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.

Faculty webpage

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!

Please see application information here.



Current Independent Study


Current Research Assistants