Dr. Lin Bian, Lab Director
Lin is the Evalyn Edwards Milman Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development at Cornell University, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. Before joining Cornell, she was a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Psychology at Stanford University, working with Dr. Ellen Markman. She obtained her B.S. at Zhejiang University and her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, under the supervision of Drs. Andrei Cimpian and Renée Baillargeon. Lin's research has been published in top journals including Science, PNAS, American Psychologist, and Annual Review of Psychology, and featured in major media outlets such as NYTimes, NPR, and The Washington Post. Her work has also been recognized by awards or grants such as the American Psychological Association Rising Star, Forbes 30 Scientists under 30, the Cornell Engaged Grant, and the Robert Larsen Grant for Research in Career Development. Lindsay Tuttle, Lab Coordinator
Lindsay graduated in 2018 from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Sociology. She has always loved research and has previously examined mindfulness in 9- to 13-year-old children, inhibitory control in 3- to 4-year-old children, as well as tested the validity of the Weapon Identification Task for her honors project. Since moving to Ithaca in the fall 2018, Lindsay has been working for the Mental Health Association of Tompkins County, Pathways Inc. and the Family and Children's Services of Ithaca, helping youth in the community. Reut Shachnai, Graduate Student
Reut is a first-year PhD student working with Dr. Lin Bian and Dr. Tamar Kushnir. Her research examines the development of gender and race stereotypes, and their influence on young children’s motivation and achievement. She is also interested in cognitive strategies that promote children’s perseverance, such as adopting a growth mindset and self-distancing. During her free time, Reut enjoys rock climbing and reading fantasy and science fiction. Yuhang Shu, Graduate Student
Yuhang got her Master Degree in Developmental Psychology at Cornell University in 2020. Before she came to Cornell, she obtained she graduated from Psychology Department at Beijing Normal University in 2019. Yuhang’s research investigate young children’s gender stereotypes, and how these interact with children’s perceptions about achievement and failure. She is also exploring children’s reasoning about self in different social contexts. In the future, she also wants to examine children’s essential beliefs of social groups and whether these beliefs moderate children’s moral judgments. In her free time, she enjoys baking, cooking and fitness. Elyse Ganss, Honors Thesis Student
Elyse is a senior in the College of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Development and pursuing minors in Psychology and Communication. Elyse is currently completing her senior honors thesis in the lab. Her project focuses on whether the use of role models will help improve young girls’ persistence and engagement in science. On campus, Elyse is a research assistant and teaching assistant for the Department of Communication, a member of the Psychology Honors Society, and is involved with the Steminist Movement which works to promote STEM interests in middle school girls. In her free time, she enjoys running the trails around Ithaca. In the future, Elyse hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Jeanelle Abou-Ezzi, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jeanelle is a sophomore transfer in the College of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society. She is currently on the pre-dental track, and hopes to become an orthodontist in the future. Outside of Little Thinkers, Jeanelle works as a General Manager for Campus Promotions at Student Agencies Incorporation. Jeanelle has involved herself in activities with children such as running basketball camps and volunteering at local preschools and nurseries. Outside of academia, she also loves to cook Lebanese food and spend time with her family. Rachel Armstrong, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Rachel is a sophomore in the school of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society, and minoring in Health Policy. She is particularly interested in how social determinants of health impact identity and development. On campus, Rachel is involved with the Cornell Roosevelt Institute, Science Olympiad, Alpha Phi Omega, and the Cornell Tradition. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and solving crossword puzzles. Betty Bai, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Betty is a junior in the College of Human Ecology pursuing a degree in Human Biology, Health, and Society and a prospective minor in Human Development. Since middle school, she has loved interacting with kids while volunteering at church, hospitals, and on mission trips. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and has particular interest in pediatric anesthesiology. In addition to working in the Little Thinkers’ Lab, she is currently a teaching assistant for CHEM 2070: General Chemistry I, president of LOKO dance team, and a member of Kappa Omicron Nu. Natalie Cayon, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Natalie is currently a sophomore majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development and Inequality Studies. She is interested in the impact of marginalization on the development of self-concept and identity formation in children and adolescents. Natalie is an elementary and middle school tutor for kids in the Ithaca community, a member of the BreakFree Hip-hop Dance Team, a Meinig Family Cornell National Scholar, and part of Big Red Buddies serving as a volunteer to the Cornell Child Care Center. April Chen, Undergraduate Research Assistant
