Derek Simon | Lab Manager Hi everyone! I joined the lab as a second-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. I am now entering my third year and I am also the new lab manager for the Florida Social Cognition and Emotion Lab! I grew up in Delray Beach and Jupiter, Florida and identify with the pronouns he/him. My dream is to achieve my Ph.D. and to eventually become a professor of psychology. My research interests reside in Social and Personality Psychology, and I am currently passionate about exploring the many factors that influence our specific emotions and behaviors across different contexts. Aside from my studies, I love reading, listening to music, spending time with friends, and enjoying everything that life has to offer.
Current Research Assistants
Email: aallion@ufl.edu
Alanna Allion Hi! I'm a first-generation student and a third year Psychology and Criminology double-major. In the future, I want to pursue a PsyD and hopefully become a therapist or legal psychologist. I joined the lab because Social Psychology is fascinating, and I wanted to learn more about it and the research process. In my spare time, I enjoy crocheting, watching anime, reading, and listening to music.
Email: alexabaal@ufl.edu
Alexa Baal Hello! I'm Alexa Baal, a third-year undergraduate majoring in psychology and statistics. I was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, where I acquired a passion for math and the mind. With a strong interest in research, I am happy to be a research assistant with the lab. I am especially interested in the relationship between cognition and morality and hope to get a deeper understanding of it with my coming years of research. I believe understanding is the key to solving problems, and research is the key to both understanding and finding working solutions. That aside, I enjoy learning, playing video games, and watching shows and movies with friends. I look forward to my time ahead with the lab!
Email: sabrinabarella@ufl.edu
Sabrina Barella Hi! I am in my third year of my undergraduate degree majoring in General Psychology and minoring in Theater at the University of Florida. I was born in Puerto Rico and raised by the beaches in Melbourne, Florida. My goal is to attend graduate school to earn my master's degree and potentially my doctorate! I love learning about human behaviors and the thought processes behind them, and this lab is a great opportunity to integrate what I learn in the classroom into real studies. Aside from psychology, my passions include theater, hanging out with friends, watching movies, and occasionally hitting the gym. I am so blessed and excited to be a part of this amazing team of researchers!
Email: sadia.barua@ufl.edu
Sadia Barua Hey everyone! I am a junior studying Psychology and Anthropology that combine my interest in research, mental health, and social justice. I’ve called Florida home ever since moving from Bangladesh in 2016. In the future, I hope to work globally to research, treat and raise awareness about Mental Health issues. Some of my research interests include acculturation, maladaptive coping with trauma, multicultural mental health and efficacy of mental health interventions. I am also an AWARE ambassador at the Counseling and Wellness Center. In my free time I like to spend time with family and friends, gardening and exercising. I hope to attend graduate school in Counseling Psychology.
Email: brownrachel@ufl.edu
Rachel Brown Hi everyone! My name is Rachel Brown, and I am a third year Psychology major with a specialization in Behavioral Analysis. I am originally from New Jersey but have lived in Florida for three years now. My pronouns are she/her. Some topics which I am passionate about include group behavior, creativity, media, happiness, and boredom. I am very excited to be working with so many diverse individuals and discover new things about the world. In my free time, I like to go on walks, hangout with my friends, and try new coffee places.
Email: m.chaveztafur@ufl.edu
Micaela Chavez-Tafur Hello everyone! My name is Micaela (she/her) and I’m a second-year Psychology major and Dance minor. I’m a Peruvian first-gen student, and I’ve lived in Florida my whole life. I’m passionate about human behaviors and their relation to individual thought processes. Emotions drive many of our decisions, and I feel that it’s important to dive deeper in order to understand how they affect our everyday lives. I joined this lab because it will help integrate my interest in social psychology into real-life scenarios. In the future, I hope to pursue further schooling to broaden my knowledge and experience in the field. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, dancing, and hanging out with friends. I am so excited to be a part of this team and can’t wait to see what’s in store!
