SPEAR LAB DIRECTOR

Dr. Vail guides the creative and scientific direction of SPEAR Lab.

ADULT DEVELOPMENT & AGING PSYCH PHD (2025-2030)

Caroline completed her MA in Psychological Science (2025) and her BS in Exercise Science (2020) at Cleveland State University after an A.A.S. in Sport & Exercise Studies at Cuyahoga Community College. During undergrad, Caroline focused on biological sciences, strength and conditioning research, physiological performance research, and mind-body wellness practices. Along the way, Caroline started exploring philosophy and psychology and developed an interest in existential social psychology, with applications to adult development and aging, affect, cognition, and their processes and across throughout the lifespan.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE MA (2021-2023)

Ashley earned her BA from Cleveland State University in 2021, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Statistics. Her research interests include existential social psychology, with applications to religion and conspiratorial belief, and how these factors mitigate anxiety and impact attitudes and behaviors. She is also interested in exploring how cognitive factors (e.g., analytic thinking) or motivational orientations (e.g., autonomy, self-determination) might alter those processes.

SPEAR Lab typically includes 2-3 Honors Program students each year, who conduct their own thesis project in line with the lab’s ongoing research program.

Our team also typically includes 3-12 undergraduate research trainees in any given semester, often as Research Practicum/Independent Study (PSY396) students.

Our team also includes researchers not formally enrolled in a CSU program, such as those in advanced high school STEM programs, post-baccalaureate trainees, non-declared graduate students, and post-graduate trainees.