Dr. Pedro Alexandre Costa (he/they)
Research Associate
Pedro is an Assistant Professor, integrated member of the Sexuality and Gender Research Group at the Center for Psychology of the University of Porto since 2023. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology, a Master’s degree in Psychology of Child Development, and a PhD in Psychology. They develop teaching activity and research in human sexuality and psychology of sexual and gender diversity (LGBTI+). Their research interests focus on the parenting aspirations of LGBTI+ people, family relationships and child development in LGBTI+ parented families, and multicultural competent and affirming therapy practices for sexual and gender minoritized individuals. His research relies on community-informed approaches in service of social justice and empowerment of minoritized populations.
Dr. Sophie Hölscher (she/her)
Research Associate
Sophie is a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Educational Psychology – Socialisation and Culture at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany. Her research interests focus on teacher education, with a particular emphasis on topics such as anti-racism and queer education, aimed at creating safer spaces for marginalized children and adolescents. In her free time, Sophie loves to stay active by hiking, swimming, biking, or anything that involves being outdoors and moving.
Dr. Jessie Hillekens (she/her)
Research Associate
Jessie is an Assistant Professor at the department of Developmental Psychology at Tilburg University (The Netherlands). Her work lies at the intersection of developmental, social, and cultural psychology to understand human development within its sociocultural context. As she believes that children are our future, she is passionate about learning more about the development of minoritized children and youth with a special interest in the development of minoritized identities and their links to well-being. In her free time, she loves to travel, going into nature with or without a horse, and explore the world either physically or via a good book.
Adriana Olaya (she/her)
Research Associate
Adriana is a psychologist and a Ph.D. Candidate in Developmental Science and Psychopathology at Universidad del Desarrollo (Chile). Prof. Salinas-Quiroz has the pleasure to be her co-advisor. Adriana has experience as an Assistant Professor at Universidad de Ibagué (Colombia) where she is from. Her main area of research is child development and parenting. She is particularly interested in attachment relationships and emotional regulation strategies in preschool children. During the Spring 2024 semester, she will work with us as a short term-scholar.
Evan Martin-Casler (he/they)
Research Associate
Evan (he/they) is a longtime educator and music enthusiast who holds a BA in English, an MEd in Teaching and Teacher Education, and an MA in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Leadership. Inspired by years of working with student identity and affinity groups, as well as by years of involvement in music communities, they are interested in studying how subcultural spaces—especially punk spaces—establish and maintain environments that prioritize feelings of belonging. Under the mentorship of Prof. Salinas-Quiroz, they have developed a love for Reflexive Thematic Analysis as a methodology that platforms the lived experiences of research participants. They currently teach writing and communication at the University of Arizona while continuing their research.