Lab Director

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Rebecca G. Reed, Ph.D.

Rebecca Reed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her B.S. in Physiology and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Arizona. She completed postdoctoral research training at the University of Kentucky before joining the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2019.

Dr. Reed's research investigates biopsychosocial factors that contribute to healthy biological and cognitive aging. She focuses on the effects of stress on immune health and biological aging in mid-life and older adulthood and the role of protective factors (e.g., emotion regulation, social relationships) in attenuating stress-health relationships.

Graduate Students

 Abby Hillmann, M.S.

Abby joined the PNI Research Lab in Fall 2020. Abby completed her undergraduate education at the University of Kentucky, where she received a BA in biology and a BS in psychology. She came to the University of Pittsburgh to combine her interests in these two fields by joining the Biological-Health Psychology program.

She’s interested in investigating the interaction between psychosocial factors and physiological health, specifically the mechanisms through which social relationships and stress affect immune health.

Research Assistants

  • Baradhi Kumar

    Baradhi joined the lab in Fall of 2024. She is a junior majoring in psychology and molecular biology. She plans to attend medical school after graduating. She is interested in the social connection and its impact on cognition.  

  • Henry Zou

    Henry joined the lab in Fall of 2024. He is a senior majoring in molecular biology and psychology. He plans on applying to MD/PhD programs after taking a gap year to pursue basic science research. He is interested in exploring the immune system from a molecular level to a macrosocial level.  

  • Jack Taylor

    Jack joined the lab in Fall 2024. He is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. He plans on pursuing a Master of Public Health after Pitt. He is interested in learning more about community-based participatory research, specifically its role in suicide prevention at the community level. 

  • Kara Faulk

    Kara joined the lab in the Fall of 2024. She is a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in Spanish. She plans on exploring her options after Pitt to either attend graduate school or work for the government. She is interested in a career surrounding intelligence analysis or clinical psychology.  

  • Natalie Lannie

    Natalie joined the lab in Fall 2024. She is a senior majoring in Biology and Psychology. She plans to attend graduate school after Pitt and is interested in how biopsychosocial factors affect child development. 

  • Samantha Lengyel

    Samantha joined the lab in Fall 2024. She is a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Italian. Although she plans to attend graduate school, she will be taking a gap year to explore specific areas. She is interested in the mind body connection and how mental illness can impact physiological functioning. 

  • Jules Depro

    Jules joined the lab in Fall 2023. She is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. She plans to attend graduate school after Pitt and is interested in a career in research focusing on health psychology, with a special focus in women’s health 

  • Erin O'Donnell

    Erin joined the lab in Fall 2022. She is majoring in Biology and Psychology with minors in Spanish and Chemistry. She is interested in learning more about how biopsychosocial factors affect health.

  • Blayne Becker

    Blayne joined the lab in Fall 2023. She's a junior majoring in Psychology at Pitt. She is interested in learning how psychological and biological factors intersect and affect an individual's health.

  • Catherine Reeder

    Catherine joined the lab in Fall 2023. She is a junior majoring in Psychology with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience at Pitt. She is interested in learning more about the impact that stress and daily life have on immune health.

  • Qianru Wu

    Qianru joined the lab in Fall 2023. They are a undergraduate student majoring in Biological Science and Psychology at Pitt. They are interested in learning more about the interconnection between biology, psychology, and socioenvironmental factors, specifically how these aspects impact physical health.

  • Diti Tiwari

    Diti joined the lab in Fall 2023. Diti is a junior majoring in Psychology and Creative Writing with a minor in Chemistry. She is interested in learning about the interconnect between various biopsychosocial factors and how they impact the daily experiences of adults.