Team Members
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Asheley R. Landrum, PhD, is the principal investigator of the Science Communication & Cognition Lab and an assistant professor in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. Prior to this she was the Howard Deshong Postdoctoral Fellow at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Landrum also completed a postdoc at the University of Louisville and she earned her PhD in psychological sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Dr. Landrum's research focuses on how feelings, attitudes, values, and identities influence the way we think about science information. Her research has appeared in top journals such as Nature Nanotechnology, Trends in Biotechnology, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Cognition, and Developmental Science. |
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PhD Students
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Alex Olshansky is currently pursuing a PhD in Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. He earned his BS in Finance at The University of Texas at Dallas and has 13 years of experience in the banking industry. Alex was most recently a VP of Operations for a growing community bank in Dallas and left the industry to pursue graduate education at Texas Tech University. His research interests are in Science Communication and public perceptions and understanding of science. Alex is the graduate student lead on the Alternative Beliefs Project. |
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Kristina Janét is currently pursing a PhD in Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. She earned her BA in Public Relations at Texas Tech University and has experience in the publishing industry. Kristina was most recently a publisher of The Abernathy Advocate, a weekly newspaper in Abernathy, Texas. Her research interests include Environmental Communication and Science Journalism. Kristina is one of the graduate students leading the Cracking the Code: Millennial Engagement with Science Media project that is in collaboration with KQED and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. |
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Natasha (Strydhorst) Unsworth is currently pursing a PhD in Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. Her research is focused on science communication—specifically the factors contributing to and consequences associated with science illiteracy. She has a B.A. in writing and environmental studies from Calvin University and a M.Sc. in science journalism from Boston University.
Natasha is one of the graduate students leading the Cracking the Code: Millennial Engagement with Science Media project. Specifically, she has been working on our RAPID grant to look at engaging young audiences with COVID-19 media coverage. Natasha also runs our Blog. |
Undergraduate Research Assistants
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Mattie Kate "MK" Lovell is a sophomore at Texas Tech University. She is double majoring in advertising and public relations with a minor in media strategies. She competes for the Texas Tech Track and Cross Country teams where she made the All-Academic Big 12 team. She enjoys volunteering at the Lubbock Boys and Girls Club in her free time. After graduation, MK plans to find a job in the nonprofit industry.
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Where have our former members gone?
Rosalynn Vasquez, PhD, was a PhD student in our lab group from 2017 to 2020. She is now an assistant professor of public relations at Boston University.
Othello Richards (soon to be PhD), was a PhD student in our lab group from 2017 to 2020. He is now at Brigham Young University.
Kelsi Opat, PhD, was a postdoctoral research associate working on our Cracking the Code: Millennial Engagement with Science Media project from 2020 to 2021. She will soon be starting her new position as an assistant professor at Missouri State University.
