Our team.

What do our researchers do?

We are a group of queer, trans, and allied researchers who share the mission of improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ people through research.

​We conduct research that centers and uplifts diverse queer and trans experiences. We partner with community members and organizations to collect survey, interview, and other data that helps us understand what protects or harms LGBTQ+ people. ​

Our Team.

Dr. Eric K. Layland, PhD
Assistant Professor, Lab Director

Dr. Layland (he/they) is an expert in LGBTQ+ youth flourishing and joy, mental health and substance use intersectional disparities, adolescent development and family relationships, and both quantitative and qualitative methods for LGBTQ+ youth research. He received his PhD from Penn State University in Human Development and Family Studies.

August Wei, MS
​​Graduate Researcher

August (he/him) is a PhD graduate student in Human Development & Family Sciences and contributes to the Queer Joy Project, LGBTQ Socialization Projects, and the Healthy Young Men & Trans Youth Cohort Study. He is interested in social and parasocial processes that facilitate gender identity development and parental acceptance of LGBTQ children. 

Warner Myntti, MS
Graduate Researcher

Warner (he/they) is a PhD graduate student in Human Development and Family Sciences and contributes to the Queer Joy Project and Healthy Young Men & Trans Youth Cohort Study. He is interested in LGBTQ+ mental health disparities, and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that come together to promote or undermine LGBTQ+ mental health.

Victoria Figgs, LMSW
Graduate Researcher

Vicki (she/her) is a PhD graduate student in Human Development and Family Sciences. She is part of the interview field research team for the LGBTQ+ Socialization Project. 

Lux Barton, MA
Graduate Researcher

Lux (they/them) is a PhD Education graduate student and research team member in the Queer Development Lab. They are a research assistant on the LGBTQ Socialization and Queer Joy Projects.

Amalia Castillo, BA
BRIDGE Graduate Scholar, McNair Scholar

Amalia (she/her) is a UD alumna with a BA in Sociology and Psychology. She joined the lab in February 2025 and completed a McNair Scholar research placement. She is a post-graduate BRIDGE fellow and the lead research assistant for the LGBTQ+ Youth Empowerment systematic review.

Meagan Lambert, BS
Lead Research Assistant & Project Coordinator

Meagan (she/her) is a UD Fashion & Merchandising alumna and joined the lab in March 2023. She is the lead research assistant for the LGBTQ+ Socialization Project and assistant project coordinator.

Caty McAllister
Research Assistant; DE INBRE Fellow

Caty (she/her) is a Psychology and Women & Gender Studies double-major and joined the lab in September 2025. She is part of the LGBTQ+ Youth Empowerment systematic review and Queer Joy teams.

Grace Conlin
Research Assistant 

Grace (she/her) is an English major and joined the lab in September 2025. She is part of the LGBTQ+ Youth Empowerment systematic review team.

Emelia Crown
Research Assistant

Emelia (she/her) is a Civil Leadership & Policy Studies and Communications double-major. She joined the lab in September 2026. She is interested in youth advocacy and promoting social justice for LGBTQ+ youth. She is part of the science communication team. 

External Lab Affiliates.

Natalie Maurer, BS
Graduate Researcher, BRIDGE Graduate Scholar

Natalie Maurer (she/her) is a Human Development and Family Studies graduate student at University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. Natalie completed a Human Services internship and post-graduate BRIDGE fellowship with the lab. She is a research assistant for the Queer Joy Project and LGBTQ+ Youth Empowerment systematic review.​

Vincenzo Malo, MSc
Graduate Researcher

Vincenzo (he/they) is a Health Services graduate student at the University of Washington School of Public Health. He interested in promoting LGBTQ+ health and well-being. They are a research assistant on the LGBTQ+ Socialization Project. 

 

Lab alumni.

Kel Marquez, BA
2024-2026 DE INBRE Fellow, Social Media Manager

Lauren Fogle, BA
2023-2025 Research Assistant, DE-INBRE Fellow

Alana Eisman
2026 Research Assistant Intern

Jayden Lesko, MSW
​2024-2025 Graduate Research Assistant, Winter Fellow

Dan Sweeney, MS
​2024-2025 Graduate Research Assistant

Kenzie Myer, MA
2024-2025 Graduate Research Assistant

Abigail Cohen
2024 Research Assistant

Ezra Griffin
2023-2024 Research Assistant, DE-INBRE Fellow

Michael Shields, BS
​2023-2024 Research Assistant, DE-INBRE Fellow

Yves Allen, BA
2024 DE-INBRE Fellow

Kanmani Duraikkannan
2023-2024 Research Assistant

Charlotte Walder
2024 Research Assistant 

Looking for research experience? Join the lab!

Undergraduate students: University of Delaware students interested in gaining research experience, can express interest through a brief online form. Students may join through independent study, work study, internship placements, Winter and Summer fellows programs, by volunteering, or other placements. 
​
​Prospective Graduate students: Looking for mentored research about LGBTQ+ health, development, or family? Learn more about University of Delaware graduate programs in Human Development & Family Sciences and Education & Social Policy. Applications are typically due December 1.
As a queer woman, being a research assistant for the lab allows me to feel as though I am making a positive impact on a community that deserves—at the very least—effective research. Personally, working in the lab has helped me realize that it is possible to help people through my work which is my ultimate goal.
Meagan, Research Assistant