People
I’m a Lecturer (US equivalent: Assistant Professor) in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland. I completed my PhD in Social-Health Psychology at Kent State University, and postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of California, San Francisco. I was also previously an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at California Lutheran University, and a full-time Psychology Instructor at Clackamas Community College. My research focuses on close relationships and parenthood, especially on how motivation, affect, and mindfulness contribute to healthy relationships and parenting.
Brian Don - Director
I am a first year PhD student in the RAMP lab, and a 2023 graduate from the University of California, Davis with Highest Honors and my Bachelors degree in Psychology, with a minor in Education. For my undergraduate thesis, I researched the relationship between various non-monogamous relationship structures and measures of need fulfillment, attachment style, and compersion. Before coming to the University of Auckland, I was involved in research as both a Research Coordinator for the Attraction and Close Relationships lab at UC Davis, and as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Emotions, Motivation, Behavior, and Relationships lab at UC Santa Barbara. As a scholar, I am particularly interested in how shared experiences of awe in intimate relationships correspond to both individual and relationship wellbeing. My broader interests include experiences of positive emotion in close relationships, mindfulness, and the intersection of relationship science and environmental psychology.
Hailey Wooten - PhD Student
Kia ora, my name is Manuella Kury, a Master's student from the University of Auckland, and Brian is my supervisor. In the past year, we have been studying loving-kindness meditation and mindfulness meditation, and the role self-compassion plays in how people respond to each of these meditations. My research involves analysing whether different baseline levels of self-compassion affect how people respond to mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation in terms of positive emotions, negative emotions, depression and connectedness. My other research interests include self-compassion and its impacts on families and romantic relationships. It's been a great joy to be part of the RAMP lab and to be able to develop my research alongside my supportive and insightful peers, and Brian.
Manuella Kury - Master’s Student
Kia Ora! My name is Tara, and Brian is supervising me for my master’s this year. Last year (2023), I completed my honours degree, where my dissertation focussed on how child neuroticism and self-esteem influence children's wellbeing when exposed to parental conflict. My research interests are primarily focused on the domain of social psychology. I particularly enjoy learning about family dynamics and how different family relationships (e.g. mother/child) contribute to wellbeing outcomes for individual family members. For my master’s thesis this year, we are looking at the relationship between parents’ gratitude expression, the parent-child relationship, and different facets of child wellbeing (such as emotional and social outcomes). I am super excited to be a part of the RAMP lab and to continue working with and learning from Brian and my peers.
Tara Dooley - Master’s Student
Kia ora, my name is Zanobia Bohra. I am also a 2024 Master's student at the University of Auckland, supervised by Brian Don. My research this year examines a gendered response to mindfulness, looking at emotional responses to both mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditation. I am inspired by Brian's work in mindfulness research and hope to contribute to this exciting field through the lenses of gender and sociology. I am delighted to be a part of the RAMP Lab this year alongside Brian and the rest of this lovely team.
Nga mihi!
Zanobia Bohra - Master’s Student
RAMP lab members Brian Don, Renato Ferrer (lab alumnus), Tara Dooley, Manu Kury, and Zanobia Bohra just after Renato’s graduation ceremony.