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.
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!
Natalie Masetti
Thesis Student
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!
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 junior at Haverford, seeking to major in psychology. 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.
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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.
Ellie Patton
Research Assistant
I am a psychology major and education minor, and I am very interested in the intersection between developmental psychology and its practical application in various child-focused settings. I have experience working with children of various ages in different environments, which has influenced my passion for working with children and better understanding how they interact with the world around them. Outside of school, I enjoy baking, cooking, hockey, and spending time with friends.
Olivia Aguirre
Research Assistant
I am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Educational Studies and Neuroscience. I have always been fascinated by how children develop and view their surroundings. I’m interested in the way in which humans are socialized and how that connects to their own positionality. This ISM lab allows me to continue investigating the intersection of two of my biggest academic interests. In my free time, I love to dance, watch movies with friends, and go to Trader Joe's.
Yiying Rong
Research Assistant
Besides Psychology, I am also interested in Philosophy and Anthropology, as they converge to provide me with an understanding of the complexity of human experience. For me, human development and social cognition are fascinating because I want to unravel the mysteries that unfold within the very moment of “recognition” between individuals and how these nuanced moments shape our lives, such as attachment, selfhood, and more. In the future, I want to pursue a career in clinical social work/ mental health counseling or education/non-profit organizations. Besides academics, I like films, post-rocks, exploring museums, and cultivating connections with friends.
Delaney Kenney
Research Assistant
I am a neuroscience major and chemistry and psychology double minor. My original interest in
how children learn academically has now broadened to how children learn socially. In particular,
I want to research how children develop relationships with one another and what factors cause
these relationships to change over time. In addition to working at the ISM lab, I enjoy playing on
women’s club soccer, reading, and playing guitar.
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Norah Rivett
Research Assistant
I’m an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr College majoring in Psychology and concentrating in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights at Haverford College. I have always loved working with children and am excited to engage with young kids in a research setting. Children can teach us a lot about how social concepts manifest and are learned during childhood. I’m especially interested in how parents and communities shape children’s perceptions of the social world. When I’m not at the ISM Lab I enjoy reading fiction books, spending time outside, and watching Ted Lasso.
Jordan Denaver
Research Assistant
I am a senior psychology major and neuroscience minor. I am interested in developmental, clinical, and social psychology. I’m excited to be working in the ISM lab and I look forward to learning more about how children perceive the social world. In my free time, I like to spend time with friends, hike, and watch movies.
Kathryn Sutherland
Research Assistant
I am a psychology major at Bryn Mawr College, interested in developmental and clinical psychology. I love working with children, and through this have become interested in how they learn and perceive the world. In my free time, I like to create hyper-specific Spotify playlists and hug trees.
Bethany Rutkowski
Research Assistant
I am a psychology major at Bryn Mawr College, interested in developmental and clinical psychology. I love working with children, and through this have become interested in how they learn and perceive the world. In my free time, I like to create hyper-specific Spotify playlists and hug trees.
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Briseida Martinez Herrera
Research Assistant
I am a Psychology major and Spanish minor at Haverford. I am fascinated with the socialization aspect of psychology and how that characterizes one’s personality and self development. I am further intrigued by the role that relationships, such as the nature, formation, and quality of relationships, play into one’s social psychology. In my free time, I enjoy binge watching shows or movies, playing video games, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family!
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
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