Post-Doctoral Fellows
Ashley Berkebile-Weinberg (She/Her)
Ashley seeks to understand how intergroup contact shapes the nature of people’s social relationships, as well as the ways it impacts larger group-level relations (e.g. support for BLM or immigration reform). Her research focuses on the psychological dynamics underpinning social interactions within intergroup relationships (e.g., friends), as well as intimate discussions centered on group differences within various intergroup contexts. She aims to assess how discussions about race, discrimination, and inequality affect interpersonal and intergroup processes, focusing on racially minoritized people. Currently, Ashley is working to extend her work to examine broader health and belongingness outcomes that result from intergroup contact and close intergroup relationships. Ashley has a passion for communicating research to the public and using research to address social issues and advocate for social change. For fun she loves to take dance classes, do yoga, spend time with her family, and dabbles in interior decorating!
Graduate Students
Nicole Johnson (She/Her)
Nicole's research focuses on examining the influence of adversity on close relationships and how these relationships can either mitigate or exacerbate the consequences of adversity. While pursuing her undergraduate and master's degrees at Stanford University, she studied how the development of friendship networks could predict the well-being trajectories of college students. Now, in her first year at Princeton, Nicole is developing a scale to assess adversity in adulthood. This scale will enable her to trace the impact of adverse life experiences on the close relationships and overall well-being of adults. In her leisure time, Nicole likes to visit New York City, spend time with family and friends, chill in cafes, and bike around New Jersey.
Priscilla Diaz-Gonzalez (She/Her)
Priscilla's research focuses on examining and addressing the systemic educational inequities that first-generation college students experience in academic institutions. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of California - Santa Barbara, she studied how social support influences first-generation Latinx/e college students' belonging and university fit. Prior to joining the lab, Priscilla was a research coordinator at Northwestern University studying how to create culturally inclusive educational environments for students from marginalized backgrounds. In her free time, Priscilla likes to spend quality time with her loved ones, try new coffee shops, and watch the sunset.
Maddy Paxson (She/Her)
Maddy’s research aims to understand how people form, maintain, and benefit from their social connections. In particular, she’s interested in 1) identifying and addressing barriers to social connection, 2) understanding how intergroup connections impact people from marginalized backgrounds, and 3) exploring changes in the nature of close relationships during life transitions. As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, her thesis examined the role of color-evasive racial ideology in close interracial relationships. Before coming to Princeton, she was a predoctoral fellow with Behavior Change for Good at the University of Pennsylvania where she supported the analysis and implementation of megastudies – massive field experiments – including those aimed at increasing student performance through social interventions. For fun, she likes to eat ice cream, watch live theatre and comedy, and take long walks with good people.
Lab Manager
Colten Harper (He/Him)
Colten’s research interests lie broadly in the intersections of queer theory and social psychology. He is interested in how identity-based adversity influences how LGBTQ-identifying folks form, value, and navigate their social relationships. Specifically, he is curious about the concept of “chosen family” and seeks to examine how experiences of stigma or familial estrangement direct who queer people seek support from. He received his B.A. in Psychology and Gender & Sexuality Studies along with a minor in History from Vanderbilt University. Outside of research, Colten enjoys playing volleyball, practicing his Spanish, and listening to 90s/early 2000s RnB.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Aarushi Adlakha (She/Her)
Aarushi is a Senior in the Psychology Department at Princeton University. She is interested in studying how identities and backgrounds impact forming and sustaining different kinds of relationships, and how adversity can have impacts on relationship networks. Outside of classes, Aarushi is the Secretary General for PMUNC 2024, a Residential College Advisor and the Social Chair for the Class of 2026. During her free time, Aarushi can be found reading, crocheting or taking pictures around campus.
Lena Chau (She/Her)
Lena is currently a Senior at Princeton University majoring in Psychology with a prospective minor in Neuroscience. Her research interests lie in understanding how being a part of an underserved population influences one’s thoughts and behaviors when reaching out to healthcare providers and receiving adequate treatment. During her free time, Lena will either be at Junbi taking a boba break or in her dorm doing her daily NYT games like Wordle and Connections.
Yuka Childers (She/Her)
Yuka is a Senior at Princeton University majoring in Psychology with a prospective minor in English. She is interested in studying childhood adversity and the impacts on their social behavior in adulthood. Outside of classes she is the secretary for the Princeton University Mixed Association, a SHARE Peer, and on the Mental Health Committee for the Undergraduate Student Government. In her free time she enjoys working out, thrifting, doing DIY crafts, trying new matcha drinks and watching movies.
Viulka De Jesus Cruz (She/Her)
Viulka is a Senior at Princeton University, majoring in Psychology and pursuing a certificate in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. She has a keen interest in exploring the impact of adversity on our everyday lives. Specifically, she’s fascinated by how our perceptions of adversity shape our future selves and influence our sense of attainability. She is particularly intrigued by psychological mechanisms that shape resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. Outside of academics, you’ll often find Viulka engaged in lively UNO matches with friends or enjoying leisurely walks, often ending with a scoop of ice cream. Viulka is also a self-professed Criminal Minds enthusiast — analyzing behavioral patterns on screen has become a bit of an addiction for her!
Alina Ho (She/Her)
Alina is a Senior at Princeton University majoring in Psychology and potentially pursuing a minor in Global Health Policy and a certificate in Cognitive Science. She is interested in the varying ability to be open about mental health in close relationships and the social norms that drive our daily interactions, especially in lower-class backgrounds. Outside of school, she loves excessively cleaning, playing video games, and eating spicy food.
