SEATTLE - s4story -- The Human Resilience Project (THRP) is pleased to announce two exciting developments in our growing global research team. Laura Lynn van Mierlo, MS Biology, has joined THRP as a Research Associate and will serve as Coordinator for our upcoming expedition to Bhutan in 2026. In addition, Lisa Courtnadge has been promoted to Research Specialist following more than three years of dedicated work on THRP's groundbreaking research initiatives.

Laura Lynn van Mierlo brings over 30 years of experience as a biologist, field researcher, and educator to her new role. Based in Connecticut and raised in upstate New York, Laura Lynn has spent decades at the intersection of science education and environmental exploration. Her fieldwork spans from the rainforests of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula to the sacred groves of India's Western Ghats, and from the North American backcountry to the highlands of Bhutan. A former resident of the Netherlands, Laura Lynn brings a globally informed perspective to her work, weaving together science, culture, and storytelling to explore the roots of human resilience in the natural world.

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Lisa Courtnadge, who is part of the Kenya expedition team in the Chalbi Desert, has been promoted to Research Specialist. Lisa holds an Honors degree in Psychology from the South African College of Applied Psychology and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Cape Town. She has extensive experience working in mental health, including providing therapeutic support for children on the autism spectrum and volunteering with mental health recovery programs. Her academic and professional interests lie in community and eco-psychology, addiction recovery, and innovative mental health care models.

These appointments come as THRP launches a three-year, ten-nation investigation into human resilience at the intersection of climate change and mental health. Our research engages with some of the world's most remote populations to identify what is universal about human resilience, hope, and optimism in the face of adversity. By understanding cross-cultural commonalities, THRP hopes to help improve global mental health outcomes and foster a deeper appreciation of resilience in all its forms.

For more information, visit www.THRProject.com