Developing Minds Lab
University of Kentucky
FACULTY
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MATTHEW KIM, PhD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
Faculty Website | Google Scholar | OSF Page
Matt has been a member of the UK Psychology faculty since 2020. His research examines the nature and development of executive functions and motivation in early childhood through adolescence—with a special focus on school transitions—and how these cognitive processes relate to the student success of diverse learners.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing chess (poorly), watching University of Michigan sports (Go Blue!) and Formula 1 auto racing, and eating thin-crust New York style pizza. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two children.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
KRISTEN BUFORD
DOCTORAL STUDENT
Kristen Buford is a Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student. She hopes to make a profound impact on children, families, and society by transforming education through marrying educational concepts, developmental psychology, and neuroscience. She desires to develop and provide transformative learning methods and tools that will impact students and their educators. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, nature, and quality time with people.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
CHELLAM ANTONY
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Chellam Antony is a psychology major, and she is a part of the Psychology Scholars Program. She hopes to get her Ph.D. and be involved with clinical psychology and intersectionality. On campus, Chellam is involved with Greek life and she is studying abroad in Spain for the Fall of 2022. She is leading the lab's Gender and Mindset project for her senior capstone project. In her free time, she liked to crochet, cook, and read.
SAMANTHA ARNOLD
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Samantha is a psychology and kinesiology double major in the Psychology Scholars Program and the Lewis Honors College. She is also on the pre-med track with future goals of becoming a doctor of sports medicine or pediatrician! Her interest in the idea of self-efficacy and implicit theories of ability are what made her want to join Dr. Kim’s lab. In her free time, you can find her watching a Kentucky basketball game, reading, working out at the JC, or cooking!
CLAIRE BRAUN
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Claire Braun is a psychology major in the Psychology Scholars program. She loves working with kids and is very interested in researching how our minds develop. After she graduates she is going to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
EVAN DEARBORN
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Evan is a junior majoring in psychology hoping to pursue Educational Psychology post-grad. He has a passion for education among all levels and seeing kids discover their own passions. In his free time he enjoys watching movies and sports. His favorite sport to play is basketball and loves to cheer on the Cats!
SUSANA GUTIERREZ
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Susana Gutierrez is a senior at the University of Kentucky studying Psychology with a minor in creative writing. She is passionate about various aspects of developmental and clinical psychology and is currently working on a senior capstone project concerning sibling influences on academic motivation. Additionally, she is a part of Dr. Elizabeth Lorch’s lab, which helps children with ADHD by teaching them comprehension strategies specifically tailored for their needs. After completing her undergraduate degree, Susana hopes to pursue a PhD in psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her pets.
MEGHAN PAWSAT
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Meghan Pawsat is a junior psychology major in the Psychology Scholars program and the Lewis Honors College. She loves working with children and plans to go to medical school with the goal of becoming a pediatric ER doctor. On campus, Meghan started a running club called Healthy Celebrations. In her free time, you can find her running/walking, reading romance novels, cooking, or studying physics.
JULIA TODD
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Julia Todd is a junior psychology major in the Psychology Scholars program and the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky. She has a passion for working with school-aged children and plans to attend grad school to be come a licensed professional counselor after graduation. She loves listening to music, reading a good book, and hanging out with her friends.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
KAREN MATSUI
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Karen Matsui is a Senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and is currently working on her Capstone Project. She has an interest in psychology and through doing research with this lab, hopes to learn more about what internal and external factors motivate students to learn, and how research is conducted in general.
LAB ALUMNI
Tabetha Hurst '22
