Lab Director
Dr. Irmak Olcaysoy Okten
Dr. Irmak Olcaysoy Okten is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Lehigh University. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and International Relations and M.A. in Social Psychology from Bogazici University. She is also a first-generation college graduate. Olcaysoy Okten's research investigates social cognitive and motivational processes underlying person-perception and interpersonal interactions.
Graduate Students
Ayanna Brewton
Ayanna is a first-generation college graduate of Georgia Southern University where she earned her B.A in Psychology and minored in Sociology. Her research interests include perceptions, biases, and exploring discrimination through an intersectionality lens. In particular, her interest are centered around understanding and identifying stereotypical biases associated with person perception. Through her research interests she aspires to extend the literature specifically for minority and underrepresented populations.
Julia Lombard
Julia is a college graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz where she earned her Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Evolutionary Studies. Currently, she seeks to extend the literature on positive, self-transcendent emotions, such as awe, as they relate to intellectual humility, the capacity to reflect on limitations in one’s knowledge and self-regulate beliefs. Julia’s research interests encompass social perception, the adaptive function of emotions, and various topics in positive psychology.
Co-Lab Managers
Maria Gullesserian
"As a senior undergraduate student at FSU, I’m pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in hospitality management. I’m seeking to get a Ph.D. in Social Psychology after earning my bachelor’s degree. I want to continue learning more about research and focus on understanding interpersonal relationships more in depth. While working in the Motivated Social Cognition lab, I plan on exploring elements of theory-driven research, the cognitive processes motivating individuals’ behaviors, whether implicit or explicit, and the long versus short-term effects of bias. I will apply this knowledge as a strong foundation for my future career and projects."
Adam Nguyen
Adam Nguyen is a 4th year undergraduate student at FSU, originally introduced into the lab through the 2022-2023 UROP program. He is seeking to gain a Ph.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology after his undergraduate studies. His research interests pertaining to this lab are based off his future target demographic, exploring social perceptions of parents and parenting. Through his research, he hopes to help raise questions about biases towards parents, and how the demographics of these parents can change these perceptions.
