Department of Biobehavioral Health
Laura Cousino Klein, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health
Research Focus
The Biobehavioral Health Studies Laboratory is dedicated to the investigation of individual differences in the biobehavioral effects of stress. We incorporate both human and animal models to evaluate the multiple biological and behavioral factors that underlie individual stress responses. To accomplish this research objective, our research program is focused around three topic areas: (1) the effects of stress on appetitive behaviors (i.e., cigarette smoking, caffeine consumption, eating), (2) sex differences in neuroendocrine, immunological, and behavioral responses to stress, and (3) developmental influences on biobehavioral stress responses.
Our clinical research is conducted at the Penn State General Clinical Research Center where we have the capacity to collect multiple blood samples, administer nicotine to human subjects, and carry out complex immunological assays. Other human studies are conducted in Benedict House which is located on Penn State's University Park campus. Our laboratory consists of a 4-room research suite that contains a wet lab and a subject room designed and equipped to carry out biobehavioral stress studies.