Dr. Patrick Hill is a Professor of Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, in both the Social & Personality and Aging & Development divisions. His current research examines how sense of purpose may promote coping with stressors as well as engagement in health promoting behaviors. He is also interested in the role of personality dispositions on daily and long-term cognitive resilience. In his free time, Dr. Hill enjoys playing with his nieces, and going hiking (particularly in Utah). Pat is an avid Indiana University fan, and generally should not be interrupted during any of their games.
Ryan Bogdan is the William R Stuckenberg Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in Saint Louis where he directs the BRAIN lab. He studies the genetic and experiential correlates of mental health and substance involvement as well as related biology (e.g., brain structure and function, immune function) across development (from the prenatal period – late life). He enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, playing pickleball, and coaching his daughter’s basketball team.
Dr. Tom Oltmanns is the Edgar James Swift Professor Emeritus of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Prior to joining the faculty at WashU in 2003, his previous faculty appointments were at the University of Virginia and at Indiana University. Much of his research has been focused on the assessment of personality and personality pathology, particularly regarding discrepancies between people’s descriptions of themselves and the ways in which they are described by others. The SPAN Study, which he founded in 2006, has been concerned with the trajectory of personality disorders in later life and with mechanisms that link personality and health. He has had lots of time away from teaching and research since his retirement in 2023, and he enjoys spending it in many ways. He is grateful for more time to travel with his wife, family, and friends, and he loves to watch his granddaughters swim and play softball.
Dr. Emily Willroth directs the Wellbeing and Emotion across the Lifespan Lab (WELLab). Her research focuses on relations between wellbeing, health, and stress across the adult lifespan.
Dr. Josh Oltmanns is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at WashU, where his research examines multimethod personality assessment and the use of AI for improving psychological assessment and health outcome prediction. He did his PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Kentucky, his MS in general experimental psychology at Villanova University, and his BA in music business at Indiana University. Before academia, he was a Hip-Hop DJ for six years and he enjoys learning about various music subgenres. He also enjoys getting outside, traveling, and sports.
Isaiah is currently a full-time Doctoral Student in Clinical Sciences for the BRAIN and SPAN Labs. He received his BA IN 2021 in Cognitive Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis, where he worked as a research assistant in Dr. Markson’s Cognition and Development Lab and in Dr. Abrams’ Attention & Performance Lab. Isaiah also spent four years working at the Las Vegas Neurology Center, where he worked with older individuals experiencing a number of neurological-related issues ranging from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s Disease. He is interested in investigating the intersection between personality pathology, life experiences, and health outcomes in older adulthood.
Mary is a second-year graduate student and NSF graduate research fellow in the Social & Personality Psychology program at Washington University in St. Louis. She received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from The University of Alabama and worked as a post-baccalaureate project coordinator at UNC Chapel Hill. Broadly, Mary is interested in exploring how minoritized individuals find support against stigma and discrimination, and how these behaviors can contribute to a decrease in the prevalence of stress-based disorders. In her free time, Mary enjoys live music, trying new restaurants and recipes, and learning new crafts!
Tongyao (she also goes by Ran) is a graduate student in Clinical Science working with Dr. Josh Oltmanns. She is interested in using natural language and ambulatory assessment to study personality pathology, particularly how individuals understand and relate to themselves. In her spare time, she enjoys lifting weights and swimming.
Tu is a clinical psychology Ph.D. student at Washington University at St. Louis in the Personality, Mental Health and AI Lab. She received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 2021 and her M.A. in clinical science from American University in 2024. Her research interests include prediction of mental health outcomes and personality of minority populations using AI and machine learning.
Payton Rule (she/her) is a PhD student in the clinical psychology program within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. Broadly, her research interests focus on wellbeing promotion among individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. Specifically, Payton’s research focuses on investigating factors (e.g., disability identity) that may help buffer wellbeing and mental health from the negative impact of common societal barriers, such as ableism. In addition, Payton is interested in successful aging among individuals with disabilities. In her free time, Payton enjoys playing wheelchair pickleball, game nights with friends and family, and exploring local parks with her dog.