Emi Yun (She/Her)
Emi is a Senior at Princeton University majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is broadly interested in the psychological impacts of socioeconomic status on interpersonal relationships, with a focus on first-generation, low-income college students and their transition to college. Outside of classes, Emi is the president of the Princeton Wellness Club and a member of the Princeton Cheerleading Team. She loves listening to music, watching romcoms & thrillers, and exploring the city with her friends!
Kevin Martinez (He/Him)
Kevin is a Senior in the Psychology Department at Princeton University. His research interests lie in how people manage their relationships to themselves and the real-world social ramifications of the different ways they do so. He is currently researching how self-focused attention can affect a person's proclivity towards engaging in prosocial behavior. When not researching, Kevin can often be found menacing various Karaoke establishments across the greater NYC area, gaming, or annoying his cat.
Angel Ansah (She/Her)
Angel is a Sophomore at Princeton University, majoring in Psychology with prospective minors in both Global Health Policy and African Studies. Her research interests lie in understanding how early life experiences shape personality and individual differences, as well as how social interactions influence thinking, well-being, and the development of social norms. Outside of classes, she is a Reels reporter for the Daily Princetonian, the Social Media subcommittee Co-Head for the Undergraduate Student Government, and is actively involved in Christian Union Nova. She also enjoys the arts, exploring new places, and spending time with the people she loves
Molly Nye (She/Her)
Molly is a Sophomore at Princeton University, majoring in Psychology. Her research interests tend to focus on how previous life experiences can influence the way that people are, and how they interact with each other to accomplish their unmet needs in relationships. Outside of classes, she is a member of the Princeton Field Hockey team and a trainee for the 988 crisis hotline. She also enjoys being outside hiking, spending time with friends and family, and going on adventures.
Katha Patel (She/Her)
Katha is a Sophomore at Princeton University, majoring in Neuroscience with a prospective minor in Quantitative Economics. She is particularly interested in how social and structural inequalities shape health and well-being. She is fascinated by how the relationships people rely on during challenging circumstances can both support mental well-being and influence access to resources, ultimately affecting health outcomes over time and across generations. Outside of classes, Katha can be found choreographing for the Naacho dance company, tutoring students at McGraw, or working out at Dillon gym.
Lab Pets
Luna Carey
Luna is studying the processes by which we can avoid peeing when excited. How do our close relationships influence our ability to regulate our bodies? She knows how to sit and heel when asked. Her favorite nightly tradition is stealing Rebecca’s napkin at the end of a meal.
Sunny Carey
Sunny is researching why the blue toy tastes so good. More specifically, he is investigating whether we can eat toys without experiencing shame or stomach problems. He knows how to sit when asked. Sunny’s favorite tradition is riding in the car, and it does not matter whose car it is.
Stanley
Lily
Holly
Blue
Yogurt
Tina
Marlowe
Mimi
Mabel
Lab Alumni
Graduate Student and Post-Docs Alumni
2022-2024 | Lori Hazel | Graduate Student | Research Professional at CERVO Brain Research Centre
2024 | Kanvarbir Gill | VIPS Scholar | Educational Psychology PhD student at the University of Oklahoma
2025 | Bryant Gomez | VIPS Scholar | Ph.D. Candidate in the Basic & Applied Social Psychology program at The Graduate Center, CUNY
2025 | Tianmei Zhu | VIPS Scholar | Graduate student in the Human Development and Family Sciences program at The University of Connecticut
Lab Manager Alumni
2022-2024 | Danny Hang | Social Psychology PhD student at University of Utah
2023-2024 | Ivania Asencio | Counseling Psychology MA student at Teacher's College
2022-2023 | Courteney Parry | Master's Student in Social Work at Washington University St. Louis
2021- 2022 | Emma Miller | Psychology PhD student at Columbia University
Lab Research Assistant Alumni
Summer 2025 | Zahira Branch | Undergraduate Student at Brown University
Summer 2025 | Anna Cloonan | Undergraduate Student at Cornell University
Summer 2025 | Emma Roncoroni | Undergraduate Student at Cornell University
Summer 2025 | Aisha Shams | Undergraduate Student at Trinity College
2024-2025 | Lale Kurtulush | Undergraduate Student at Princeton University
2024-2025 | Aidan Mahoney | Lab Manager in the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Lab at Northeastern University
2023-2025 | Melissa Ruiz | Master's Student in Social Work at Rutgers University
2023-2025 | Lily Parris | Strategic Account Executive at Open System Technologies in NYC
2023-2025 | Ellie Berman | Advisory Systems Analyst at Advisory Board
Summer 2024 | Cooper Harris | Master's Student in Education at Boston University
2021-2024 | Tiffanie Cheng |
2021-2024 | Angel Kuo | Analyst at DaVita Kidney Care
2022-2024 | Marlene Cardoza | Clinical Psychology PhD student at Clark University
2021-2023 | Samantha Lopez Carrizales | Program Associate for Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
2021-2023 | Selinay Kaplan | Associate Research Consultant at KJT Group
2022-2023 | David Eniola | MD student at Rutgers Medical School
2021-2022 | Helen Wang | Postbaccalaureate Scholar at NIH
2021-2022 | AJ Wallace |