Learn about our ESDL Family
Lab Director
Dr. Amrisha Vaish
Lab Director
Amrisha is the Pamela Feinour Edmonds and Franklin S. Edmonds Jr. Discovery Associate Professor and director of the Early Social Development Lab at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on the social, emotional, and moral development of young children. In particular, she studies the emergence and functions of moral emotions (such as empathy, sympathy, guilt, gratitude, and forgiveness), moral judgments, and prosocial behavior.
Amrisha received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the Free University Berlin (Germany) in 2010. Prior to starting at UVA in 2014, she was a Dilthey Postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Amrisha is a Fellow of APS. She received the SRCD Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2011, the APA Division 7 Dissertation Award in 2012, an APS ‘Rising Star’ designation in 2015, the APS Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions in 2018, and the Max Planck Institute Sabbatical Award in 2021. Her research has been funded by the John Templeton Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Volkswagen Foundation. She is a faculty fellow of the LIFE Academy and a faculty affiliate of Youth-Nex.
Note for prospective PhD students: Amrisha IS planning to accept a PhD student for Fall 2026
Post Doctoral and Graduate Students
Qiao Chai
Post-doctoral Researcher
Yuhang Shu
Graduate Student
Yuhang is a fith-year graduate student in the Early Social Development Lab. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Beijing Normal University and her master’s degree in Human Development from Cornell University. She is interested in children’s social cognition and behavior in an unequal world. Specifically, her research examines how children’s prosociality and trust are shaped by their experiences of inequality. She is also interested in how children’s beliefs about social groups influence their understanding of fairness and inequality, as well as how these beliefs and behaviors are shaped by cultural socialization.
Contact Yuhang: [email protected]
Sophie Clayton
Graduate Student
Sophie is a fourth-year graduate student in the Early Social Development Lab. Her research interests are focused on reputation and impression management in children, specifically working to understand age of development and which environments may impact reputation management behaviors. She received her B.A. in Cognitive Sciences and Psychology from Rice University.
Contact Sophie: [email protected]
Em Berman
Graduate Student
Em is a third-year student in the Early Social Development Lab. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed a minor in Human Development. She is interested in children’s behaviors and judgements that depend on social context, specifically punishment of antisocial others and its connection to reputation management. In her free time, she loves to hip-hop dance, teach Zumba, lift weights, paint, and spend time with her dog Huck.
Contact Em: [email protected]
Lab Manager
Camile Bernard
Lab Coordinator
Camile is the lab manager for the Early Social Development Lab and project coordinator for the Development of Gratitude Project. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and History from Pomona College. Her research focuses on early cognitive development, with an emphasis on how children’s environments influence their learning and social development. Her undergraduate research explored social psychology and the psychology of climate change, including a senior thesis on children’s perceptions of environmentalists.
Contact Camile: [email protected]
Research Assistants
Hannah Bartz
Hello! My name is Hannah, and I am a third year student double majoring in Psychology and Youth & Social Innovation. I plan on attending graduate school to pursue a career in School Psychology. Working with and understanding children has always been a passion of mine, so I love how the ESDL allows me to contribute to the development of this field. Outside of the lab, I am involved with College Mentors for Kids, the Virginia Women’s Chorus, and Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity!
Ally Berger
I am a third-year from Wayne, New Jersey double majoring in Youth & Social Innovation and Psychology. This is my second year at ESDL, and I am excited to continue working on the Gratitude project. I have always loved youth work and intend to pursue a career in child psychology. I am particularly interested in autism and learning how to support children with ASD in school settings. In my free time, I volunteer for Autism Allies and Madison House as well as Crisis Text Line.
Irene Chen
Hi! I am Irene, a third-year double majoring in Psychology and Computer Science. Growing up surrounded by kids, I have been able to experience firsthand the importance of early experiences, and I am beyond thrilled to contribute to that understanding here at ESDL. Outside of school, I enjoy rock climbing, playing ultimate frisbee, and staying active with friends. Looking forward to a wonderful semester!
Grace Delaar
Hi, my name is Grace, and I’m a fourth-year double majoring in Psychology and Environmental Science and minoring in Data Science. I am passionate about child development and psychology and hope to go into social work after UVA. For the past six years, I’ve been working with children as a camp counselor, and I’m excited to be part of the lab. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, reading, and hiking!
Mackenzie Fox
Hi, I am Mackenzie Fox. I am from Easton, Maryland, and a third-year student double-majoring in Psychology and Statistics. This is my first semester working with the ESDL and I am excited to gain valuable experience! My passion is psychology and my goal is to go into child psychology, as I love working with children. Outside of the lab I love playing pickleball, volunteering, and hanging out with my family and friends!
