Our Team
Lab Director
Lee Raby, Ph.D.
Dr. Lee Raby is the director of the Early Experiences Lab and an assistant professor of developmental psychology at the University of Utah. Dr. Raby’s research interests involve understanding how early parent-child relationship experiences and children’s genetically based characteristics work together to shape individuals’ social, emotional, and cognitive functioning across the life-course. This research can help answer the fascinating questions about the origins of individual differences in people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In addition, these research findings can inform to promote healthy developmental outcomes among high-risk individuals. To learn more, please visit his faculty webpage.
Graduate Students
Jenn Isenhour
View Curriculum Vitae
Jenn’s program of research focuses on the significance of early experiences on cognitive and neurobiological development. Through her research, she hope to elucidate factors that shape and mediate the development of stress response systems as well as executive function skills including self- regulation. She is currently examining these issues among internationally and domestically adopted children and children raised in their biological families. The goal of these projects centers on disentangling the early experiences from genetic factors by comparing outcomes between groups in order to better understand how environmental factors and parent-child relationships bolster healthy development in early childhood. During the minimal time spent away from the research lab, Jenn enjoys spending time with her three wonderful sons and doting husband.
Bailey Speck
View Curriculum Vitae
Bailey graduated from the University of Rochester in 2019 where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Bailey’s research focuses on the psychophysiological underpinnings of the intergenerational transmission of attachment among vulnerable child populations. Specifically, she is interested in the psychophysiological and socioemotional development of children who have experienced prenatal and early postnatal adversities such as prenatal opioid exposure or early institutionalized care.
Research Assistants
Heba Alhamdani
Heba Alhamdani is a Psychology major and is minoring in Music and Chemistry. She is working towards medical school and plans on becoming a Pediatric Psychiatrist. She plays the flute and piccolo and is a member of the Marching Utes.
Maya Awada
Maya is a junior at the University of Utah pursuing a major in psychology and a minor in Arabic. She plans on continuing her education and receiving her Ph.D. in Psychology. She will be acquiring her nutritionist and personal training certification, so that she may assist individuals with working out, eating right, and therapy! She also plans on working with immigrants in Utah since she speaks Arabic fluently and understands how hard it can be as a first-generation American. Outside of the classroom, Maya is a member of the University of Utah Dance Team and plans on going professional in dance. In her free time, she works at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute as a Psychiatric Technician, enjoys shopping, and listening to music!
Abby Barber
Abby is a junior at the University of Utah, double majoring in psychology and ballet. She loves working with children as a ballet teacher. Abby is the Vice President of Healing in Motion Dance, an organization that offers rehabilitative ballet classes to members of the community with neurodegenerative disorders. She is interested in social psychology and looks forward to understanding how it intersects with developmental psychology. Originally from Texas, Abby loves exploring all that Utah has to offer outdoors. She also loves to read and spend time with friends.
Abby Christensen
Abby is a junior at the University of Utah and is studying Psychology and Peace and Conflict Studies. Abby is interested in the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences and trauma and looks forward to what she can learn from participating in this lab. She loves to ski, boat, and spend time with her people.
Brock Epperson
Brock is a senior at the University of Utah double majoring in Psychology and Criminology. Once obtaining his bachelor's degrees, he aims to pursue a master's degree and then doctoral degree in Forensic Psychology. With these degrees, Brock aims to eventually join the Behavioral Analysis Unit. His interest in the lab stems from his interest in child development, specifically how one's early life has deep-rooted consequences, positive and negative, extending to their adult life. In his free time, he enjoys consuming philosophical texts and engaging in philosophical discussions with peers. He also likes to spend his time appreciating and exploring natural beauty, which Utah has an abundance of.
Amanda Holt
Amanda is a sophomore at the University of Utah with a double major in Psychology and Ballet. She has a passion for working with children. She has been a teacher’s assistant for ballet classes and taught ballet to disadvantaged children. In the future, she wants to do research on how early experiences factor into development and how those experiences affect later life. She also wants to work with dancers and athletes as a sports psychologist, doing research on how the pressures of being an athlete can affect mental health. Outside of school and ballet her interests include art, cooking, and hiking. She loves to be outdoors and enjoys nature, especially sunsets.
Sophia Kalberg
Sophia Kalberg is a junior at the University of Utah with a major in psychology. After undergrad, she plans on attending graduate school in California to further her career before becoming a family/marriage therapist. Sophia has always been interested in developmental research, specifically how different attachment styles affect the development of an infant, which is why she was drawn to join the early experiences lab. She also enjoys doing research in the field of educational psychology, which led her to get her positive psychology certificate. In her free time, Sophia loves to surf, read, and play with her cat.
Maria Mazzei
Maria is a junior at the University of Utah pursuing a major in psychology and a minor in Cognitive Science. She plans on becoming a neurosurgeon at the University of Washington. She will be soon acquiring her Behavioral Therapist certification, so that she may assist individuals with therapy. Outside of the classroom, Maya is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. In her free time, she works at Kyo as a Behavior Therapist, volunteer at Hope Clinic, enjoys reading, drawing portraits, and play with her dog Maui!
Carlos Muñoz
Carlos Muñoz is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Utah, majoring in Psychology. Carlos found his passion for psychology in freshman year in an introductory psychology course and has been exploring the field ever since. He loves learning about how early life experiences impact childhood development. In his free time, he enjoys running, singing, reading, and exploring the outdoors. He is working towards eventually applying for a Psychology Ph.D. program and is excited to gain valuable research experience in the Early Experiences lab.
Andrew Parker
Andrew is currently a senior at the University of Utah, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Disability Studies and a certification in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. He plans on one day obtaining his PhD in Psychology. He has a passion for child psychology and is working towards a career as a Child Psychologist. He is looking forward to being a part of the Early Experiences Lab, which will give him a stronger foundation in child psychology and developmental psychology. Outside of school, you’ll find Andrew at the skatepark with his 7-year-old son.
Junyi Shen
Junyi is graduating in 2023 from the University of Utah with a major in both Psychology and Family, Community, and Human Development. She is highly interested in study early childhood mental health and family therapy. She hopes to learn from this team and get more knowledge about early experiences. She also hopes she can help families and babies to meet their needs and help them develop better and build stronger relationships. Out of school, Junyi loves musical shows and traveling. She also loves working with infants and children.
Audrey Skewes
Audrey is currently a senior at the University of Utah studying psychology and family consumer sciences with a minor in nutrition. After graduation her career goals consists of gaining a year or so of more experience in the field of psychology and then moving to California to attend graduate school. Her favorite actives are doing anything outside, hanging out with her friends, and traveling. Being in the lab she enjoys challenging herself in new ways, being able to explore her interests more, and working with a team!
Yixi Wu
Yixi is a sophomore at the University of Utah majoring in Psychology. She enjoys studying human thinking and behavior, and she is particularly interested in counseling. She enjoys helping people explore themselves and helping people work through their psychological issues. She is also highly interested in developmental psychology, and she is always amazed by how childhood experiences can affect a person's life. She wants to apply to graduate school in counseling or developmental psychology, so research experience is very valuable to her. She enjoy reading books and watching movies during leisure times, and she was studying dance for ten years.
