Postdoctoral Fellow

Liz is a postdoctoral researcher in social psychology at UIC working with Drs.  Sohad Murrar and Jin Goh. She received her PhD in social psychology from Purdue in 2025. She had additional certificates in advanced statistics and instructional excellence. Her research focuses broadly on intergroup relations, systemic bias, how minorities' wellbeing is harmed and ways to promote their well-being.  She is especially interested in developing evidence-based strategies that foster allyship and improve climate across diverse groups. See more about her research here.

Outside of academia, as a Chicago native, Liz enjoys exploring Chicago’s food and cultural scene, stand-up comedy, and exploring coffee shops around the city. 

Ph.D. Student

Louis is a fourth year PhD student in Social and Personality Psychology at UIC. He received his BA from Northwestern University, double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. His research focuses on how patients are perceived, with a focus on the perception of patient pain levels and the accuracy of their symptom description. He is currently conducting work examining how shifting to a patient-centric method of clinical documentation may increase trust of symptoms and desire to help patients. Additional work focuses on how the racial and gender identities of patients and providers influence judgements of pain and symptom legitimacy, with a focus on women and racial minorities. His research is designed and conducted with the goal of creating evidence-based interventions to promote health equity.

Research Affiliate

Lina is a research affiliate working with Dr. Murrar on examining the nature of bias toward different religious groups and the effect of entertainment media on bias. Lina received her PhD in social psychology from Rutgers University and her BA in public and international affairs from Princeton University.

Research Assistant

Jesus is a second year Applied Psychology major with a minor in Business Administration at UIC. Regarding psychology, he is interested in the various factors (e.g., social, psychological, developmental) that contribute to one’s mental wellbeing. He is also interested in interviewing and hopes to eventually gain a career in clinical psychology. Outside of UIC, Jesus enjoys reading, movies, and dabbles in audio engineering, a hobby he picked up in high school.

Research Assistant

Marissa is an Applied Psychology major at UIC. She is also minoring in Visual Arts and Gender and Women’s studies. She is interested in exploring the intersectional experiences people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals face as well as advocacy work and community responses. Outside of academia, she likes to read, listen to music, draw, and try out different cafés with her sister and friends.

Research Assistant

Sumayya is a fourth year Applied Psychology major at UIC with a minor in Professional Writing. She is interested in qualitative research and the complex intersection between sociology and psychology. She is also passionate about mental health and advocacy within the Muslim community, and plans on going to graduate school for a career in mental health. Outside of UIC, Sumayya enjoys reading books, writing, and creating inspirational content on social media. 

Research Assistant

Kelly is a post-baccalaureate research assistant and earned a BA in Applied Psychology at UIC in 2025. She works as a medical advocate to sexual assault survivors in addition to being an RA. She intends to delve deeper into her education by obtaining a Master's of Social Work and later entering a research role in Community Psychology. Her research interests include lateral oppression between marginalized groups and gender-based violence. 

Julia was a research assistant in the lab from Fall 2024 to Spring 2026 who majored in Applied Psychology and minored in Sociology.

Milena was a Ph.D. student in the lab from Fall 2025 to Summer 2026.

Sannam Bassanpal was a research assistant in the lab from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025. She was pre-medicine and majored in neuroscience.

Leslie Tulip was a research assistant in the lab from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025. She majored in Applied Psychology and minored in Black Studies.

Alyssa Sierra was a research assistant in the lab from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024. She majored in psychology at UIC.

Yinqing Zheng was a lab manager in the lab from Fall 2022 to Fall 2023. After UIC, Yinqing joined the Krosch Lab at Cornell University as a lab manager.

Marya Hamoui was a research assistant in the lab from Fall 2022 through Fall 2023. She double-majored psychology and communications at UIC.

Aastha Chouhan was a research assistant in the lab during the 2022/2023 academic year. She majored in psychology during her time at UIC.

Maddie Warren was an RA in the lab during Spring 2023 during her senior year. She majored in psychology and minored in philosophy at UIC.

Amtul Najiyah was a RA in the lab during Fall 2022. She was a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in business administration.