Email: acheplyansky@ufl.edu
Anastasia Cheplyansky Hello there! My name is Anastasia, and I am extremely excited to start my position as a research assistant! I am a psychology major at UF’s online program while also a full-time professional ballerina at Atlanta Ballet. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to follow both of my passions— ballet and psychology. I would love to go deeper into my studies in graduate school, specializing either in cognitive, industrial organizational, social, or sports psychology someday. I want to understand what impacts life satisfaction and what brings meaning into a fulfilling life. I hope to someday use my knowledge and research experience to help make the world a better place. When I am not studying or rehearsing, I love to read books, cook, go on hikes, and explore new places with family members and friends.
Email: schin2@ufl.edu
Sophie Chin Hello! My name is Sophie Chin and I am a Psychology major in my second year of undergrad. I am of Asian and Hispanic descent. I am passionate about learning how to help others heal and express their emotions in a safe environment, especially those that have come from harsh conditions/backgrounds. I am interested in learning how people’s childhood has shaped them into the person they are today. I believe that one of my main missions in life is to be able to assist others who do not always feel like they can, or should, have the access to resources to heal and process. The Wells collective provides me with the opportunity to do so. My goal is to become a counseling psychologist and work abroad with people who may not have access to counseling/therapy. I hope to help them realize that everyone deserves a chance to grow and have the knowledge to live a happier and healthier life. In my free time I enjoy swimming, reading, crochet, and listen to music.
Email: brynn.foster@ufl.edu
Brynn Foster Hello, everyone! My pronouns are she/her/hers. I am entering my third year here at UF. I am majoring in general psychology and am also pursuing a minor in sociology. I have held a passion for psychology for a while and even received my associate degree with an emphasis in psychology. Social psychology and behavior analysis are especially intriguing to me. I hope to eventually acquire a PhD, possibly in industrial/organizational psychology, so that I can continue to use psychological principles to better human lives. I am excited to work in this lab so that I can gain valuable research experience and expand my knowledge. I grew up in South Florida near West Palm. In my free time, I enjoy going to the beach and going out with friends.
Email: janellysfraga@ufl.edu
Janellys Fraga Hi everyone! My name is Janellys Fraga, and I am a second year Psychology major. Currently, I am doing pre-med psychology as I do want to become a child's psychiatrist in the near future. Psychology and mental health have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I would love to continue my studies through it. I joined this lab in order to learn more about social psychology as that branch of psychology particularly intrigues me. I am very excited to work in this lab and apply the skills that I learn into the future! Moreover, in my free time, I love hanging out with my friends, baking, watching movies, and going shopping.
Email: gabriellegivers@ufl.edu
Gabrielle Givers Hi all! My name is Gabrielle Givers and I am a general psychology major in my fourth year of undergrad. I completed my first two years of undergrad at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, playing collegiate softball and then transferred to UF Fall of 2022. I am thrilled to be joining the team as a research assistant for the Florida Social Cognition and Emotion Lab. I am passionate about psychology, specifically, studying behavior and cognition and how the two integrate. Following undergrad, I hope to go to graduate school and complete my master’s and possibly my doctorates. Social Cognitive and Emotional psychology is fascinating to me and I am eager to further my research knowledge through the lab. Outside of academics, I enjoy working out, trying new things, traveling, spending quality time with friends, and being active in clubs.
Email: zoehilcoff@ufl.edu
Zoe Hilcoff Hi everyone! I am a second-year undergraduate student studying Psychology with an emphasis on Behavioral Analysis. I am from Jupiter, Florida and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am intrigued by several aspects of psychology and the brain and therefore hope that with this research experience I will gain a better understanding of what I wish to pursue in my future. I plan to go to graduate school to continue my studies in Behavioral Analysis, possibly focusing on clinical psychology. In my free time I love to read, go to the beach, spend time with friends, and bake or cook!
Email: mariannahorton@ufl.edu
Marianna Horton My name is Marianna and I’m a sophomore at the University of Florida. I’m double majoring in Psychology and Criminology, and am interested in pursuing clinical psychology on a graduate level. I hope to eventually earn a doctorate in the field and continue research in psychology and its relationship with emotional regulation, the law, and mental well-being. I have always been particularly interested by how emotion plays a role in our personal and social cognition, and how it overall drives the quality of our lives. In the Florida Social Cognition and Emotion Lab, I am most interested in projects relating to implicit biases and how these bleed into social groups on a larger scale. In my free time I enjoy running, playing guitar, and volunteering at the child’s center here in Gainesville. I’m incredibly grateful to be joining this team as a research assistant and am looking forward to my time here learning, growing, and contributing.
