Kara Kerr

Dr. Kara Kerr is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on the intersection of neuroscience and psychology, particularly adolescent mental health, brain development, and social influences on neurobiology. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tulsa (2017).

Dr. Kerr has received grants including the Center for Integrated Research on Childhood Adversity (2022-2025) and Parent-Adolescent Training on Neurofeedback and Synchrony (2019-2021). Her work explores topics such as early life adversity impacts on hippocampal volume, neural mechanisms of emotion regulation, and interoceptive dysfunction in eating disorders.

Teaching responsibilities include Principles of Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology courses. She maintains a lab focused on collaborative network research and mentors students through research practicums and clinical practicums.

Her recent publications highlight advancements in neuroimaging techniques, cross-brain associations in parent-child interactions, and the neurobiology of eating disorders. Ongoing projects emphasize translational research to inform clinical interventions for adolescents.