The Welling Research Lab

Nine OU faculty (including 4 from psychology: Lisa Welling, Jennifer Vonk, Virgil Ziegler-Hill, and Todd Shackelford) were recognized at the President’s colloquium for inclusion in research.com’s World’s Best Scientists rankings. It is such a privilege to work with such brilliant colleagues!

Our new paper by @ksheetz.bsky.social and Lisa Welling has been covered by PsyPost: www.psypost.org/religious-wo...

Our paper titled “Holy Swipes: The Influence of Religiosity on Mate Choice in Online Dating” (authors: Kat Sheetz and Lisa Welling) has been accepted for publication in Psychology and Sexuality. Special congratulations to Katherine Sheetz on the acceptance of her first first-authored publication!!!

Huge congratulations to Dr. Jenna Lunge on passing her dissertation defense! Well done, Jenna!!

This is an actual job ad sent to a colleague. Wow.

Myself, Todd Shackelford, Virgil Zeigler-Hill, and Jennifer Vonk from OU Psychology are among the “World’s Best Scientists” rankings released by research.com. Happy to be included among such fantastic scientists! www.oakland.edu/news/researc...

Simon Baron-Cohen’s keynote is getting under way!

Great times with the EC at #HBES2026 in Morocco! 🇲🇦

Conference update emails for #HBES2026 and #CESRabat will be sent soon. In the meantime, updated programs are live on both conference websites: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/hbes2026 airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026 Check them out! @ces2026.bsky.social @hbes2026.bsky.social

Our recent EPS paper on the Tend and Befriend stress response model is live: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

We are happy to announce three new incoming lab members: Zuzanna Puccioni, Jamie Butts, and May Allen will be starting their MS degrees in Fall 2026. Welcome aboard, Zuzanna, Jamie, and May!

You are invited to participate in an online research study for cisgender adults (18+ years) who are either primarily heterosexual or asexual (i.e., do not experience sexual attraction). It takes about 30 minutes. Click on the link for more info! oakland.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

🚨Job alert in Psyc! 🚨 Northumbria is hiring ⭐Vice Chancellor Fellows ⭐! - Assistant Profs, with 3 years for research focus - then transition to regular role Check out it out here: work4.northumbria.ac.uk#en/sites/CX_...

When the #HBES2025 talks are done, margaritas are on the menu!

Congratulations to @ksheetz.bsky.social for absolutely crushing her first HBES talk! Well done!

The WEBS networking event was a terrific success! Many thanks to @ksheetz.bsky.social for organizing it!

If you’re at #HBES2025 make sure you come to the WEBS networking event at the Byrdcage!

Some of the OU crew at the #HBES2025 welcome reception!

Happy to have been re-elected for a third term as the HBES secretary/archivist! Looking forward to serving the society for another 2 years!

Michael Platt is kicking off #HBES2025 after a great introduction by Coren Apicella!

Congratulation to this year’s graduates! Special shout out to lab honors student Jennifer Ognjaonvski, and RAs Caroline Hanna and Heather Serra!

Congratulations to lab PhD student Katherine Sheetz on successfully passing her comprehensive exam! Wonderful job, Kat!

One of OU’s international students has inexplicably had their visa revoked. www.fox17online.com/news/nationa...

Congratulations to lab EMBARK student Silvana Iskandar, who received the Reviewer’s Choice Abstract Award at the OU Graduate Student Research Conference! Great work, Silvana!

Many thanks to the student who nominated me for the Order of the Golden Plume, which is an order “dedicated to the timeless and passionate commitment to student success!” I’m very touched! ❤️

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oakland.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

With thanks to everyone who provided advice! Here's the session I did today for our final year students on using social media for professional reasons as well as sharing your dissertation as a pre-print. Slides available at osf.io/paxds #AcademicSky

It’s official! The 3rd FOSSIL—FlyOver State Scientists Integrating Evolution—Conference will be held in Manhattan, KS at Kansas State University on August 15-16th, 2025. More news and website updates coming soon! Stay tuned!

HBES has released a statement with regard to recent US funding changes that are affecting HBES members. See our statement here: www.hbes.com/hbes-executi...

Congratulations to lab PhD student Jenna Lunge on accepting a full time faculty position at UM-Flint, starting in Fall 2025! Well done, Jenna!

I don’t even know how this could be presented as being in service of anything other than hindering scientific progress.

New HBES blog post! Luke Glowacki discusses his latest research on the controversial origins of war and peace. Is war a deep part of our evolutionary legacy, or did it emerge from societal shifts to agriculture & permanent settlements? Find out in the blog: www.hbes.com/the-controve...

Do you know an excellent researcher who deserves an HBES Award? Nominations are due March 1st for Rising Stars, Fellows, Early Career Award, Lifetime Career Award, and the Don Symons Adaptationism Award. Nominate someone today! www.hbes.com/awards/

Breaking news: 22 states are suing to block NIH’s cutting of indirect costs. See our updated story on the Friday night news and its aftermath. scim.ag/4hTJQ6v

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The American Bar Association has just called upon every attorney, regardless of their political views, to join them & stand up for the rule of law & at minimum insist that our government "follow the law." Every lawyer has an ethical responsibility to do so. www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...

STAND UP FOR SCIENCE! March 7th 12-4pm (local time). DC AND YOUR STATE CAPITOL!! BECAUSE SCIENCE IS FOR EVERYONE!

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If only the evolutionary social sciences had more Margo Wilsons. Lovely piece from Daniel Nettle on how her work is "a particularly successful example of how you can bring evolutionary understanding to social science topics and be genuinely constructive; rather than just irritating people"

If you want to work with any of the amazing @brunelcce.bsky.social team, and qualify for this funding scheme 👇 please get in touch 😊