Email: camille.ianno@ufl.edu
Camille Ianno Hello everyone! My name is Camille Ianno, and I am a current 4th year Biology major with a pre-Professional emphasis on the pre-medical track. I am a Florida native, and I have wanted to be a Florida gator my whole life. I have always loved psychology and some of my interests in this field include creativity, boredom, and how behaviors can influence emotions. I love being involved on campus and I am a volunteer at Peaceful Paths in Gainesville. Some of my other interests outside of academics include dance, listening to indie music, reading, and taking care of my plants.
Email: jjauregui@ufl.edu
Jay Jauregui She/Her/Hers Hi! I am a senior Psychology student, hailing from Miami, on the pre-dental track and pursuing an English/Chemistry minor at UF. I am thrilled to be part of the lab and take my education from textbook to practice by helping produce scientific knowledge as part of a research team. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to enhance my understanding of human behavior and cognition through experimental methods and the unique ways it can be applied to psychological research. This year I will begin work on my own research exploring gender bias in student's evaluations of professors and I hope that my findings will help increase awareness and provide interventions to this widespread issue. In my professional career, I intend to continue to use the skills I have acquired in my studies of Psychology when providing care for patients from all walks of life. Besides academics, I enjoy reading, spending time with friends and family, and being a pet mom.
Email: othojohnson@ufl.edu
Garrett Johnson Hi! My name is Garrett (he/him/his) and I was born and raised here in Gainesville, FL. I am a second year Psychology and Women's Studies major and am also minoring in Statistics. I am excited to start gaining research experience through the Florida Social Cognition and Emotion Lab, as well as expand my understanding of social psychology. I am very interested in LGBTQ+ mental health and psychology—particularly the social effects of identifying as LGBTQ+ in today's society. After undergrad, I hope to get my Masters in Women's Studies and then go on to get my PhD in counseling psychology. Currently, I want to be a therapist and a professor to both engage with new ideas in academia while still helping people navigate and improve their mental health. Outside of school, I love to read fiction, exercise, cook yummy food, and travel.
Email: f.joseph@ufl.edu
Frances Joseph Hi, my name is Frances Joseph! I am a 4th-year Psychology major with minors in Deaf and Hearing Sciences and Sociology. I am from Boynton Beach, FL, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. My future goals are to earn my Ph.D. and then go on to become a Forensic Psychologist. I am excited to be a part of this lab; I cannot wait to expand and build upon what I have learned in undergrad. Outside class, I enjoy reading, drawing, listening to music, spending time with friends, and hiking.
Email: marinaccimadelyn@ufl.edu
Madelyn Marinacci Hello! My name is Madelyn Marinacci and my pronouns are she/her. I am a second-year psychology major with a minor in sociology. I am interested in how our perceptions and behavior affect the world around us. I am incredibly passionate about forensic psychology. I grew up watching a lot of Criminal Minds episodes and I want to apply my passion to the real world. I plan to further my education by pursuing a Ph.D. degree and becoming a forensic psychologist. In my free time, I like to listen to music, work out, and crochet! I am excited to have this amazing opportunity and can't wait to learn more about our psychological world!
Email: amedina1@ufl.edu
Abigail Medina Hi everyone, I'm Abby (she/her)! I am a third-year Psychology student with a specialization in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in Health Disparities in Society. My research interests include social and cognitive psychology, as well as pharmacology. I am always excited to deepen the foundation I have built from my classes, as well as explore new challenges and ideas in the lab! I am passionate about patient advocacy and the importance of mitigating the systemic pressures that influence the social determinants of health for disadvantaged populations. I hope to become a psychiatrist who takes a holistic approach in medicine while being cognizant of patients' intersectional identities. My other interests include making art, reading, writing, film analysis, and cooking with friends.
