Connor Daniel McAlpin
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Research Assistant
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. | Psychology | Southern Methodist University | May 2024 |
Research
Family Health and Development Lab
Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
Principal Investigator: Chrystyna Kouros, Ph.D. August 2022 - Present
Research Assistant:
-Assisted with recruitment and screening of participants for the study
-Used Qualtrics to edit surveys
-Completed remote study visits with couples to collect observational assessments of relationship conflict and relationship functioning
-Completed training and achieved inter-rater reliability to code observational interactions of couples’ video-taped discussions
-Transcribed couples’ conflict interactions
-Attended weekly project meetings to discuss project protocols and empirical research in the field
-Co-authored and presented two conference research posters at the annual meeting for the Society for Research on Adolescence in Chicago, IL (April 2024)
-Attended didactic analysis and behavioral coding workshop funded by the Lewis Foundation
Summer Research Intensive, Office of Engaged Learning
Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
Program Manager: Adam Neal, Ph.D. May - August 2023
Research Mentor: Chrystyna D. Kouros, Ph.D.
Summer Research Fellow:
-Competitive 10-week summer program for undergraduate students to receive specialized training in research methods and professional skills
-Participated in weekly interactive workshops about research methodology
-Attended weekly symposiums with guest speakers from the scientific community who presented recent findings and answered questions
-Worked approximately 20 hours per week with Dr. Kouros on research related to couples’ relationship functioning and their mental health
-Presented research during the Three Minute Thesis competition at the end of the program
Health Behavior Lab
Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
Principal Investigator: Austin Baldwin, Ph.D. May 2024 - Present
Volunteer Research Assistant:
-Assisted with recruitment and screening participants for an NIH-funded study through Facebook and Craigslist
-Calculated BMI and moderate heart rate range to determine eligibility
-Scheduled participants over six weeks and sent reminder texts via EzTexting.com
-Analyzed health behavior through accelerometer data, using Actigraph
-Created personalized Qualtrics files for participants according to random assignment
-Administered the Guided Thinking Task before exercise and survey questions during the exercise protocol
-Attended weekly project meetings to discuss project protocols and empirical research in the field
-Assist with analyzing and interpreting data, as well as discussing potential moderators of the intervention
Service
| Organization | Title | Year(s) | Service Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals on Wheels | Volunteer Driver | June 2017-July 2025 | |
| The Stewpot | Volunteer Waiter and Cleanup Crew | August 2023-2024 | |
| Scouts of America | Eagle Scout | 2013-2018 |
Advisory Committee
Dr. Ted Futris
Dr. Kalsea Koss
Dr. Jennifer Gonyea
Current Research
Couples and Relationship Enrichment Lab
University of Georgia Athens, GA
Principal Investigators: Ted Futris, Ph. D and Evin Richardson, Ph. D August 2025 - Present
Research Assistant:
-Participated in bi-weekly lab meetings to discuss relevant research, assist with research-related challenges, and contribute to the development of the lab’s website and social media strategy.
-Assisted with early planning related to online delivery logistics, user engagement, and future program evaluation.
-Contributed to a collaborative research project examining the feasibility of converting an in-person relationship maintenance course into an online format.
-Reviewed and synthesized existing course materials to identify core components, learning objectives, and evidence-based content for online delivery.
-Met with platform designers and Learning Management System (LMS) representatives to evaluate options for visual design integration and in-depth participant tracking
Job Description
In the Couples and Relationship Enrichment (CARE) Lab, I work as a graduate research assistant supporting applied relationship science and program development. My responsibilities include synthesizing empirical literature, assisting with the adaptation of evidence-based relationship education content for online delivery, and collaborating with faculty and team members on research planning and implementation. I also contribute to team meetings and project coordination efforts focused on improving accessibility, engagement, and evaluation of relationship-focused interventions.