极乐禁地

Faculty: Kymberlee O'Brien, MEd, PhD

Portrait photo of Kymberlee O'Brien in pink top with lavender bacground

Kymberlee O'Brien, MEd, PhD

Assistant Professor, Organizational and Leadership Psychology Department

Adjunct Faculty, Clinical Psychology Department

Faculty, Neuroscience of Leadership Psychology Concentration

Email
kymberlee_obrien@williamjames.edu
Phone
617-312-9832
Pronouns
she/her
Degree Major/Emphasis Institution
PhD Social Psychology (specialization in Psychobiology) Brandeis University
MEd Education Fitchburg State College
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Developmental Psychobiology Univeristy of Massachusetts鈥揃oston/Harvard Medical School

Courses

  • Functional Neuroanatomy
  • Neuroscience of Leadership
  • Neuroscience of Leadership Lab
  • Crafting Your TED talk
  • Advanced Neuroscience Seminar
  • Capstone 1
  • Consultation
  • First Year Seminar

Research and Practice Interests

  • Neuroscience of Leadership and research lab (research design)
  • Neuroscience of Prejudice
  • Psychophysiology of Stress and intergroup relations
  • Epigenetics related to cultural and social bias and personal and organizational behavior change
  • DEI consultant in delivering implicit bias reduction training
  • Neurohack-content and practice to apply neurofeedback for behavioral and psychological change
  • Developing a Consultation practice, setting fees, branding, pitching, etc.
  • Finding and applying for grants in OD, Neuroscience, and mental health domains
  • Research on chronic stress of discrimination and microaggressions

Professional Licenses and Certifications

  • APA
  • Society for Psychophysiological Research
  • Data Analysis Training Institute of Connecticut, UCONN Workshops, CT
    • Structural Equation Modeling
    • Dyadic Data Analysis Using Multilevel Modeling IBM

Awards

  • Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant/Franklin Cultural Council 2025: Brain Fitness Across Multiple Domains
  • Faculty Seed Grant, 2023-24 Rhythm Intervention for Senior and Veteran Brain Health
  • P.I. O鈥橞rien, C.I. Merrit. Eradicating implicit bias; a pilot study for teachers and high school POC. DOE, Esser funding. 2021-22.
  • P.I. O鈥橞rien 鈥淎n epigenetic investigation of social devaluation influences on glucocorticoid and oxytocin receptors.鈥� National Institutes of Health via Rhode Island InBre, biomedical grant (2018-2020).
  • P.I. O鈥橞rien 鈥淚nvestigating acute and chronic stress related to microaggressions as a mechanism of health disparities,鈥� Society for Personality and Social Psychology: Inaugural Small Grant Award, 2016.
  • CO-I: O鈥橞rien, Moore, and Lapp, 鈥淩ole of oxytocin in coping with social stress: moderated by early life stress,鈥� UMass Boston: College of Liberal Arts grant, 2015-2017.
  • P.I. O鈥橞rien,鈥� Transmission of Discrimination-Related Stress Reactivity and Reduction from Mother to Infant,鈥� American Psychological Foundation Visionary Award, 2013-2015.
  • NIMHD: NIH, Loan Repayment Program for Research in Health Disparities, 2012-2014.
  • Harvard University, Sackler Scholar in Psychobiology, 2011-2012.
  • 鈥淓mbodied Bias: Psychophysiological Methods in Assessing Infrahumanization of Out-group members,鈥� International Society for Developmental Psychobiology/ University of Wisconsin, Health and Emotion Psychiatry Symposium, 2011-2013.
  • 鈥淢oral Certainty under Stress: Psychophysiological and Social Stress Influences on Moral Judgments,鈥� American Psychological Association Dissertation Award, 2010.
  • Brandeis Provost Dissertation Award, 2010.
  • Brandeis University Prize Instructorship award for outstanding graduate students to design and instruct a specialty course: Psychophysiology, 2009.

Publications and Presentations

  • O鈥橞rien and Tronick (2021), Neuroendocrine Associations with Chronic Social Discrimination. Under Review.
  • Romero and O鈥橞rien (2021), Are Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Missing the Mark for Females in STEM? Under Review.
  • O鈥橞rien, (2021). Additive Effects of Social Devaluation on Multiple Domains of Health. Under Review.
  • O鈥橞rien, Tronick, and Moore, (2018). Maternal Education Influences on Lifetime Alterations in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal-Axis. In Preparation, 2018.
  • O鈥橞rien, Meyer, Tronick, and Moore, (2017). Hair Cortisol and Lifetime Discrimination; Moderation by
    Subjective Social Status. Health Psychology Open, 4(1), 2055102917695176
  • O'Brien, K. M., Tronick, E. Z., and Moore, C. L. (2013). Relationship between hair cortisol and perceived chronic stress in a diverse sample. Stress and Health, 29(4), 337-344.
  • O鈥橞rien, K. M. (2012). Healthy, wealthy, wise? Psychosocial factors influencing the socioeconomic status鈥揾ealth gradient. Journal of Health Psychology, 17(8), 1142-1151.
  • O鈥橞rien, Afzal, and Tronick, (2012). Relational psychophysiology and mutual regulation during dyadic therapeutic and developmental relating. Interdisciplinary Handbook of the Person-Centered Approach: Connections Beyond Psychotherapy, Eds. Jef Cornelius-White, Renate Motschnig, and Michael Lux.
  • O鈥橞rien, (2011). Moral Certainty under Stress: Psychophysiological and Social Stress influences on SocioMoral Judgments. Proquest Dissertation Services.