Email: ashleynelson1@ufl.edu
Ashley Nelson Hello! My name is Ashley and I am a first-year student at UF majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience. I am originally from Chicago, IL but I have been living in Tampa, FL for several years now. I am still somewhat undecided about my future career goals, but I love psychology and am hoping that this opportunity might help me get a better idea of what I would like to do in the future. Outside of school, I love reading, swimming, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. I am beyond excited to work in the Florida Social Cognition and Emotion Lab and learn more about psychology research!
Email: luna.parra@ufl.edu
Luna Parra Hi everyone, my name is Luna Parra! I am currently a sophomore at the University of Florida pursuing a BS in Psychology. I am of Colombian descent, and I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Psychology has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little kid. The way the mind holds so many mysteries and leads to people thinking and acting in certain ways has always fascinated me. Mental health has unfortunately been stigmatized in the Hispanic community, so I want to be able to do my part in helping young kids feel comfortable about discussing their feelings by becoming a child psychologist one day. I want to be able to be someone that children can rely on and look to for guidance. I joined this lab to gain valuable skills when it comes to researching the behavior and minds of other people. This knowledge will be valuable in my journey to becoming a child psychologist. In my spare time, I love to crochet, read books, watch scary movies, hang out with friends, and draw in my sketchbook. I am excited to be a part of this lab and I hope to become useful to the team!
Email: asha.patel@ufl.edu
Asha Patel Hi! My name is Asha, I am a junior at UF, and I use she/they pronouns. I grew up in Palm Beach, FL, and I am a sociology and psychology dual major. I am so excited to be a part of Dr. Westgate’s lab, because I want to one day pursue a position as a professor and researcher in social psychology. Outside of school, I spend a lot of time exploring Gainesville’s beautiful nature parks, inventing sub-par culinary creations, and doodling all over every paper I’m given. I am truly proud to be a part of the Social Cognition and Emotion Lab!
Email: hannah.sater@ufl.edu
Hannah Sater Hi everyone! My name is Hannah Sater and I am a second year psychology major. I was born and raised in Coral Springs, Fl and my pronouns are she/her. My goal after undergrad is to go to graduate school and complete a masters, and possibly a doctorate. I am very excited to be working in such a great lab and to learn skills that will help me help others. In my free time I enjoy crochet, dancing, and reading
Email: l.siddique@ufl.edu
Lamia Siddique Hello! My name is Lamia Siddique, and I am currently a sophomore majoring in Psychology. I really love exploring and learning about the human mind and their actions, which is why I love psychology as well as subjects such as anthropology and women's studies and am so excited to join this lab and learn more! In my free time I love dancing, hanging out with my friends and listening to all types of music. I am a Bengali from South Florida, and I am the oldest of a younger brother and sister. My pronouns are she/her.
Email: ella.singer@ufl.edu
Ella Singer Hello everyone! My name is Ella Singer, and I am a sophomore at the University of Florida. I am double majoring in Psychology on the Behavioral Analysis track and Criminology. I am originally from Coral Springs, Florida, and I am aiming to pursue a career in the field of Forensic Psychology one day. My hope is to attend graduate school and one day receive my Ph.D. I am super eager to be a part of this lab and begin expanding my knowledge in both research and this field of study as a whole. I am very passionate about Psychology, specifically Social Psychology. During my free time, I enjoy reading, running, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Email: j.sossie@ufl.edu
Jessica Sossie My name is Jess Sossie and I’m a psychology and math student in my third year of undergrad. I grew up in a rural Oregon town and remain a loyal fan of the Portland Thorns FC. I intend to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology and provide psychotherapy to couples and families. My research interests include the relationship between social comparison and self-esteem, how media influences our perceptions of ourselves, and how we can make our lives feel more meaningful. Outside academics, I volunteer at the Alachua County Crisis Center as a crisis hotline counselor. For fun, I like to read, jog, scrapbook, and try out new recipes.
Email: hannastockel@ufl.edu
Hanna Stockel Hey! My name is Hanna Stockel and I'm currently a sophomore. I was born and raised in Weston, FL and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am majoring in psychology; however, I am not directly sure what I want to do in the future. I have an interest in both forensic and industrial/organizational psychology, but I am still exploring all kinds of fields and am super excited to be able to do this through this lab. Outside of school I love to go to the beach, hang out with friends, and work out.
