The Spring 2011 iSAHIB Team. Seen above (left to right): Daniel Gonzales, Vivienne & David Conroy, Nilam Ram, Amy Lorek Dattillo, Amanda Hyde, Aaron Pincus, Spencer Schrank, Anna Long, Sara Hughes, Rae Devier
The Summer 2010 iSAHIB Team. Seen above (left to right): Aaron Pincus, Ashley Jean, David Conroy, Nilam Ram, Emily Wilhite, Jackie Maher, Spencer Schrank, and Amy Lorek Dattilo (missing: Amanda Hyde, Mike Roche, Daniel Gonzales, and Jay Jacobs)
Investigators
Nilam Ram, Ph.D.
Dr. Ram is an Assistant Professor of Human Development & Family Studies at Penn State. He studies how short-term changes (e.g., hourly fluctuations in emotion, information processing, etc.) develop over the course of the lifespan and how intraindividual change and variability study designs (like the multi-burst iSAHIB design) might contribute to our knowledge base. Current projects include examinations of: age differences in short-term dynamics at the cognitive/affective/temperament interface; cyclic patterns in the day-to-day progression of emotions; and change in cognition and well-being over the lifespan, particularly in the oldest old. He seeks to develop a variety of analytical methods that maintain a focus on the individual while still tackling issues of population aggregation and generalizability. He is the principal investigator for the iSAHIB project.
David Conroy, Ph.D.
Dr. Conroy is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Human Development at Penn State. His expertise and interests focus on how motivation organizes patterns of people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and he is especially interested in competence motivation. He is a co-investigator on the iSAHIB project. He earned academic degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Utah. He and his wife (Shawna) had a baby girl (Vivienne) on the same day that data collection for iSAHIB launched!
Aaron Pincus, Ph.D.
Dr. Pincus is a Professor of Psychology at Penn State, and a licensed clinical psychologist. His expertise and interests include personality, interpersonal behavior, personality disorders, and the integration of personality and clinical psychology. Dr. Pincus received his B.S. at U.C. Davis, his M.A. at U.C. Berkeley, and his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. He is co-founder and former president of the Society for Interpersonal Theory and Research and received the 2007 Theodore Millon Award from the American Psychological Association for his work in personality psychology. Dr. Pincus is the author of over 70 scientific papers and is a co-investigator on the iSAHIB project.
Project Coordinator
Amy Lorek Dattilo, Ph.D.
Dr. Dattilo is a Research Associate in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. Her expertise and interests focus on leisure behavior, motivation, well-being, and their interconnections. She has worked extensively with the National Park Service and new employee training. Dr. Lorek Dattilo earned academic degrees at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN), SUNT-Oneonta (Cooperstown Graduate Program), and a Ph.D. at Indiana University. Amy can often be found on hiking trails and public lands near and far. She is the project coordinator for the iSAHIB project.
Graduate Students
Amanda Hyde
Amanda is a 3rd year graduate student in Kinesiology. Her interests involve dual-process theories of physical activity motivation, and affect regulation (through physical activity and achievement goals). She is originally from Lehi, Utah and received her B.S. (Psychology) from Indiana University in 2008. She spends her free-time playing basketball and accidentally killing vegetable plants and flowers. She plans to become a professor after completing graduate school.
Michael Roche
Michael is a 2nd year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at Penn State. His interests involve how interpersonal processes broadly inform the development of both normative and pathological personality structures/processes. Michael received his B.S. in Business Management and Psychology from Penn State. He hopes to become a professor after completing graduate school. In his free time, Michael attempts to play golf, jogs, and watches the show "The Office."
Jaclyn Maher
Jackie is a 1st year graduate student in Kinesiology. Her interests involve achievement motives and how these motives influence different emotions and subjective well-being. She is originally from Norristown, PA. Jackie received her B.S. in Kinesiology and Psychology from Penn State. She hopes to become a professor after completing graduate school. In her free time, Jackie enjoys watching "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and Bravo's "Real Housewives..." series, following the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox, and playing with her new cat, Brady.
