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Kerri Rodriguez

Assistant Professor, Psychology
Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine (Primary Title)
Headshot - Kerri Rodriguez - Affiliate Faculty member
kerrirodriguez@arizona.edu
Pronouns:
She, Her, Hers

Research Interests:

  • Bi-directional effects of human-animal interactions on human and canine health and wellbeing.
  •  Roles of assistance dogs, therapy dogs, and pet dogs for individuals with disabilities or mental health conditions.
  • Psychophysiological mechanisms underlying positive human-dog interactions.
  • Roles and impacts of the human-animal bond for human and animal health and wellbeing across a variety of settings, populations, and contexts.

Updated: 08/29/23

The Human-Animal Bond Lab (HAB Lab) at the University of Arizona is recruiting new undergraduate research assistants for the Spring 2026 semester through directed research credits. The HAB Lab bridges psychology with veterinary science to explore how interactions with companion animals such as dogs and cats influence human health and wellbeing. Students do not need any experience in this area and there is no contact with animals, but require a basic knowledge of psychological research methods and human subjects research. 

We are recruiting research assistants to help conduct a large, global study through Prolific to explore how pets support people’s wellbeing in everyday life. We are using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) smartphone app called MindWindow to capture what’s happening between pets and their owners in day-to-day life. Students will help monitor participant compliance, troubleshoot app issues, and keep track of participant progress. 

We are also recruiting a research assistant to help with other ongoing HAB Lab Research, including a national mixed methods study on the role of therapy dogs for law enforcement officers and first responders, and a meta-analysis on the role of animals for supporting trauma recovery among individuals with PTSD. In these studies, students are needed to assist with preliminary qualitative coding and quantitative survey data coding as well as meta-analysis data extraction.

Students should send their CV/resume and short description of why they are interested in the position to hablab@arizona.edu

Selected Publications:

  • Rodriguez, K.E., Bibbo. J., & O'Haire, M.E. (2022). Perspectives on facility dogs from pediatric hospital personnel: A qualitative content analysis of patient, family, and staff outcomes. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 46, 101534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101534 
  • Rodriguez K.E., Gee, N., & Herzog, H. (2021). Variability in human-animal interaction outcomes. Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits, and Future of Human-Dog Interactions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7:1207. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.619600 
  • Rodriguez, K.E., Greer, J., Beck, A. & O'Haire, M.E. (2020). The effects of assistance dogs on psychosocial health and wellbeing: A systematic literature review. PloS one, 15:12, e0243302. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243302 
  • Rodriguez, K.E., LaFollette, M.R., Hediger, K., Ogata, N.O. & O'Haire, M.E. (2020). Defining the PTSD service dog intervention: Perceived importance, usage, and symptom specificity of psychiatric service dogs for military veterans. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1638. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01638
  • Rodriguez, K.E., Bryce, C., Granger, D. & O'Haire, M.E. (2018). The effect of a service dog on the salivary cortisol awakening response in a military population with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 98: 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.04.026 

Updated: 10/04/23

Degrees

  • B.S. Evolutionary Anthropology & Biology, Duke University
  • M.S. Marine Mammal Science, University of St Andrews
  • Ph.D. Human-Animal Interaction, Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University