Current Graduate Students

| Cindy M. Meston, Ph.D. | Current Graduate Students | Former Graduate Students | Research Staff | Lab Scrapbook |

 

Bridget Freihart, M.S.W.
Graduate student

E-mail: bfreihart@utexas.edu
Curriculum Vita 
[PDF]

Bridget Freihart was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from New York University and a Master’s degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. Since entering the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory in Fall 2017, she has focused on examining dyadic predictors of sexual satisfaction as well as developing and validating psychometric tools within the field of sexuality. Most recently she has taken a dyadic psychophysiological approach to studying sexual satisfaction, and has investigated the role of physiological linkage in couple-level experiences of sexual well-being.

In her free time, Bridget enjoys singing and playing piano, crafting elaborate cheese plates, and talking about the Rolling Stones.

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Mackenzie Sears-Greer, M.A.
Graduate student

E-mail: mackenzie.sears@utexas.edu
Curriculum Vita [PDF]

Mackenzie Sears was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She completed her Bachelors degree at the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant in the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory and The Lifespan Development Laboratory. She also completed an undergraduate thesis evaluating the role of shared environmental influences on depression in child and adolescent twin pairs.

Mackenzie joined the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory as a graduate student in the Fall of 2019. She primarily researches sexual functioning and satisfaction within romantic relationships. More specifically, her current research evaluates relationship satisfaction and sexual intimacy in couples who have been impacted by sexual trauma or nonconsensual sexual
experiences.

When Mackenzie is not in the lab, she enjoys trying new restaurants in Austin, cooking, traveling, and having game nights with her friends.

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Kate Metcalfe, B.A.
Graduate Student

E-mail: kmetcalfe@utexas.edu
Curriculum Vita [PDF]

Kate Metcalfe was raised in Airdrie, Alberta (Canada). She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of New Brunswick with an Honors in Psychology and a Minor in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies. After graduating, she worked as a research coordinator investigating various topics, including sexual violence, monogamy and infidelity, and relationship negotiation and risk in transactional sexual relationships. Kate entered the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory in the Fall of 2023. Her research focuses primarily on coercion in intimate relationships. Currently, Kate is researching “stealthing,” or the non-consensual, secretive condom removal during previously consensual sex. She is also investigating the motivations for and outcomes of engaging in “duty sex” (i.e., engaging in sex out of obligation).   

During her spare time, Kate enjoys going on walks, riding her bike, reading, and going on adventures.

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