Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

Ph.D. | May 2025 | Human Development and Family Science | University of Georgia

M.S. Ed | 2020 | Counseling and Mental Health Services | University of Pennsylvania

B.A. | 2018 | Psychology & Criminology| Pennsylvania State University

GRANTS & FUNDINGS

Title: Adolescent Neural Associations with the Parent-Child Interaction: Piloting a Novel fMRI Task

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Franklin Foundation (UGA Bio-Imaging Research Center FACS funding) 

Amount: $6,000

HONORS & AWARDS

Academic Honors 

2024                 Elizabeth T. Sheerer Graduate Scholarship, University of Georgia

2024                 Dissertation Completion Award, University of Georgia

2024                 Sharon and David Price-Coker Excellence in Research Award, University of Georgia

2023           Hazel and Gene Franklin Scholarship, University of Georgia

2022           Iris Price Dover Scholarship, University of Georgia

2021           FACS Funds for Excellence Scholarship, University of Georgia

2021           Virginia Wilbanks Kilgore Scholarship, University of Georgia

2019           GSE Merit Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania

2018           Psi Chi Award for Best Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, Penn State

Travel Awards 

2023                  Franklin Foundation Neuroimaging Travel Award, University of Georgia

2022-2024   Graduate Student Travel Funding, University of Georgia 

2021-2024      College of Family and Consumer Sciences Travel Award, University of Georgia   

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

7. Zhang, L., Oshri, A., Carvalho, C., Nagata, J., Uddin, L., Geier, C., Cummins, K., Hoffman, E., Tomko, R., Chaarani, B., Squeglia, L., Wing, D., Mason, M., Fuemmeler, B., Lisdahl, K., Tapert, S., Backer, F., Kiss, O. (2024). Prospective associations between sleep, sensation-seeking, and mature screen usage in early adolescents: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. SLEEP.  https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae234

6. Oshri, A., Howard, C., Zhang, L., Reck, A., Cui, Z., Liu, S., Duprey, E., Evans, A., Azarmehr, R., & Geier, C. (2024). Strengthening through adversity: The hormesis model in developmental psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology, 36(2). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000427

5. Peltz, J., Zhang, L. Sasser, J., Oshri, A., Doane, L. (2024). The influence of pubertal development on early adolescent sleep and changes in family functioning. Journal of Youth and Adolescence.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01882-8

4. Zhang, L., Sasser, J., Doane, D. L., Peltz, J., & Oshri, A. (2024). Latent profiles of sleep patterns in adolescence: Associations with behavioral health risk.Journal of Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.08.021

3. Azarmehr. R., Reck, A., Zhang, L., Oshri, A. (2024). COVID-19 stress exacerbates the effect of child maltreatment on negative affect via increased identity confusion during adolescence. Journal of Adolescence. http://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12249

2. Zhang, L., Cui, Z., Huffman, L., Oshri, A. (2023). Sleep mediates the effect of stressful environments on youth impulsivity: The moderating role of default mode network connectivity. Sleep Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2023.03.005

1. Zhang, L., Cui, Z., Sasser, J., Carvalho, C., Oshri, A. (2022). Family stress during the pandemic worsens the effect of adverse parenting on adolescent sleep quality. Child Abuse & Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105390


MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION 

1. Zhang, L., Geier, C., House, E., Oshri, A. (under review). Sleep health, latent default mode network connectivity patterns, and risk for adolescent psychopathology. 

2. Kogan, S., Reck, A., Ahn, S., Beach, S., Fisher, S., Koss, K., Oshri, A., Thapa, J., Tiwari, B., Smith, E., Carter, S., Zhang, L. (under review). Family-centered prevention attenuates the influence of structural racism on Black adolescents’ poor self-control and externalizing behavior. 

3. Zhang, L. Cui, Z., Oshri, A. (analyses completed). Socioeconomic hardship, resting-state functional connectivity, delayed reward discounting, and youth’s substance use expectancy. 

4. Kiss, O., Zhang, L., Oshri, A., Backer, F. (analyses completed). The bi-directional associations between sleep duration, reward anticipations, and social media usage: Findings from a U.S. national study. 

5. Oshri, A., Zhang, L., Howard, C., Brown, G., Geier, C. (analyses completed). The impact of socioeconomic hardship on suicidal-related risk via sleep health: The moderating role of the default mode network.

