Director

Carla Sharp

Carla Sharp, Ph.D. is the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Houston and Associate Dean for Faculty and Research. She also directs the Adolescent Diagnosis Assessment Prevention and Treatment Center and the Developmental Psychopathology Lab at the University of Houston. Her work has significantly advanced the scientific understanding of the phenomenology, causes, correlates and treatment of personality and pathology in youth. Her work makes use of mentalization-based framework to understand, prevent and treat personality and pathology in young people. She is the recipient of the 2016 Mid-career award, North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders and the 2018 Award for Achievement in the Field of Severe Personality Disorders from the Personality Disorders Institute in New York. She is the current Associate Editor for APA journal Personality Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment, and a workgroup member for updating the American Psychiatric Association practice guidelines for BPD. She has published over 300 peer-reviewed publications in addition to numerous chapters and books with an h-index of 65. She is the lead author on Building resilience: the Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (Routledge, 2022), and Mentalizing in psychotherapy: A guide for practitioners (Wiley, 2022).

Lab Manager

Aashna Shah

Aashna is the Lab Manager for the Developmental Psychopathology Lab at the University of Houston. She graduated from the University of Houston in December of 2025. She joined the lab in December 2023 as a research assistant and became Lab Manager in August of 2024. She is interested in cultural contributors to parenting and child psychopathology, particularly parental influences on South Asian youth suicidality. She aspires to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology.

Research Coordinator

Kaylee Tran

Kaylee graduated from the University of Houston as a pre-medical student in 2024 with a B.S. in Human Nutrition and a minor in Biology. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator for multiple cardiac clinical trials and other pharmaceutical research. She joined the lab in 2025 and is now the coordinator for an NIH-funded project testing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of the Meditational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (MISC) for mothers who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). She is preparing to apply to medical schools for the upcoming 2026-2027 cycle and aspires to be a gastroenterologist.

Clinical Psychology Graduate Students

Kennedy Balzen

Kennedy is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. She earned her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020. Kennedy’s research interests include the development of personality disorder, refining the dimensional conceptualization of personality pathology, narrative identity, and the role of self-dysfunction in predicting suicidality. Her master’s thesis examined the associations between narrative identity and Level of Personality Functioning (i.e., Criterion A of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders). Kennedy is currently working on her dissertation which is supported by an NIMH F31 grant. This project will leverage over 17 years of longitudinal data from the Preschool Depression Study to be combined with proposed new data collection via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in these now emerging adults to identify the developmental trajectories of daily-level personality functioning.

Kiran Boone

Kiran is a third-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. Prior to coming to UH, Kiran earned her BA in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis, where she also worked as a research assistant in the Early Emotional Development Program. Her current research interests center on personality disorder development, assessment, and early intervention, and on supporting healthy personality development across childhood and adolescence. She is also interested in applying a strengths-based and culture-informed approach to research and clinical practice and in reducing stigma surrounding mental health.

Bree Cervantes

Bree Cervantes is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California Irvine in 2018. After graduating, Bree spent three years as a research coordinator on several studies implementing attachment-based and parenting interventions. Bree’s research interests broadly center on caregiving factors that confer risk for psychopathology in youth and may be targeted through caregiving interventions, particularly within the context of caregiver-child attachment disruption. She is especially interested in parent-child attachment, parenting, and mentalizing/reflective functioning. Her master’s thesis examined associations between maternal reflective function (RF) and adolescent personality pathology using the Parent Development Interview (PDI). Bree is currently working on her dissertation project, which employs the Observing Mediational Interaction (OMI) coding system to assess maternal RF through in-vivo caregiver interactions during a parent-adolescent conflict paradigm and test associations with maternal RF assessed representationally (via the PDI).  

Tess Gecha

Tess is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology lab. In 2020, she earned her B.A. in Psychology from Georgetown University. After graduating, she moved to Boston to work as a research assistant at McLean Hospital assisting with two borderline personality disorder drug trials and a group Mentalization-based Treatment study. Tess’ research interests broadly center on the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology and trauma and parenting interventions that can help impede the intergenerational transmission of negative outcomes. Her master’s thesis explored parent emotional socialization within the context of mothers with personality disorder and the moderating role of reflective function on the relationship between maternal personality functioning and parent emotion socialization. Tess is currently working on her dissertation project, which employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluating personal growth and growth-related factors in siblings to people with personality disorder. 

Jessica LaRocca

Jessica is a second-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. Before attending U of H, Jessica earned her B.S. in psychology from Pennsylvania State University. Subsequently, she worked as a research assistant and coordinator with the Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) Project at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, investigating borderline personality disorder in clinical populations. Her current research interests focus on understanding the role of identity and interpersonal functioning in personality development, with a particular emphasis on using dimensional conceptualizations of personality pathology to improve the clinical utility of diagnostic assessment. 

Charlotte Zell

Charlotte is a second-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. She is also a member of the Emotions in Marriage Lab. While Charlotte has had a lifelong fascination with psychology, she completed a B.A. and first year of doctoral training in political science at the Universities of California San Diego and Berkeley, respectively, before ultimately deciding to switch fields. In her subsequent position as a research assistant at Alliant International University, she worked on several projects investigating mental health stigma and intimate partner violence interventions. Charlotte’s research interests include the conceptualization and classification of personality pathology (and in particular refining dimensional nosology for personality disorder) and the role of personality and mentalizing in intimate relationships. Her master’s thesis study investigates personality functioning in couples, including the role of each partner's personality functioning on their own and their partner's relationship attitudes and behaviors. 

