Travis Research Institute

Where important new ideas are explored.

Social, Behavioral, and Educational Research at Fuller Seminary takes place within the context of the Travis Research Institute (TRI). Under the leadership of Director Joey Fung, TRI has established and maintains an infrastructure that encourages large-scale collaborative research and facilitates obtaining funding for a variety of projects.

Furthering Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research

To enable the achievement of excellence by the research community, Travis Research Institute:

creates and provides transparent research administration and processes
broadens awareness of the value of research among students and faculty
provides infrastructure for interdisciplinary research between SOPMFT and SMT
contributes to the professional formation of students and faculty
facilitates collaboration across labs and centers within Fuller Theological Seminary
enhances faculty’s ability to obtain and manage grants

TRI Research Labs

At the intersection of science, psychology, and theology is the work of research: testing and exploring new hypotheses to expand human knowledge. Most doctoral faculty in the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy have “laboratories,” consisting of a team of faculty, collaborators, research assistants, and students conducting research focused on a particular topic.

Human Brain & Cognition

Warren S. Brown, PhD

Dr. Brown's lab researches the cognitive and psychosocial impact of variations in connectivity and communication between cerebral hemispheres.

Culture, Children, and Families

Joey Fung, PhD

Dr. Fung's lab studies culture and family processes, adolescent depression and mindfulness, and spirituality.

Headington Research Lab

Cynthia Eriksson, PhD

Dr. Eriksson's lab conducts research and consultation to support trauma-informed ministry.

Imperfect Culture

Kenneth Wang, PhD

Dr. Wang's lab explores the ways culture and perfectionism intersect with well-being, religiousness, and assessment.

Cultural Psychology and Narrative Inquiry

Jenny Pak, PhD

Dr. Pak's lab explores the question: How do cultural and religious values impact emotional processes in psychotherapy, trauma, and aging?

Spirituality and Health

Alexis Abernethy, PhD
Tina Armstrong, PhD

Dr. Abernethy's & Dr. Armstrong's lab examines the influence of spirituality on preventive health behaviors, disease, and psychological functioning.

Adversity, Trauma, and Resilience

Lisseth Rojas-Flores, PhD

Dr. Rojas-Flores's lab examines cultural issues as they impact psychology and faith.

Human Sexuality

Steve Simpson, PhD

Dr. Simpson's lab focuses on psychological issues of human sexuality.

Neuropsychology and Resilience

Anne Nolty, PhD, ABPP-CN

This lab works to understand the neuropsychological and personality profiles of adolescents who have been involved in prostitution.

Thrive Center for Human Development

Pamela Ebstyne King, PhD

Dr. King's lab researches how diverse people thrive. The empirical research focuses on spirituality, religion, virtue development, and purpose. Our interdisciplinary scholarship integrates philosophical, theological, and psychological perspectives to further understand thriving and spirituality.

Psychological Learning

Sung Kim, PhD

Dr. Kim's lab studies assessment, text data, brain scans, machine learning, and deep learning.

Black Women’s Spirituality Research Team

Alexis Abernethy, PhD
Tina Armstrong, PhD
Jenny Pak, PhD

This team is about creating a space that honors the experiences of Black women and that engages in such research from an embodied culturally congruent approach for both the researchers and the participants.

Other Research

Restorative Therapy

Terry Hargrave, PhD

Dr. Hargrave's research focuses on the evaluation and effectiveness of Restoration Therapy.

Faith Deconstruction

Michael Hardin, PhD

Dr. Hardin's current research has the following objectives: 1) To understand how individuals experience leaving or dis-identifying with their Christian faith and 2) To understand how those experiences impacted their relationships.