Ryan Lei, Ph.D
Lab Director
I received my Ph.D in psychology from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL., and most recently did a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University. My research takes an intersectional approach at examining processes of stereotyping and prejudice. Specifically, I examine how social biases such as racism differ depending on other categories, such as gender (so, does anti-Black bias manifest in the same way for Black boys and Black girls). When not working, I love to watch Broadway shows and play with my dog Eirene.
Peony Wong
Lab Manager
I graduated from Villanova with a MS in Psychology in May 2021 and worked at CHOP prior to becoming a lab manager at Haverford. My research interests are in clinical, social, and forensic psychology. More specifically, my thesis examined changes in self-concept clarity and symbolic self-completion while undergoing a threat to one's identity. Outside of research, I enjoy Netflixing, playing video games, and being a dog mom to Luna.
Brandon Kinsler
Lab Associate
I graduated from Northeastern with a BS in Psychology in May 2020 and previously worked at Ohio State before joining the ISM Lab at Haverford. My research interests are in social and psychology, specifically I am interested in how social cognitions about race affect how individuals perceive and are perceived by the world. Besides research, I enjoy watching
movies, playing video games, and martial arts.
Ian Davis
Thesis Student
My joint loves of people in all their idiosyncrasies and empirical research have led me to pursue a Psychology major, Statistics minor, and work with the Intersectionality in the Mind Lab while a Haverford student. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to research as essential to promoting welfare as understanding the development of stereotyping and prejudice. I am also fascinated by charity/non-profit/public program evaluation work. In my spare time, I can usually be found working on my musical chops or jogging/rollerblading on the nearest bike path.
Natalie Masetti
Thesis Student
Although I haven’t always been the biggest fan of children, after taking a Developmental Psychology course I became fascinated with how kids develop a sense of self. I’m also interested in the applications of Educational Psychology and neurodivergence and how we can apply educational psychology to make our education system more equitable. This all translated easily into work in Professor Lei’s lab, exploring how children develop an understanding of others’ identities, and to my major and minor - Psychology and Statistics! In my free time, I like writing fiction stories, playing video games, and going to the gym!
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Owen Genko- Kamin
Research Assistant
I’ve always had a vested interest in the human mind and working with children. The ISM lab has allowed me to explore both of these interests. As a sophomore I haven’t declared my major yet, but I’m currently an intended psychology major with a minor in child and family studies. I hope to one day use this knowledge to become a child and family therapist. In my free time I love to camp, spend time with friends, and watch films.
Ryan Trotter
Research Assistant
Matt Gusdorff
Research Assistant
I am majoring in computer science with minors in math and German. I have always wanted to seek out meaningful applications of computer science across other scientific fields, leading me to the ISM lab. Here, I've been able to help others create tools for psych studies and work on research which combines machine learning and facial perception. In my free time, I like to hang out with my two dogs, Suki and Kya, listen to music, play my guitars, and cheer on the Philly sports teams. Go Birds!
Katy Cheng
Research Assistant
I’ve always had a vested interest in the human mind and working with children. The ISM lab has allowed me to explore both of these interests. As a sophomore I haven’t declared my major yet, but I’m currently an intended psychology major with a minor in child and family studies. I hope to one day use this knowledge to become a child and family therapist. In my free time I love to camp, spend time with friends, and watch films.
Ava Panetto
Research Assistant
I started my undergrad experience generally interested in biology and have since shifted focus to an intersection of psychology and biology, neuroscience. In my time with the ISM lab, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to investigate the emergence/maintenance of social groups in children while studying possible neurobiological underpinnings in an academic setting. (Giving stickers as compensation has been a highlight too.) While I’m not researching, I love fermenting foods and learning Italian.
Famo Haji
Research Assistant
Having grown up with a lot of younger siblings and cousins, I’ve always enjoyed being witness to the crazy comments kids often make. I’m interested in learning about where such comments come from. Now I get to be a witness to how kids think and perceive the social world around them and just how quickly their able to pick up on the concept of social groups. In my free time I enjoy watching movies w friends and family, listening to music, and knitting.
Max Friedmann
Research Assistant
Working with children of all ages through coaching and at camps has prompted me to notice many differences in how children interact with and understand their social worlds and the social identities of their peers. As a result, I've become very interested in how, why, and when children develop their own ways of understanding the social identities of others. I'm currently a sophomore at Haverford, seeking to major in psychology and minor in education. Outside of school, I enjoy basketball, cooking, and watching movies.
Meghan Guberman
Research Assistant
I’m a sophomore psychology major and political science and child and family studies double minor. I’m interested in studying how children develop self concepts and understand the world around them, as well as how they develop stereotypes and prejudice. In my free time, I enjoy reading, baking, and spending time with friends.
Nicole Li
Research Assistant
I plan to major in psychology and minor in philosophy or anthropology. Through these disciplines, I’m fascinated by how incredibly complex and pervasive the socialization process is. I’m interested in studying how people become socialized into having certain beliefs, ideals, and behaviors. When I’m free, I like to read, go on runs, and learn Kpop dances. I also like to watch my friends bake and consume their delicious products (luckily they still tolerate me).
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Naomi Gaber
Research Assistant
I am a psychology major at Bryn Mawr College who has always been interested in how social categories influence our perceptions of ourselves and others. Being at the intersection of multiple identities has shaped my worldview and it fascinated me to see how others were effected by a complex, constantly shifting social world. Working in the ISM lab gives me the opportunity to get hands on experience with the research process while answering questions I find pertinent to better understanding how social categories develop and how these in turn, influence the development of bias, stereotyping and prejudice. Outside of research I enjoy writing, drawing and playing tabletop rpgs.
Collaborators
Dr. Galen Bodenhausen, Northwestern University
Dr. Jennifer Richeson, Yale University
Dr. Marjorie Rhodes, New York University
Dr. Andrei Cimpian, New York University
Dr. Erin Cooley, Colgate University
Dr. Jazmin Brown-Iannuzzi, University of Virginia
Dr. Jeremy Cone, Williams College
Dr. William Cipolli, Colgate University
Dr. Lauren Philbrook, Colgate University
Dr. Kimberly Quinn, DePaul University
Dr. Brad Mattan, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Tara Mandalaywala, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Dr. Michael Rizzo, New York University