SHAG LAB RESEARCH TEAM

Lab Director

Brian A. Feinstein, Ph.D.

Dr. Brian A. Feinstein (he/him) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. He obtained his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2015 after completing an APA-accredited internship at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Then, he completed an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship (F32) at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University from 2015-2018. Following the completion of his postdoctoral fellowship, he served as a Research Assistant Professor at the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing at Northwestern University from 2018-2020. He joined the Department of Psychology at RFUMS in 2020. Dr. Feinstein is also involved in a number of professional activities including serving as an Associate Editor at Archives of Sexual Behavior and the Behavior Therapist. He is also a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois.

His research interests include:

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) health
Bisexuality and pansexuality
Stigma-related stress and coping
Mental health, substance use, sexual health, and relationship functioning in SGM populations
Developing and testing interventions to improve SGM health

Faculty Page

Postdoctoral Research Associate

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Roberto Rentería, Ph.D.

Roberto Rentería (he/him) is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the lab. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University and his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Truman State University. Broadly, Roberto's research and clinical interests focus on health outcomes and disparities among SGM communities of color, particularly assessing how intersectional structural and individual factors contribute to health disparities. Clinically, he has trained in a variety of settings (e.g., primary care) providing services for culturally diverse populations, including services in Spanish. Outside of the lab he loves to go on walks, cooking all types of food, going to the movies, and traveling to new places.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

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Roberto Rentería, Ph.D.

Roberto Rentería (he/him) is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the lab. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University and his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Truman State University. Broadly, Roberto's research and clinical interests focus on health outcomes and disparities among SGM communities of color, particularly assessing how intersectional structural and individual factors contribute to health disparities. Clinically, he has trained in a variety of settings (e.g., primary care) providing services for culturally diverse populations, including services in Spanish. Outside of the lab he loves to go on walks, cooking all types of food, going to the movies, and traveling to new places.

Zig (they/them) is a first year PhD student in the lab. They graduated from Florida State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Leadership Studies. After graduation, they worked as a psychology technician in the National Center for PTSD’s Behavioral Science Division housed within the VA Boston Healthcare System. Their areas of clinical and research interests include the impacts and associations between negative interpersonal experiences and substance use, as well as, the resiliency of LGBTQ+ communities and ways that strengths can be further amplified through community-specific intervention development. When they are not in the lab, Zig enjoys painting, making music, watching cartoons, and spending time outside.

Graduate Students

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Zig Hinds, B.S.

Zig (they/them) is a second year PhD student in the lab. They graduated from Florida State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Leadership Studies. After graduation, they worked as a psychology technician in the National Center for PTSD’s Behavioral Science Division housed within the VA Boston Healthcare System. Their areas of clinical and research interests include the impacts and associations between negative interpersonal experiences and substance use, as well as, the resiliency of LGBTQ+ communities and ways that strengths can be further amplified through community-specific intervention development. When they are not in the lab, Zig enjoys painting, making music, watching cartoons, and spending time outside.

Isabel Benjamin, B.A.

Isabel (she/her) is a second year PhD student in the lab. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theatre from Williams College in 2019. She subsequently worked as a post-bacc research assistant at the Rhode Island Hospital at the MIDAS study. Broadly, her research interests include stigmatizing experiences contributing to SGM mental health, with a particular interest in bi+ populations and targeted psychotherapy interventions. Clinically, she is interested in working with SGM individuals and older adults. Outside of the lab, you can find her with her kitten Tooth, hanging with Kate’s dog Greta, or at her local community theatre.

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Isabel Benjamin, B.A.

Isabel (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the lab. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theatre from Williams College in 2019. She subsequently worked as a post-bacc research assistant at the Rhode Island Hospital at the MIDAS study. Broadly, her research interests include stigmatizing experiences contributing to SGM mental health, with a particular interest in bi+ populations and targeted psychotherapy interventions. Clinically, she is interested in working with SGM individuals and older adults. Outside of the lab, you can find her with her cats Tooth and Edward Cullen, hanging with Kate’s dog Greta, or at her local community theatre.