April is a freshman and is majoring in psychology and economics. She likes being with children and is interested in how children perceive the world. Outside of academia, she likes brush lettering and watching movies. She wants to be a developmental psychology researcher in the future. Her goal is to improve children’s growing environment. Sam Holzman, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sam is a second-year student at the University of Chicago, majoring in psychology and philosophy. He’s a first-time research assistant and looks forward to developing some research interests of his own. In his spare time, Sam likes playing tennis, watching movies, and doing anything in the kitchen. In the future, he wants to become a clinical psychologist for children and adolescents. Jessica Huang, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jessica is a junior majoring in Human Development with a minor in Health Policy in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology. On campus she is a volunteer program coordinator for Y.O.U.R.S., a mentorship program for socioeconomically disadvantaged children in Ithaca, NY and the surrounding area. She is interested in how environmental factors can promote or mitigate certain tendencies in children from disadvantaged and bi-cultural families. In the future, she is interested in working in health policy to create upstream interventions that diminish the negative health impacts of growing up in marginalized families. Outside of classes, Jessica enjoys camping, rock climbing, and skiing, which she gets to do through her involvement with Outdoor Odyssey and Cornell Outdoor Education. Eileen Kim, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Eileen is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology, majoring in Global and Public Health Sciences, and pursuing minors in Spanish and Nutritional Sciences. She is currently on the pre-med track, and hopes to become a pediatrician in the future! On campus, she is currently involved with the YOURS Program, Cornell Health International, and is also an undergraduate TA for a general chemistry course. Eileen has always loved working with children and has involved herself in activities such as coaching youth sports' teams, working at Lifetime's childcare center, and running after-school clubs for elementary school students. Outside of academia, she also loves to play sports and watch Marvel and Disney movies! Natalie Kister, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Natalie is a rising Junior at Cornell, majoring in Human Development and minoring in Law and Society and Inequality Studies. Natalie has always enjoyed working with young children in different forms, from baby-sitting to tutoring to being a camp counselor. Natalie is very excited to be a part of this lab! Outside of academia, Natalie plays on the Cornell Womens Club Soccer Team and enjoys cooking and spending time with her friends. Alexandra Li, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Alexandra is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society. She has always loved working with kids as a tennis instructor and tutor, and is interested in how our social environments impact our mental health and well-being. On campus, she is involved in Alpha Iota Gamma Professional Healthcare Fraternity, The Steminist Movement, and Human Ecology Ambassadors, and hopes to become a psychiatrist in the future. In her free time, she enjoys binging Netflix shows, baking chocolate chip cookies, and hanging out with her pet corgi. Chunlu Li, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Chunlu is sophomore majoring in Statistical Science. Chunlu enjoys spending time with children of all age groups and is interested in the psychological and behavioral development of children. Chunlu tutors middle school and high school students through different after-school programs at Cornell Public Service Center. Chunlu is also a big fan of music, and she plays Guzheng, Dizi, and Percussion in Cornell Eastern Music Ensemble. Lin Lin, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Lin is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Development. She is an international student from China. Lin loves spending time with children, and is a member of College Mentor for Kids, which aims to provide kids from low-income families with a broader horizon, as well as to inspire them to pursue higher education. She also volunteers to teach underprivileged, elementary school children in Yunnan Province, China every summer. Outside of academia, she enjoys playing Guzheng, cooking and hiking. Sean McCabe, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sean is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology studying Human Biology, Health and Society on a premedical track. On campus, he is involved as an RA for a freshman dorm, and is also involved in Phi Delta Epsilon, a medical fraternity at Cornell. Sean is also an undergraduate TA for an introductory biology lab course, and sincerely enjoys working with and getting to know his students. His interest in the Little Thinkers Lab has been fueled by interests in previously taken human development courses at Cornell, and he gets much enjoyment out of working with young children and studying their understanding of the world. Sean is also a first-time research assistant, and he is grateful for this opportunity to enter the research environment at Cornell through the Little Thinkers Lab. Sanjna Narayan, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sanjna is a freshman at the University of Chicago with a prospective major in Neuroscience and minor in Theater. Some of her research interests include the formation of social biases during cognitive development