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 explores the intersections between biased perceptions of individuals and groups with prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. Her work pulls from several areas of research, such as impression formation, bias regulation, and motivational factors. Through her research focus she aspires to further extend the field's understanding of indicators and consequences of biases on behalf of underrepresented populations.
Julia Lombard
Julia is a college graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz where she earned her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Evolutionary Studies. Her research investigates the factors that inhibit and/or enhance epistemic virtues, such as intellectual humility, and the motivational underpinnings of positive and cohesive intergroup interactions. Currently, she is interested in leveraging self-transcendent states, such as awe, to foster intellectually humble behaviors and reduce biased social perceptions. Julia’s work draws from perspectives in social cognition, motivational psychology, and evolutionary theory.
Enhui Wang
Enhui is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University, where she earned her Master’s degree in Psychology. Her research interests lie broadly in social cognition, with a specific focus on impression formation, impression updating, and biases in social perception. She is particularly interested in how individuals make sense of the social world and how these processes can be shaped or disrupted by underlying cognitive and motivational factors. Enhui aims to take an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the mechanisms behind social understanding and to inform interventions that reduce bias and promote social equity.
Eric Haseman
Eric is a first-year PhD student in FSU's Social Psychology Program. He earned a B.S. in Psychology with Honors and minored in Sociology at the University of Central Florida. His research broadly investigates a variety of social and cognitive factors as contributors to the development and maintenance of belief systems, with a particular focus on political belief systems. Currently, he is exploring the extent to which individuals adjust their preexisting beliefs over time to account for politically relevant information when it is presented either scientifically or anecdotally. Through his research, Eric hopes to contribute to the reduction of misinformation's growing influence and the depolarization of political discourse.
Lab Coordinator
Morgan Drummond
Morgan is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies. Her current research interests center on topics such as leadership perception, power dynamics, and organizational well-being and behavior. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to continue her education in an Industrial/Organizational Psychology graduate program. The Motivated Social Cognition Lab provides her with valuable experience in social psychology research and project management, bolstering her understanding of research processes and allowing her to contribute to the study of interpersonal relations.
Current Undergraduate Students
Madison Miller
Madison is a senior undergraduate student at Florida State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminology. She is interested in pursuing a PhD in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology after completing her undergraduate degree. Her research interests include workplace behavior, employee well-being, motivation, leadership, and the ways social factors influence individuals’ experiences in organizational settings. She is excited to be a part of the Motivated Social Cognition Lab and gain valuable hands-on research experience while further developing her skills in psychological research. She hopes that her experience in the lab will help prepare her for graduate school and her future career in I/O Psychology.
Can Altug
Can is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business. His research interests are impression formation, theories of prejudice and social roles. He plans on pursuing a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology upon graduation. Working in the Motivated Social Cognition Lab has allowed Can to gain research experience and broaden his knowledge and interests in the field of Social Psychology. He is excited to be able to contribute to studies that explore impression formation.
Julian Raton
Julian Raton is a second-year at Florida State University pursuing a Dual Degree in Psychology and Statistics with minors in History and Philosophy of Science. He views society and relationships as vital to the human experience and a subject worthy of in-depth research. He is most interested in studying how individuals perceive groups and institutions in positions of power as well as how interpersonal relationships vary when a power imbalance is involved. He is also interested in how socially constructed categorization impacts the social cognition of the individual. He believes that the Motivated Social Cognition Lab aligns perfectly with his research interests and is excited to work in the lab.
Unia Sanjurjo
Unia is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Florida State University. She is a first-generation college student that is majoring in Psychology, with a minor in African American Studies. In the future, Unia plans to obtain a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling following her undergraduate degree. Unia has interest in researching racial discrimination and its impact on the psyche, as well as the mental health of children and adolescents. She believes that experience in the Motivated Social Cognition Lab will expose her to vital research procedures and concepts that better prepare her for graduate level research and study.
Beatriz Murta
Beatriz Murta is a second-year undergraduate student at Florida State University pursuing dual degrees in Psychology and Human Resource Management. Her academic interests center on the ways people process information, form judgments, and interact with others, particularly in organizational and social settings. She is especially interested in intellectual humility, persuasion, and decision-making, and how these factors can influence the way individuals evaluate information and others. Through her work in the Motivated Social Cognition Lab, Beatriz hopes to strengthen her research skills and gain hands-on experience in the research process, while contributing to the lab’s ongoing research and discussions. She plans to pursue a career in Human Resources, with interests in talent acquisition and organizational development, and hopes to apply her background in psychology and research to better understand and support people in workplace settings.
Current Research Assistants (full list):
DIS Students
Can Altug
Liz Green
Ian Sanchez De Jesus
Lauren Delegal
Julian Raton
Diana Gonzalez​
Madison Miller
Unia Sanjurjo
Beatriz Monteiro Murta
Hannah Ripley
Honors in the Major Thesis Students
Morgan Drummond
​
Volunteers
Amelia Ferretti
MJ Pierre
Trinity Frazier