Prominent Lab Alumni

Former Postdoctoral Fellow

Ashley B. Cole, PhD
Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University

As a Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychology at OSU, Dr. Cole collaborated with the REACH Lab and assisted with COSMOS assessments. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with her in her new position as assistant professor! Her research examines maladaptive health behaviors, including substance use, overeating, and other self-injurious behaviors in Native Americans, an underserved population who experience health disparities in substance use disorders, obesity, and suicide. In her free time, Dr. Cole enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and watching documentaries on Netflix. Visit her website, linked above, for the most up-to-date information on Dr. Cole's career!

Former Graduate Researchers

Caitlin E. Smith, PhD

Associate Research Scientist, Yale University

As a graduate student in the REACH Lab at OSU, Dr. Smith's research focused on identifying bio-behavioral mechanisms of diseases and behaviors with high metabolic cost (e.g., obesity, diabetes, and tobacco/e-cigarette use), as well as factors that impact response to related interventions. She completed her pre-doctoral internship in Behavioral Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2021 and then went on to complete her post-doctoral training at the Yale University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry working with the Yale Program for Obesity, Weight, and Eating Research (POWER). Dr. Smith moved on to a faculty position at Yale University where she is an Associate Research Scientist with Yale POWER. Her current research projects focus on the treatment of eating and weight concerns among post-bariatric surgery patients, as well as the development of multiple health behavior change interventions for pre-bariatric surgery candidates that use tobacco products. Visit Yale POWER’s website to learn more about Dr. Smith’s research and career.

Cindy E. Tsotsoros, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Rhode Island

As an experimental psychology graduate student in the REACH Lab at OSU, Dr. Tsotsoros' research interests included cognitive development and working memory among older adults. With a master’s degree in gerontology, her research primarily focuses on older adults and the aging brain. Past and current projects examine time perspective, social isolation, psychosocial well-being, and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that affect health. Dr. Tsotsoros completed her PhD at OSU in 2022 and moved on to a tenure-track faculty position at University of Rhode Island. Visit Dr. Tsotsoros' website for the most up-to-date information on her career.

Natalie G. Keirns, PhD

As clinical psychology graduate student in the REACH Lab at OSU, Natalie was funded by a NIH F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award which investigated the acute inflammatory effects of weight stigma. More broadly, her primary research interests involve discovering ways to utilize interactions between mental and physical health to improve overall well-being. Past and current projects have included issues of obesity, weight loss, weight stigma. eating behaviors, and psychosocial well-being. Dr. Keirns completed her PhD from OSU in 2023 moved on to a postdoctoral fellowship at Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Click here for the most up-to-date information on her work.

Madison E. Stout, PhD

As a clinical psychology graduate student at Oklahoma State University, Madison's research examined loneliness and social pain as psychosocial determinants and mechanisms of chronic health conditions via the stress response (i.e., cortisol, inflammation); and psychosocial and neurocognitive factors that predict health behavior change (i.e., weight loss, HPV vaccination, and smoking cessation). Dr. Stout completed her PhD from OSU in 2023 and went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center. Click here for updates on her work.

Former Undergraduate Research Assistants

Ashlee Parson, BS

Ashlee graduated from Oklahoma State University in Spring 2016 with her BS in Psychology. She went on to pursue a master's degree in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State.

Tayler Jones, BS

Tayler went on to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology after graduating from OSU in Spring 2016.

Ashley Simenson, MPH

Ashley earned her MPH at the University of Pittsburgh and went on to pursue an MD/PhD at the University of Florida.

Emily Fry, BS

Emily went on to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy at University of Oklahoma.

Garrison Keithline, BS

Garrison graduated from OSU in 2019 with a degree in physiology. He went on to pursue an MS in Biotechnology at Brown University.