Deborah Han
Biography
Deborah Han is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice, where she helps connect researchers to policymakers and conducts evidence synthesis and knowledge mobilization activities. She earned her PhD in Developmental & Child Psychology from the University of Denver. Her research focuses on how both adverse and positive early experiences shape health and well-being across the lifespan. She is particularly interested in the role that early caregiving experiences play in children’s biobehavioral development and has worked part-time with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood to support implementation of the state’s Early Childhood Mental Health program.
Education
PhD, 2026, University of Denver
Developmental & Child Psychology
MA, 2022, University of Denver
Developmental Psychology
BS, 2017, Cornell University
Human Development
Honors and Awards
2022 – 2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2024 – 2025 American Psychological Foundation Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Child Psychology Graduate Student Fellowship
2024 – 2025 P.E.O. Scholar Award
2025 Child Abuse & Neglect Journal’s Paper of the Year Award (2023)
2024 Rocky Mountain Psychological Association/Psi Chi Regional Research Award
2022 Society for Research in Child Development Horowitz Early Career Scholar
2021 APAGS/Psi Chi Junior Scientist Fellowship Award
Publications
Han, D., Thwaites, N., Olson, J., Rivera, K.M., Dmitrieva, J., Doom, J.R. (2025). Social buffering by siblings in childhood and adolescence. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 180, 107580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107580
Doom, J.R.,† Han, D.,† & Vazquez, D. (2025). Psychoneuroendocrinology, Stress, and Physiological Markers of Child and Adolescent Development and Mental and Physical Health. In Bornstein, M.H. & Shah, P.E. (Eds.). APA Handbook of Pediatric Psychology, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, and Developmental Science (Vol. 1, pp. 117-137). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000413-006
Deer, L.K., Han, D., Maher, M., Scott, S.R., Rivera, K.M., Melnick, E.M., Dieujuste, N., & Doom, J.R. (2025). Positive childhood experiences and adult cardiovascular health. Health Psychology, 44(5), 489–497. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001428
Doom, J.R., Han, D., Rivera, K., & Tseten, T. (2024). Childhood unpredictability research within the developmental psychopathology framework: Advances, implications, and future directions. Development and Psychopathology, 36(5), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000610
Han, D., Dieujuste, N., Doom, J.R., & Narayan, A.N. (2023). A systematic review of positive childhood experiences and adult outcomes: Promotive and protective processes for resilience in the context of childhood adversity. Child Abuse & Neglect, 144, 106346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106346
*Seok, D. & Doom, J.R. (2022). Adolescents’ social support networks and long-term psychosocial outcomes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(12), 3775–3798. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221109021
*Doom, J. R., Seok, D., Narayan, A. J., & Fox, K. R. (2021). Adverse and benevolent childhood experiences predict mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adversity and Resilience Science, 2, 193-204.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42844-021-00038-6
*maiden name is Seok