 after taking Dr.Prager's personality class. He grew up in a family in which psychology and self-realization are valued. Functions of human mind and human interactions have always been fascinating to him. He is also interested in human personality, leadership, and leadership development. As a future physician, he believes ina holistic view and treatment of people and patints.

Previous Lab Members

MARIAH BUTLER

BECCA MAYERS

D'LYNN LANDRETH

JUHI PATELL

ANKUR PATEL

AMANI KHALIL

Priyanka Jagannathan

Undergraduate Student

Priyanka Jagannathan is a sophomore at UT Dallas. She is majoring in Healthcare Management and is on the Pre-Med track. She joined the team Fall 2015. Priyanka works at a Healthcare clinic and focuses on establishing the company's platform. In addition she volunteers to teach conversational and written English to immigrants in West Dallas. After she graduates, she hopes to attend medical school to become a physician. Priyanka enjoys dancing, watching movies, and hanging out with friends and family.

VICTORIA NGUYEN

Our Research Team

at The University of Texas at Dallas

HANNAH SCHEPPS

Graduate Student

Hannah is a first year graduate student in Psychological Sciences, specializing in Social/Personality Psychology. Her research interests include couples communication, as well as the processes involved in maintaining relationships. Her goal is to work towards becoming a couples therapist.

MISHA MEHTA

Graduate Student

Misha is a second year Masters student in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience at UT Dallas. She joined the couples daily lives team in Spring 2016. She is interested in Social and Personality Psychology and her research interests include looking at what kind of conflicts benefit a romantic relationship. She loves to swim, cook, read, write and have new experiences. Further down the line, she wants to help people improve the quality of their lives through counseling.

SAI PRIYA PATEL

Undergraduate Student

Sai Priya is a junior majoring in Healthcare Studies. She joined the research team in the Fall of 2015. On completion of her time at UT Dallas, she hopes to pursue her career interests in medicine, with a focus on Pediatric Oncology. In her free time, Sai Priya enjoys listening to music, singing, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family.

FATIMA KHAN

Undergraduate Student

Fatima is a junior with a double major in Psychology and Child Learning and Development. She joined the research team in the Fall of 2015. Fatima hopes to pursue a career in medicine, with a special interest in anesthesiology. In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends, watch movies, and play basketball.

KIMBERLY TRAN

Undergraduate Student

Kimberly is a 2nd year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience. She join the lab during Summer 2016. Kimberly hopes to pursue a career in medicine and has a special interest in vascular surgery. In her free time, she likes to play piano, play sports, and spend time with family.

ALEXIS BERNAL

Undergraduate Student

Alexis Bernal is a third year student at UT Dallas; majoring in Biology and minoring in Child Development. Upon completion, Alexis will be attending medical school. Additionally, Alexis is involved with the UT Dallas Jazz band as a trumpet player; a scribe at Dallas Presbyterian hospital; and volunteers as a Transport Ambassador at Dallas Methodist hospital

STEPHANIE SHYU

SYDNEY CHIPMAN

Undergraduate Student

Sydney Chipman

HELEN SHI

Undergraduate Student

Helen is a second year undergraduate student double majoring in psychology and neuroscience and is aspiring to become a pediatrician. She joined the research team in fall of 2016. As an advocate for the holistic treatment of patients, she is determined to continuously learn as much as she can, including the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of people. In her free time, she enjoys exchanging life stories with people, watching movies and TV shows, and volunteering.

MADELEINE BURAU

Undergraduate Student

Maddie is a senior double majoring in Psychology and Child Learning and Development. She joined the research team fall of 2016. She enjoys working with kids and eventually wants to work in a pediatric psychiatric acute care center. She works at a pediatric office and currently volunteer at Our Children’s House, a branch of Children’s Health. In her free time, she likes hanging out with my friends and family, doing outdoorsy activities, listening to music, and being creative.

EMILY WILKINSON

ANGEL DEL ANGEL

Michaiah Gartner

Undergraduate Student

Michaiah is a senior majoring in Psychology. She joined the research team in the Spring of 2017. Once she graduates, she hopes to continue her education and further explore her research interests in specific learning disabilities. She currently interns at a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing various Psychotherapeutic services to individuals who have been convicted of drug and/or violent offenses. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

Katie Beckett

Undergraduate Student

Katie is a senior with a double major in Psychology and Child Learning and Development. She joined the research team in the Spring of 2017. After she graduates, she hopes to further her experience in research while additionally working towards her goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

Mark Tran

Undergraduate Student