LAB MANAGER
Amel Alrifai
[email protected]
Amel is the lab manager at the SAMC Lab. Her research examines how children reason about moral and legal issues, with a particular interest in how they distinguish between moral, legal, and religious rules, evaluate fairness and justice, and make decisions when these domains come into conflict. She holds an M.A. in Cognitive Science in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences, with a minor in Philosophy, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
[email protected]
Amel is the lab manager at the SAMC Lab. Her research examines how children reason about moral and legal issues, with a particular interest in how they distinguish between moral, legal, and religious rules, evaluate fairness and justice, and make decisions when these domains come into conflict. She holds an M.A. in Cognitive Science in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences, with a minor in Philosophy, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Sophie Charles
[email protected]
Sophie is a fifth-year doctoral student. She is interested in (1) how children think about the impact of societal factors on others’ moral behavior and choices, (2) the psychological underpinnings of children’s views of the moral behavior of others, and (3) the intersection of children’s moral development and their views of others who differ from them (specifically marginalized others and those who have interacted with the justice system). Sophie is the SAMC Lab’s former lab coordinator, and holds a B.A. in Neuroscience & Behavior and a minor in Education Studies from Wesleyan University.
[email protected]
Sophie is a fifth-year doctoral student. She is interested in (1) how children think about the impact of societal factors on others’ moral behavior and choices, (2) the psychological underpinnings of children’s views of the moral behavior of others, and (3) the intersection of children’s moral development and their views of others who differ from them (specifically marginalized others and those who have interacted with the justice system). Sophie is the SAMC Lab’s former lab coordinator, and holds a B.A. in Neuroscience & Behavior and a minor in Education Studies from Wesleyan University.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Danielle Carr
Danielle is a sophomore at Columbia University studying Neuroscience and Behavior. She is especially interested in how children develop their own sense of morality and how they navigate the influence of adults in forming their moral judgments. In her free time, Danielle enjoys playing piano, walking in Central Park, and attending concerts throughout NYC.
Paola Castro
Paola is a senior at Columbia University majoring in Psychology and Dance. At the SAMC Lab she is interested in learning more about how social and religious influences shape decision-making and the understanding of morality and justice in children, and how these may affect their views on others and the world they live in. Outside the lab you can find her dancing, going for a run at the park, or just exploring the city.
Kayla Duvert
Kayla is a sophomore at Columbia College planning on studying neuroscience. She is interested in how children cope with grief. During her free time you may find her dining with friends or exploring New York City.
Ari Estrin
Ari is a senior at Barnard College majoring cognitive science with a minor in computer science. She is interested in how people's perception of religion and God change, especially with scientific developments. In her down time, you can find her seeing Broadway shows, hanging out with friends/family, or listening to new music.
Lynne Kim
Lynne is a senior at Columbia University studying Psychology. She is interested in how cultural context and historical power dynamics shape moral cognition, particularly how perceptions of harm influence judgments of right and wrong. At the SAMC lab, she is eager to further explore the cognitive processes underlying these judgments and their implications for socially and politically relevant issues. Outside of research, she enjoys visiting art galleries and museums, hiking, and reading historical fiction.
Lynne is a senior at Columbia University studying Psychology. She is interested in how cultural context and historical power dynamics shape moral cognition, particularly how perceptions of harm influence judgments of right and wrong. At the SAMC lab, she is eager to further explore the cognitive processes underlying these judgments and their implications for socially and politically relevant issues. Outside of research, she enjoys visiting art galleries and museums, hiking, and reading historical fiction.
Laura Konstantinou
Laura is a junior at Barnard College studying Psychology and Economics. She is
especially interested in understanding how social environments shape the way people
think about fairness, belonging, and interpersonal relationships. At the SAMC lab she is
interested in exploring how people form moral judgments and social attitudes,
particularly in contexts involving group identity and social conflict. In her free time, she
enjoys listening to music and is always on the hunt for her next concert ticket.
Fr. Raymond La Grange
Father Raymond is a master's student in clinical psychology at Teachers College. He is interested in studying how people come to consider certain kinds of actions moral or immoral, and how this relates to the direction of their life as a whole. He is also interested in how people try to make meaning and engage in moral, philosophical, and religious thinking in the midst of the challenges they encounter. Outside of his psychology studies, Fr. Raymond is a Catholic priest and a Dominican friar and enjoys helping people work through the more difficult questions in their life. He holds a B.Sc. in chemistry and physics from the University of Alberta and an S.T.L. in theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.
Father Raymond is a master's student in clinical psychology at Teachers College. He is interested in studying how people come to consider certain kinds of actions moral or immoral, and how this relates to the direction of their life as a whole. He is also interested in how people try to make meaning and engage in moral, philosophical, and religious thinking in the midst of the challenges they encounter. Outside of his psychology studies, Fr. Raymond is a Catholic priest and a Dominican friar and enjoys helping people work through the more difficult questions in their life. He holds a B.Sc. in chemistry and physics from the University of Alberta and an S.T.L. in theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.
Leticia Lemann
Leticia is a sophomore at Columbia College majoring in History and Psychology, with a minor in Political Science. She is interested in the impacts of both the law and cultural norms on social organization. At the SAMC Lab, she is hoping to explore the impact of social norms, especially religion, on the development of children. Outside the lab, Leticia can be found at the movie theatre with her best friends, hiking, or reading (specifically historical fiction or magical realism)!
