EDUCATION
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
PhD Candidate, Psychology
Concentration: Personality and Social Contexts
Advisor: Robin S. Edelstein, Ph.D.
2011 - 2016 (exp)
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Minor, Biology
2004 - 2008
AWARDS
2015
Hough Summer Research Fellowship for Psychology & Ethics ($1900)
Graduate Teaching Certificate
Rackham Travel Award, University of Michigan ($800)
2014
Rackham Candidate Graduate Student Research Grant ($3,000)
Barbara Perry Roberson Summer Research Scholarship ($1,800/summer month)
Roger W. Brown Memorial Award ($500)
Recipient of Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award ($1,000)
Rackham Travel Award, University of Michigan ($700)
2013
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Nomination
Rackham Travel Award, University of Michigan ($700)
2012
Rackham Pre-candidate Graduate Student Research Grant ($1500)
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Nomination
Rackham Travel Award, University of Michigan ($700)
2011
Psychology Research Fellowship, University of Michigan (full tuition/stipend)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Trauma and Grief Center for Youth
University of Texas Health Science Center
PI: Julie B. Kaplow, PhD, ABPP
Graduate Student Collaborator
2014 - present
Personality, Relationships, and Hormones Laboratory
University of Michigan
PI: Robin S. Edelstein, PhD
Graduate Student
2011 - present
Children's Stress and Family Contexts Laboratory
University of Michigan
PI: Julie B. Kaplow, PhD, ABPP
Research Coordinator and Graduate Student
2010 - 2014
Relationships and Stress Research Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
PI: Amy D. Marshall, PhD
Laboratory Manager
2008 - 2010
GRANTS
2013
A prospective study of stress, social support, and postpartum adjustment among lesbian parents
The Williams Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Role: Co-collaborator with Dr. Robin S. Edelstein; $4, 970
2011
Neuroendocrine and psychological changes during the transition to parenthood
Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan
Role: Co-collaborator with Robin S. Edelstein; $10,000
Neuroendocrine and psychological changes during the transition to parenthood
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)
Role: Co-collaborator with Robin S. Edelstein; $2,000
PUBLICATIONS
Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., & Wardecker, B. M. (2015). Testosterone and relationship processes: Dyadic,
longitudinal, and individuals difference perspectives. LIFE Newsletter.
Wardecker, B. M., Smith, L. K., Edelstein, R. S., & Loving, T. J. (2015). Intimate relationships then and
now: Proximal hormonal processes and distal functional adaptations. Adaptive Human Behavior & Physiology.
Edelstein, R. S., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., Moors, A. C., Shipman, E. L., & Lin, N. J. (2015). Prenatal
hormones in first-time expectant parents: Longitudinal changes and within-couple correlations. American Journal of Human Biology.
King, A., Wardecker, B. M., & Edelstein, R. S. (2015). Personal mastery buffers the effects of childhood
sexual abuse on women’s health and family functioning. Journal of Family Violence.
Chopik, W. J., Edelstein, R. S., van Anders, S. M., Wardecker, B. M., Shipman, E. L., & Samples-Steele, C. R.
(2014). Too close for comfort? Adult attachment and cuddling in romantic and parent-child relationships. Personality and Individual Differences, 69, 212-216.
Edelstein, R. S., van Anders, S. M., Chopik, W. J., Goldey, K. L., & Wardecker, B. M. (2014). Dyadic associations
between testosterone and relationship quality in couples. Hormones and Behavior, 65, 401-407.
Chopik, W. J., Wardecker, B. M., & Edelstein, R. S. (2014). Be mine? Relationship accessibility and attachment
orientation predict relationship functioning on Valentine’s Day. Personality and Individual Differences, 63, 47-52.
Kaplow, J. B., Shapiro, D. N., Wardecker, B. M., Howell, K. H., Abelson, J. L., Worthman, C. M., & Prossin, A. R.
(2013). Psychological and environmental correlates of HPA-axis functioning in parentally bereaved children: Preliminary findings. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2, 233-240.
Ramanathan, D. M., Wardecker, B. M., Slocomb, J. E., & Hillary, F. G. (2011). Dispositional optimism and
outcome following traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 25, 328-337.
Medaglia, J. D., Chiou, K. S., Slocomb, J., Fitzpatrick, N. M., Wardecker, B. M., Ramanathan, D., Vesek, J., Good,
D. C., & Hillary, F. G. (2011). The less BOLD, the wiser: Support for latent resource hypothesis after neurotrauma. Human Brain Mapping, 33, 979-993.
Hillary, F. G., Genova, H. M., Medaglia, J. D., Fitzpatrick, N. M., Chiou, K. S., Wardecker, B. M., Franklin Jr., R. G.,
Wang, J., & DeLuca, J. (2010). The nature of processing speed deficits in traumatic brain injury: Is less brain more? Brain Imaging and Behavior, 4, 141-154.
