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Lab Director

Dr. Irmak Olcaysoy Okten

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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

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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

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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

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"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."

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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.

Current Undergraduate Students

Lab Alumni
Former Research Assistants:
Andres Sierra: currently a M.S. student in Florida State's Business Analytics program
Cassidy Doane: currently attending Florida State's Master of Social Work program
Elisya Rosa: currently Talent Development Sr. Coordinator at University Orlando Resort
Serenity Vasille: currently a research assistant at Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)

Former Lab Managers:
Martha Cooper: currently a lab manager at the Developing Moral Values Lab at Franklin & Marshall College

Former Honors Students:
Jiaxua Li: currently an M.A. student at New York University

Amy Huang: MBA student at Yale University School of Management

Former Masters Students:
Neharika Nair: currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Young Ju Ryu: currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Kansas
Brandon Neglio: currently a data manager at the Family Translational Research Group at NYU 
Murat Hosgor: currently a Ph.D. student at Fordham University
Rongxin Cheng: currently a Ph.D. student at UC Davis
George Ryan Ghorayed: currently a research assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Jay Reynolds

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