McNair Scholar 2020 Alonso E. Galvan-Ochoa
Alonso E. Galvan-Ochoa is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, majoring in psychology and minoring in developmental psychology. His research interests revolve around diverse life situations and their influence on social neurocognition across the lifespan. Mr. Galvan-Ochoa plans on getting his Ph. D. in Developmental Science from Stanford University.
My dream is to create a much-needed bridge between the gaps of misconceptions about diverse populations through my research. In other words, provide understanding and exposure to distinct life experiences and individual dynamics that people use to cope with life adversities. We need to understand one another.
Research project
Measuring Adolescent Stress in Times of COVID-19
Abstract: Adolescence is a period of human development that interests researchers due to the heightened stress reactivity experienced during this phase. The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is the gold standard task for measuring physiological stress responses (salivary cortisol and alpha amylase) while undergoing a stressful situation. Due to the fact that we’re limited in physical contact because of the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a variant of the Trier to be carried out online via Zoom. We are following the methodology of the classic Trier as close as we can during the participant’s virtual visits with research staff. Our goal is to determine whether or not this method can effectively elicit a physiological stress response from participants by creating a stressful situation through virtual means. We expect participants to be physiologically reactive to the online version of the TSST.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Kathleen Thomas is currently the Director and William Harris professor at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Thomas attended the University of Minnesota, receiving her Ph. D. in Child Psychology. Her research specializes in the adolescent phase of human development with an emphasis in neurocognition. She is interested in investigating and understanding the effects of diverse life experiences on brain structure, neural processes, and cognitive outcomes. Dr. Thomas is published in multiple books and journals worldwide and has various scientific affiliations. This is her first year as a McNair faculty mentor.