PAIR Lab Director
Robert A. Ackerman, PhD
Dr. Ackerman’s research addresses questions about interpersonal relationships using methods and models from both social and personality psychology. It is characterized by three broad lines of work. First, he is interested in developmental factors that contribute to the functioning of adult romantic relationships. His second line of research focuses on how narcissistic attributes impact the development of relationships and how such attributes affect important relationship outcomes in ongoing relationships. Finally, because his substantive interests involve processes that occur within relationships and therefore often involve non-independent data, Dr. Ackerman is particularly interested in analytic models for both cross-sectional and longitudinal dyadic data. Please see his CV for more information.
Graduate Research Assistants
Génesis González Álvarez
Génesis, a Mexico native with a psychology degree, served as a research assistant at the University of Guanajuato, emphasizing scientific communication in the community. Committed to helping others, she volunteered, identifying student needs and leading workshops. Her passion for psychological research fuels fresh ideas influenced by her cultural background. Committed to making a positive impact, Génesis seeks ongoing growth, poised to contribute significantly to the field.
Christopher Latteri
Chris completed a BA in psychology from Pennsylvania State University. He is a second-year student in the psychology doctoral program with a concentration in personality and social psychology. His primary research interest is examining how individual differences impact how we interact with each other interpersonally.
Kennedy Millward, MS
Kennedy Millward earned a BA in psychology from the University of North Texas and an MS in psychology from UTD. She is currently a PhD candidate in psychology, and her research interests involve investigating how sexual coercion predicts outcomes within romantic relationships. She also enjoys statistics and dyadic data analysis in particular. She intends to pursue a career in UX research upon graduation.
Claire Plumlee
Claire earned her BS in psychology from UTD in spring 2022. She is currently a second-year master’s student in the psychological science program with a focus on personality psychology. She is interested in research concerning how interpersonal characteristics and differences express themselves in close-knit interactions, such as conflict between friends and partners, from the perspectives of all those involved.
Erica Vanegas
Erica Vanegas earned a BA in psychology from the University of North Texas and is currently a first-year master’s student in the psychological sciences program at UTD. Her research interests include vulnerable narcissism and contextual psychology.
Denise Williams, MS
Denise is a fifth-year student in the psychology doctoral program. She completed her MS at Pepperdine University and her BS at UC Davis. Denise is interested in adult attachment and how our interpersonal relationships impact our physical and mental well-being. She is also passionate about making academia more inclusive and accessible to traditionally marginalized communities.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Duncan Alvarez
Duncan is a senior psychology major in his final undergraduate semester at UTD. He plans to obtain an MS and a PhD in psychology. He plans to research social psychology, more specifically the circumstances, origins, and criteria of attitude change and persuasion in young adults, particularly when influenced by third parties like mainstream media. In his spare time, Duncan works a full-time job, writes, and watches sports and movies.
Dania Anwar
Dania is a graduating senior at UTD with the goal of pursuing an MS and PsyD in clinical psychology. She is interested in studying the complexities of human connections and the intersection of cognitive developmental delays and maladaptive behavioral disorders in late adolescence. Aside from her studies, she works part-time as an RBT, assisting children with autism. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her two cats, Suki and Sia.
Angela Cardozo
Angela is currently a psychology major at UTD and plans to continue her studies in educational psychology. She is interested in how individuals learn and how that affects their decision-making and their relationships. Angela is also passionate about learning how other individuals can influence one’s learning. Besides working a part-time job, in her spare time, she enjoys attending concerts, reading books, and watching movies and shows with her friends and family.
Neda Ghassemi
Neda is a graduating senior at UTD studying psychology. She has always been passionate about the human condition and how people’s interactions with their environment affect their well-being. She plans to pursue her PhD researching stress and resilience. She aspires to become a distinguished researcher and professor at a university, spreading knowledge to future academic generations. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, catching up on her shows, and spending time with friends and family—especially her cat Finn.
Clara Pereira
Clara is currently a psychology major with the goal of getting her PhD in clinical psychology. She is also the president of the Association of Brazilian Students on campus, and her favorite hobby is listening to music. Clara is interested in researching behavior in both children and adults, especially those with personality disorders. In addition, she is interested in studying the factors related to how relationships develop and change over time.
Melody Shomette
Melody is a senior psychology major and minoring in music. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in counseling psychology with a focus on cross-cultural psychotherapy. She’s especially interested in childhood PTSD and depression, intervention efficacy, and cultural and personality influences on treatment. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar, writing music, cooking, playing games, and spending time with her family.
Jack Sierputowski
Jack is a senior psychology major with plans to pursue graduate studies in research and practice. His research interests include pathological personality traits—including narcissism—as well as the effect of poverty, socioeconomic status, and culture on the development and expression of mental illness. In his free time, he works at The Mercury, UTD’s student-led newspaper, and likes to read fiction.