WSU Healthy Start Lab

03/28/2026

We are proud of our lab team and RAs who presented personal work or research with other labs at the 2026 Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA).👏🏽

Their dedication to advancing research within and beyond the Healthy Start Lab reflects the passion and commitment our team brings to understanding student experiences and wellbeing.

1. Lorelei (Lab Project Coordinator) & Leah (Undergraduate Research Assistant) presented their project through the Healthy Start Lab, and explored the factors that influence racially and ethically minoritized students’ life satisfaction during the transition to college.

2. Larissa (Assistant Lab Manager) presented this project through the SCENe Lab, exploring how different facets of impulsivity relate to affect and comfort under heat exposure conditions.

3. April and Ashlyn (Undergraduate Research Assistants) conducted their work through the Healthy Start Lab and highlighted the importance of sleep and social experiences for racially and ethically minoritized students during the transition to college.

4. Aaliyah (Undergraduate Research Assistant) presented their work through the McNair Scholars Program and explored how stigma influences attitudes and behaviors related to seeking mental health support.

We are so proud of the impactful work they are doing! ✨

03/09/2026

Meet our Healthy Start Lab Team 🌱

1. Undergraduate Research Assistant | Ashlyn Dahl
2. Undergraduate Research Assistant | April Witham
3. Undergraduate Research Assistant | Lauren Elrod
4. Undergraduate Research Assistant | Aaliyah Ngirutang

Stay tuned for more content coming soon!

03/06/2026

Attention Fall 2026 9th Graders and Parents! 📱⌚

The Healthy Start Lab at WSU, led by Dr. Chang Liu (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology), is recruiting participants for our "Stress and Well-Being in High School Transition" study! We're looking for students who are entering or will be entering 9th grade in Fall 2026.

⏰ Study Timeline & Components:
Baseline Assessment (Fall 2026/Spring 2027): Surveys on school experiences, relationships, stress, and well-being

14-Day Smartwatch Period (Fall 2026/Spring 2027): Answer questions 3 times daily about stress, mood, and experiences

Follow-up Assessment (One year after baseline assessment, during 10th grade): Surveys similar to baseline assessment to track changes throughout 9th grade

✅ Who can participate:
Students entering or will be entering 9th grade in Fall 2026

Students & parents who can read & speak English fluently

Students who can wear smartwatches for 14 days
Families who can attend baseline session at WSU’s APPL & PRISM Research Clinics at Spokane

💰 Compensation:
Students can earn up to $118

$15 for baseline survey

$1.50 per smartwatch prompt (up to $63)

$20 bonus for completing over 80% of prompts

$20 for follow-up survey

Parents/guardians can earn up to $30
Interested? Have a parent/guardian scan the QR code in the image to learn more or contact us at [email protected] or (509) 335-2794.

This research is approved by WSU's IRB ( #21012) and funded by the American Psychological Foundation and Spencer Foundation.

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03/02/2026

Meet our Healthy Start Lab Team 🌱

1. Graduate Research Assistant | Adeline Hu
2. Graduate Research Assistant | Maximilian Tang
3. Undergraduate Research Assistant | Leah Grier

02/24/2026

Meet our Healthy Start Lab Team 🌱

1. Principal Investigator | Dr. Chang Liu
2. Project Coordinator | Lorelei
3. Assistant Lab Manager | Larissa

More coming next week!

10/20/2025

📢 The Healthy Start Lab at Washington State University is recruiting 9th grade students for our Stress and Well-Being Study!

🧠 We are studying how students manage stress using smartwatches!

💵 Compensation:

Students can earn up to $118

Parents/Guardians can earn up to $30

🏫 What’s involved:

Students: Must complete a baseline survey in person at WSU, wear smartwatches for 14 days and answer quick and brief prompts daily, and complete a follow-up survey.

Parents/Guardians: Complete baseline and follow-up surveys.

📩 Interested? Have a parent/guardian scan the QR code or contact us at [email protected]/ (509) 335-2794 for more info!

10/02/2025

Welcome to the Healthy Start Lab!

We are a psychology research lab at Washington State University. Led by Dr. Chang Liu, we are a group full of dedicated researchers working to make a positive difference in individuals and families.