Introducing New Graduate Student Laura Bauer

August 3, 2023 - Shelly DeJong

Name: Laura Bauer (she/her)

Hometown: Mahopac, NY

Undergrad: SUNY Geneseo '21 / Psychology Major

MSU Research Area: Organizational Psychology

 

What made you decide to go to grad school?

I came out of undergrad with a B.A. in psychology, research experience in behavioral neuroscience on mouse models, and the question “what am I going to do now.” Besides psychology, I always had an interest in space (growing up in a Star Wars and Lost in Space family), so I just needed to figure out how to merge those ideas. I decided to pursue my interests by furthering my education at Iona University, where I received a master’s degree in psychology with a specialization in industrial organizational psychology. There, I worked in an organizational behavior management research lab under Dr. Brandon Ring, and I also work part time for Fordham University as an organizational and leadership development consultant.

My dream is to be able to work on projects with NASA that explore the intricacies of astronaut team dynamics and the necessary skills that astronaut teams require to successfully complete a mission to Mars. Many psychologists in this field hold a doctorate degree, so I set my sights on Ph.D. programs that offered research opportunities and applied experience in this field.

What do you hope to research while you're here?

This fall semester, I will be joining Dr. Dorothy Carter’s LINC lab where I will be participating in research projects that are funded by NASA and the Army Research Institute. I am particularly interested in researching team dynamics within teams who work in extreme environments. It is a dream come true to be able to work alongside such esteemed faculty and students and I’m very excited to take this next step in my career!

What do you love about psychology?

Organizational psychology is a field that allows me to explore the different interdependent factors that impact team performance, and how we can use this knowledge to improve team members’ experience and safety while working in extreme environments. MSU’s Ph.D. program in organizational psychology caters to students who are interested in an academic or practitioner role, so my options are broadened!

In your free time, what do you like to do?
I love to read, play piano, or watch the latest show I’m invested in during my spare time. I recently finished season three of The Mandalorian!