Kelly Brice, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Kelly.Brice@rice.edu

Kelly Brice enjoys learning about how psychological and environmental stressors can impact physical health outcomes, including immune function and disease risk. With support from the Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH National Research Service Award fellowship (F32), she is investigating the relationships between emotion regulation, psychological and physiological indicators of stress, and cognitive performance. Kelly graduated with her BA in Psychology and minor in Business from Hendrix College in 2017. In 2023, she received her PhD in Psychology from Texas Christian University, where she studied the effects of chronic sleep loss, stress, and poor diet consumption on cognitive function, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology in rodents. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to concerts, painting, crafting, and taking dance classes.

 

Pauline Goodson, Ph.D. (she/her)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Pauline.Goodson@rice.edu

Pauline Goodson graduated from Rice University in 2025 with her M.A. and Ph.D. in affective neuroscience and health psychology. Her doctoral research investigated (1) the neural underpinnings of different emotion regulation strategies, (2) the dynamic ways in which emotion regulation interacts with daily stress to predict subjective health outcomes, and (3) applying the knowledge gleaned toward intervention development. Her current research includes incorporating physiological indices of stress and health through psychoneuroimmunology to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how emotion regulation can be targeted to improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations. Pauline also acts as project coordinator for the BMED Lab’s Project REACH. Outside of the lab, she is an instructor for a first-year writing intensive seminar (FWIS100), trains for half-marathons, and watches horror movies with her husband and two cats.

 

Vincent Lai, B.A. (he/him/his)

Graduate Student Researcher
vdl1@rice.edu

Vincent Lai is a fourth-year graduate student in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Rice University as part of the Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine and Industrial-Organizational Psychology interest groups. He graduated from Rice in 2021, earning his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Vincent worked on numerous projects since joining the BMED Lab as an undergraduate student, including his honors thesis project, before starting graduate school. His research interests include how stressful experiences in close relationships, such as “missing out” on others’ fun and exciting experiences or being in unsatisfying, conflict-laden marriages, impact physical and mental health across the lifespan. Outside of the lab, he serves as the President of the Psychological Sciences Graduate Student Association (PsycGSA) as well as the Marketing Director and a Staff Writer for the International Collegiate Journal of Science. In his free time, you can find Vincent at a workout class, spending time with loved ones, or relaxing with a good video game or show.

 

Daniel Argueta, B.A. (he/him/his)

Graduate Student Researcher
daniel.argueta@rice.edu

Daniel is a third-year graduate student in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Rice University studying health psychology and behavioral medicine. Daniel is an NIA Diversity Supplement Recipient and will investigate differences in discrimination-related inflammation between Latino and non-Hispanic white dementia spousal caregivers as part of this project. He graduated from Rice University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in neuroscience, completing his senior thesis examining the role of psychological needs in depressive symptom expression in dementia caregivers. He has been working as a research assistant for Project Heart since the Summer of 2021 and Project ACT since Fall of 2021. His work surrounds the immune and metabolic mechanisms that link extreme stress to psychopathology, including anxiety and depression. He aims to understand how trauma, uncertainty, perfectionism, and other individual differences contribute to differences in mental and physical health. Outside of Rice, Daniel enjoys figure skating and coaching, supplementing his passion for working with kids and young adults. He also enjoys photography, and is the current BMED Lab photographer.

 

She earned a B.S. in ecology & evolutionary biology and B.A. in visual arts from Rice University in 2023. Her passion is bringing art and science together in meaningful ways. Primarily using experimental filmmaking and abstract collage, Ling is fond of exploratory, beautifully provocative, and self-reflective ideas, especially those pushing social boundaries and playing with cultural (mis)communications. She has completed various artistic installations at Rice University, Moody Center for the Arts, and Sleepy Cyborg Gallery in Houston. Living with a polio-like neurological condition and using a wheelchair, Ling is also excited to champion disability advocacy with a diverse lens.

 

Paula Lanternier, B.A., B.S. (she/her)

Graduate Student Researcher
pl60@rice.edu

Paula is a second year graduate student in the Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine PhD program. She is also the recipient of a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research from the National Institute on Aging. She received a BA in Psychology and BS in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin, where she also completed a minor in Spanish and Spanish for Medical Professions Certificate. Paula is interested in understanding the mechanisms through which adverse experiences, chronic stress, and trauma influence physical and mental health outcomes throughout the life course, with a particular focus on social and developmental influences on health. Her current research projects focus on investigating how childhood factors like socioeconomic status and traumatic experiences may continue to shape psychological and biological health outcomes in adulthood and older adulthood. Outside of academics, she enjoys art and art history, music, spending time with loved ones, and exploring new places near and far.

 

Valentina Maza, B.A. (she/her)

Graduate Student Researcher
vim2@rice.edu