May Allen joined the Welling Research Lab as a Master's student in the Fall of 2026. She earned her B.S in psychology (minor in Art) in 2026 from Eastern Michigan University, where she worked in Dr. Staples and Dr. Lawler’s lab. May has an interest in how cognition is affected by biological changes within the brain. In her free time, you’ll find her playing video games, spending time with friends, and hiking. 

Jamie is a graduate student in the M.S. Psychology program who previously graduated from Albion College with her Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2024. Her research interests relate to neuropsychology, particulatly the relationship between hormones and brain function. She joined that lab in 2026 and is excited to continue developing her research skills. Outside of class, she enjoys boxing, reading, and spending time with her dogs!.

Rich Holler is a doctoral student who joined the Welling Research Lab in Fall 2018. He earned his B.A. in Psychology (minor in Biology) at Penn State University, where he worked in Dr. Lynn Liben's, Dr. Mark Shriver's, and Dr. David Puts' labs. Thereafter, he worked at the University of Texas at Austin with Daniel Conroy-Beam and Laith Al-Shawaf. He received his M.S. with Dr. Glenn Geher at the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2018. He is primarily interested in sexual/romantic attraction, and his dissertation investigates factors influencing sexual frequency in adults. In his spare time, he watches football, runs, plays guitar, and rides his beloved bike called The HMB Beagle.

Zuzanna Puccioni is a student in the accelerate BA/MS program who joined the lab in September, 2026. She plans to graduate with her BA in Psychology and minor in Biology in 2027 and with her MS in 2028. She has worked in multiple labs at Oakland. Her interests lie in biology, primarily endocrinology and hormone-psychology associations. Her thesis will investigate contraception and behavioral changes. In her free time, she practices yoga (and is planning to complete teacher training in the near future) and pilates, and she adores reading books and going to new cafés in the area with her friends.

Kat Sheetz joined the Welling Research Lab in the Fall of 2022 and received her M.S. in Psychology in 2024. She previously earned her B.A. in Psychology (minor in English) from Bowling Green State University in December 2021. Her M.S. thesis investigated perceptions of trustworthiness in online dating profiles. She began as a PhD student in 2024. Her dissertation investigates mate selection in online dating, with a special focus on the identification of red flags. In her free time, you’ll find her watching reality tv shows with a cup of coffee, tending to her plethora of houseplants, dancing to Harry Styles, and watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe in chronological order. 

Eleni Ligerakis is a junior at Oakland University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biological Sciences. She started her Honors Thesis in the lab in 2025 and plans to graduate in 2026. Her primary interest lies in how hormones shape behavior, with a particular focus on thyroid hormones and maternal behavior. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue a degree in clinical neuropsychology. In her free time, she is busy playing and teaching piano, and spending time with friends and family. 

Emily Feldman joined the Welling Lab in Spring of 2026 and is currently pursuing her M.D. at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. She previously attended the University of Michigan and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Gender and Health. Her EMBARK project focuses on medical students’ comfort levels discussing sexual health topics with patients and the implications this has for patient care. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, crocheting, and spending time with her friends and family.

Hannah completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Health, and Society at The University of Michigan and is currently a medical student at OUWB School of Medicine. Previously, she was involved in research related to Type 1 Diabetes Management in Adolescents/Young Adults and HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in rural areas of Michigan. She joined the Welling Lab in 2025, where she will be completing her Embark project, which focuses on sexually transmitted infection (STI) disclosure to partners. Hannah loves spending time with her family and friends, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Melissa joined the Welling Lab in Spring 2026, and is currently a medical student at OUWB School of Medicine. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Alabama. Previously, her research focused on consent, alcohol, and sexual assault in college students. Her EMBARK project is focused on the psychobehavioral differences in women who use hormonal contraceptives and those who do not. Outside of academics, she loves to spend time with her family, exercise, and do jiu jitsu.

Nadia Shebli joined the Welling Lab in Spring of 2024 and is currently pursuing her M.D. at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. She previously attended the University of Michigan and earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Gender Studies and Biomolecular Sciences. Previously, she conducted a two-year ethnography project on cultural traditions and marriage in Arab-Muslim American communities. Her EMBARK project is focused on purity culture and sexual health in Muslim communities. In her free time, she enjoys reading fantasy books, traveling with her fiancé, and spending time with her friends and family.

Shayzal Siddiqui joined the lab in 2024. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Health & Society at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is currently a medical student at OUWB School of Medicine. Previously, she conducted ethnographic research to explore maternal mortality in rural Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her EMBARK project focuses on the impact of Amphetamines on conflict resolution, emotion regulation, and relationship and sexual satisfaction in romantic relationships among individuals with ADHD. In her free time, she likes traveling, exploring coffee shops, and spending quality time with friends.

Maya transferred to Oakland in 2025 and found her passion for psychology. She hopes to attend graduate school in Fall 2026 for her master’s in clinical social work with a school concentration. Outside of school, Maya is a youth travel soccer coach with interests in sports psychology and enhancing sports experiences at the youth and college levels. She enjoys working as a barista, being active at the gym and outdoors, and playing soccer for fun.

Jake graduated from MSU in 2024 and is working towards attending graduate school next Fall. His primary interest is in clinical psychology, specifically how mental health is affected by a person's self-image and relationships. In his free time, Jake likes to play guitar and watch football and baseball.

Sydney joined the lab is 2024, is currently a junior, and is preparing for her senior year. She hopes to move on to graduate school after her Winter 2025 graduation. She is most interested in personality disorders, dementia, and schizophrenia. Outside of school, she is a part time dance teacher. In her free time, she enjoys reading and trying new exercise programs.

Maria is an undergraduate student at Oakland University. Her passion for psychology ignited during her sophomore year of high school. Maria is driven by a desire to understand people better and strives to positively impact the lives of others, always trying to leave people better off than she found them. She is particularly interested in exploring the underlying reasons behind people's actions and the mysteries of intuition, especially concerning mate choice. In her free time, Maria enjoys cycling, a good self development book (perhaps for the 5th time), and spending time with her friends and family.