Director and Principal Investigator
Claudia Haase is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Social Policy in the School of Education and Social Policy and (by courtesy) of Psychology. She is also a faculty member at the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience program, a faculty associate at the Institute of Policy Research, and a faculty affiliate at the Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences and the Buffett Institute for Global Studies at Northwestern University. She enjoys spending time with her husband, children, family and friends around the world, and with herself. | Claudia’s CV, Faculty Website, Google Scholar
Graduate Students
Chen-Wei “Felix” Yu is a second-year PhD student in the Human Development and Social Policy program. His research interests revolve around two core human affective phenomena: emotion and motivation. Specifically, he is interested in examining how and why people regulate their own behaviors and emotions as well as others’, and whether the “how” and “why” play different roles in the regulatory outcomes. With this understanding, he hopes to develop interventions and inform policies that would enable people to capitalize on their emotion and motivation to flourish in multiple critical aspects of their lives, such as long-term goal pursuits, significant relationships, and health. | Felix’s Google Scholar, LinkedIn, Website
Matías Martínez is a Ph.D. candidate in Human Development and Social Policy. His research is at the intersection of school policy evaluation, bullying, mental health, and human capital. He is currently studying the safe school paradox, brain-based susceptibilities to social relationships, spillover effects of bullying, and how institutional features related to school finance, accountability, and autonomy can improve children’s experiences at school. Outside of research, he enjoys playing fútbol-soccer, watching sports, and cooking Chilean food. | Matías’ Google Scholar
Şebnem Ture is a doctoral student in the Personality, Development, and Health program at Northwestern University’s Psychology Department. Her research centers on narrative identity, where she examines how personal life stories are influenced by individual differences, cultural context, and history, and how autobiographical reasoning might relate to psychological and physical health outcomes. She’s also interested in adult development, focusing on late midlife adults and their motivations in life and interpersonal relationships. Outside of her studies, she enjoys writing, playing theviolin, and traveling.
Thita “Palmy” Lamsam is a first-year Masters student in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. She is interested in exploring how behavioral patterns in childhood and family dynamics influence communication in intimate relationships. Outside of academics, Palmy enjoys figure skating, creating content on social media, and exploring popular restaurants in the Chicago area.| Palmy’s LinkedIn
Research Coordinator
Sharon Li is a recent graduate with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her research interest lies in parent-child behavioral interaction and attachment style. She is interested in the influence of ACEs, more specifically emotional neglect, on childhood development from a systemic level (family dynamics, neighborhood safety, translational pattern, cultural influences, etc.). As a researcher and clinician, she hopes to test feasible future interventions to better help the general population. | Sharon’s LinkedIn
Undergraduate Students
Minji Cho is a third-year undergraduate student studying Psychology. She is interested in how people’s interactions with others affect their emotional regulation and development, as well as how relationships can enhance psychological development. Outside of school, Minji enjoys playing the violin, practicing Taekwondo, and vibing while listening to music.
Lillian Fu is a third-year undergraduate student studying Human Development in Context and Psychology. She is interested in how honest conversations and empathy can enhance individuals’ satisfaction in close relationships as well as their overall well-being. Outside of the lab, Lillian enjoys reading, running, going on walks with friends, and playing the flute in band and orchestra.
Leah Ryzenman is a forth-year undergraduate student studying Human Development in Context. She seeks to explore the role of facial expressions in psychology and how relationships influence various aspects of one’s life. Outside of the lab, you can find Leah reading, advocating for issues important to her, and spending time with friends. | Leah’s LinkedIn
Lily Hoyt is a third-year undergraduate student studying Psychology and Music Composition. She is interested in the strategies people use to resolve conflicts, how events in childhood influence one’s ability to trust and communicate, and how vulnerability can deepen intimacy in relationships. Outside of school, Lily enjoys doing gymnastics on the beach, engaging in film-scoring projects, and exploring wherever the Chicago trains take her.
Angela Zhong is a first-year undergraduate student studying Psychology and Neuroscience. She is mainly interested in the (in)coherence of subjective emotions and behavioral/neurophysiological responses and emotional dysfunction in psychopathology and neuropathology. Outside of the lab, Angela enjoys snowboarding, photography, and exploring the world via reading and traveling.
Sarah Kim is a second-year undergraduate student studying Journalism, Data Science, and Integrated Marketing and Communications. She is interested in understanding how emotions play a role in decision-making and lifestyle and how they impact the way people communicate and act in relationships. Outside of the lab, Sarah loves singing with her a cappella group, eating Korean food, and hanging out with friends.
Recent Alumni
Simon Su