Dr. Anna Zhou is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Broadly, she examines how biological and environmental factors interact to shape the development of psychopathology risk within families. She is especially interested in the perinatal period — how pregnancy, childbirth, and the transition to parenthood set the stage for mental health trajectories in both parents and children. Her work also examines health disparities during the perinatal period, with particular attention to how contextual factors (such as neighborhood conditions, socioeconomic adversity, and access to care) shape risk and resilience for parents and children across different communities. Dr. Zhou applies advanced quantitative methods, particularly longitudinal modeling, to capture how these developmental processes unfold across different timescales, from moment-to-moment interactions to processes that play out over years.

Dr. Zhou will be recruiting a graduate student for admission in Fall 2027 to the Psychological Sciences PhD Program. Applications are due December 1, 2026. Please e-mail Dr. Zhou if you are interested.