as well as the causes of pediatric ophthalmological defects. In the past she has volunteered as an art teacher in an organization dedicated to providing comfort to those touched by cancer, teaching children of all ages. On campus, Sanjna is on the executive board of the French Club and ‘Dear Asian Youth at UChicago,’ and is a clarinet teacher with the South Side Free Music Program. Outside of academia, Sanjna enjoys painting, playing tennis, baking, and spending time with her friends! Swaroop Poudel, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Swaroop is a junior at Beloit College, majoring in Psychology and Business Economics with a minor in Computer Science. His research interests lie in social and cognitive psychology. He is especially interested in perceptions, heuristics, biases, and stereotypes. He is also interested in the theories of positive psychology and implementing a cross-cultural perspective in his research and learning. Outside of psychology, he loves to get his shoes dirty and go for hikes, bike rides, or anything outdoors. He also loves to cook and play video games. Amisha Singh, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amisha is currently a sophomore majoring in Biology on the premedical track. In the future she hopes to gain a MD/PHD to practice medicine and contribute to research. She has enjoyed working with children for many years as a dance instructor and science tutor. In her free time Amisha enjoys playing tennis, dancing, and rereading the Harry Potter series. Rachel Stefanowski, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Rachel is a Junior in the College of Human Ecology, studying Human Development. Rachel is on the premedical track, with a specific interest in pediatrics and childhood development. Growing up, Rachel spent her summers working at her local daycare, and has always been fascinated by the way young children communicate, play, and interact with one another. On campus, Rachel is a part of one of Cornell's a cappella groups, and enjoys being outside, listening to music, and spending time with friends. Jenny Suk, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jenny is a sophomore from Asheville, North Carolina. She is pursuing a major in Human Development and a minor in Biological Sciences on a pre-medical track. On campus, she is involved in Food Recovery Network and Alpha Iota Gamma Professional Healthcare Fraternity. She is also an undergraduate teaching assistant for general chemistry. She loves working with children and has been involved in teaching Korean to elementary school students and babysitting her brother who is twelve years younger than she is! Outside of academics, she enjoys cooking and baking new recipes :) Sammy Troob, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sammy is a junior majoring in Human Development and minoring in Nutritional Sciences in the College of Human Ecology. She has always loved working with children and is interested in the influence of various social factors on childhood development and identity. She has had experience interacting with young kids as a tennis counselor, a tutor and a babysitter. On campus, Samantha is involved in College Mentors for Kids, Big Red Ambassadors, Psi Chi International Psychology Honor Society, and MEDLIFE. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, and cooking in her free time. Kimberly Victor, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kimberly is a junior in the College of Human Ecology majoring in Human Development with anticipated minors in Creative Writing and Inequality Studies. Her research interests include racial inequality and prejudice, and the intersectionality of race and gender. On campus she is a member of Psi Chi, P3, Caribbean Students Association, and on the executive board of the Women of Color Coalition. In the future, Kimberly plans on continuing her education with the intention of aiding communities of color. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and taking naps. Emily Uh, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Emily is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University on the pre-med track. She has always loved working with children! From tutoring elementary school students in English and mathematics, volunteering at orphanages, to helping younger students with disabilities, she is very interested in the pediatric field. Outside of the Little Thinkers Lab, Emily is currently service chair of Alpha Iota Gamma (professional healthcare fraternity) and a member of Alpha Chi Omega (sorority) on campus. Off campus, she continues to catch sunrises and sunsets at the beach with her friends dreaming of traveling with them to Switzerland in the future! Minghui Wang, Research Assistant
Minghui graduated in 2019 from Boston University with a Master’s in Psychology. She is interested in children’s social cognitive development and their social learning behaviors, for example, their selective learning from fictional sources (e.g., narratives, TV) and the role of parent-child interactions or individual difference in this process. She hopes to pursue PhD in developmental psychology and learn more about children's learning. Melissa Yanez, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Melissa is a junior majoring in Human Development at the College of Human Ecology. She transferred her sophomore year to Cornell from the Honors College of Westchester Community College. Research is an integral part of Melissa’s educational and professional career, with a previous focus on oncology, specifically comparing the side effects of immunotherapy to that of traditional cancer treatments. Her research brought her to NewYork-Presbytarian where she conducted analytical research on patients’ mental health through clinical rounds. |