WHO ARE WE? ​
Dr. Sharla BiefeldDr. Sharla Biefeld, Ph.D. Assistant Professor she/they

Sharla Biefeld is the principal investigator in the B.O.D.Y Lab. They joined the University of Alabama Department of Psychology in the Fall of 2023, and is affiliated with the Center for Youth Development and Intervention. Her work investigates experiences of discrimination and harassment and the impact of these experiences on mental and physical health in children and adolescents. Their work also investigates how intersecting identities and community membership impact these experiences. Dr. Biefeld is particularly interested in body image among gender diverse youth. 

Dr. Biefeld is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and completed a PhD and Master of Science in Experimental/Developmental Psychology at the University of Kentucky. They also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to  her work in developmental psychology, they worked at an eating disorder treatment center and at the University of New Mexico, in reproductive health research.  

​Email: [email protected]

​The BODY Lab is currently interviewing undergraduate researchers for Fall 2024. Join Our Team
​If you are a community member or organization that would like to get involved, please email Sharla Biefeld at [email protected]

Meet the team!

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Kyndal Mays (she/her)

Joined August 2023
Kyndal is a first year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama where she worked on a number of research projects across an expanse of topics including body image, health behaviors, and how friends discuss their bodies. Her research interests are predominantly centered around eating disorder symptomatology, maladaptive eating behaviors, experiences of body-based harassment and body esteem specifically within sexual and gender minorities. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, playing with her dog, and a night in with a good book. ​

Graduate Student Affiliates

Shaylee Smith (she/her)

Joined October 2023

Shaylee is a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and earn her Masters in Women’s Studies. She is currently interested in exploring the intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity and how they impact individuals across diverse social settings including academia, as well as broader influences such as culture and societal norms. In her free time, she loves to read, listen to music, watch Criminal Minds (2005), and cuddle with her cat, Tiny-Anime. 

​UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Hannah Parham (she/her)

Joined October 2023

Hannah is a sophomore at the University of Alabama majoring in Psychology with a minor in Addiction and Recovery studies. After graduation, she hopes to continue studying at a graduate school for a PhD in psychology. Her research interests are substance use, adulthood and aging, childhood trauma and adult mental health, and gender and sexuality roles. She is currently employed at North River Counseling Center as an office manager.  ​

Madison Sawyer (she/her)

Joined January 2024

Madison is a sophomore at the University of Alabama majoring in Psychology with minors in Art and Addiction and Recovery Studies. After graduation, she plans to attend UA’s graduate school and earn her master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her career goals include working as a licensed professional counselor with a focus on anxiety, depression, and substance abuse in LGBTQ+ populations. Outside of school, she loves to draw, play ultimate frisbee, and cook for her family and friends. ​

Makiyah Jones (she/her)

Joined October 2023

Makiyah is a freshman at The University of Alabama majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and earn her master's in child development or Marriage and Family Therapy. She is currently interested in exploring childhood trauma and the impacts it has on a person's life. In her free time, she loves to read books, and hang out with friends. 

Azalea Suchodolski (she/her)

Joined January 2024

Azalea is a Junior at the University of Alabama, majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in psychology. After graduating, she plans to attend graduate school to receive her master's in psychology. She is currently interested in child and adolescent psychology and wants to be a child counselor after her schooling. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, and spending time with her cats.  ​

Kaitlyn Johnson (she/her)

Joined January 2024

Kaitlyn is a junior at the University of Alabama majoring in Psychology with a minor in Addiction and Recovery studies. After graduating, she hopes to further her education by going to Graduate School for Counseling. After school, she hopes to be a Substance Abuse counselor focusing on family dynamics. Her research interests include adverse childhood experiences, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic status. Since Kaitlyn is currently self-employed, she enjoys working on her businesses in her free time.  ​

Jacarolyn Curry (she/her)

Joined October 2023

Jacarolyn Curry is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As a continuing studies student and undergraduate research assistant at The University of Alabama, she is deeply interested in psychology, with aspirations of becoming a psychiatrist. Mental health is her passion, and she strives to help individuals navigate its complexities. Looking forward, she intends to enroll in a special master's program with linkage to medical school, where she will have the opportunity to further cultivate her expertise and contribute meaningfully to the field of psychiatry.

 LAB ALUMNI

Erin Canada (she/her)

Tanner Jones (he/they)

Crystal Williams (she/her)

Tancie Lewis (she/her)