6. Friedman, B., Zhang, L., Geier, C., Cui, Z., Sweet, L., Oshri, A. (analyses completed). The effect of sleep midpoint on resting-state functional connectivity and behavioral problems in adolescence. 

SYMPOSIUMS

Symposium title: Sleep During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence Among Youth, Adolescents, and Parents

Chair: Sasser, J. & Zhang, L.

Paper: Zhang, L., Azarmehr, R., Carvalho, C., Friedman, B., Evans, A., Oshri, A. (March 2023). Pre-Covid Sleep predicts Sleep Quality During the Pandemic: The Exacerbating Role of Stress and Loneliness. Presented at SRCD 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Symposium title: Pubertal Change, Deficient Sleep, and Mental Health Problems: Understanding This Slow Moving Trainwreck. 

Chair: Peltz., J.

Paper: Zhang, L., Sasser, J., Peltz, J., Doane, L., Barth, M., & Oshri, A. (March 2023). Latent Typologies of Sleep Patterns: Associations with Pubertal Development, Internalizing and Externalizing Problems.

Paper: Peltz, J., Oshri, A. Doane, L., Sasser, J. & Zhang, L. (March 2023). The Impact of Pubertal Development on Children’s Sleep and Family Conflict.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS 

22. Oshri, A., Zhang, L., Geier, C. (submitted). Socioeconomic Hardship, Suicidal Ideation, and Substance Expectancies: A Developmental Psychopathology Model. Society of Biological Psychiatry, 2025, Toronto, Canada. 

21. Grossman, A., Howard, C., Evans, A., Zhang, L., Brown, G., Geier, C., & Oshri, A. (2024). Father’s Acceptance and Youths’ Suicidal Thoughts via Internalizing Problems: The Moderating Effect of Salience Network-Amygdala Connectivity. Late-Breaking Poster Presentation at Flux Congress 2024, Baltimore, Maryland. 

20. Reck, A., Zhang, L., Howard, C., Cui, Z., Sweet, L., Geier, C., Oshri, A. (2024). Sleep Moderates the Indirect Link Between Food Insecurity and Youth’s Negative Affectivity Via Neural Reward Processing. Poster presentation at Flux Congress 2024, Baltimore, Maryland. 

19. Zhang, L., Howard, C., House, E., Bauer, B., Brown, G., Geier, C. & Oshri, A. (2024). The Impact of Socioeconomic Hardship on Suicidal-Related Risk via Sleep Duration: The Moderating Role of the Default Mode Network. Poster presentation at Flux Congress 2024, Baltimore, Maryland. 

18. Kogan, S., Reck, A., Ahn, S., Beach, S., Fisher, S., Koss, K., Zhang, L., Oshri, A., Thapa, J., Tiwari, B., Smith, E., Carter, S.  (2024). Family-centered prevention attenuates the influence of structural racism on Black adolescents' poor self-control and externalizing behavior. Flash talk presentation at the Society of Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL.

17. Kiss, O., Zhang, L., Backer, F. (2024). Interconnected Dynamics of Sleep Duration, Social Media Engagement, and Neural Reward Responses in Adolescents. Oral and poster presentation at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), Houston, Texas. 

16. Zhang, L., Cui, Z., Geier, C., & Oshri, A. (2024). Youth sleep duration and psychopathology: The mediating role of delayed reward discounting. Poster presentation at the ABCD Insights & Innovations Meeting, Bethesda, MD.  

15. Peltz, J., Zhang, L., & Oshri, A. (2024). Impact of pubertal development on adolescents’ emotional regulation. Poster presentation at the Society of Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL. 

14. Zhang, L., Sweet, L., & Oshri, A. (2023). Characterizing default mode network connectivity profiles among U.S. adolescents and associations between sleep duration, internalizing, and externalizing problems: Findings from ABCD Study. Poster presentation at the Flux Congress 2023, Santa Rosa, CA. 

13. Friedman, B., Zhang, L., & Oshri, A. (2023). The lion sleeps tonight, but do you? The moderating effect of sleep on the link between functional connectivity and youth behavioral problems. Poster presentation at the Flux Congress 2023, Santa Rosa, CA. 

12. Zhang, L., Kiss, O., Nagata, J., de Zambotti, M., Backer, F. & Oshri, A. (2023). Sleep duration moderates the link between youth impulsivity and mature-rated media usage one year later. Poster presentation at SLEEP 2023, the 37th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC (APSS), Indianapolis, Indiana. Poster selected as American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) press releases. 

