Child and Family Health Lab

Researcher - Dr. Astrida Kaugars

The Research

Current Research Projects:

• Family Experiences During COVID-19
• Clinical Utility of Behavioral Questionnaires in Families of Children Receiving Psychological Services in a Pediatric Cardiology Clinic
• Family Influences on Type 1 Diabetes Management in Young Children: The You Can Study
• Parent-Adolescent Communication About Health Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents with Chronic Medical Conditions
• The re-CHARGE Study: Our Children’s Health and Learning Get Energized

Apply for a Research Position

Students who are interested in submitting an application for a research position are encouraged to contact Dr. Kaugars by e-mail to request an application.

Graduate Students

• Natalie Benjamin - Natalie is a fourth year doctoral student. She received her master’s degree in May 2017, and her master’s thesis examined cognitive performance and glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Natalie’s research focuses on pediatric psychology, with a specific focus on youth with type 1 diabetes and the psychosocial processes surrounding their health and disease management
• Christopher Fitzgerald (received doctoral degree in May 2014; currently at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
• Ashley Moss - Congratulations to Ashley for being awarded the Spring 2012-13 Psi Chi Graduate Research Grant and a student poster award from the Society of Pediatric Psychology (Division 54) at the American Psychological Association 2014 Annual Meeting.
• Kara Lindstedt Leiser (received doctoral degree in May 2010; currently at Gillette Children’s)

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Undergraduate research assistants have an opportunity to be involved in ongoing research studies in the Child and Family Health Lab. Research assistant responsibilities will vary depending upon the status of ongoing studies. Research assistants may be involved in participant recruitment, data collection, coding of observational data, data entry in SPSS, and preparation of presentations and/or publications. Depending upon the study, research assistants may travel to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin or collect data in the community. Requirements include attendance at weekly laboratory meetings. Typically students are asked to provide a one-year commitment to working in the lab. Dr. Kaugars collaborates with other pediatric psychologists in the greater Milwaukee area, and there may be possibilities for working in other pediatric psychology research laboratories.

Current Undergraduate Research Assistants

• Sara Pardej (Class of 2018; Psychology major)

Former Undergraduate Research Assistants

Conference Presentations

Laboratory Photos