Maya Lehman’s interest in human relationships and how they affect well-being and mental health led her to pursue research.
Maya Lehman (she/her), a psychology undergraduate student and a lab manager at Dr. Rosie Shrout’s Relationships and Health Lab.
Maya’s role in the lab spans study coordination, data collection, onboarding new research assistants, and leading day-to-day operations. As an honours student, she has led her research project, from idea to analysis to manuscript.
Maya joins us for a Q&A to share her experiences and the insights she has gained in the lab.
What motivated you to apply to work in a lab?
Dr. Shrout’s work on relationships and coping closely overlaps with my own academic interests. I first applied to volunteer as a research assistant and to complete my Honours thesis in her lab, and over time I took on more responsibility.
“Growing into the role of lab manager felt like a natural next step in my development as a researcher, and has been a real privilege.”
What intrigues you about research at this lab in particular?
Being an extrovert, I’ve always been especially intrigued by the influence our relationships can have on our well-being. Why does talking to certain people make you feel better, while talking to others can make things feel worse? Questions like this led me to research, where I could dig into how people in close relationships communicate, and the ways this can shape their well-being. Our lab focuses largely on this inquiry: how the relationships in your life, romantic or not, can impact your cardiovascular and immune health, as well as other forms of well-being.
Do you have advice for other students who want to get involved in research?
Start early, and don’t be afraid to reach out or apply. Talk to your professors about your interests, read papers that excite you, and start thinking about your own research questions, even before you have a position. Keep an eye on the psychology department website and follow labs on social media so you know when positions open up.
Don’t be too picky about your first position. Any lab experience is valuable, and what you get out of it depends largely on what you put in! If you show up committed, curious, and willing to work hard, you’ll inevitably find ways to grow in the lab and shape your experience around what interests you most.
What is your favourite part of working as a lab manager?
Learning something new every day. Being surrounded by an inspiring PI, brilliant grad students, and passionate fellow RAs makes for such a rich environment. It’s fascinating to see all the small, often unglamorous steps that carry a project from idea to publication, and I’ve come to appreciate how much even the “mundane” tasks can teach you.
What do you do when you’re not in the lab or classroom?
I host a weekly radio show on CiTR 101.9 FM, play volleyball, travel far and wide, and spend as much time as possible with friends and family!
How do you see this field of research changing in the next few months or years?
AI is quickly becoming a major topic in relationship research, especially as people turn to it for companionship or comfort. I expect growing interest in questions like AI and infidelity, and how couples define relationship boundaries in light of it.
“I expect growing interest in questions like AI and infidelity, and how couples define relationship boundaries in light of it.”
As for student involvement, I hope the momentum continues. So much of the research conducted in psychology labs simply wouldn’t be possible without student RAs, and that contribution deserves real recognition.
