Our Team
Lab Co-Directors
Bruce J. Ellis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and Anthropology at The University of Utah. His research seeks to leverage knowledge from both evolutionary biology and developmental science to advance understanding of adaptive and maladaptive patterns of biobehavioral development. Dr. Ellis’ theoretical and empirical work examines how our biobehavioral systems (e.g., biological stress responses, timing of puberty, risky adolescent behavior, social-cognitive skills) develop in relation to specific features of family environments and the larger ecological context. In his free time, he likes to bicycle, grow his garden, and have dinner parties!
View Dr. Ellis' CV
Contact
Email: bruce.ellis@psych.utah.edu
Office: 632 BEHS
Tochukwu Nweze, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology at The University of Utah. His empirical research involves the analysis of longitudinal, secondary datasets using statistical modeling to investigate the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences on developmental outcomes. His research also engages in new data collection, including the under-represented populations of the Global South, to understand how socioeconomic inequality, exposure to violence, abuse, etc., affect cognitive functioning in children and adolescents. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and watching soccer. He is a lifelong supporter of Arsenal Football Club!
View Dr. Nweze's CV
Contact
Email tochukwu.nweze@psych.utah.edu
Office: BEHS 602
Graduate Students
Susan Chen, M.S. is a PhD student in Developmental Psychology at The University of Utah. She received her BA in Psychology and Philosophy from York University, and worked as a Postbaccalaureate Research Assistant at the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research in Toronto, Canada. In general, Susan is interested in life’s biggest questions and understanding the human condition within the context of development and evolution. Specifically, she is interested in how the early environments (i.e., harshness and unpredictability) are related to patterns of stress regulation and life history trajectories in some of the most sensitive periods of life: prenatal, infancy, and adolescence. In her free time, she likes to hike, lift weights, and care for her plant babies!
Raven Burton (she/they), B.A. is a PhD student in Developmental Psychology at The University of Utah co-advised by Drs. Lisa Diamond and Bruce Ellis. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Merced, with a BA in Psychology. Her research primarily focuses on aspects of human sexuality, with specific interests focusing on the relationship between early adversity and sexual risk, kink/BDSM, sexual development and behavior, pornography, and sex education. In her free time, she enjoys cosplay, road trips with her cat, Octavius, and obscure video essays.
Susan Brener, Ph.D. recently received her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from The University of Utah. She is broadly interested in evolutionary psychology and adaptation to stress, but her recent work has focused specifically on how social class shapes social-cognitive abilities (e.g., emotion recognition). Currently, she is a consultant at Delta Consulting Group LLC. In her free time, she loves baking, traveling, and spending time with her cats!
Collaborators