CONFERENCE TALKS
Kaplow, J. B., Layne, C. M., Wardecker, B. M., & Goldenthal, H. (2015, November). Parentchild relationships as markers
of risk and protection in bereaved youth: Implications for addressing childhood anticipatory grief and post-loss adjustment. In J. Kaplow (Chair), Relational Aspects of Grief and Mourning: Clinical Implications for Bereaved Children, Adolescents, and Adults. Symposium to be conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA.
Edelstein, R. S., Wardecker, B. M. & Chopik, W. J. (2014, November). The distance of closeness: Implications of adult
attachment for social media use. In S. Gosling and R. Edelstein (Chairs), Social media and personality. Symposium conducted at the Research Center for Group Dynamics, Ann Arbor, MI.
Kaplow, J. B., Wardecker, B. M., Nanney, R. W., Layne, C. M, & Pynoos, S. R. (2014, November). Parents facilitating
children’s grief: A linguistic and behavioral analysis. In J. Kaplow (Chair), From predictors to passageways to practice: Mapping the ecology of bereavement in grieving youth. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Miami, FL.
Edelstein, R. S., Wardecker, B. M. Chopik, W. J., & Moors, A. C. (2014, February). An attachment perspective on
biological and psychological regulation during the transition to parenthood. In D. Stinson (Chair), Regulating the need to belong: Biological substrates of the self-esteem and attachment systems. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.
Wardecker, B. M., Kaplow, J. B., Edelstein, R. S., & Kross, E. (2013, November). Linguistic correlates of risk and
resilience in parentally bereaved children. In J. Kaplow (Chair), Correlates and predictors of "good grief" in bereaved children and adolescents: Implications for intervention. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Philadelphia, PA.
Wardecker, B. M., Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., Kean, E. L., Moors, A. C., & Lin, N. J. (2012, July). Effects of stress and
coping on relationship satisfaction among expectant parents. Talk presented at the biennial conference of the International Association for Relationship Research, Chicago, IL.
Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W.J., Kean, E. L., Lin, N. J. Moors, A. C., & Wardecker, B. M. (2012, July). Adult attachment
predicts psychological and neuroendocrine changes during the transition to parenthood. Talk presented at the biennial conference of the International Association for Relationship Research, Chicago, IL.
Shapiro, D. N., Kaplow, J. B., & Wardecker, B. M. (2011, November). Parent-child communication and psychological
symptoms in parentally bereaved children. Paper presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.
Kaplow, J. B., Prossin, A. R., Wardecker, B. M., & Shapiro, D. N. (2011, October). Cortisol, posttraumatic stress, and
maladaptive grief reactions in parentally bereaved children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Toronto, ON.
CONFERENCE POSTERS
*denotes current or former undergraduate research assistant
Matsick, J. L., Conley, T. D., & Wardecker, B. M. (2015, February). Separate tables, same sentiment: Lesbian, bisexual,
and heterosexual women’s benevolent and hostile attitudes toward men. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Association for Women in Psychology, San Francisco, CA.
Wardecker, B. M., Edelstein, R. S., Goodman, G. S., & Quas, J. A., & Cordon, I. M. (2014, September). Emotion language
in trauma narratives is associated with mental health symptoms for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Poster presented at the 16th Conference on Partnerships for Children and Families in Los Angeles County, California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
Labelle, O. P., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., Moors, A. C., & Edelstein, R. S. (2015, February). Great(ful)
expectations: Dyadic associations between gratitude and health and well-being among sexual minorities during pregnancy. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA.
*Zolkowski, M., *Deeds, K., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., & Edelstein, R. S. (2014, April). Personality, relationships,
and hormonal correlations in pregnant couples. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Ann Arbor, MI.
*Richter, J., *Sculthorpe, E., Chopik, W. J., Wardecker, B. M., & Edelstein, R. S. (2014, April). Attentional biases
associated with narcissism. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Ann Arbor, MI.
Wardecker, B. M., Edelstein, R. S., Goodman, G. S., & Quas, J. A. (2014, February). Psychological distancing is
associated with positive outcomes for trauma survivors. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.
*Lundtvedt, C. L., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., *Shain, M. J., *Boyer, M. P., & Edelstein, R. S. (2014,
February). Longitudinal associations between attachment orientation and postpartum depression. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.
*Lukasik, E. L., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., *Shain, M. J., *Boyer, M. P., & Edelstein, R. S. (2014, February). Dyadic
associations between adult attachment and body mass index (BMI) in first-time parents. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.
*Boyer, M. P., Wardecker, B. M., *Sarma, M., Chopik, W. J., *Shain, M. J., & Edelstein, R. S. (2014, February). I just
called to say I love you: Preferences for communication in romantic relationships from an attachment perspective. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.
