HDFS faculty seek to understand how individuals’ relationships and social experiences are associated with their health and well-being. Researchers examine a variety of physiological processes including salivary hormones, genetic predispositions and daily symptoms associated with people’s behaviors, emotions and experiences. Faculty also investigate how experiences and interactions with important others in individuals’ lives impact mental health and risky health behaviors.
Maria Arredondo
- Assistant Professor
Dr. Arrendondo will not be reviewing doctoral applications for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Aprile Benner
- Professor
Dr. Benner is reviewing applications for doctoral students for academic year 27-28.
Mateo Farina
- Assistant Professor
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
Dr. Farina is not reviewing applications for doctoral students for academic year 27-28.
Karen Fingerman
- Professor
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
Director, Texas Institute on Dementia, Aging and Longevity
Co-Director, Center on Aging and Population Sciences
Sonia Wolf Wilson Regents Administrative Professorship, Holder
Sae Hwang Han
- Associate Professor
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
Dr. Han is reviewing applications for doctoral students for academic year 27-28.
Deborah Jacobvitz
- Professor
- Phyllis L. Richards Endowed Professor in Child Development
Su Yeong Kim
- Professor
Dr. Kim is reviewing applications for new Ph.D. students to start in Fall 2028. Application will open in August 2027, and deadline is December 1, 2027.
Jeffrey J. Lockman
- Professor
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
Dr. Lockman will not be reviewing doctoral applications for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Elma Lorenzo-Blanco
- Associate Professor
Seeking undergraduate student research assistants for course credit or on a volunteer basis. See profile for more details.
Dr. Lorenzo-Blanco will not be reviewing doctoral applications for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Lisa Neff
- Professor
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
Dr. Neff is reviewing applications for doctoral students for academic year 27-28.
Nicole Perry
- Assistant Professor
Dr. Perry will not be reviewing doctoral applications for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Gabriela Livas
- Professor
- Department Chair for Human Development and Family Sciences
Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professors in Child Development.
Dr. Livas is reviewing applications for doctoral students for academic year 27-28.