Current Lab Members
Our Director
Jaye L. Derrick, Ph.D.
Dr. Derrick is an Associate Professor in Social, Personality, and Health Psychology at the University of Houston. Her primary research areas include (1) interdependence, the need to belong, and symbolic social bonds; (2) the influence of close relationships on self-regulation and substance use; (3) the influence of substance use on close relationship functioning and intimate partner aggression; and (4) ambulatory assessment (e.g., daily diary and EMA) research methods.
Postdoctoral Fellow and Project Manager
Surizaday Serrano Holden, PhD
Suri will be in charge of the lab's new NIAAA-funded study, ALMA. More info to come!
Current Graduate Students
Jace Pierce, MPH
Jace graduated with a BS in psychology from Baylor University in 2015. He received his Master of Public Health (MPH) from Baylor University in 2018. He has worked as a research assistant for Veterans Affairs VISN-17 Center of Excellence, where he helped research co-occurring PTSD-AUD. In addition, Jace worked for Waco Foundation and the Waco Independent School District researching sex education implementation and teen pregnancy prevention. Currently, his research interests include understanding how romantic and interpersonal relationships can impact sexual health and decision making, specifically among LGBTQ couples. In addition, he is interested in how the use of alcohol and other substances as a coping mechanism impacts relationship functioning, health, and overall well-being among LBGTQ couples.
Esther Song, BA
Esther graduated with a BA in Psychology and Media Study from the University at Buffalo (UB) in 2021. Before joining the Social Processes Lab at the University of Houston, she worked as a project support specialist/lab manager at Dr. Michael Poulin’s Stress, Coping and Prosocial Engagement Lab at UB. She is interested in various psychological factors that can affect social well-being. Her current research interests include symbolic social bonds (or social surrogates) and social rejection.
Yes! Dr. Derrick does plan to accept a new PhD student to start Fall 2024!
Current Independent Study
Elisabeth Stevens, 2023-2024, Honor's Project
Current Research Assistants
Ashley Canright (Lead RA)
Harleigh Cook
Laura Davis
Lyn DeBeir
Gisselle Gonzalez
Amanda Martinez-Quesada
Ana Romero
Adrian Stanley
Elisabeth Stevens
Zaynab Yusuf