I am a Social Psychologist at the UCLA Marriage and Close Relationships Lab with expertise in how empathy, social support, conflict, and stress impact the quality of close relationships and personal wellbeing. Prior to my time at UCLA, I was an honors student researcher at the Carnegie Mellon Relationships Lab.

Key research methods I have employed include surveys, experimental design, observational research, and neuroimaging. My research has appeared in journals such as Frontiers in Psychology, and I have presented my work as a symposium chair at leading conferences including The Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP).

I have also been a dedicated course instructor for 6 years in Psychology and Statistics, and a research mentor to 20+ undergraduate student researchers.

EDUCATION

PhD in Social Psychology | UCLA 2023

Dissertation: Investigating the Neural Correlates of Empathy in Couples’ Communication

Specialization in Relationships Science & Quantitative Methods

Master’s in Social Psychology | UCLA 2017

Bachelor’s in Psychology & Biology | Carnegie Mellon University 2016

HONORS AND AWARDS

  1. Liu Yunghuo Bei Qui Memorial Fellowship Summer Research Funding (2020)

  2. Graduate Student Research Mentorship (GSRM) Summer Research Funding (2017)

  3. Carnegie Mellon Small Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG)

  4. Senior Honors Thesis: Touch as a Potential Buffer to Reduce the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Relationship Conflict

  5. Psychology Department Commencement Speaker: Carnegie Mellon University

  6. Deans List: Carnegie Mellon University

  7. College Honors in Psychology: Carnegie Mellon University

TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP

Course Instructor | UCLA Psychology Department | 2016 - 2022

Courses Taught:

  1. Statistics/Research Methods (3x)

  2. Social Psychology Research Methods Lab

  3. Social Psychology (4x)

  4. Intimate Relationships (4x)

  5. Psychology of Gender

AFFILIATIONS