RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Sophie Ezrol

Sophie is a sophomore at BU and is from Buffalo Grove, IL. She is currently studying psychology at the College of Arts and Science. She is interested in developmental and social  psychology. Sophie is excited to learn more about the research process and child development throughout her time at the Social Learning Lab.

Lizzie Bonassar

Lizzie is a sophomore at BU pursuing dual degrees in Psychology and Education & Human Development. She has had lots of hands-on experience teaching preschool and is primarily interested in how children learn and make social decisions. Lizzie hopes to go into a research-driven career and is excited to gain some experience!

Ijeoma Ezechukwu

Ijeoma is a junior at Boston University enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is majoring in Psychology and Brain Sciences with a minor in Public Health at Sargent College. With a passion for Clinical and Developmental Psychology, her goal is to address mental health disparities and promote holistic well-being within communities. Ijeoma plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology after her undergraduate studies, but is currently focused on learning more about research methods and gaining experience in the field of child development.

Emily Yang

Emily is a BU undergraduate student from the class of 2027, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Applied Human Development. She is passionate about providing guidance and support to children with a focus on education. Through the Social Learning Lab, she hopes to learn more about how children gain knowledge from their surroundings. Outside the lab, Emily enjoys going on walks to the park and eating out with friends!

Anthony Mosca

Anthony is a current sophomore at Boston University from Providence, RI. He is majoring in Education & Human Development at Wheelock with a minor in Public Policy Analysis. He is interested in how policy can shape both education and student development, and he is excited to deepen his understanding of these areas through research at the Social Learning Lab.

Griselda Martinez

Gris is a master’s student from Mexico pursuing Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Medicine, Health, and Culture from Furman University. Her interests center on how children learn, grow, and adapt within their cultural contexts, and how these experiences shape both cognitive development and social identity. Through the Social Learning Lab, Gris is eager to deepen her research skills and translate them into evidence-based clinical applications, as she plans to pursue a PsyD or PhD in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of integrating research and practice to better support children and families.

Grace Yee

Grace is a third-year undergraduate student studying Psychology at Boston University. She is interested in how environmental factors impact a child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. She plans on completing a doctoral program and later working in a clinical setting focusing on developmental psychology. She is excited in gaining experience and being a part of the team in the Social Learning Lab.

Alexis (Sky) Pascual

Sky is a sophomore at Boston University from San Diego, CA, and Manila, Philippines, studying Psychology with a minor in Applied Human Development. She is interested in how early experiences shape children’s learning and development. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical or School Psychology and go into a career supporting the well-being of children and adolescents.

Yuki Chen

Yuki Chen is a senior at Boston University, majoring in Psychology. Her academic interests focus on counseling psychology, with additional passion for social and developmental psychology. She aspires to become a therapist in the future. She is excited to gain more hands-on research experience through the Social Learning Lab!

Elizabeth Jaime-Lopez

Elizabeth is a sophomore undergrad at Boston university. She is pursuing a major in psychology at the college of arts and sciences with a minor in applied human development in Wheelock. After graduation, she plans on pursuing her masters in social work and becoming a school social worker or counselor for students ranging from middle to high school. She’s had much experience working with students in a variety of ages and settings. Elizabeth is excited to learn and understand a child’s mind as it develops in a range of thoughts and overall gain lab work experience!

Christine Amalraj

Christine is a freshman at Boston University pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Computer Science. She has spent lots of time working with children and is especially curious on understanding the neuropsychology of how they learn. In the future, she hopes to work on developing brain-computer-interfaces to help patients with neurological damage relearn skills. At the SLL, Christine is excited to gain experience in experimental design and data analysis!

Mary Mulligan

Mary is an undergraduate student at BU majoring in Psychology and minoring in Deaf Studies and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Her research interests focus on how children learn to process the world around them and how language shapes social and cognitive development. Mary is excited to contribute to ongoing projects in the Social Learning Lab and gain hands-on research experience!

Andrea Holder

Andrea is a senior at Boston University, studying Psychology and Public Policy Analysis. She is interested in the intersection of mental health, child development, and policy, and is committed to research with meaningful real-world impact. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on anxiety and depression in youth populations. Andrea is excited to contribute to and learn from the SLL!

Paloma Lu

Paloma Lu is a research assistant at SLL. Her work focuses on how children and teachers interact with AI technologies, with an emphasis on ai literacy, learning, and computational thinking. She graduated early from Grinnell College with a double major in Economics and Education and has experience in both classroom teaching and education technology. Her research interests center on AI in education, equity, and the design of tools that support both learners and educators, as well as education policy.