Thao Ha, Ph.D.

Lab Director and Principal Investigator

Dr. Ha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. Her research investigates the reciprocal processes that link relationship experiences to emotional and behavioral adjustment within adolescence and early adulthood. Using surveys and laboratory studies, Dr. Ha aims to better understand risk and resilience among youth within their social relationships, which will inform prevention strategies to promote healthy relationships and transitions. A variety of methods are combined in Dr. Ha’s research, including observations of adolescent couples’ interactions, high-density array EEG neurocognitive assessments, ecological momentary assessments, and physical and hormonal stress methodologies. Dr. Ha’s work has been funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (equivalent to NIH), and internal grants from Arizona State University. Dr. Ha obtained her PhD in Developmental Psychopathology at Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands in 2013. She completed two masters’ degrees in Developmental Psychology and Developmental Psychopathology (cum laude). Dr. Ha completed postdoctoral and assistant research professor positions in the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, the Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research (IISBR), and Department of Psychology at Arizona State University.

bria welch

LAB MANAGER

Bria is a recent undergraduate student and was a Pre-Med Psychology major at ASU. She is interested in medicine and medicinal effects on psychological disorders, along with abnormal psychology, neuroscience, and interpersonal relationships. She aspires to one day become a psychiatrist.

emily randle

Emily is a recent graduate from ASU with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Music. She is also a research assistant for the SPLAT lab with Dr. Shiota. She is interested in understanding the non-verbal/verbal cues of a relationship and how that affects relationship health. Emily is interested in continuing her education and working towards a PsyD or Ph.D in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Anxiety/Mood Disorders in children and young adults.

Trinity Strecker

Trinity is a senior at ASU and a double major in Psychology and Family & Human Development with an emphasis in Child Development. She is interested in adolescent and young adult romantic relationships, particularly how partnership dance and other art forms affect romantic relationship well-being, and long term effects and healing modalities of childhood trauma. She hopes to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology and conduct therapy with children and adolescents.

Shane Kasmarogi

Shane is currently a junior at ASU pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology. Shane has a general research interest in adolescent and young adult romantic relationships, specifically exploring how these relationships, along with social and cultural factors, affect individuals’ development into adulthood. He plans to earn a PhD in counseling psychology and to ultimately offer counseling and therapy to adolescents and young adults, while also expanding the field through ongoing research involvement.

Will Margulis

Will is a junior at ASU majoring in Psychology with an emphasis on sociocultural studies. He is interested in how social, economic, and cultural factors affect romantic relationships as well as general outcomes. He hopes to earn a Master's in Applied Psychology and practice therapy with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

Annie cooper

Annie is a junior at ASU pursuing a Bachelor of Art’s in Psychology. Annie is interested in interdisciplinary research exploring early adolescent relationships and how they can affect interpersonal relationships and mental health into adulthood. She plans to earn a PhD in a psychology related field and contribute to the field through research and the teaching of her discoveries.