(she/her)
Associate Professor
Auburn University​
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Principal Investigator
AU College Experiences and Beyond Study
Age 18 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, the Age 18 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 student Brooks Triplett, and undergraduate students Aisha Qazi, Conner Johnston, Jessica Bailes, and Kyndal Heaton. 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. Recent graduate and undergraduate student alums include Dr. Bruno Ache Akua, Brianna Crumly-Goodwin, Olivia New, Aisha Qazi, Alyssa Carlota, Halei Adkins, Maddy McDaniel, Lauren Santaella, and Kaitlyn Berry.
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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.
Dr. Samek presenting research from the AU College Experiences Study with other collaborators at the 2025 Society for Research on Child Development (left) and the 2025 Society for the Study of Emerging Adults (right).
Former doctoral student Bruno Ache Akua successfully defended his dissertation on June 25, 2025.
Congratulations Dr. Akua! It's been a pleasure to work with you in the lab and on our research these past 5 years. Godspeed on your new position as an Assistant Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Colgate University.
Undergraduate research assistants presenting research from the Lab at the AU This is Research: Student Symposium in April, 2025.
From left to right, undergraduate student research assistants Olivia New, Aisha Qazi, Halei Adkins, and Alyssa Carlota
