

Lab Director
Kristi Costabile, Associate Professor, with a dual-appointment in the Department of Psychology and in the Communication Studies Program
Graduate Students
Grace Wasinger (email: wasinger@iastate.edu). Grace's research examines how our current situations and current goals can affect the manner with which we describe our life experiences, with a particular focus on redemptive narratives (i.e., ending a description of a difficult experience with a positivity). She also has interests in social media and media narratives.
Emma Bognar (email: ebognar@iastate.edu). Emma's research examines the manner through which media narratives satisfy basic psychological needs. She also has interests in understanding the psychological processes underlying playing and viewing emerging entertainment media, such as table top role playing games.
Undergraduate Student Members

Makenna Brunson, Addison Curnyn, Mya Dunn, Jonathan Klosterman, Sophia Kreinberg, Brittany Linch, Lauren Osterberg, Claire Sattler, Kaitlyn Sievers, Eric Thul, Megan Weldon, and Meghan Workman
Lab Alumni
Abby Boytos. Abby's research examines the social aspects of autobiographical memory and how the process of describing life experiences to others might change how we view those experiences, and in some cases, how we view ourselves. Dr. Boytos is currently an assistant professor at Seton Hill University. You can reach her at: aboytos@setonhill.edu.
Adrienne Austin. Adrienne's research focuses on the role of autobiographical memory on current self-conceptions. Dr. Austin graduated in summer 2019 and is currently working for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kaylee Short. After two years as our undergraduate research coordinator, Kaylee received her bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 2019 and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Auburn University
Tessa Logan. After her work as an undergraduate research assistant in our lab, Tessa is currently pursuing her M.S. in Counseling at California State University, Fullerton.
Join our lab
Contact Grace (wasinger@iastate.edu) if you are interested in joining our lab as an undergraduate student.
Contact Kristi (costabil@iastate.edu) if you are interested in applying to ISU's graduate program in social psychology.