Yunshu Yu

Yunshu is a first-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. She earned her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Media and Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After college, Yunshu worked for three years as a research assistant at Brown University, studying borderline personality disorder and menstrual cycle exacerbation of psychopathology. Yunshu is broadly interested in understanding personality psychopathology from a dimensional perspective, self-injurious and suicidal thoughts and behavior, and developing interventions that promote healthy self and interpersonal functioning.

Students Currently on Internship

• Madeleine Allman

DPL Alumni

• Sophie Kerr, Ph.D
• Kiana Cano, Ph.D
• Ronnie McLaren, Ph.D
• Eric Sumlin, Ph.D
• Francesca Penner, Ph.D.
• Salome Vanwoerden, Ph.D.
• Claire Hatkevich, Ph.D
• Allison Kalpakci, Ph.D.
• Will Mellick, Ph.D.
• Carolyn Ha, Ph.D.
• Tyson Reuter, Ph.D.
• Amanda Venta, Ph.D.
• Elizabeth Ross, Ph.D.
• Robert Seals, Ph.D.
• Heather Pane, Ph.D.
• Kelly Green, Ph.D.
• Stephanie Kovacs, Ph.D.
• Teona Amble, Ph.D.
• Ilya Yaroslavlsky, Ph.D.
• Dan Mortenson, Ph.D.

Research Assistants

Joseph Boudreaux

Joseph graduated from the University of Houston in 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. He joined the lab in Fall 2024 as a research assistant. Joseph also works in Dr. Babcock's Emotions in Marriage lab as a research coordinator since Spring 2023. Joseph's research interests include personality disorders, dyads, and intimate partner violence (IPV). He wishes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and is currently working on a first-author publication involving personality disorders, as well as assisting in the writing of a book chapter on IPV. 

Tya Chakaroun

Tya Chakaroun is a graduate from the University of Houston who earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Biology and Honors Medicine and Society. She also holds an Honors Associate of Science from the Honors College at Lone Star College- CyFair. As an Honors student, she conducted multiple semester-long research projects and has presented her research at the Honors College Undergraduate Research Day as well as the International Education Biennial. She joined the Developmental Psychopathology Lab in the spring of 2024. Her research interests focus primarily on the medical field with interests in psychopathology and its effectiveness, especially in children and young adults. She plans to pursue a career in medicine as a doctor.

Tiffany Gutierrez

Tiffany joined the Developmental Psychopathology Lab as a research assistant in 2025. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Texas A&M International University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in the Fall of 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she was a research assistant in the Evolutionary Visual Lab, where she supported projects related to evolutionary psychology, including mating and competitive behaviors. Her current research interests include the assessment of personality disorders in adolescent populations, with an emphasis on improving diagnostic validity and the pathways/patterns of personality development. She plans to pursue a Doctoral Degree In Clinical Psychology and continue research on personality assessment.

Alnoor Hasanov

Alnoor graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. He joined the lab in the Fall of 2023 as an undergraduate research assistant. His research interests include parent-child relationships, psychopathology / mental health in teens and young adults, as well as overall personality psychology and how personality disorders affect personal relationships . He plans to go to graduate school in order to become a mental health counselor as well as a professor.

Hiba Hassan

Hiba joined the lab as a research assistant in summer of 2025, primarily contributing to the MISC IPV study. A recent graduate who completed her degree in the summer of 2025, she earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration. With the intent to break cultural norms, Hiba wants to be the first in her family to pursue a career in the mental health field. Her primary research interests include working with vulnerable/underprivileged populations to ensure they receive the mental support they need. In the future, Hiba wants to pursue a masters in clinical psychology and even a PhD down the line. 

Zoe Hosten-Broadwater

Zoe graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Adelphi University in the fall of 2024. She joined the lab as a volunteer research assistant in the summer of 2024 in hopes to familiarize herself with a formal research lab setting and prepare to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology. Her current research interests include psychopathology, but specifically personality disorders, as well as personality assessment and multi-method assessment. She has also conducted previous research on multi-method assessment in the context of Dependent Personality Disorder and presented her findings at the 2024 Eastern Psychological Association conference in Philadelphia, PA.

Cielo Carranza Kilchrist 

Cielo graduated from the University of Houston with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Health in the spring of 2025. In the fall of 2024, she joined the lab as a research assistant working on the MISC-IPV research. She plans to attend graduate school to pursue her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist and therapist. Her research interests are trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Helene Morford

Helene graduated in Spring 2025 with a double degree, two B.S. degrees, one in Psychology and one in Digital Media with a minor in Technology Leadership and Innovation Management. Helene is currently working towards graduate school while continuing to work with the Developmental Psychology Lab. During high school, Helene completed an associate degree with a focus in computer science at Utah Tech University, before moving to Texas to continue their education. She is focused on researching the effects of different disorders on someone's life, the development and prevention of certain disorders, and how to improve the quality of life someone has with a disorder. Helene hopes to use their education and research to help make the world a safe and better place for those who are neglected within current society.

Leslie Quevedo 

Leslie joined the lab in the summer of 2025 as a research assistant. She is a senior at the University of Houston, pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Health. She is dedicated to becoming the first in her family to graduate from University. Leslie aspires to learn about all aspects of research focused on mental, physical development and abuse in children and young adults. She aims to obtain her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with the goal of becoming a psychologist who supports individuals experiencing mental health disorders through counseling and research.

Jennifer Trejo

Jennifer joined the lab as an undergraduate research assistant in the summer of 2025, primarily working on the MISC-IPV study. She is a senior at the University of Houston, pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and a concentration in Criminology, Law, and Deviance. She is currently completing a senior thesis under the supervision of Dr. Carla Sharp. Her research interests include the impact of trauma on development, mental health comorbidity, and personality disorder pathology. In the future, Jennifer plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology and obtain licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).