We are the Hill Lab

We are Dr. Sarah Hill’s Health & Relationships Lab

Principle Investigator: Dr. Sarah E. Hill, Ph.D.

Dr. Sarah Hill's Health and Relationships Lab health and relationships lab Health and Relationships Lab hilllab 2024

From top to bottom & left to right: Amy Pham, Trey Connolly | Paige Broski, Alysa Morrison, Emma Newkirk, Sarah Hill, Piper Winsett, Ruqaiya Sharif, Sharon Arthur, Stephen Roberts | Jenna Monteleone, Savannah Hastings, Katja Cunningham, Melissa Brillhart | Talia Chachkes, Ruby Winocur, Chloe Baize, Shelby Bach

My Health and Relationships Lab is located in the Department of Psychology at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. Research in my lab is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together insights from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology, development, endocrinology, and social psychology (although not all at the same time). Here are some questions we are looking at right now:

  • How does inflammation impact decision-making and behavior?
  • How does early life poverty impact food regulation and weight gain?
  • How do hormonal contraceptives impact sensation-seeking, mate choice, and relationship integrity?
  • How do hormonal contraceptives and women’s endogenous sex hormones impact inflammation, mood, sexual desire, and the ability to cope with stress?
  • How do women compete for romantic partners? How does the environment impact women’s mating strategies?

I have a broad range of research interests, and they are constantly evolving. For more specific information on the research and ongoing projects we have going on in the lab, please check out our recent papers.

Thinking about joining our team?

Applications to our PhD program are due December 31st. You can find information on our PhD program below. Before applying to graduate school, consider reading the Hill Lab Handbook to get an idea of what it takes to be successful in a PhD program. If you are an undergraduate who would like to join our team of undergraduate research assistants (RAs), please contact our lab manager for an application at hill.lab@tcu.edu

PhD Students

Melissa Brillhart health and relationships lab Health and Relationships Lab Melissa Headshot

Melissa Brillhart
Melissa is a 3rd year graduate student. She earned her B.A. from Chapman University

Talia Chachkes health and relationships lab Health and Relationships Lab talia

Talia Chachkes
Talia is a 3rd year graduate student. She earned her B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin

Savannah Hastings health and relationships lab Health and Relationships Lab Savannah Headshot

Savannah Hastings
Savannah is a 4th year graduate student. She earned her B.S. from Western Washington University and her M.S. from TCU

Allie Hock health and relationships lab Health and Relationships Lab allie placeholder

Allie Hock

Allie is a 1st year graduate student. She earned her B.S. from Santa Clara College and her M.S. from Cal State Sacramento