Paulo Graziano, Ph.D.
Lab Director; Associate Professor.
IES Postdoctoral Fellow, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Pediatrics/Clinical Child Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology,
M.A., Clinical Psychology,
B.S., Psychology (Major), Sociology (Minor), University of Central Florida
As the director of the S.E.L.F.-Regulation Lab, Dr. Graziano’s research focuses on the role of children’s self-regulation as it pertains to School Readiness, Early Intervention, Learning, and Fitness (S.E.L.F.). He is particularly interested in how parental and environmental factors (e.g., teachers/classroom) may influence or moderate the impact of regulatory processes on adaptive functioning outcomes. Special emphasis on the role of physiological (i.e., RSA suppression) and neurocognitive processes in the development of psychopathology (emphasis on disruptive behavior disorders) as well as pediatric obesity. A large portion of his research focuses on developing and examining early interventions (e.g., behavioral parent training, summer programs) that can target children’s self-regulation skills and subsequent adaptive and
Fun Fact: Dr. Graziano enjoys traveling with his wife, playing golf and is a proud father of two daughters (ages 8 and 10) and a son (9 months).
Current Doctoral Students
Melissa Hernandez
3nd Year Doctoral Student
Masters Thesis: Individual differences in germ spreading behaviors among children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: The role of executive function
Education:
Fun Fact: I love to travel and try new foods.
Madeline Curzon
2nd Year Doctoral Student
Education: Northwestern University - BA in Psychology; DePaul University - MS in Psychology
Research Interests: Emotional regulation, stress management, and health behaviors among children with ADHD and their families.
Fun Fact: I love to bake desserts and cats are my favorite animal.
Dr. Graziano will be taking a doctoral student for the 2023-2024 school year. Feel free to apply now! Click here for program information and application.
Research Staff
Luisa Bermeo
Samantha Angulo
Research Assistant
Education: Florida International University, B.A. in Psychology (Major) and Business (Minor)
Research Interests: Early intervention and emotional regulation in children with ADHD and other externalizing behaviors.
Fun Fact: I went to school internationally, graduating high school in Colombia.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Alin Gurdikyan
Education: Florida International University, Sophomore Psychology student with an I/O track
Fun Fact: I played volleyball for ten years. In fact, I won the beauty contest in the Armenian Olympics while playing as the youngest player.
Anabella Fernandez
Education: Florida International University, Junior Psychology student with a Behavior Analysis track
Fun Fact: Growing up, instead of children's storybooks, my mom used to read me the Harry Potter series before bed.
Danielle Companioni
Education: Florida International University, B.A. in Psychology
Fun Fact: I've been to Spain, France, and Italy over the course of one week when I was fourteen years old
Isabel Delgado
Education: Florida International University, Junior Psychology Student minoring in Criminal Justice
Fun Fact: I work in a pediatric care center and that made me want to work with children in Psychology.
Jada Chai
Education: Florida International University, Sophmore Psychology student (major) and Communication Studies (Minor)
Fun Fact: I grew up in Jamaica and studied French for four years!
Jessica Harding
Education: Florida International University, Junior Behavioral Neuroscience student
Fun Fact: My future dream is to travel around the world and visit as many places as possible.
Kaylah Belizaire
Education: Florida International University, Senior Psychology student
Fun Fact: I love shopping
Melany Garcia
Education: Florida International University, Junior Behavioral Neuroscience student
Fun Fact: I have a collection of neuroscience books and love a good puzzle!
Sebastian Parra
Education: Florida International University, Junior Psychology student
Fun Fact: I love soccer and freestyle battles in Spanish