KAT LAB

Assistant Professor | Director of Research

Michael Kranak, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an Associate Professor and the Director of Research for the Center for Autism at Oakland University. Prior to joining Oakland University, he was a researcher and clinician at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology and Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University, M.A. in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University, and B.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University.

His research interests include applied and translational investigations of relapse, the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, and supervision best practices, and protection of the profession of behavior analysis. Dr. Kranak has accrued nearly $2 million in funding for his research and clinical endeavors, including from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has also served as an NIH review panel member for the Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities study section. Additionally, Dr. Kranak is an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice and Education and Treatment of Children; and currently serves on the Board of Editors for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Single-Case in the Social Sciences, and as an ad hoc reviewer for several other journals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son, working out, cooking, golfing; and is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan.

Graduate Research Assistant

Harper is a second-year master’s student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Oakland University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2024. She has worked with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a variety of settings such as ABA clinics and elementary schools.

Graduate Research Assistant

Calen is a first-year graduate student in the ABA program at Oakland University. She graduated from Central Michigan University in the Spring of 2025 with her B.S. in Special Education. She has had a passion for helping individuals with disabilities ever since she was a young girl, providing her with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. She always chooses to focus on the “ability” in disability! In her free time, Calen loves spending time with her family, friends, and taking her dog, Oliver, on walks. She also loves to travel and experiencing all that the world has to offer!

Graduate Research Assistant

Kaitlyn is a first-year graduate student in OU’s ABA program. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Central Michigan University in 2024, with an emphasis in behavior analysis. She discovered her passion for behavior analysis when she interned at an autism clinic when she was 17-years-old. Since then, she has worked as a behavior technician and completed research on the intersection of autism and religion. She’s most excited to expand her knowledge on appropriate replacement behaviors, functional communication, and coping strategies!

KAT Lab Cats

Kolbe and Pio are 2-year-old Domestic Short Hairs and the mascots of the KAT Lab. They enjoy playing, attending Zoom meetings, walking on keyboards, napping, and listening to the human members of the KAT Lab discuss behavior-analytic research and clinical cases.

Graduate Research Associate

Meredith is a second-year Master’s student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Oakland University, working under the mentorship of Dr. Kranak. She earned her B.S. in Health and Exercise Science from Oakland University in 2020. Her behavioral experience began in school settings, and she has worked in various clinical settings as a Registered Behavior Technician. Her current research and professional interests include improving behavioral treatments for problem behavior through translational research, incorporation of quantitative models, and evaluating the social validity of behavior-analytic assessments.

KAT Lab Cat Emeritus (2018-23)

Murray was a four-year-old Tabby and the inaugural mascot of the KAT Lab. He en-joyed sleeping, watching birdies out the window, and listening to the human members of the KAT Lab discuss research.