Project Staff
Sybil Hart, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Hart is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She came to Texas Tech University in 1997, after receiving her Ph.D. in psychology at Tufts University and following an appointment as Research Professor at the University of Miami Medical School. Her area of research is child development, and her work focuses on psychosocial and cognitive development in infants and young children.
Francisco Debaran, M.S.
Project Manager
Francisco is a doctoral student in the department of Human Development & Family Studies. He received his Bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, and then went on to complete a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. At Texas Tech he has served as a graduate assistant in the Cognition and Communication Lab and an instructor for the undergraduate course on Basic Interpersonal Skills. His research interests include the social and contextual factors that are associated with the development of the self.
Research Students
La'Toya Broughton
La' Toya is a Junior Psychology major with a minor in Biology from Lindale, Texas. Her previous research experience was in studying the effects Curcumin on the cytotoxicity levels of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma. She plans to enroll in a graduate program for Clinical Psychology and continue her research with children. La' Toya is involved in the The Lauro Cavazos & Ophelia Powell-Malone Mentoring Program (Mentor Tech), Mentor Tech Student Organization, The Center for Undergraduate Research, and SACNAS.
Madison Sico
Madison is a junior Business and a Pre-dental student from Corpus Christi, TX. She plans to attend dental school after graduation in order to receive further training in orthodontics. Madison is also involved with the Red Cross Club as well as an officer in the Pre-Dental Society. Her professional ambition is to work with children and families as an orthodontist.
Laura Sobotik
Laura is a senior Psychology major with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies and is from San Antonio, Texas. Laura has experience with kids and adolescents in residential treatment settings and has successfully completed a summer internship working with emotionally troubled children and their families. She is a member of Texas Tech's Kappa Alpha Thetas as well as various academic honor organizations. After graduation Laura hopes to attend a graduate program in counseling to continue her work with children and adolescents.
Katie Wilkinson
Katie is a junior Psychology major from Greenville, TX. After she graduates from Tech, Katie hopes to attend graduate school and obtain a master’s degree in psychology. She hopes to work as a Licensed Professional Counselor or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. When she is not working on the ELM project, Katie is a volunteer in her church’s nursery.