Graduate Students
Mikayla Tolliver | mdtolliv@uark.edu
Mikayla is a fifth-year graduate student in the Spark Lab. She earned her Bachelors from Oklahoma State University. She is interested in how hormonal contraceptives influence biobehavioral processes. She is funded by the National Science Foundation as a Graduate Research Fellow, and her Master’s thesis is funded by a grant from the Women’s Giving Circle. Outside of the lab, Mikayla likes to spend time snuggling with her fur babies (Dark-Matter and Lumiere), weight training, trying new recipes, and getting out in nature.
Ari Bloshinsky | arib@uark.edu
Ari is a fourth-year graduate student in the Spark Lab. She earned her Bachelors from the University of Florida and her Masters in Experimental Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. Ari is interested in examining the function of social relationships and their underlying biological mechanisms. She is also interested in social perceptions and prejudice. Outside of the lab, Ari loves to spend her time exploring nature, traveling, and listening to live music.
Marius Økland Unnvik | munnvik@uark.edu
Marius is a third-year graduate student in the Spark Lab. He earned his Bachelor’s from Central Methodist University. He is interested in the relationship between personality, pathogen avoidance, intergroup prejudice, culture, and political orientation. Outside of the lab, Marius likes to spend time on philosophy, traveling, nature, soccer, drawing, and music.
Brianna Garcia | brgarcia@uark.edu
Brianna is a first-year graduate student in the Spark Lab. She earned her Bachelors from Florida State University. She is interested in cooperation, social hierarchy, the behavioral immune system, relationships, and multicultural research. She is funded by the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program. Outside of the lab, Brianna likes to travel, hike, and go to the beach.
Honors Thesis Students
Jenna is a senior undergraduate student majoring in biology and psychology and minoring in Spanish. In the Spark Lab, she is studying the relationship between oxidative stress and conflict resolution. After graduation, she plans to continue her education and attend medical school. Outside of the lab, she enjoys swimming, horticulture, reading, and spending time with friends.
“My name is Rachel Wilbourn and I am a graduating senior majoring in psychology and minoring in Social Work. This is my 3rd year in the Spark Lab, and I am currently working with Ari on my honors thesis, looking at the correlation between willingness to tolerate baggage and fear of being single. After graduation, I plan to pursue a masters in Social Work on my way to becoming a therapist. I am so grateful to be a part of such a great community in the Spark Lab. Additionally, this year I am excited to be a co-chair of the lab’s Service Committee, which has given me the invaluable opportunity to give back to the NWA community.”
“My name is Abbie Brien and I am a senior Biology and Psychology major from Austin, Texas. I have been in the lab for a little over two years, and I am writing my Honors Thesis on hormonal contraceptives and rumination. I also am co-chair of the service committee within the lab. After graduation, I plan on attending medical school. In my free time I love to run, cook, and read.”
“My name is Kelly Shrieve, and I am currently a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in statistics. This will be my 4th semester in the Spark Lab, and this lab has granted me the amazing opportunity to work on a research project for my honors thesis. After graduation, I plan on furthering my education in clinical psychology. Outside of school, I love to spend time baking, hiking, collecting plants, and hanging out with my friends.”
Undergraduate Research Assistants
- Margaret Smith
- Anthony Zaffater
- Jenna Thomas
- Rachel Wilbourn
- Brooke Davis
- Jacob Ward
- Kelly Shrieve
- Abbie Brien
- Alexee Jones
- Emma Elrod
- Brandon Wilson
- Jessica Lobb
- Quan Le
- Aashvi Dahiya
- Melia Whitcomb
- Tyler Mizner
- Kathleen Tarver
- Chase Haley
- Hyatt Fox
- Isabelle Hackleman
- Elizabeth Trainor
- Lauren French
- Arshiya Neupane
- Dusty McKinnon
- Sommer Tijerina
- Glory Keas
Lab Alumni
Post-Bac Research Assistants
- Zach Buckner – currently a graduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi
Undergraduate Research Assistants Graduated from the Lab
- W. Allen Lambert
- Michael Moretta
- Kaylie Mahar
- Ryan Blanchard
- Preston Stone
- Kayla Thuet
- Olivia (Kelsey) Yearwood
- Aurthi Arumugam
- Abby Sibson
- Abigail Doran
- Gabrielle Harville
- Kaylee Phimmasene
- Alisa Newbold
- Emily Furlow
- Alyssa Sullins
- Sloan Teeuwen
- Noah Bogart
- Sam Brown
- Abigail Doran
- Hannah Seaton
- Charlotte Edds
- Lily Degrace
- Luke Thurlby
- Sophia Bastian
- Charles (Ethan) Coombs
- Holly Metersky
- Lauren Matthews
- Carson Chappell
- Haadiya Muhammad
- Matthew Moore
- Alyssa Childress
- Patsy Cox
- Padmasree Gudivada