Dr. Matthew Espinosa is a Teaching Asstistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Old Dominion University. His research program focuses heavily on the different experiences of isolation (i.e., ostracism, existential isolation), as well as other social and environmental factors that shape our mental and physical well-being, such as stereotyping/prejudice, romantic relationships, resource scarcity, and health behaviors (e.g., oral contraceptive use, eating behavior). Dr. Espinosa earned his doctorate in Experimental Social Psychology from Texas Christian University, where he conducted research in social and personality psychology, incorporating insights from both evolutionary and existential psychological frameworks. His unique skillset and experiences promote an multidisciplinary approach to research that integrates multiple theoretical, methodological, and statistical approaches to investigating the short- and long-term outcomes of our social experiences. The ultimate goal of his work is to identify the underlying risk factors that predispose people to feeling disconnected and at odds with those around them, and the downstream social, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes of these experiences, so as to better inform our approaches to fostering a sense of belonging and well-being.