Ruby Gerken
Lauren Kim
Hi! My name is Lauren and I am a rising third-year at UVA, double-majoring in Psychology and Music with a concentration in piano performance. This is my first semester at the ESDL and I am an aspiring Clinical Psychologist for children. In my hometown of Northern Virginia, I volunteer at A Place To Be, a music therapy organization, and in Charlottesville, I currently intern at the Keswick School. Outside of the lab, you can find me in Old Cabell Hall making music, whether it be practicing piano or singing with my friends in USingers!
Evelyn Kuzminski
Hi, my name is Evelyn Kuzminski and I am a second year majoring in cognitive science. I’m so excited to be working with the lab and contributing to the Development of Gratitude project. I love working with youth and have been coaching, tutoring, and babysitting for years. Most recently, I work with students at Trailblazer Elementary through Madison House. I’m interested in psychology and education and I’m excited to learn with ESDL!
Yufan Liang
Hi! I’m Yufan Liang, a fourth-year undergraduate double majoring in Psychology and Statistics at the University of Virginia. With several years of experience working with children, I am passionate about understanding their development to better support their growth and well-being.My current research explores inequality and child development. After traveling to and staying in villages in poverty in China and India, I became deeply aware of how inequality shapes children’s well-being. For my Distinguished Majors Program, I study how directly witnessing inequality influences children’s risk-taking behavior.Beyond the lab, I co-lead Mood Psychology @ UVA with my co-president and team. As a CIO affiliated with the NGO Mood Psychology, we build a cross-university community for international students, providing both professional development opportunities and mental health resources.In my free time, I spend a lot of time around cats. I have three back home and also enjoy babysitting cats for friends here in Charlottesville!
Emma Liu
Hi! I am Emma Liu, a third-year student majoring in Psychology and Statistic. I am excited to get my first semester started in early social development lab! I cannot wait to learn more and interact with children. Outside of lab, I also enjoy cooking and baking in my free time.
Lauren Machen
Hello, my name is Lauren, and I am a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I’ve lived in Northern Virginia all my life. When I’m not at UVA, I love to work part-time as a camp counselor and art instructor teaching children ages 2-14. I am very interested in artistic therapy and specific ABA practices including prompting and error correction, especially geared towards children. Working with kids has always been an interest of mine, and I was able to expand this interest by obtaining my Registered Behavior Technician certification this past summer. I am very excited to learn and grow under the direction of the ESDL!
Jazmin Nunez
Hi, my name is Jazmin Nunez and I am a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Psychology with a minor in American Sign Language. I am excited to be part of this lab, where I can combine my love for working with children and my interest in research. My academic interests include social psychology, language development, and cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my friends and siblings, traveling to new places, and watching movies while working on puzzles. After graduation, I hope to pursue graduate studies in psychology and continue working in settings where I can make a positive impact.
Faith Presson
Hi, I’m Faith, a fourth year from Northern Virginia! I am double majoring in Psychology and Media Studies. I started working with the ESDL lab this past summer, and have loved gaining hands-on experience conducting studies and working with children. Outside of lab, I enjoy running, being outdoors, and spending time with my friends and family.
Ridhi Pendyala
Hi, my name is Ridhi! I am a third year majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in CS! Outside of the lab, I am a part of a UVA dance team, AMSA, and PhiDE. In my free time, I love spending time with my roommates, painting, or reading a new book! This past year, I have worked on various projects, learning how to conduct both neurological and behavioral testing, furthering my passion for child psychology!
Youstina Sakhy
Hi! My name is Youstina, I’m a fourth-year undergraduate student from Richmond, VA. I am studying Psychology on a pre-PA track and hoping to pursue a career in pediatrics as I am particularly interested in child development. On grounds I am a Hoos Connected facilitator, work as a CNA at the UVA Hospital, and volunteer at free clinics. In my free time I enjoy shopping, scrapbooking, and hanging out with my family and friends.
Helen Sparling
Hello, I’m Helen Sparling. I am a Psychology and Studio Art major with a minor in Data Science. As part of the Distinguished Majors Program in Psychology, I am researching the relationship between induced positive affect and prosocial behavior in children. Beyond the lab, I have experience working with children with autism and ADHD, volunteer with Madison House, and babysit for families in the Charlottesville area. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in child clinical psychology.
Madison Walsh
Hi! I am from Richmond Virginia, and I am a third year majoring in behavioral neuroscience and minoring in English. Outside of the lab, I love participating in club gymnastics and Challah for Hunger. As a camp counselor and gymnastics coach during the summer, I have lots of experience working with children and look forward to contributing to the ESDL lab!
Katherine Tang
Hello! My name is Katherine Tang, and I am a 4th year double majoring in psychology and commerce. This is my third year working in the ESDL and I’m excited to continue to support various projects. I will be pursuing a master in accounting after graduation, but I love working with kids. In my free time, I love playing music, hiking, and swimming.
