Kristina Schmid Callina, PhD headshot

Kristina Schmid Callina, Ph.D

“I got into social science because I fundamentally believe that every person has potential to thrive if only we can be clever enough to uncover that potential through scientific study about the diversity of experiences that predict thriving.”

Kristina is a developmental psychologist with expertise in developmental methods, including longitudinal study design and data analytic techniques. At Lynch Research Associates, Kristina is a highly effective, energetic project leader, using her extensive methodological, statistical, and theoretical training to bring clients’ research goals to life and bridge the gap between data and real-world solutions. Kristina is a master of the “big picture,” constantly connecting the dots between seemingly fragmented data points and clients’ larger research goals.

Before joining Lynch Research Associates, Kristina was a research assistant professor at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University from 2014 to 2018, where her research focused on positive youth development from childhood through early adulthood.

Kristina has overseen and managed multiple longitudinal national research projects and published her findings extensively in top-tier peer-reviewed journals.

Outside of work, Kristina loves to be outdoors. Like a good native New Englander, you’ll find her skiing in the winter, at the beach in the summer, hiking in the fall, and complaining about the spring.

Lightning Round

  • Star Wars, Star Trek, neither: Star Wars
  • Favorite food: Spaetzle
  • A little-known fact about me: I backpacked solo through Europe before graduate school.
  • How I unwind: Yoga or craft beer. Usually not at the same time.

Words to live by: “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” – George E.P. Box, British statistician