(she/her)
Associate Professor
Auburn University​
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Principal Investigator
AU College Experiences and Beyond Study
PreVenture in Alabama
Dr. Samek's Adolescent and Young Adult Development Lab
About Us
Dr. Samek is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Auburn University (AU).
Dr. Samek serves as the Principal Investigator for several studies in the lab, including the AU College Experiences and Beyond Study and PreVenture in Alabama.
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Our lab is composed of a team of researchers and student research assistants who are passionate about the study of adolescent and young adult development. Undergraduate and graduate students assist Dr. Samek's research endeavors, as well as lead their own projects.
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Current student research assistants include doctoral candidate Bruno Ache Akua, doctoral student Brooks Triplett, and undergraduate students Aisha Qazi, Conner Johnston, Jessica Bailes, Kyndal Heaton, and Mary Recine. To date, 39 undergraduate students have worked in Dr. Samek's lab for at least a semester or more, as well as 7 graduate students.
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You can find reflections from students working with Dr. Samek about skills gained/advice for new students here:
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You can find Dr. Samek's mentoring statement here.
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If you are interested in working with Dr. Samek and the Adolescent and Young Adult Development lab, please reach out to Dr. Samek directly (drs0032@auburn.edu).
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A recent Auburn Stories article with Dr. Samek can be found here.
From left to right, Discussant Dr. Jennifer Lansford and Presentesr Dr. Rose Atieno Opiyo, Dr. Samek, and Doctoral Candidate Tooba Nadeem Akhtar posing in front of our opening symposium slide at the 2025 meeting of the Society for Child Development (SRCD) in May, 2025.
From left to right, undergraduate student research assistants Olivia New, Aisha Qazi, Halei Adkins, and Alyssa Carlota presenting our research at the AU This is Research: Student Symposium in April, 2025.