Jacob Kunkel, M.A.

Biography 

Jacob Kunkel is an assistant professor of psychology at Augustana University and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development, where he studies the influence of relationships in the development and maintenance of health (physical, mental, cognitive, etc.). He grew up in southern Minnesota and graduated from Augustana University in 2017 with a B.A. in psychology (clinical emphasis) and biology (cellular/molecular emphasis).

Prior to his graduate training, Kunkel spent two years working for the Minnesota Twin Registry, conducting assessments of attachment and health with twins in older adulthood. His ongoing research is mainly focused on how relationships across the lifespan influence health, and his dissertation work is focused on infant-caregiver attachment and subsequent physical health. When not around campus, Kunkel can be found at choir rehearsal, out disc golfing, watching a Twins/Vikings/Gophers game or researching new recipes.