Email: katherine.terry@ufl.edu
Katherine Terry Hello! My name is Katherine Terry from Winter Park, FL. I am a third-year majoring in Psychology and Criminology. My pronouns are she/her/hers. My educational interests focus on Legal Psychology, specifically why criminals commit crime and how juries make decisions. I would love to further my education with graduate school and possibly get my Ph.D. in my career become a Trial Consultant, assisting a legal team from a psychology perspective. Bringing knowledge of psychology to the courtroom can further progress the criminal justice system. Outside of research, my interests include painting, reading, and being a plant mom.
Email: justinetorres@ufl.edu
Justine Torres Hi everyone! My name is Justine, and I am a third-year Health Science major. I am from Orlando, Florida, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. In the future, I hope to practice medicine, but I also strongly believe in the intersection between STEM and the humanities, as well as the importance of integrating public health principles in clinical practice. As such, I have a vested interest in the social sciences and am excited to be returning to the lab for my second year. Outside of research, I enjoy reading, writing, and trying out new recipes.
Email: marie.vazquez@ufl.edu
Marie Vazquez Hi! I am a senior studying Psychology and Women’s Studies. I am from Homestead, Florida and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am interested in learning more about the complexities of the human mind and the human experience. I hope to further my education here at the University of Florida. I aspire to be involved in research in my professional career, mainly focusing on mental health issues involving women and the LGBTQ+ community. I am grateful to be a part of this lab, which has given me an opportunity to explore research hands-on. I am excited to build, learn, and create new skills in the lab that I can take with me in my future endeavors in graduate school and my professional career. Outside of academics, I enjoy listening to music, hanging out with friends, attending concerts, watching sports, and traveling.
Email: vvemugunta@ufl.edu
Vivek Vemugunta I am a second-year Biology major also pursuing a minor in nutritional sciences. I am from Jacksonville, FL and my pronouns are he/him/his. I am really excited to get started with this research because I want to learn about why people act the way that they do, and their reasoning behind it. I hope to broaden my skills in research, and learn more about psychology in general. My career goals are to go into medical schools, and possibly become a psychiatrist if I like it. Outside of research, I love playing sports, exercising, and listening to music!
Email: ivillegaslombeyd@ufl.edu
Isabella Villegas-Lombeyda Hola everyone! I am a Pre-Medicine sophomore majoring in Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology with a minor in Health Disparities. My dream is to obtain an MD/PhD to become a psychiatrist and conduct research while also working to improve the lives of patients. I am beyond grateful and excited to be a part of this lab because I have always been passionate about the psychology behind religion. Anyone that knows me knows that I love to watch documentaries on the subject and learn from different cultures on their beliefs and how that translates to who they are. A little bit about me is that I'm from Tampa, Florida and am Ecuadorian and Costa Rican. When I'm not in the library or in class you can always catch me in ballet class, reading a book, or spending time with my friends and family!
Email: wagner.molly@ufl.edu
Molly Wagner Hello! I am a third-year Psychology student with a Chinese minor here at UF. The reason why I am interested in the field of Psychology is because I believe I can best help people as a therapist, helping individuals navigate through the toughest obstacles in life. I am excited to better understand human cognition and correlating behaviors through the studies I will be helping with. In my free time, I enjoy reading, painting, jewelry-making, cooking and hanging out with friends.
Email: jasonyi@ufl.edu
Jason Yi Greetings! My name is Jason Yi, and I am a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida. I am majoring in Psychology and pursuing a minor in Business Administration. I’m from Land O Lakes, Florida, but I also lived in Wesley Chapel, Florida. My pronouns are they/them/theirs or he/him/his. I plan to pursue a Ph.D or a Master’s degree and hope to become a therapist or an I/O psychologist in the future. My hobbies are history, philosophy, running, biking, and gaming. I am proud to be a part of this amazing team!
Florida Social Cognition and Emotion Lab Fall 2019