Kathryn McElvany
Kathryn is a senior at Barnard College majoring in psychology and human rights. She is interested in research that works to understand and connect developmental psychology, child rights and education. In the SAMC Lab, she hopes to explore how children view morality and how people in different age groups’ lived experiences influence their behaviors and beliefs towards perceived out-groups.
Amaya Patel
Amaya is a junior at Barnard College studying Cognitive Science with a specialisation in Neuroscience. She is interested in moral decision making and the extent to which factors such as upbringing and family dynamics affect these decisions. She is also intrigued by the role of memory in preserving a certain moral standard internally, so that individuals believe they are good people. At the SAMC lab she is looking to understand the development of moral behaviours in early stages of life, in children, and to observe parental influence as well as comparisons of children’s moral behaviour to adults. In her free time she enjoys going to the park, meeting friends, trying new coffee places and exploring New York.
Audrey Ross
Audrey is a senior at Columbia University studying Psychology with a minor in American Studies. She is specifically interested in how children and adults form moral truisms through family dynamics, educational settings, and cultural exposures. At the SAMC lab, she is excited to be involved in research that not only questions the inner workings of people, but also investigates the external implications of discrimination and injustice. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, and exploring the city with friends.
Yenny Salcedo
Yenny is a senior at Columbia University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Statistics. She is interested in how social context, stereotypes, and cultural identity shape moral reasoning and socio-emotional development, particularly in children and adolescents. At the SAMC Lab, she hopes to assist with research on how children think about morality and form opinions about others and themselves. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
RECENT LAB ALUMNI
* if you are an alum and would like to update or add your information, please e-mail the lab manager.
Sophie Charles, former lab manager; current PhD student at the SAMC Lab
Aaron Cohen, former lab manager; current MSW student at Rutgers
James Nesbit, former lab manager
Davida Vogel, former lab manager; current licensed psychologist at Dragonfly Psychological Associates
Redeate Wolle, former lab manager; current Senior Grants and Finance Administrator at Children's National Hospital
Young-eun Lee, former post-doctoral fellow; current post-doc at MIT
Ariel Mosley, former post-doctoral fellow; current assistant professor at UC Davis
Ayse Payir, former post-doctoral fellow; current assistant professor at Union College
James Dunlea, former Ph.D. student; current VP of Behavioral Science at Healogix
Megan Goldring, former graduate student collaborator; current associate at McKinsey & Co
Christian Mott, former Ph.D. Student; current Assistant Professor of Law at Florida State University.
Emily Nakkawita, former Ph.D. Student; current Consumer Insights Researcher at Netflix
Daniel Yonas, former Ph.D. student
Ilana Cohen, former honors thesis student; current MSW student at the University of Pennsylvania
Devyani Goel, former honors student; current Business Analyst at McKinsey & Co
Cheng Io Lo, former honors student; current student in the Masters of Music Degree in Violin Performance at Juilliard
Abby McLaughlin, former honors student; current Ph.D. student in Psychology at Boston College
Perry Wakatsuki, former honors thesis student; current Masters student at the UPenn School of Social Policy and Practice
Amel Alrifai, former research assistant; current SAMC lab manager
Reyna Choi, former research assistant; current Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Wichita State University
Nick Gauthier, former research assistant; current Bachelor of Philosophy student, Oxford University
Lindsay Goolsby, former research assistant; current Ph.D. student in Psychology at University of Denver
Rahil Kamath, former research assistant; current Psy.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University
Carrie Lu, former research assistant; current Fellow in Psychology at Harvard
Benjamin Sherak, former research assistant; current Psy.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University
* if you are an alum and would like to update or add your information, please e-mail the lab manager.
Sophie Charles, former lab manager; current PhD student at the SAMC Lab
Aaron Cohen, former lab manager; current MSW student at Rutgers
James Nesbit, former lab manager
Davida Vogel, former lab manager; current licensed psychologist at Dragonfly Psychological Associates
Redeate Wolle, former lab manager; current Senior Grants and Finance Administrator at Children's National Hospital
Young-eun Lee, former post-doctoral fellow; current post-doc at MIT
Ariel Mosley, former post-doctoral fellow; current assistant professor at UC Davis
Ayse Payir, former post-doctoral fellow; current assistant professor at Union College
James Dunlea, former Ph.D. student; current VP of Behavioral Science at Healogix
Megan Goldring, former graduate student collaborator; current associate at McKinsey & Co
Christian Mott, former Ph.D. Student; current Assistant Professor of Law at Florida State University.
Emily Nakkawita, former Ph.D. Student; current Consumer Insights Researcher at Netflix
Daniel Yonas, former Ph.D. student
Ilana Cohen, former honors thesis student; current MSW student at the University of Pennsylvania
Devyani Goel, former honors student; current Business Analyst at McKinsey & Co
Cheng Io Lo, former honors student; current student in the Masters of Music Degree in Violin Performance at Juilliard
Abby McLaughlin, former honors student; current Ph.D. student in Psychology at Boston College
Perry Wakatsuki, former honors thesis student; current Masters student at the UPenn School of Social Policy and Practice
Amel Alrifai, former research assistant; current SAMC lab manager
Reyna Choi, former research assistant; current Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Wichita State University
Nick Gauthier, former research assistant; current Bachelor of Philosophy student, Oxford University
Lindsay Goolsby, former research assistant; current Ph.D. student in Psychology at University of Denver
Rahil Kamath, former research assistant; current Psy.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University
Carrie Lu, former research assistant; current Fellow in Psychology at Harvard
Benjamin Sherak, former research assistant; current Psy.D. student in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University