11. Zhang, L., Sasser, J., Peltz, J., Doane, L., Barth, M., & Oshri, A. (2023). Latent typologies of sleep patterns: Associations with pubertal development, internalizing and externalizing problems. Presented in the symposium “Pubertal Change, Deficient Sleep, and Mental Health Problems: Understanding This Slow Moving Trainwreck” at SRCD 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

10. Peltz, J., Oshri, A. Doane, L., Sasser, J. & Zhang, L. (2023). The impact of pubertal development on children’s sleep and family conflict. Presented in the symposium “Pubertal Change, Deficient Sleep, and Mental Health Problems: Understanding This Slow Moving Trainwreck” at SRCD 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

9. Friedman, B., Zhang, L., & Oshri, A. (2023). Sleep duration variability moderates the effect of cortisol reactivity on negative affect in adolescents. Poster Presentation at the 44th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Phoenix, AZ.

8. Carvalho, C., Howard, C., Zhang, L. & Oshri, A. (2022). Autonomic functioning in intergenerational processes of risk and resilience. Poster presentation at ISDP 2022 Hybrid: 55th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. 

7. Azarmehr, R., Reck, A., Zhang, L., Huffman, L., & Oshri, A. (2022). COVID-19 stress exacerbates the effect of negative affect via identity confusion in adolescence. Poster presentation at ISDP 2022 Hybrid: 55th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. 

6. Zhang, L., Carvalho, C., Azarmehr, R., Cui, Z., Howard, C., & Oshri, A. (2022). Latent typologies of sleep patterns: Associations with resting-state functional connectivity, internalizing and externalizing problems. Poster presentation at the Flux Congress at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

5. Cui, Z., Zhang, L., Howard, C., Oshri, A. (2022). Early life stress and internalizing symptoms: The moderating role of socioemotional neural sensitivity to positive social reward. Poster presentation at Society of Research on Adolescence. New Orleans, AL. 

4. Zhang, L., Huffman, L., Cui, Z., Oshri, A. (2021). The default mode network resting-state functional connectivity as a protective factor in the mediating link between environmental unpredictability and impulsivity via sleep duration. Poster presentation at the Flux Virtual Congress. 

3. Cui, Z., Zhang, L., Huffman, L., Carvalho, C., Oshri, A. (2021). Family material hardship, youth future orientation, and perseverance: The protective role of resting-state functional connectivity. Poster presentation at the Flux Virtual Congress.

2. Zhang, L., Cui, Z., Sasser, J., Oshri, A. (2021). COVID-19-related stress intensifies the impact of child maltreatment on sleep quality. Oral and poster presentation at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). 

1. Huffman, L. G., Zhang, L., Carvalho, C., Oshri, A. (2021). Neural activation during emotion processing predicts callous-unemotional traits in youth: The moderating role of parental acceptance. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development. Strategic Plan Poster Winner.  

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

2023                        Co-instructor, HDFS 5110: Research Methods in HDFS, University of Georgia

2021 – 2022 Teaching assistant, HDFS 7170: Introduction to Research Statistics, University of Georgia

2021, 2022         Guest lecturer, HDFS 7170: Introduction to Research Statistics, University of Georgia

2021                 Guest lecturer, HDFS 3700: Adolescent Development, University of Georgia

2017-2019         Undergraduate teaching assistant, PSYCH100: Introduction to Psychology, Penn State

REVIEWER EXPERIENCE

SERVICES, MENTORING & OUTREACH 

Academic Service

2023                             Co-organizer, Panel discussion on post-graduation career opportunities

2023                             Co-organizer, Stress, Adversity & Resilience (STAR) Workgroup 

2022                            Coordinator, HDFS prospective graduate student interview, University of Georgia 

2021-2022                 Member, Graduate Student Committee, University of Georgia 

2021-present           Member, Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

2021-present           Member, Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS)

2021-present           Member, FLUX Society

Mentoring

2022                           Thesis mentor, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Neuroscience

2021-present          Project mentor, Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Commitments to Diversity

2022                          Diversity Representative, Graduate Student Organization, Department of Human   

                                    Development ad Family Science, University of Georgia

2021-present         Event coordinator, Chinese Student Christian Fellowship 

2019                           Orientation Leader, Global Penn State, Pennsylvania State University

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS

Certified video coder for Family Interaction Macro-Coding System (FIMS)

MRI Scanning Human Subjects Training

Adolescent Brain & Cognitive Development Workshop

Actigraphy cleaning and analysis