Lab Director
Yuen J. Huo, Ph.D.
I am a social and political psychologist. My work seeks to understand why some people welcome change and thrive in diversity and why others resist change and are reluctant to welcome newcomers. Check out the the publication section to learn more about the work with my students and collaborators (and here is a brief outline of my professional life and activities Huo CV.) If you’re wondering about how I pronounce my name, it sounds like “Yen Hwoh”. When not thinking about how to solve psychological problems, I hang out with family and friends doing some of my favorite things in Los Angeles – going to the farmer’s market (any day of the week), hiking with my dogs, and exploring the city’s many diverse neighborhoods looking for good food.
Current Doctoral Students
Tanner Demaree
I am broadly interested in intergroup relations, with a focus on how dominant groups act against marginalized groups. I am particularly interested in how group identities and boundaries are defined and enforced, and the effects that group membership has on beliefs and behaviors. Before coming to UCLA, I graduated with a BS in Psychology and Physics from Syracuse University. During my free time, I like to play D&D and learn about the types of bugs in Los Angeles. Email: demaree[at]ucla.edu
Gil Moreu
I am broadly interested in how group processes and identity-related stressors influence how members of marginalized groups understand their social identity and experience intergroup/intragroup interactions. In addition, I am interested the implications of these processes for feelings of belonging and political attitudes and behaviors.
Prior to coming to LA, I earned my BA in Psychology at the University of Texas at El Paso and worked as a lab manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I’m looking forward to exploring LA and discovering all the amazing food spots around the city!
Email: moreu[at]ucla.edu
Alexair Gonzalez
I am broadly interested in the relationships between dominant and subordinated groups. Specifically, how dominant racial groups such as Whites react to the upward social mobility of racial minority groups such as Latinos. In addition, I am interested in the psychological processes and political consequences of these reactions. Prior to UCLA, I received my BA in Psychological Science from California State University San Marcos. During my free time, I enjoy working out, attending Dodger games, and spending time with friends & family. Email: alexairgonzalez[at]g.ucla.edu
Undergraduates in the Lab
Current Research Assistants
Nithila Chintakindi
I am a second year undergraduate student double majoring in Psychology and Political Science, with a special interest in social psychology and intergroup dynamics. I hope to understand more about the causes of conflict and discrimination between in-groups and out-groups and study the formation of bipartisan tendencies and group polarization.
Outside of school, I enjoy going to concerts, exploring LA cafe spots and museums with my friends, and crocheting. I also spend many of my weekends volunteering with UNICEF to assist children in the LA area.
Lindsey Yates
Previous Research Assistants
Naomi Chien
Anna Yan
Sim Mian
Edward Garbarino
Danica Dulay
Cherice Chan
Keira Minamizono-Von Imbior
Kunihiro Morimoto
Christina Rodriguez
Grace Krsul-Sulllivan
Lab Alumni & Affiliates
Former Doctoral Students
Ludwin Molina, Ph.D. 2007 Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Kansas
Kevin Binning, Ph.D. 2008 Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh
Danny Osborne, Ph.D. 2011 Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand
Liana Epstein, Ph.D. 2012 Research Scientist at Cangrade
Natalia Flores, Ph.D. 2013 User Research Manager at Facebook
Vanessa Zavala, M.A. 2014 Survey Manager at Gerson Lehrman Group
Christopher Begeny, Ph.D. 2017 Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, U.K.
Felix Danbold, Ph.D. 2017 Assistant Professor at the University College London School of Management
H. Wenwen Ni, Ph.D. 2019 Assistant Professor at Sonoma State University
Jesús Serrano Careaga, Ph.D. 2020 Assistant Professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Mako Tanaka, Ph.D. 2023 Assistant Professor at Saddleback College
Jason Chin, Ph.D. 2023 Research Specialist at California Faculty Association
Ryan Sabillo, Ph.D. 2024 Project Manager at TalentCompass
Former Undergraduate Students
Ron Trifskin, B.A. with Honors, 1999
Elizabeth Oliva, B.A. with Honors, 2000
Rina Sawahata, B.A. with Honors, 2001
Josephine Deang, B.A. with Honors, 2003
Julia Capeloto, B. A. with Honors, 2004
Felix Danbold, B.A. with Honors, 2009
Elliot Fox, B.A. with Honors, 2012
Yiran Wang, B.A. with Honors, 2019
Naomi Chien, B.A. with Honors, 2021
Anna Yan, B.A. with Honors, 2021
Cherice Chan, Lab Coordinator 2022-23, Program Coordinator at University of Michigan Institute of Digital Studies
Collaborators and Friends of the Lab
Robert Boeckmann, University of Alaska at Anchorage
Tiffany Brannon, UCLA
Jack Dovidio, Yale University
Seth Goldman, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Tomas Jimenez, Stanford University
Tatishe Nteta, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Michelle Ryan, Australian National University
Efren Perez, UCLA
Deborah Schildkraut, Tufts University
David Sears, UCLA
Heather Smith, Sonoma State University
Linda Tropp, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Miguel Unzueta, UCLA