Research Assistants
Alyse Ahn
Hyowon (Alyse) Ahn is a junior majoring in Psychology at Penn State. Her interest in interpersonal relationships and interactions became apparent while she had a chance to experience dealing with a wide range of people at an after-school program, where she taught English for a year. She plans to attend graduate school for Clinical Psychology, specializing in children/adolescence.
Rae Ellen Devier
Rae Ellen is a junior at Penn State studying for a B.S. in Psychology (Neuroscience). Before coming to Penn State, she completed a degree in Engineering in 2006. She worked in the engineering field for three years where she designed telecommunications devices. She is looking forward to pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after completing her degree at Penn State. In addition to her work as a research assistant on iSAHIB, she also has two jobs, three children, and two small dogs. In her limited free time, she enjoys meeting new people, seeing new places, and learning new things.
Daniel Gonzalez
Daniel is currently a junior majoring in Biobehavioral Health and minoring in Spanish. He is taking the pre-med track and plans to attend medical school after Penn State. Outside of the classroom, Daniel has a strong passion for giving medical treatment to those who are less fortunate in third-world countries. He is a president of the Penn State Global Medical Brigades, an organization that is dedicated to treating those in Honduras who would otherwise receive little or no medical attention. He is also a member of the Penn State Lion Scouts where he helps prospective students and families with their college decision. In his free time, he loves eating food and playing sports.
Ashley Jean
Ashley Jean is from Maplewood, NJ. She is a senior majoring in Psychology at Penn State. Her interests involve industrial-organizational psychology - the study of applied psychological theories and principles in organizations. Upon graduating, Ashley hopes to attend graduate school to earn a doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Anna Long
Anna attended Juniata High School in Mifflintown, PA and is currently a junior at Penn State working toward her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Her experience as a nursing assistant in a retirement home allowed her to discover her interest in mental health. Her future plans include attending graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical or Health Psychology. In her free time she enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Jeff Motter
Jeff is currently a sophomore at Penn State majoring in Psychology. Between being raised by Penn State alumni and having lived in State College since elementary school, he has been a lifelong PSU fan. In addition to working in the iSAHIB lab, he is involved with the Psych Squad and the State College Ultimate Frisbee League. After graduation, Jeff aspires to go to graduate school for either Clinical or Evolutionary Psychology.
Andre Plate
Andre grew up in a small town in northern New Jersey where he attended Kinnelon High School. In high school, he played soccer and got involved with other extracurricular activities such as the National Honor Society. He has an older brother who attends Penn State so he immediately fell in love with the school and knew he wanted to be a part of the Penn State family. He began as a Business major but switched over to Psychology because he found the field more interesting and engaging. He has been actively involved as a research assistant in the iSAHIB lab as well as with the student-run philanthropy, THON, and intramural sports. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school and pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Spencer Schrank
Spencer is a senior biology major at Penn State. He is originally from Holden, MA, a small town about an hour west of Boston. He is involved in both THON and Homecoming. Spencer enjoys running and exercising and is one of the few New York Yankees fans who hails from Massachusetts!
Lindsey Stewart
Lindsey is a senior undergraduate student majoring in psychology at Penn State. Her focus is neuropsychology and she loves the inner workings of the brain, especially understanding what makes people do the things they do. She has lived in the Central Pennsylvania region all of her life and was almost destined to attend Penn State. She has enjoyed her time at Penn State but is eager to graduate and enter the real world. In her spare time, she works many hours at two different jobs, spends time with family and friends, and loves watching sports. Her favorite pastime, however, is watching Glee! and listening to the soundtracks. After graduating, she plans on getting a job as a health counselor in a state penitentiary, preferably in New Jersey. After gaining experience, she plans on attending a doctoral program in either Criminology or Clinical Psychology. This is her second year as a member of the iSAHIB team.
Emily Wilhite
Emily was born and raised in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia until she moved to State College as a freshman. She is currently a junior Psychology and Spanish major. She has studied abroad in Brazil and will be abroad for the upcoming spring semester in Argentina. Upon graduation, Emily hopes to attend graduate school to earn her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. At Penn State she is involved in THON, peer advising for the Study Abroad program, and promoting healthy choices for students through volunteering with Healthworks, in addition to her research with the iSAHIB lab.
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