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Kate Dorrell, B.S.

Kate (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the lab. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. After graduation, Kate pursued a post-bacc research assistantship at the Pittsburgh Girls Study through the University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, where she worked on studies of the impact of discrimination stress in sexual minority women. Her research focuses on how romantic relationships impact mental health for SGM individuals, with a particular focus on bi+ individuals and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In her free time, you can find Kate at Lake Michigan beaches with her dog Greta, playing with Isabel’s cats, or exploring thrift shops in Chicago.

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Taylor Macaulay, M.S.

Taylor (they/them) is a fifth year PhD student in the lab. They received their Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Dance at Wayne State University in 2015. They went on to obtain a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Eastern Michigan University in 2019, during which they conducted research in a pediatric health psychology lab focusing on health behaviors of children with food allergies. Their research interests are in the development of health behaviors and their impact on SGM youth health outcomes. Clinically, they are interested in pediatric healthcare and working with SGM youth. Taylor spends their free time baking, making art, dancing, supporting Chicago's drag scene, and taking long walks with their sister and dog nephew.

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Sibel Sarac, M.S.

Sibel (she/her) is a sixth year PhD student in the lab. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Justice Studies from Miami University in 2018. Her research interests focus on intersectionality of race/ethnicity in sexual and gender minority individuals and related mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD). Clinically, she is interested in working with adults presenting with traumatic experiences/PTSD, as well as CPTSD. Outside of the lab, you can find her at the dog park with her dog Ralph, spending time with friends, playing the cello, or repotting one of her 30 plants.

Zig (they/them) is a first year PhD student in the lab. They graduated from Florida State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Leadership Studies. After graduation, they worked as a psychology technician in the National Center for PTSD’s Behavioral Science Division housed within the VA Boston Healthcare System. Their areas of clinical and research interests include the impacts and associations between negative interpersonal experiences and substance use, as well as, the resiliency of LGBTQ+ communities and ways that strengths can be further amplified through community-specific intervention development. When they are not in the lab, Zig enjoys painting, making music, watching cartoons, and spending time outside.

Staff

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Research Data Management Specialist

Emily Bettin, B.A.

Emily (she/her) joined the lab as a part-time Data Analyst in 2022. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kenyon College in 2003 and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Preclinical Psychology from Northwestern University in 2012. She is passionate about improving the health of SGM populations, and she has a knack for creative and functional survey design as well as developing and implementing sophisticated and user-friendly data management tools. She has two cats (Loki and Toby), is always up to date on the latest news, and enjoys pursuing various creative interests (most recently, knitting).

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Research Coordinator

Shane Kasmarogi, B.S.

Shane Kasmarogi (he/him) serves as a Study Coordinator in the lab. Graduating from Arizona State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology, Shane is currently immersed in a post-baccalaureate role within the lab, contributing to the ongoing REACH study. His research interests center around Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) mental health (e.g., depression and anxiety). His research interests include the intricate interplay between interpersonal contexts and mental health outcomes, with an added exploration of digital media's impact. Outside of research, Shane really enjoys spending his time outdoors, particularly hiking, swimming, and exploring the Lake Michigan coast line.

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Research Assistant

Diana Kaziyev, B.A.

Diana (she/her) joined the lab as a research assistant after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a clinical concentration from Hunter College (CUNY) in 2022. Her research interests broadly center around depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use among adolescents and young adults. In her free time, Diana enjoys discovering new music, going to the movies, attending concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Former Lab Members

Helena Blumenau, Lake Forest College, Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-22)

Emily Ernst, St. Catherine University, Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022)

Sydni Foley, Lake Forest College, Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022)

Nadiyah Johnson, Northern Illinois University, Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022)

Spencer Royer, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, MS Student (2022-23)