Julianne Holt-Lunstad

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Lab Director

Julianne Holt-Lunstad is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University and Scientific Chair of the Foundation for Social Connection.

Learn more about Dr. Holt-Lunstad here.

LAB MEMBERS

Ph.D. Students

Andy Proctor

Andy Proctor is a health / social psychology Ph.D. student and co-manages the Social Connection and Health Research Lab. His research interests include how adult friendship and social connection impact health (heart rate variability, inflammation, blood pressure, sleep, mortality) and how social media interaction impacts the perception of closeness between adults. His positive psychology podcast, More Happy Life, has been featured in The New York Times, ABC News, and Fox News. He is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and co-chair of the Utah Positive Psychology Association.  He is on the TEDxBYU board and the research team for Eventbrite's Social Connection Project. His work on teen well-being has been featured in USA Today, Teen Vogue, and The Hill. 

Katy Sine has always been fascinated by the science of living well. Her desire to educate herself on the topic through traditional means led her to attend and earn degrees from University of Utah, Cambridge University and University of Pennsylvania. Her curiosity about the practical application and theory of wellness guided her to explore a more untraditional path of Eastern wisdom traditions, become a Yoga and Mindfulness teacher, immersing herself in the study of ancient texts, raja yoga and meditation. Her masters thesis resulted in an emerging field of Whole Self-Love which she is continuing to pioneer. As a founding member of the Utah Positive Psychology Association, she is committed to bringing the fundamental and foundational skills of thriving and flourishing to individuals, neighborhood, schools, communities and cities in Utah. She strongly believes wellness should be inclusive of everyone. She sits on many diverse boards and has founded several non-profits.

Undergraduate Lab Members

  • Brittyn McNeil

    Lab Manager

  • Emma Seegmiller

    Research Assistant

  • Jack Vincent

    Research Assistant

  • Emily Grover

    Research Assistant

  • Daxton Bryce

    Research Assistant