Abigail Collins (Visting Scholar)
Abigail (amcollins3@wisc.edu) is a PhD student in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology at George Masson University. She graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors. 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) is a PhD student in Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington. She 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. 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 junior 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.
Jocelyn Carmody (Undergraduate Researcher)
Jocelyn (jjcarmody@wisc.edu) is a senior 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.
Alice Ewert (Undergraduate Researcher)
Alice (aewert@wisc.edu) is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a certificate in Business. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She chose this path because she is interested in how people’s experiences and relationships can shape and influence the workplace. Alice is the Communications Chair for UW Psychology Club, the Community Service Chair for UW Women’s Club Basketball, and works for RecWell as a Club Sports Student Lead. In her free time, Alice enjoys reading, journaling, being active, and exploring new places!
Rena Finkel (Undergraduate Researcher)
Rena (rnfinkel@wisc.edu) is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Human Development & Family studies, with a certificate in Business. She chose these majors because she enjoys learning how others’ minds work and how an understanding of psychology can be applied to business. After completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to attend graduate school to earn her Doctor of Psychology. She hopes to open her own practice and provide counseling to families and children. Outside of academics, Rena enjoys walking or running on lakeshore path, reading rom-coms, and volunteering at Capitol Lakes Retirement Home.
Heena Gupta (Undergraduate Researcher)
Heena Gupta (hgupta43@wisc.edu) is a sophomore at UW-Madison, majoring in Global Health and on the pre-med track. After completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to attend medical school to earn her MD and eventually become a neurologist. She is particularly interested in studying the relationship between psychology and neurology, especially how chemical and biological processes in the brain influence human behavior. Outside of academics, Heena enjoys traveling, running, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
Zoe Lien (Undergraduate Researcher)
Zoe (zllien@wisc.edu) is a senior 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.
Riya Mathews (Undergraduate Researcher)
Riya (rmathews2@wisc.edu) is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies with certficiates in Business, Consulting, and Entrepreneurship. She is interested in the intersection of psychology and business, particularly in understanding what drives people’s decisions and behavior, both within organizations and as consumers. After completing her undergraduate studies, she hopes to pursue a career in consulting. On campus, Riya is currently an applied consultant for the Wisconsin Consulting Club, Executive Director for Nakshatra, DEI Chair for Psi Chi, and a member of JCREW within Asian American InterVarsity. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, trying new restaurants, and traveling.