Lab Members
Lab Director - Heather Fuller
Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Core Area: Adult Development and Aging
Research Interests: Interpersonal relationships and social support across the lifespan; Psychological well-being in old age; Culture and Aging; Rural Aging; Survey Methodology and Program Evaluation
WELCOME! Thanks for visiting us at the Linked Lives Research Lab. In the Linked Lives Lab we have a variety of ongoing projects which cover multiple topics related to how the interpersonal connections in our lives affect our development and well-being. My ultimate goal with this line of research is to develop solutions to improve people's lives by improving social support, reducing loneliness, and helping people navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics such as caregiving. I am currently welcoming new undergraduate and graduate students into the Linked Lives Lab. Contact me or my lab manager with more questions!
CONTACT ME DIRECTLY:
701-231-5621
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Current Graduate Students:
Emily Kinkade
Evaluation Coordinator (2023-Present)
Lab Manager (2020-2023)
Year in Developmental Science Program: 4
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Truman State University
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
Missouri State University
Research Interests:
Mental and physical impacts of ageism, how attitudes about aging can be improved, healthy aging, and intergenerational relationships
Bryce Van Vleet
Lab Manager (2023-Present)
Evaluation Coordinator (2020-2023)
Year in Developmental Science Program: 4
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Seattle Pacific University
Master of Science in DS
North Dakota State University
Research Interests:
Adult development, intergenerational relationships, rurality, wellbeing through adversity, temporal perceptions, and qualitative methodology
Melisa Hajdar
Graduate Research Assistant
(2021-Present)
Year in Developmental Science Program: 3
Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science
North Dakota State University
Research Interests:
Development of cultural identity, prevention science, social relationships across the lifespan, and family policy in at-risk populations.
Teri Undem
Lab Member (2023-Present)
Year in Developmental Science Program: 3
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science
University of Kansas
Master of Science in Educational Leadership
North Dakota State University
Research Interests:
Healthy and contented aging, maintaining independence into old age through healthy life choices.
Debarati Kole
Lab Member (2023-Present)
Year in Developmental Science Program: 2
Bachelor of Arts in Geography (Honors)
Burdwan University
Master of Science in Population Geography
Presidency University
Master of Science in Sociology
North Dakota State University
Research Interests:
Importance of social support system on overall health and well-being of adults and older adults, longitudinal association between social support systems (such as enacted support, provided support) and health and well-being of older adults.
Current Undergraduate Students:
If you are interested in working in the Linked Lives Research Lab, see Research Opportunities.
Linked Lives Alumni:
Graduate Students
Brittany Hofmann, MBA
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Masters of Business Administration Program, NDSU
Shawn Carlson, Ph.D.
Former Lab Manager (2019-2020)
Developmental Science, NDSU
Jonix Owino, Ph.D.
Former Lab Member
Developmental Science, NDSU
Masahiro Toyama, Ph.D.
Former Lab Manager (2017-2019)
Developmental Science, NSDU
Brooke Hanson, M.A.
Former Lab Manager (2015-2017)
Developmental Science, NDSU
Franchesca Cortez, M.A.
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Developmental Science, NDSU
Alison Brennan, Ph.D.
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Developmental Science, NDSU
Simone Dorsey, M.S.
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Couple & Family Therapy, NDSU
Sara Raap, M.S.
Former Lab Manager (2013-2015)
Couple & Family Therapy, NDSU
Samjhana Rajbhandari, M.S.
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Human Development & Family Science, NDSU
Undergraduate Students
Taylor Rubbert
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S. in Human Development and Family Science, NDSU
Rebecca Erickson
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S. in Human Development and Family Science, NDSU
Morgan Wangler
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S. in Psychology, NDSU
Leanne Beechie
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S. in Dietetics and Human Development and Family Science, NDSU