Current Graduate Students
Maddy Rodenbaugh, M.S. (2023 - Present): I started the UNT Clinical Psychology Doctoral program in 2023. My research interests include using positive psychology to develop new interventions for PTSD treatment and risk factors for the development and maintenance of co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder. In my free time, I enjoy taking my dog Haze to the park, reading, and going to concerts. Email: maddyrodenbaugh@my.unt.edu
Siyuan Wang (2023 - Present): I began at the UNT Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in 2023. My current interests include the epidemiology of PTSD among underserved populations and the application of quantitative methods in psychopathology. Outside of school, I like recharging myself at coffee shops and exploring new places with good people! Email: SiyuanWang@my.unt.edu ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Siyuan-Wang-66/research
Maddie Straup, M.S. (2022 - Present): In 2019, I began the UNT Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. My research interests broadly include cultural influences of traumatic experiences and PTSD symptomology, risk and protective factors for the development of PTSD, and trajectories of posttraumatic stress symptoms. In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends, hiking, traveling, exploring the DFW area, and binge-watching baking competition shows on Netflix! Email: maddiestraup@my.unt.edu
Ifrah Majeed (2021- Present): I began at the UNT Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in 2021. My research interests currently cover a broad area and include studying risk and protective factors for the development of PTSD, in addition to studying the presentation and processing of trauma/PTSD within non-Western cultural contexts (internationally or within immigrant communities). In my free time, I love playing classical guitar, working on creative projects, and watching movies and tv shows with some friends. Email: ifrahmajeed@my.unt.edu
Andrea Fentem, M.A. (2021- Present): I was accepted into UNT's Clinical Psychology Doctorate Program for the Fall of 2021. I am currently involved in the forensic track within our program. My overarching research interests include examining the behavioral and personality aspects of those who engage in post-trauma risky behaviors, particularly those within the criminal justice system. Outside of school, you will more than likely find me reading, playing video games, or hanging out with my two cats, Luna and Tigger! Email: andreafentem@my.unt.edu ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrea-Fentem
Sidonia Compton, M.S. (2020 - Present): I am a third-year clinical psychology doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Contractor. My research interests include dissemination and implementation of trauma-informed practices in underserved community settings, examining the relations between PTSD symptoms and risky behavior engagement, and broadly, the assessment and treatment of post-trauma symptoms. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, exploring the DFW area, and playing tennis. Email: sidoniacompton@my.unt.edu ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sidonia-Compton
Current Postbaccalaureate Research Assistants
Michelle Cornish (2022 - Present): Hello! I'm a post baccalaureate research assistant who graduated with a B.S. in psychology and B.A. in English. My interests include studying resilience, barriers, psychosis, and anything clinical trials. Aside from research, I've been recently occupying myself with making crafts, collecting candles, and looking out of the window with my cat, Gus.
Current Undergraduate Research Assistants
Jack Pyatt (2022 - Present): I initially started at UNT as a dual enrollment student in their new research-based learning program. Two years later in 2022, I started my undergraduate degree in psychology here on the main UNT campus in Denton. My research interests include the study of music in relation to anxiety disorders and developmental trauma in adults. Outside of school you can find me in bookstores around Denton!
Haley Dickens (2023 - Present): Hello, I started at UNT in 2021 majoring in psychology. My research interests include risky behaviors, trauma informed care, and PTSD. Outside of school I enjoy seeing my family and friends, and finding new places to explore.
Saher Sayed (2024 - Present): Hello! I am a sophomore at UNT pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a certification in Data Analytics. My research interests include studying decision making, learning about PTSD in South-Asian demographics, and anything related to quantitative data. Outside of school, I like to watch horror movies, build dioramas, and play with my cat, Colby!
Lab Alumni
Graduate Students
- Megan Dolan (2017-2022)
Postbaccalaureate Research Assistants
- Gurleen Kaur (2021-2024)
Graduate Research Assistants
- Alana Fondren (2019-2021)
- Stephanie Caldas (2016-2020)
- Ling Jin (2017-2020)
- Monica Gerber (2016-2017)
- Hanan Rafiuddin (2020-2021)
- Fallon Keegan (2018-2021)
- Brett Messman (2020-2023)
- Lizzie Griffith (2021-2023)
Visiting Scholars
- Alejandro de Miguel Álvaro (2023)
Undergraduate Research Assistants
- Preston Gould (2022-2023)
- Suzy Mneney (2022-2023)
- Aliya Izhar (2021-2022)
- Ashley Bocanegra (2020-2022)
- Jade Binford (2019-2021)
- Andreina Duran (2019-2021)
- Nicole Watson (2019-2021)
- Christa Cantu (2018-2019)
- Joseph Koh (2017-2019)
- Seanne O'Hara (2017-2019)
- Shelby Thornton (2017-2019)
- Sara Koh (2017-2018)
- Kelsey Oudshoorn (2016-2018)
- Jackeline Marquez (2016-2017)
2021-2022 Research Team
Top row, left to right: Ifrah Majeed, Brett Messman, Preston Gould, Michelle Cornish. Bottom row: Lizzie Griffith, Ateka Contractor, Gurleen Kaur. Not pictured: Aliya Izhar, Sidonia Compton.
2020-2021 Research Team
Top row, left to right: Alana Fondren, Megan Dolan, Brett Messman. Bottom row: Aliya Izhar, Sidonia Compton, Hanan Rafiuddin, Ateka Contractor, Chachi Bocanegra, Fallon Keegan.
2019-2020 Research Team
Top row, left to right: Alana Fondren, Jade Binford, Nicole Watson, Megan Dolan, Stephanie Caldas, Ateka Contractor. Bottom row: Cameron Marsh, Fallon Keegan, Andreina Duran.
2018-2019 Research Team
Top row, left to right: Christina Cantu, Seanne O'Hara, Stephanie Caldas, Megan Dolan, and Ateka Contractor; bottom row: Fallon Keegan, Shelby Thornton, and Ling Jin
2017-2018 Research Team
Left to right: Joseph Koh, Megan Dolan, Stephanie Caldas, Ateka Contractor, Sara Koh, and Seanna O'Hara
2016-2017 Research Team
Left to right: Monica Gerber, Stephanie Caldas, Ateka Contractor, Jackeline Marquez, and Kelsey Oudshoorn
Collaborators
Dr. Danica Slavish, University of North Texas
Dr. Matthew Price, The University of Vermont
Dr. Prathiba Natesan Batley, University of Louisville
Dr. Maria Crespo, Complutense University of Madrid
Dr. Rachita Sharma, University of North Texas
Dr. Jon D. Elhai, University of Toledo
Dr. Cherie Armour, Queen's University Belfast
Dr. Nicole Weiss, University of Rhode Island
Dr. Heidimarie Blumenthal, University of North Texas
Dr. M. Tracie Shea, Brown University
Dr. Melissa Mitchell, Summa Health Traumatic Stress Center
Dr. Anne Banducci, Boston VA Healthcare System
Dr. Lily Brown, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Katherine Dixon-Gordon, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Dr. Talya Greene, University College London