Director
Kelly T. Cosgrove, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics
University of Houston
Dr. Kelly T. Cosgrove (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor and licensed psychologist in the Clinical Psychology Program. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Tulsa and the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. She completed her clinical internship specializing in developmental pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Dr. Cosgrove’s research integrates clinical psychology, developmental neuroscience, and intervention science to better understand and improve health outcomes in youth. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, primarily functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), alongside behavioral assessments, physiological measures, and sophisticated statistical approaches, her work aims to identify the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mental and physical health. She examines how processes such as interoception, emotion regulation, and systemic inflammation interact to influence risk and resilience, and she evaluates how interventions such as mindfulness-based practices and exercise modulate these processes. A significant focus of her research is on neurodivergent youth, including those with autism, with the goal of translating neuroscience findings into practical, evidence-based tools for assessment and intervention.
Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Psychological Association (APA). She has received honors, including travel awards from the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and the American Psychological Foundation (APF). Dr. Cosgrove serves on the Research Committee for the Sibling Leadership Network. She is committed to integrating a neurodiversity-affirming lens into all aspects of her work, mentoring future scientists and clinicians, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors with her family and golden retriever.
Graduate Students
Carter Baker (he/him)
B.S., Psychology
Carter is a second-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Houston. He earned his B.S. in Psychology, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, from the University of Houston in 2023.
After graduating, he worked as a full-time Project Coordinator managing a NIMH R34 study investigating the efficacy of a trauma-informed behavioral sleep intervention. His research interests include neurobiological mechanisms influencing behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder. He also investigates the impact that sleep disruptions have on next-day functioning within children in foster care.
Carter was born and raised in Texas and enjoys playing golf, trying new foods in Houston, and traveling in his free time.
Riley Rozniarek (she/her)
B.S., Brain and Behavioral Sciences
Riley is a first-year doctoral student at the University of Houston. She earned her B.S. in Brain and Behavioral Sciences, with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences, from Purdue University in 2024. Following graduation, she worked as a Research Specialist at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, where she coordinated fMRI studies examining decision-making in individuals with OCD and anxiety. Her research interests focus on the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying social-emotional processing in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. She aims to improve how we support the well-being and outcomes of autistic individuals.
In her free time, Riley loves reading, playing board or video games, and spending time with her husband and two cats (Meowzer and Yuki).
Michelle Harmon
B.S., Psychology
Michelle is a first-year doctoral student at the University of Houston. She earned her B.S. in Psychology, with a minor in Behavioral-Cognitive Neuroscience and Multidisciplinary Research Methods, from the University of Colorado Denver in 2023. During her time as a post-baccalaureate, Michelle worked as a research coordinator for the Adolescent Wellness Lab at Children’s Hospital Colorado, which focused on improving health outcomes through intervention for adolescent girls at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes, while also supporting another project focused on mindfulness intervention adaptation for adolescents with migraine. Her research interests center on the underlying mechanisms of socio-emotional processing and executive function in neurodiverse adolescents, particularly in autism and ADHD. Her goal is to develop and adapt culturally attuned interventions that increase accessibility and improve health outcomes for neurodiverse adolescents.
In her free time, Michelle loves to bake, be outside hiking or paddle boarding, draw, play with her cats (Potato and Pepper), and spend time with her partner, family, and friends.
Undergraduates / Volunteers
Ashna Akepati (she/her)
Ashna is a student at the University of Houston, majoring in Psychology with minors in Biology and Medicine & Society. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after graduation. Her research interests include neurodevelopment, cognitive and behavioral outcomes, and modifiable health behaviors that can improve outcomes for youth populations.
She was a William C. Dement Fellow at the Bradley Sleep Lab where she examined sleep in participants being treated for opioid use disorder, as well as CPS lighting systems and fatigue management. She also works at the Sleep and Anxiety Center of Houston on B-SAFE, a CBT-I intervention for children adopted from foster care. She is excited to apply her experience from working with vulnerable populations to her work at the NODE Lab, where she can contribute to research that informs meaningful interventions for neurodivergent youth.
Ashna was born and raised in Dallas and enjoys watching the Mavericks and Cowboys in her free time. She also loves exploring Houston, discovering new coffee shops, and finding new desserts to bake.