Head Research Assistants
Daniella Coen (she/her) is a graduating senior in the Dual Degree between Tel Aviv University and Columbia School of General Studies. She is completing two BAs, majoring in Psychology at both schools, and completed a minor in Literature at Tel Aviv University. The Couples Lab and its research focuses directly align with her aspirations within the field of clinical therapy – specifically pursuing work with families, couples, and sex therapy. She plans to continue on to graduate school and work in both research and clinical settings. Having served in the military, she is especially interested in how unique and complex environmental stressors impact the quality and expression of romantic and intimate bonds between partners. Outside the lab, she enjoys yoga, thrifting, and dog-watching.
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Hazen Mayo (she/her) is a postbaccalaureate student in Columbia's psychology certificate program. She received her BA in art history from Yale in 2019. Hazen plans to pursue a path in clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, she teaches yoga, writes about design and culture, and runs around Brooklyn.
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Keanneyi Xelhua (she/her) is a senior in CC studying Psychology. She is primarily interested in social, developmental, and clinical psychology and plans to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. Outside the lab, she loves to read, binge-watch TV shows, listen to any kind of music, and hang out with friends and family.
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Taylor Whang (she/her) is a junior enrolled in Barnard College majoring in psychology on the pre-med track. She is particularly interested in psychophysiology as well as social psychology. Outside of academics, Taylor is a member of the Columbia Women’s Swim Team and has a passion for mental health in athletics.
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Research Assistants
Micole Abdelhak (she/her) is a sophomore at Barnard College studying psychology. She is particularly interested in social, abnormal, and cultural psychology. Some of her current research interests include how one's culture affects interpersonal relationships as well as how one's culture affects their attitude toward stress/anxiety. In addition to psychology, she enjoys studying the French language and culture. In her free time, she likes reading dystopian novels, baking, and trying new foods.
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Yadhirys Beato (she/her) is currently a senior at Columbia College pursuing a major in Psychology and a concentration in Sociology. She is primarily interested in the interactions between individuals and the many types of relationships they may be part of, with particular interests in the fields of social psychology and psychotherapy. Working as a research assistant under Ana DiGiovanni, she has worked on a study about stress, attachment and co-rumination in romantic couples and a study transcribing conversations between friends.
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Rebecca Chiet (she/her) is a junior in Columbia University’s Joint Program with Jewish Theological Seminary, earning two BA’s in Psychology and Jewish Bible & its Interpretations. As a prospective school-clinical psychologist, Rebecca’s passion lies in the intersection between social and developmental psychology. Outside of Columbia, Rebecca works as a teacher and loves to bake for her friends and family.
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Ashley Donegan (she/her) is a fourth year student in GS studying psychology. She is interested in how systemic and individual biases affect healthcare delivery, access, and outcomes, emotional arousal and attachment within human relationships, and the ever-evolving dynamics of power in relation to gender roles. In her free time, you can probably find her searching Zillow for houses she’ll never buy.
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Adriana Gyepes (she/her) is a junior at Barnard College studying Psychology. Her areas of fascination include Clinical Psychology, Positive Psychology, Neural Plasticity and all things human. Specifically, she is interested in the application of neural plasticity in a clinical setting and how thoughts have the power to physically change the brain. She is an avid practitioner of yoga, a sub-par chess player, and a lover of mafia movies.
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Hannah Karsting (she/her) is a junior at Columbia College studying psychology. She is especially interested in prosociality, group behavior, social support, and attribution theory, but she has not yet encountered a topic under the interdisciplinary umbrella of social psychology that she is not curious about. In the future she hopes to develop empirically-sound, practical interventions to address psychologically-rooted societal problems, and further hopes to bridge the gap between social-psychological research and policy implementation. Outside the lab, you can watch her do silly theatre productions! (@latenitetheatre @xmas_columbia)
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Alex Katz (he/him/his) is a post baccalaureate student joining the field of psychology after eight years as a creative copywriter. He is interested in health psychology, particularly in understanding the mind-body connection and stress's role in the health of patients with chronic illnesses. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching the Knicks with his dog, Simmy.
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Theo Mack (he/him) is a junior in CC studying Computer Science and Psychology. He is originally from Michigan, and is very happy he decided to come to NYC for college! He loves all aspects of psychology, especially social and abnormal psychology, so post undergrad he is going to train to be a therapist. His research interests align heavily with the lab, as he is interested in studying the effect of dyadic relationships on well-being and mental health, especially in those who identify as queer. Outside the lab, he loves watching TV and watching movies, hanging out with friends and working out—cycling especially.
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Bailey McGuinn (she/her) is a first year Master’s student at Teachers College, Columbia University studying clinical psychology. She is interested in emotional disclosure between various relationship types, as well as how social support can mediate the effects of mental illness. Bailey plans to pursue a doctoral degree and become a clinical psychologist. Off campus, she is an English as a second language tutor and a volunteer crisis counselor.
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Christian Monovoukas (he/him/his) is a Greek and Cypriot 2nd year student at Columbia College studying Psychology. He has always been fascinated with how people behave, how our minds behave within different situations, and how loved ones can change this, which drew me to the Couples Lab. He enjoys weightlifting and being asked by his friends for illegitimate, free therapy.
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Aaron Naves (he/him) is currently a second-year psychology post-baccalaureate student at Columbia's School of Professional Studies. He is a Research Assistant with the Couple's Lab, following his interest in social and relationship psychology. As a graduate student, Aaron will be pursuing research into the psychology of celibacy and social isolationism, specifically among incels (involuntary celibates) and within incel communities.
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Dilara Ozbutun (she/her) is a masters student at Teachers College studying clinical psychology after graduating with a BS in Psychological & Brain Sciences from UC Santa Barbara. She has a primary interest in studying global mental health through the neuropsychological effects of trauma, as well as researching the effect of dyadic relationships in the adaptation to extreme environments (prison, spaceflight, polar expeditions). After graduating from Columbia, she plans to pursue her Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
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Molly Roitman (she/her) is a masters student in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests focus on social and emotional development viewed through a health-based lens, with a specific interest in close relationships. Molly has also worked as a TA at Columbia University and Barnard College. During her free time, she loves to read and spend time with her cats.
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