Meet The Team

Dr. Heather Farmer is an Assistant Professor specializing in the biopsychosocial processes underlying racial disparities in health among older adults in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware. She teaches courses related to research methods at the undergraduate level. Her line of work integrates theory, innovative biomarker data, and longitudinal analyses of racial disparities in chronic disease physiology and outcomes using nationally-representative panel survey data on middle-aged and older adults in the Health and Retirement Study. She is particularly interested in understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms associated with health and health inequities in later life.

Alexis Ambroise is a Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant in the Human Development & Family Science graduate program at the University of Delaware. She specializes in population health science, social determinants of health, and mental health in individuals and families using secondary data analysis. Her current research interests include social determinants of mental health in Caribbean families - especially regarding how social support may be associated with mental health outcomes. Alexis is currently working as a research assistant with Dr. Heather Farmer on projects exploring how different social determinants - such as experiences of discrimination, purpose in life, and social support - are associated with health outcomes in older adults, including blood pressure and cognitive function. 

Rebecca Weinstein is a senior at the University of Delaware with a major in Human Services and a concentration in Clinical Services. She is currently working with Dr. Farmer to study how a sense of purpose affects the relationship between discrimination and cognitive functioning in Black adults. Her other research interests include the intersectional experiences of Black women and how stress disproportionally affects Black women during pregnancy.

Amy Wong is a senior at the University of Delaware majoring in Human Relations Administration, Chinese Studies, and Asian Studies. Her current research interests includes mental health stigma and health care utilization for the Asian population. Amy is currently working as a research assistant for Dr. Farmer in research regarding Purpose in Life, Discrimination, and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults. 

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