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
Ryan Sabillo
I am broadly interested in dominant group reactions to social change, with a focus on nativism, globalization, and social policy. I hope to investigate the psychological mechanisms that reinforce social hierarchies and institutionalized discrimination. Outside of work, I like to take the metro train to people watch in tourist hot spots, pickle vegetables, or visit any of the amazing museums and cultural sites across Los Angeles. Email: rmsabillo[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 intra-minority intergroup relations, with a focus on both conflict and coalition building. I hope to investigate the psychological and situational factors that cause minority groups to either engage in derogation or work in solidarity. The possibility to help society by improving intergroup relations is what fuels the passion behind my research interests. Prior to UCLA, I received my B.A. 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
Research Assistants
Cherice Chan
Keira Minamizono-Von Imbior
Kunihiro Morimoto
Previous Research Assistants
Naomi Chien*
Anna Yan*
Sim Mian
Edward Garbarino
Danica Dulay
*Students completing a departmental honors project through our lab.
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
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