Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien

Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien is an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Eastern Connecticut State University. Her research focuses on developmental behavior genetics, examining gene-environment interactions influencing childhood psychopathology and resilience. She leads the longitudinal D.U.C.K. study (Developing an Understanding of Childhood Knowledge), tracking sibling emotions and behaviors over eight years. Her work also explores discrimination factors in early childcare settings.

Education: Ph.D. in Psychological Science from the University of Connecticut (UCONN).

Teaching: Teaches courses including General Psychology (PSY 100), Psychology of Childhood (PSY 206), and Research Methods II (PSY 327). Emphasizes experiential learning and application of theories to real-world issues. Advocates for accessible liberal arts education, mentoring students through research assistantships and conference presentations.

Research Trends: Her publications span behavioral genetics, child development, and the impact of environmental factors like prenatal smoking and socioeconomic status. Recent work explores parental influence on child positivity and resilience, leveraging twin studies to disentangle genetic and environmental contributions.

Advising & Engagement: Facilitates student-led research projects and has guided teams to present at conferences like the Eastern Psychological Association (2021, 2022) and Society for Research in Child Development (2022).

Philosophy: Believes learning should be exciting and inclusive, fostering connections between classroom content and societal issues. Encourages students to pursue careers aligned with passion rather than perceived practicality.