As we come to the end of 2021, it is important to reflect on the amazing accomplishments of many of our ReMind Lab team members. This week, we would like to highlight and congratulate two of our past ReMind Lab graduate students, Emily Bratlee-Whitaker and Iris Bhang. Emily and Iris graduated with their PhDs in Nursing this past August 2021.

Emily’s dissertation examined the impact of daily memory lapses on daily negative and positive affect in middle-aged and older adults as well as the impact of individual characteristics (personality and control beliefs) on these relationships. Emily now continues her research as a postdoctoral scholar at the Prevention Research Center here at Penn State. During her postdoctoral training, she will use mixed methods to describe how experiences with cognitive problems impact dementia worry and related health consequences and how these experiences may differ based upon gender, dementia exposure, and beliefs about cognitive aging.

Iris’ dissertation examined the longitudinal associations among self-reported memory problems, depressive symptoms, and mild cognitive impairment in older adults with a history of depression.

We are so proud of all that Emily and Iris have accomplished and we cannot wait to see what more they accomplish in the future!