*Weiss, C. N., Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., & Wardecker, B. M. (2013, April). Power increases desire for casual sex
among partnered men. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Ann Arbor, MI.
Wardecker, B. M., Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., Lin, N. J., Moors, A. C., & Kean, E. L. (2013, January). Dyadic effects of
prenatal coping on relationship adjustment, stress, and cortisol among expectant parents. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans, LA.
*Boyer, M. P., Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., Lin, N. J., Moors, A. C., Kean, E. L., & Edelstein, R. S. (2013,
January). Thank goodness for gratitude: Dyadic effects of adult attachment on gratitude during the transition to parenthood. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans, LA.
Kaplow, J., Howell, K., Shapiro, D., Wardecker, B., Layne, C., Abelson, J., Worthman, C., & Prossin, A. (2012,
November). Biological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors associated with maladaptive grief in bereaved youth. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Los Angeles, CA.
*Wittrup, A., Edelstein, R. S., Wardecker, B. M., Lin, N., Moors, A. C., Kean, E. L., & Chopik, W. J. (2012,
April). Neuroendocrine and psychological changes in couples during the transition to parenthood. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Ann Arbor, MI.
Chopik, W. J., Wardecker, B. M., & Edelstein, R. S. (2012, January). Be Mine?: Individual differences in attachment
orientation predict relationship investment on Valentine's Day. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, CA.
Kaplow, J.B., Shapiro, D.N., Prossin, A. R., Wardecker, B.M., Howell, K.H., & Abelson, J. (2011, December). HPA axis
dysregulation, posttraumatic stress, and maladaptive grief in parentally bereaved children: Individual and environmental correlates. Poster presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Waikoloa Beach, HI.
Wardecker, B. M., & Kaplow, J. B. (2011, November). Environmental and interpersonal correlates of dissociation in
parentally bereaved children. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.
Howell, K. H., Wardecker, B. M., & Kaplow, J. B. (2011, November). Psychological resiliency in parentally bereaved
children. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.
*Farber, A. R., Howell, K. H., Wardecker, B. M., & Kaplow, J. B. (2011, November). Psychological resiliency in a
population of bereaved children. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.
Wardecker, B.M., Prossin, A.R., Shapiro, D.N., & Kaplow, J.B. (2011, June). Psychological avoidance and HPA-axis
dysregulation: The development of childhood PTSD in parentally bereaved children. Poster presented at the Silverman Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
Wardecker, B. M., Prossin, A. R., Shapiro, D. N., & Kaplow, J. B. (2011, May). Psychological avoidance and HPA-axis
dysregulation: The development of childhood PTSD in parentally bereaved children. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science, Washington, DC.
Wardecker, B. M., Marshall, A. D., Sippel, L. M., & Parker-Maloney, K. S. (2009, May). Effects of unilateral hand
contractions on valence of emotional experiences in PTSD. Poster presented at the 21st annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2014
Introduction to Organizational Psychology (PSYCH 260)
Psychology Department
University of Michigan
Instructor: Fiona Lee, PhD
Graduate Student Instructor and Manager
Hormones and Behavior (PSYCH 438)
Psychology Department
University of Michigan
Instructor: Jacinta Beehner, PhD
Teaching Assistant
2013
Introduction to Organizational Psychology (PSYCH 260)
Psychology Department
University of Michigan
Instructor: Fiona Lee, PhD
Graduate Student Instructor
Introduction to Personality Psychology (PSYCH 290)
Psychology Department
University of Michigan
Instructor: Robin Edelstein, PhD
Graduate Student Instructor
2012
Positive Psychology (PSYCH 476)
Psychology Department
University of Michigan
Instructor: Chris Peterson, PhD
Graduate Student Instructor
GUEST LECTURES
2014
Personality and Social Contexts Area Brown Bag, Describing Traumatic Experiences with Emotion Language is Associated with Positive Outcomes, University of Michigan
Hormones and Behavior, Stress and Hormones, University of Michigan
2013
Personality Psychology, Health, Stress, and Coping, University of Michigan
2012
Positive Psychology, Positive Relationships, University of Michigan
DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE
2014
Teaching Academy, student panelist, Ann Arbor, MI
Departmental of Psychology, departmental associate, Ann Arbor, MI
Department of Psychology New Student Orientation, student panelist, Ann Arbor, MI
2013
Personality and Social Department, graduate admissions committee, Ann Arbor, MI
Graduate Student First-Year Orientation, student panelist, Ann Arbor, MI
2011
Personality and Social Brown Bag, committee member, Ann Arbor, MI
Michigan Association of Psychology Scholars, mentor, Ann Arbor, MI
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Graduate Student Affiliate
International Association for Relationship Research, Graduate Student Affiliate
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Graduate Student Member
American Psychological Association, Graduate Student Affiliate
Society for the Psychology of Women, Graduate Student Affiliate
Association for Psychological Science, Graduate Student Affiliate