Mentorship
Mentorship is one of the most important parts of what I do. I believe in mentorship as a relationship built on honesty, care, and genuine investment in each student's goals — wherever those goals lead.
My Approach
01 · Meet Students Where They Are
Every student arrives with a different background, different goals, and a different relationship to academia. I try to understand each person's starting point — their knowledge, their anxieties, their ambitions — and build from there so that everyone gets the opportunities they are looking for.
02 · Teach the Process, Not Just the Product
Research is full of false starts and unexpected detours. I try to demystify that process — talking openly about uncertainty, sharing work in progress, and modeling how to think through hard problems rather than just presenting finished answers.
03 · Support Goals Beyond Research
Not every student wants an academic career, and that's entirely okay. I actively support students exploring careers in industry, policy, clinical practice, education, and other paths. The skills you build doing research are genuinely transferable — I want to help you see that.
04 · Create a Psychologically Safe Space
Good science requires being able to say "I don't know" or "I was wrong." I try to build mentor relationships where students feel safe asking questions, admitting confusion, and changing their minds — because those are signs of growth, not weakness.
Current & Past Students
I have been fortunate to mentor and work alongside a number of talented undergraduate researchers in the Social Identity Lab at UW.
Current · Honors Student
Sarrah Khan
Interested in adolescent well-being and the experiences of Muslim Americans.
LinkedInCurrent · Undergraduate RA
Polina Dorogova
Interested in health, addiction, law, and clinical psychology.
LinkedInCurrent · Undergraduate RA
Yoonseo Nam
Incoming master's student at UW interested in mental health equity and culturally responsive research, with a focus on stigma and identity among Asian Americans.
LinkedInPast · Undergraduate RA
Sophia Castillo
Now a Ph.D. student at the University of Delaware studying political psychology.
LinkedInI currently mentor eight undergraduate research assistants in the Social Identity Lab. Names and details will be updated with student permission.
Working With Me
I welcome inquiries from undergraduate students who are curious about social psychology and interested in developing research skills. You don't need prior experience — enthusiasm, reliability, and a genuine interest in the questions we study are what matter most.
As a research assistant in the Social Identity Lab, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to real studies, learn statistical methods, attend lab meetings, and receive mentorship tailored to your goals. If you're interested, please reach out via email with a brief note about yourself and what draws you to this work.
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