Select Published Abstracts

  • Merritt and O鈥橞rien (2021). Social devaluation and implicit bias reduction; objective and subjective indicators on highschooler academic performance.
  • Dietrich, Otoo, Coogan, Bedard, and O鈥橞rien (2017). The Physiological and Psychological Stress Associated with Perceived Microaggressions. APS.
  • Eldeeb, Romero, and O鈥橞rien (2017). . UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat.
  • Nagatti, Anina, Daigle, and O鈥橞rien (2016). . UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat.
  • Lapp, Moore, and O鈥橞rien (2015). Maternal Education on Lifetime Vulnerabilities for Chronic Stress and Heightened Physiological Reactions to Stress. International Journal of Developmental Psychobiology.
  • Lapp, Power, Moore, and O鈥橞rien(2014). . UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat.
  • O鈥橞rien and Moore (2014). Mediating Factors between Early Adversity and Chronic Illnesses. International Journal of Developmental Psychobiology.
  • O鈥橞rien and Moore (2013). Biomarkers of Stress and Inflammation. International Journal of Developmental Psychobiology.
  • O鈥橞rien, Thompson, Tronick, and Moore (2014). . UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat.
  • O鈥橞rien and Moore (2012). UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat.
  • O鈥橞rien, Wingfield, and Rohleder (2011). Low Vagal Tone and Stress on Threat Perceptions in SocioMoral Judgments. Psychophysiology, 48 (supplement 1).
  • O鈥橞rien, Koslov, Argo, and Mendes (2010). Embodied Bias: Explicit attitudes and Psychophysiology during Arab/White intergroup interactions. Observer.

Select Presentations

  • O鈥橞rien, Emerson College: 鈥淗air Cortisol and Chronic Social Discrimination鈥� 2021
  • O鈥橞rien, 鈥淗ow STEM initiatives may be missing the#MetToo/Times Up Mark for Female and Minority Students in STEM鈥�. 2018 National Women in Leadership Conference/Diversity Council.
  • O鈥橞rien, Model UN via Knovva Academy: International education company providing worldwide training excellence in global competency.
  • O鈥橞rien, 鈥淎dditive Effects of Social Devaluation on Multiple Domains of Health鈥� Infant-Parent Mental Health Program, Dr. E.Z. Tronick, UMass Boston/Guest Lecture, 2017.
  • O鈥橞rien, 鈥淢ental Health, Microaggressions, and Self-care鈥�, Worcester Polytechnic Institute/National Society Black Engineers, 2017.
  • O鈥橞rien, 鈥淢icroaggressions: what are the relationships between subtle social devaluation on health, wellness, and academic performance?鈥� Worcester Polytechnic Institute/Can We Talk Series, 2017.
  • Cyran, Leach, Perkins, Copeland, and O'Brien, 鈥淧sychological Stress and Physiological Responses: How Both Affect Cognition鈥�, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2017.
  • Lapp, O鈥橞rien, and Moore, 鈥淓xploring the Development of Resilience to Adverse Effects of Social Stress on Health鈥�, UMass Boston/Office of Health Disparities Research and Training, 2016.
  • O鈥橞rien and Moore, 鈥淒iscrimination, Affect Solidarity, and Biomarkers of Stress and Inflammation鈥�, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 2014.
  • O鈥橞rien and Moore, 鈥淗ealth Disparities in Biological and Perceived Chronic Stress: Protections and Vulnerabilities鈥�, Washington, DC/Summit on Health Disparities, 2013.
  • O鈥橞rien and Mendes, 鈥淓mbodied Bias: Psychophysiological Methods in Assessing Infrahumanization of Out-group members鈥�, University of Wisconsin/Health and Emotion Psychiatry Symposium, 2012.
  • O鈥橞rien and Moore, 鈥淧olyvictimization and the Development of Physiological Stress Systems as Intermediaries of Pathophysiology鈥�, International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, 2011.
  • O鈥橞rien and Rohleder, 鈥淟ow Vagal tone and Threat perceptions predict refusal to harm others in high conflict dilemmas鈥�, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 2011.
  • O鈥橞rien, Wingfield, and Rohleder, 鈥淚t鈥檚 Not all downhill from here: Attenuated Autonomic Reactivity with Age and Moral Stability under Stress鈥�, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 2011.
  • O鈥橞rien and Mendes, 鈥淧sychophysiological Measures of Implicit Racial Bias between White and Arab Americans.鈥� Harvard Kennedy School of Government, 2010.

Concurrent Leadership, Service and Professional Activities

  • Curriculum Committee, Organizational and Leadership Psychology
  • Research Committee, Organizational and Leadership Psychology

Prior Experience

  • University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA
  • Postdoctoral Fellow in Developmental Psychobiology
  • Research Associate in Psychology
  • Consulting on statistical analysis for epigenetic and psychophysical studies on early life adversity, stress, and biomarkers
  • Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Co-Investigator in Harvard Health and Psychophysiology Lab and Kennedy School Decision Sciences
  • Research Assistant in Harvard Health and Psychophysiology Lab
  • Research Assistant, Harvard School of Public Health

Professional Affiliations

  • University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA
  • Emerson College
  • Northeastern University
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Harvard Kennedy School
  • Harvard Health and Psychophysiology Lab

Community Involvement

  • Research Director and Consultant with Sankofa Synergy Alliance, developing and implementing evidence-based implicit bias reduction training.
  • Crafting Content and Storytelling Webinar for Global Psi Chi, April 2025
  • Neuroscience for Kids, Boston Public Library, April 2025

Other

  • Director of Neuophysiology Research Lab