Lab Personnel

Dr. Cathy Stough, (she/her) is a pediatric psychologist with clinical and research interest in child eating behaviors, nutrition, and obesity. Her past research has examined eating behaviors among children with autism spectrum disorder and evaluation of outcomes of family-based weight management programs for children and adolescents. She is particularly interest in weight management and eating behaviors of young children, including preschoolers, toddlers, and infants. Her current research projects are focused on whether child appetite characteristics (e.g., satiety responsiveness, food responsiveness) and parental feeding behaviors (e.g., using food to calm the child) or beliefs (e.g., fear of the child being underweight) predict high weight-for-length percentiles during infancy (a risk factor for future obesity). Additionally, Dr. Stough is investigating whether infants with high weight-for-length display delays in obtainment of developmental milestones (e.g., motor skills). 

Education: PhD, University of Kansas (Clinical Child Psychology); MA, University of Dayton (Clinical Psychology); BA, University of Cincinnati (Psychology)

Taylor Gates, M.A. (she/her) is currently a sixth-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Cincinnati. She is currently completing her pre-doctoral internship at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a Pediatric Psychology resident. Taylor is interested in researching caregiver well-being, and psychosocial outcomes of youth with chronic medical conditions. She is passionate about working with diverse pediatric populations and gaining more knowledge towards the development and implementation of community-engaged interventions for pediatric chronic illness. Her dissertation examined the relationship between parental wellbeing and child flourishing among children with special health care needs. Taylor currently serves as the Network of Campus Representatives Co-Chair on the Society of Pediatric Psychology's Student Advisory Board.

B.A., Psychology, Minor: Early Childhood Education & Development (2020) at the University of Cincinnati.

Francesca (Frenchy) St. Pe, M.A. (she/her) Francesca (Frenchy) St. Pe, M.A. (she/her) is currently a fifth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Cincinnati. Frenchy received her master's in Spring 2024. Her thesis, "Mealtime Challenges from the Perspectives of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa and their Caregivers" explored families' perspectives of mealtimes through a qualitative lens. Frenchy received her bachelor's in science degree from Loyola University New Orleans in Psychology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Women's Studies in 2021. Frenchy's research and clinical interests focus on eating and feeding disorders/concerns, including specific behaviors such as emotional eating.

Isabella Pallotto Adams, MA, MPH (she/her) is currently a fifth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Cincinnati. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Health and Human Values in 2019 at Davidson College. In 2021 she graduated with her Master of Public Health in Health Behavior from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. She received her Master of Clinical Psychology from UC in May 2025. Prior to starting at UC, Isabella was a clinical research coordinator at Duke Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery. Isabella’s research interests center around pediatric psychology and supporting families in hospital settings. She is currently working on her dissertation in which she is validating a measure to screen parents for anxiety about introducing complementary foods to their infant.

Harrison "Harry" Powers, B.A. is currently a second-year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the Univeristy of Cincinnati. He recently graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience with a Psychology Emphasis from Transylvania University. Harry's interests center pediatric psychology and specifically adolescents and young adults. Harry's specific interests currently include looking at body dissatisfaction and the perception of ones body in relation to mental health issues and disordered eating.

Dr. Katie Garr, Ph.D. received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2023. Katie completed her predoctoral internship in child and pediatric psychology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Katie’s research interests focus on the influence of family factors (e.g., parent mental health, family functioning) on child physical and psychosocial functioning among pediatric populations. Specifically, she is interested in examining how caregiver mental health, child mental health, and child somatic symptoms relate to caregiver quality of life and family functioning among families of children with DGBI. Her dissertation examined the impact of pediatric disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) on the family. 

Dr. Angela Combs, Ph.D (she/her) received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2024. Angela completed her predoctoral internship in pediatric psychology at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Angela is currently a T32 Postdoctoral Fellow in Adherence and Self-Management at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Angela’s research interests primarily center on pediatric psychology subjects such as adherence to medical regimens, healthcare transition, health behaviors related to nutrition and obesity, and behavioral management. Previously, she was a clinical research coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where she assisted with projects related to obesity, epilepsy, and childhood cancer. Her dissertation examined the relationships between individual factors such as preventive healthcare behaviors, healthcare knowledge, and self-efficacy, and how these relate to healthcare transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with and without medical conditions. 

Reid Bradley (He/Him) is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in Art History. Reid has interests in behavioral and cross-cultural psychology, as well as clinical psychology, and is excited to further his knowledge about these topics and more during his undergraduate education and beyond.

Kripa Kumaran (She/Her) is a third-year student at the University of Cincinnati, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in medical sciences with minors in Spanish and integrative health and wellness as well as a certificate in Spanish social work and healthcare. Kripa is really interested in clinical psychology research and being able to directly impact families in a positive way so she can one day apply what she learns to her postbaccalaureate education. 

Emily Fabián-Martínez (She/Her) is a third-year Health Sciences major with a minor in Spanish at the University of Cincinnati. She is passionate about reducing healthcare disparities through bilingual patient care and community-based research. 

Marianna Rodriguez-Medina (She/Her) is a third-year student at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Psychology and Spanish. She is interested in Clinical and Pediatric Psychology and research, with a passion for understanding and supporting the mental health and development of children and adolescents. 

Saba Mazhari (She/Her) is a fourth-year psychology student with a strong passion for research, particularly in the areas of family and child development. 

Zoe Carter (She/Her) is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Neuropsychology, with a psychology minor. She is incredibly passionate about infant and childhood health, physical and mental, and strongly believes in supporting mothers and infants alike! In the future, she plans to get her PhD in clinical neuropsychology.