Abigail Collins (Visting Scholar)
Abigail (amcollins3@wisc.edu) graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology. She is interested in studying how fostering worker well-being, engagement, and belonging can lead to a decrease in burnout and an increase in life satisfaction. She is also interested in the effects of inclusive paid leave policies and shifting worker norms. She intends to explore and utilize I/O psychology research to positively impact the lives of employees as an I/O practitioner. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, finding new coffee shops, and spending time with friends.
Shiyu Yang (Visting Scholar)
Shiyu Yang (syang494@wisc.edu) earned her M.S. in Data Science in Human Behavior from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her B.S. in Psychological & Brain Sciences from UC Santa Barbara. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. Her research interests focus on group membership and social identity perception. Currently she works with Dr. Stav Atir on studies of name perceptions. She uses both experimental methods and large-scale data to explore these topics. Shiyu also works with Dr. Nick Buttrick at UW–Madison, studying college experience through socioecological and cultural psychology lenses. In her free time, she enjoys watching reality TV, gaming, cooking, and hiking.
Ela Altay (Undergraduate Researcher)
Ela (ealtay@wisc.edu) is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. She chose these majors to understand the effects of culture, gender, and communication differences on how societies and communities function. She wants to research how the psychology, behavior, and development of said individuals create distinguishable communities. She plans on attending graduate school and obtaining a PhD in hopes of pursuing a career in academia/research. Ela is on the UW Madison MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Board planning campus-wide cultural events for MENA heritage month in March 2025. In her free time Ela enjoys going to concerts, traveling, trying new cuisines, working out, and reading.
Caroline Burns (Undergraduate Researcher)
Caroline (cgburns3@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in Neurobiology on the pre-medical track. She is fascinated to learn more from those around her and truly believes each person can teach a lesson to another. After undergraduate study, she hopes to attend medical school where she will learn from those with more experience while practicing more effective learning techniques. She hopes to become an Anesthesiologist after medical school. In her free time she loves running and walking, baking, being by the lake, and spending time with friends and family.
Jocelyn Carmody (Undergraduate Researcher)
Jocelyn (jjcarmody@wisc.edu) is a junior double majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology on the pre-med track. After her undergraduate study, she plans to attend medical school to earn her MD and become a physician. She has a passion for learning new things, understanding how the body works (particularly the brain), and giving others a voice, and hopes to do that both in research and in her future endeavors. On her own time, she enjoys discovering new shows, running, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She is also a Chapter Leader, as well as an advocate, for the Neurodiversity Alliance Eye to Eye program on campus, which connects neurodiverse youth and university students to break down barriers and stigma surrounding neurodiversity.
Ben Johnson (Undergraduate Researcher)
I (bkjohnson9@wisc.edu) am a junior double majoring in Psychology and Information Science with a certificate in Digital Studies. I chose these fields of study as I am interested in learning more about the intersection between human behavior and technology, particularly how artificial intelligence is integrated into workplace settings. I am the Community Service Co-Chair for the Psychology Club here at UW-Madison, and I work as a library assistant in Memorial Library. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing basketball, and spending time at the Terrace.
Zoe Lien (Undergraduate Researcher)
Zoe (zllien@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in neurobiology with a certificate in criminal justice. She is interested in the relationship between brain function and behavior, with a focus on how these processes vary across individuals and contexts. After undergraduate studies, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in research. In her free time, Zoe enjoys going on walks, attending concerts, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Ranveer Viradia (Undergraduate Researcher)
Ranveer (viradia@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology on the pre-med track. He is passionate about understanding how the brain functions, particularly in the realm of decision-making. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a surgeon. Beyond academics, he has contributed to healthcare initiatives in India by organizing medical camps and blood donation drives. In his free time, he enjoys watching Formula 1, going on nature hikes, and playing pickleball.
Lena Zide (Undergraduate Researcher)
Lena (zide@wisc.edu) is a junior double majoring in philosophy and mathematics. She is fascinated by the ways in which different people think and interact with each other and looks forward to discovering what research in psychology is like. Though she is undecided about what her career may look like after undergraduate studies, Lena is passionate about learning, and in her free time can often be found reading. She is an active member of many clubs and organizations on campus including State Street Eats, the Philosophical Society, and is a dance instructor for Badger Ballet Collective.