Dr. Jane Mendle
Jane Mendle is an associate professor in the Department of Human Development at Cornell University. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia and completed her clinical internship at the Payne Whitney Clinic of New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Mendle specializes in adolescent psychology, particularly how different aspects of puberty relate to psychological well-being. She is the recipient of the Young Investigator Award from the Society of Research on Adolescence, the Thompson Award from the Behavior Genetics Association, the New Investigator Award from the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, and was named a “Rising Star” by the Association for Psychological Science. Her research has been profiled in numerous media outlets, including the BBC, The Economist, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Newsweek. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of New York.
Graduate Students
Kathleen McCormick is a PhD student in Human Development focused on reproductive transitions through the lifespan. Her research is particularly focused on observing how psychological, biological, and hormonal changes occur across the menstrual cycle and throughout puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Kathleen graduated from Cornell in 2016. She then worked in the Women’s Hormones and Aging Research Program from 2016-2018, and served as project manager in the Youth, Emotion, Development and Intervention Lab at UIUC from 2018-2020. Kathleen enjoys running and cheering on the Boston Celtics in her free time.
Sophie Belfield is a 1st year PhD student in Human Development, studying gender and menstrual pain. Sophie received her B.S. in 2016 at The University of Sheffield and went on to receive her M.S. in Global Mental Health, where she completed her thesis, “A protocol to explore how a gender transformative intervention impacts common mental health disorders”. She then worked for Girl Effect and Plan International UK in the area of monitoring, evaluation, and research. Before arriving at Cornell Sophie worked in Kampala, Uganda from 2021-2023 as a project manager for WoMena Uganda.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Adelaide Graham, Class of 2024. Adelaide is a senior in the College of Human Ecology majoring in Human Development and pursuing a minor in Inequality Studies with a Health Equity Track. She is interested in exploring creative methods of mental health treatment, specifically to promote treatment effectiveness and dissemination among youth. On campus, she is a part of the Program for Research on Youth Development and Engagement and an undergraduate research assistant for the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist.
Crystal Lim, Class of 2024. Crystal is a senior studying psychology and pursuing a minor in statistics. She joined this lab because she wanted to learn how real world research is! Specifically, she wants to learn creative ways to study human behavior. As for her hobby, she love watching this Korean YouTube show called “king of negotiation” where celebrities negotiate with big companies for sale events.
Fiona Tracy, Class of 2025. Fiona is a junior in the College of Human Ecology majoring in Human Development and pursuing minors in Education and Inequality Studies. She is interested in researching neurodiversity and how it is impacted by puberty. On campus she is a part of the PRYDE scholars program, works with Upward Bound, and volunteers at local elementary schools through REACH. After graduation, Fiona plans to pursue a career focused on developing interventions to help improve the education system.
Fionn O’Connor, Class of 2024. Fionn is a senior studying psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. His research interests include adolescent and adult psychopathology, and decision making. In particular, he is fascinated with the development of novel psychotherapeutic and pharmacological mental health interventions. Fionn has experience researching social and moral psychology in the JAB Lab and the Pizzaro lab at Cornell, as well as the Nerdlab at Harvard Business School. He aims to pursue graduate studies in psychology with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. Outside of the lab, Fionn enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, and playing cello.
Sydney Moore, Class of 2024. Sydney is a senior in the College of Arts and Science majoring in Psychology with a focus on evolutionary and behavioral neuroscience. She is fascinated by the impact of early development on later life experiences, especially the social and cultural factors that influence our minds. Sydney is a member of the varsity volleyball team and a founding member of VOICEINSPORT, a sports advocacy company with the mission of encouraging young girls to participate in athletics and providing them tools to do so. Her experience working with a behavioral specialist to run a Social Skills group in San Diego, CA for adolescents with autism spectrum has allowed her to see how various methods can be used to guide adolescents through their development.
Tobie Bertisch, Class of 2025. Tobie is pre-med and is majoring in Human Development in the College of Human Ecology. She is interested in biology, psychology and reproductive health. Tobie aspires to be an OB-GYN or a reproductive endocrinologist with a focus on well-being. She is also the lab manager for the Purpose and Identity Processes lab and has experience studying derailment, autonomy and wellbeing. Tobie is a member of Psi Chi psychology fraternity, BASE Productions dance team and an intramural soccer team.
Wynne Williams-Ceci, Class of 2024. Wynne is a senior in the college of arts and sciences double majoring in Psychology and the College Scholar program, with a double minor in Music and Communication. Her work focuses on the importance of polarization and group identity on health-related behaviors and wellbeing, with a focus on tailoring public health messaging towards liberal and conservative individuals. On campus, Wynne participates in the Sternberg Lab as well as the Social Dynamics lab, is a member of the A Cappella group After Eight, and is the president of the Cornell University Chorus. In her free time, Wynne enjoys arranging music, hiking, and mothering her four cats and five plants.