Research 

Dr. Biefeld joined the Department of Psychology and CYDI (Center for Youth Development and Intervention) in 2023. Dr. Biefeld is a developmental psychologist, but her program of research spans developmental, social, and health psychology. Dr. Biefeld’s research centers on how experiences of harassment and discrimination (at an individual and systematic level) impact the mental and physical health of children and adolescents. Dr. Biefeld also investigates the ways that body justice, intersecting identities, and community membership foster well-being and healthy development. Dr. Biefeld’s research is methodologically diverse, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Dr. Biefeld is accepting graduate students for the fall of 2024. Please email sdbiefeld@ua.edu directly for inquiries.

Lab Website:  https://bodylab.ua.edu/

Background

Dr. Biefeld is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and completed a PhD and Master of Science in Developmental Psychology at the University of Kentucky. They also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Before attending graduate school, Dr. Biefeld worked at an eating disorder treatment center and at the University of New Mexico, in reproductive health research.