Dr. Christina Sharkey (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Catholic University of America and the director of the SHARK Lab. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Pediatric Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed her Doctoral Internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and her  Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Departments of Neurology, Oncology, Hematology & BMT at Children's National Hospital. Dr. Sharkey also has appointments as a Research Affiliate Member of the Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Children's National Hospital.

Broadly, her  research aims to promote positive health outcomes for children, emerging adults, and families impacted by complex and life-threatening pediatric health conditions. Dr. Sharkey's work is informed by the biopsychosocial model of health with a developmental-ecological perspective, and utilizes a variety of research methodologies to understand the multidimensional influences on health.  

Faculty Web Page

Google Scholar Page

Doctoral Research Assistant

Frances (she/her) is a second-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student. She received her BA in Psychological and Brain Sciences from George Washington University in 2019.  She has worked on research with youth with food allergy and diabetes, and patients on the inpatient psychiatric unit. Some of her research interests include anxiety disorders, caregiver-child relationships, health disparities, and intervention development for youth with medical conditions.

Doctoral Research Assistant

Mary Rose is a first-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student. She received her BA in Psychology from Brown University in 2022. Prior to attending CUA, Mary Rose worked as a research coordinator at the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center, where she managed multiple projects related to parent-child communication about hereditary and late-stage parental cancer. Her research interests include parent-child communication, family functioning, and children's social, emotional, and cognitive development in the context of chronic illness.

Master's Research Assistant

Jackson is a first-year Master’s in Psychological Science student. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX in 2021. After college, he worked as a research assistant across two separate departments at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where he developed a passion for suicide prevention research, LGBTQIA+ mental health, and working with children and adolescents.

Master's Research Assistant

Leah is a first-year Master's in Psychological Science student. She received her BA in Psychology at California State University Northridge in 2023. She is deeply passionate about supporting maltreated and atypically developing youth by examining how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), family dynamics, and resilience impact health. Overall, she is eager to develop, assess, and implement programs that may ease the struggles of caregivers for children with medical conditions from underserved populations while researching the influence of child-rearing practices on health by exploring the intersectionality of child maltreatment and chronic health conditions.

Volunteer Research Assistant

M.A. student, Psychological Science

Focus in Children, Families, and Cultures

My primary research interests are in the developmental trajectory of adolescents diagnosed with mental disorders and or chronic health conditions. I hope to find ways to better the developmental outcomes for these individuals as the field progresses. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Julia is a psychology BA major at CUA. She is interested in the prenatal and developmental risk factors that lead to a mental illness. In the future she would like to continue research on the development of mental illnesses. She is excited to learn more from volunteering at the SHARK lab! 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Angela is a Junior Psychology major with a minor in neuroscience at The Catholic University of America. She is interested in pursuing a career in the pediatric psychology field, and particularly interested in children's emotional and behavioral development. She is excited to be a part of the SHARK lab to help be a support for children! 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Penelope is a junior at the Catholic University of America, double majoring in Psychology and Criminology. She's interested in clinical psychology, particularly focusing on trauma and its long-term impact. Right now, she's excited to be a part of the SHARK Lab, where she hopes to learn how to help create support systems for people dealing with long-term challenges.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Camila is a Freshman in the BS Psychology and Brain Sciences program. She is interested in pursuing a career in pediatric neuropsychology. She can't wait to grow her knowledge and learn more about the research setting!

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma is an undergraduate Junior Psychology major with a minor in Criminology at The Catholic University of America  She is interested in pursuing a career in the field of child psychology, focusing on cognitive, behavioral, and emotional development. She is excited to be part of the SHARK lab research, specifically to help create positive support for children's health and wellbeing. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Faith is a junior in the Biology program with a minor in Psychology. She is interested in pursuing a career in healthcare and learning more about the relationship between psychology and medicine. She is excited to join the SHARK lab and make a positive impact on the lives of others through research. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Addie Wildermuth is a Sophomore Psychology and Music double major at the Catholic University of America. She is interested in childhood development and pediatric psychology and hopes to pursue a career in pediatric occupational therapy. She is excited to be a part of the SHARK lab and positively impact children’s health through research.