Jenna Wilson-Levin
Jenna is a third-year student from California and Delaware interested in developmental psychology and biology. She is passionate about exploring interdisciplinary approaches to research, combining her background in psychology, biology, and economics to analyze complex developmental processes. Jenna has always loved working with children and is fascinated by how early life experiences shape cognitive, social, and emotional development. She enjoys opportunities to engage with kids through community volunteering and educational initiatives, which inspire her research interests and future career goals. When she’s not working or studying, Jenna loves spending time with her family, including her four dogs, and giving back to her community through service and advocacy
Ellie Wormser
Hi, I’m Ellie Wormser! I’m from McLean, Virginia, and I’m a double major in Behavioral Neuroscience and French. I’ve always loved working with kids and exploring how their minds grow and develop. Psychology is my passion, and I’m so excited to be part of this lab, where I can combine my love for research with helping others. When I’m not in the lab or studying, I enjoy spending time with my friends, traveling to new places, and going to workout classes. I’m so happy to be part of a team that’s making a difference in understanding child development!
Selina He
Hi! I’m Selina, a fourth-year Elementary Education major with a minor in Psychology. I’m very passionate about working with children and hope to get more professional growth working with children in the lab. I also love climbing and playing sudoku in my free time.
Lab Alumni
Post-Doctoral Researchers:
Dr. Janine Oostenbroek, Post-Doc 2016-2019: currently a Prenatal and Parenting Psychologist at Redlands Psychologists in Brisbane, Australia
Dr. Jessica Stern, Post-Doc 2019-2023: starting as an Assistant Professor at Pomona College in Fall 2024
Dr. Mary Shaocong Ma, Post-Doc 2023-2024: currently an Assistant Research Professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Graduate Students:
Dr. Caroline Kelsey, PhD 2020 (co-advised): currently Post-doctoral Researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Meltem Yucel, PhD 2021: currently Post-doctoral researcher at Duke University
Dr. Stefen Beeler-Duden, PhD 2022: currently Post-doctoral Researcher at UVA’s Center for Healthy Brain Development
Dr. Johanna Chajes, PhD 2024: currently Post-doctoral Research Associate and Lecturer at UVA
Undergraduate Distinguished Majors:
Christina Marlow, 2019: currently PhD student in Lifespan Developmental Psychology, NC State University
Sarah Thomas, 2019: currently Fulbright Awardee, teaching abroad in Taiwan
Jenna Marzougui, 2020: currently a Master’s student in Psychological Sciences, College of William & Mary
Carolynn McElroy, 2020: currently pursuing M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, Gallaudet University
Kelly Cheung, 2020 (Thesis in Political Philosophy, Policy & Law program)
Kayla Pelletz, 2021 (and Lab Manager): currently a Master’s student, Boston College School of Education
Madeline Brence, 2022 (and Lab Manager): currently a PhD student, University of Virginia
Shirley Liu, 2022: currently pursuing M.S. in Analytics, University of Chicago
Qiyuan Hu, 2023: currently a Master’s student in Science Management, University of Notre Dame
Caleb Soong, 2025: currently a lab manager at the Cognition and Learning Lab at Indiana University
Ruby Gerken, 2025: currently a Master’s student in special education at UVA and working at the Virginia Center for Neurodevelopment
Kranti Kaur, 2025: TBD
Paul Lambidakis, 2025: TBD
Lab Managers:
Shannon Savell: currently a PhD student in Clinical Psychology, University of Virginia
Katrina Farris: currently a PhD student in Psychology, Georgia State University
Hailey Costello: currently a Management Associate at MicroStrategy
Naomi Rader: currently a Research Specialist at Georgetown University
Undergraduate Research Assistants:
Melissa Abel, Daniela Alvarez-Vargas, Maura Austin, Hannah Barnes, Georgia Beatty, Kaitlin Blakeslee, Angelica Bosko, Olivia Braye, Zumin Chen, Taylor Curro, Audrey Davis, Kate Dotson, Regan Estrada, Ruby Gerken, Eva Getting, Virginia Girling, Carolyn Hawkes, Kate Haynes, Adiba Hasnat, Danna Jaber, Xander Johnson, Bogdan Ion, Kranti Kaur, Paul Lambidakis, Marie Larounis, Megan Lee, Lucy Leonard, Grace Long, Margie Martinez, Rosa Marsharipova, Madeleine Mitchell, Charlotte Milone, Lenzy Mondo, Marjan Naderi, Gretchen Neary, Andy Nguyen, Madeleine Nguyen, Lyndsay Nelson, Bridget Nortney, Alex O-Connor, Lauren Oken, Tulsi Patel, Nishta Polam, Skylar Raynor, Meghan Secrist, Eshba Shiolee, Caleb Soong, Ashly Stage, Linda Tran, Ponni Velmurugan, Cabell Williams
