Lab Director/PI

Val Wongsomboon, Ph.D.

Dr. Wongsomboon is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Florida State University. Before joining FSU, she completed her Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Florida and postdoctoral fellowships at Northwestern and Yale Universities. She is also affiliated with the Kinsey Institute for research in sex and relationships at Indiana University Bloomington and is currently serving as a board member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS).

Dr. Wongsomboon’s research is highly interdisciplinary and examines how stigma, social contexts, and evolving forms of relationship development influence health & well-being. She uses a range of quantitative and qualitative methods (e.g., cross-sectional, longitudinal, experimental, natural language processing) to study how psychosocial factors, family/peer processes, and relationship choices/statuses influence health outcomes. Her work also explores relationship formation and maintenance across diverse settings, particularly in contemporary and digital contexts, among vulnerable or underrepresented populations facing health disparities.

Current Lab Members

Graduate Students

Elaine Van Den Heuvel

Lab Manager

I am a first-year doctoral student in Human Development and Family Science and an alumna of the CARE Program and Unconquered Scholars. My research focuses on former/current welfare-involved college students, specifically individuals with histories of foster care, homelessness, relative care, and ward-of-the-court status. I study these students during the period of emerging adulthood with an emphasis on educational outcomes and the role of campus support programs in promoting academic success and overall well-being. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time on local trails, traveling, and visiting coffee shops.  

Josie Puleo

I am a second-year master’s student in Educational Psychology, and alumna of FSU’s Psychology department. My research interests lie in a variety of areas, including motivation (e.g. self-regulation and learning), emotions, and interpersonal relationships. I am interested in working with populations that are often underrepresented. Outside of academia, I love exploring trails around Tallahassee, cooking/baking, and spending time with my cats and family. 

Sam Yu

I am a first-year doctoral student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Florida State University. I completed both my undergraduate and master’s degrees at The Ohio State University. My research focuses on emerging adulthood, intimate relationship development, sexual communication, and the social and cultural factors that influence relational decision-making and relationship formation. I am also committed to expanding access to mental health care for underrepresented and underserved populations.

Outside of academics, I have a background as a tennis instructor of seven years and enjoy staying active through hiking, fitness, and playing sports. I also enjoy exploring new food scenes and traveling to new cities and countries.

Serenity Colson

I am a first-year doctoral student in Marriage and Family Therapy. My research interests center around adolescence and early adulthood, attachment, the influence of the family of origin and broader systemic and cultural factors, sexual and relationship-based decision making, intimate relationships in the digital age, as well as more therapy-specific topics like therapeutic interventions and outcomes. Outside of academia, I love to spend time with my favorite people and my pets, drink lots of iced coffee, send my friends TikToks, and read a good book.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Michelle Savage

I am an undergraduate student working towards my degree in Human Development and Family Studies, as well as serving as a Program Associate for the ITS departments at FSU. My areas of interest include gerontology, caregiving, and interpersonal relationships. I have a keen interest in exploring how relationships and interactions are shaped by their environmental contexts. In my leisure time, I enjoy baking, hiking on local trails, and gardening.  

Oliva Bixby

I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences and Psychology. Outside of the lab I am a Row Leader for the Marching Chiefs, and I am a part of the Human Development and Family Sciences club and the Child Psychology club. Aside from school I love being active through taking spin classes and running, I also enjoy reading, and love going to the beach!

Mark Ondash

My name is Mark Ondash, I am a Clinical Professions major at Florida State University in my third year. I have a vested research interest in gastroenterology and sexual health. I usually spend my time working out, playing games, and hanging out with my friends both off and online. I have a lovely boyfriend whom I plan to attend Medical School with. I'm trying to get back into streaming games, and would like to have a career centered around improving quality of life for patients of differing diseases and from different walks of life.

Interested in joining our team?

See Join the Lab for information about undergraduate RA opportunities.