Human Trajectories Lab

Our Lab

Dr. Stephen Aichele – Director

We study how cognition, mental and physical health, adaptive functioning, and life experiences interact to shape trajectories of risk and resilience across the lifespan. Our research spans multiple timescales—from short-term dynamics among psychological and behavioral processes to developmental trajectories that unfold across years and decades.

A hallmark of our work is the integration of advanced longitudinal modeling and machine-learning approaches to bridge theory-driven understanding and data-driven discovery.

Our Work Research

Human Trajectories of Risk and Resilience

We study how change unfolds within and across individuals, including patterns of improvement, decline, recovery, and stability. Our work examines how these patterns emerge, accelerate, reverse, or persist over time—and how they are shaped by repeated exposures, changing contexts, and processes operating across different timescales.

A graphic of four shapes with lines leading to four more shapes depicting varying trajectories

Cognition, Health, and Aging

A central focus of the lab is cognitive aging and its role in adaptive functioning. We study how changes in cognition are linked with health, independence, and well-being, with an emphasis on identifying modifiable factors that support successful aging. Specific lines of work examine fluid reasoning and attentional processes as predictors of emotional risk and resilience, as well as associations between cognitive functioning and mortality.

An illustrated graphic of an elderly couple smiling while holding each other.

Advanced Methods of Understanding Change

In our methodological work, we match analytic approaches to the research questions, design, and measurement structure of each study. We use longitudinal, multilevel, structural, psychometric, and machine-learning techniques—often in combination—to clarify developmental processes, improve prediction, and sharpen inference from complex longitudinal data. We are especially interested in methods that earn their keep: flexible, interpretable, fit-for-purpose approaches that make complex longitudinal data scientifically useful.

A complex diagram of advanced methods for understanding change.

Collaborations

Our work is highly collaborative, spanning multiple disciplines, institutions, and countries. Current collaborators include researchers in developmental science, psychology, aging, public health, medicine, and rehabilitation science. We work with data from large longitudinal cohort studies, intensive repeated-measures studies, and clinical and non-clinical intervention studies.

Work with us! Get Involved

The Human Trajectories Lab welcomes undergraduate and graduate students interested in healthy aging, cognitive aging, mental health, and quantitative approaches to understanding human development.

Research opportunities may involve literature reviews, data management, statistical programming, data analysis, scientific writing, and presentation of research findings. Students interested in developing strong quantitative and data-analytic skills are especially encouraged to apply.

Prospective students should review the lab’s research and publications pages before reaching out. If you are interested in joining the lab, please email Dr. Aichele with a brief description of your interests, background, and goals.