Labs & Research

Causality & Mind Lab

P.I.: David M. Sobel

In the Causality and Mind Lab, we study how children learn about the world through observation, exploration, and explanation. Our work examines how children represent causal relations, make inferences, and understand their own and others’ mental states. Using behavioral and computational methods, we explore how children’s curiosity and everyday interactions shape their learning.

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My research in the lab focuses on how children and parents engage with STEM concepts in informal learning environments such as museums. I am especially interested in how parents’ explanations and interactions support children’s curiosity, causal reasoning, and motivation to explore.

EDENS Lab

P.I.: Jason Okonofua

In this lab, we examine social-psychological processes that contribute to inequality, particularly within educational settings. Our work focuses on how teacher-student relationships, identity, and bias interact to influence disciplinary disparities and long-term academic outcomes. By studying how perceptions of respect, fairness, and belonging shape classroom dynamics, we aim to develop interventions that promote positive relationships and equitable learning environments.

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My research in the lab focuses on understanding how identity and connectedness shape students’ engagement and motivation. I am involved in projects that design and test scalable interventions to strengthen teacher-student relationships, support youth reentry into schools, and foster belonging among students from marginalized backgrounds.

RISE Lab

P.I.: C. Malik Boykin

In the R.I.S.E. Lab, we study how people understand and respond to group inequality. Our work examines how perceptions of social environments can maintain or challenge systems of inequity across contexts such as education, work, and technology. We investigate how meaning is ascribed to group differences in outcomes and how these narratives influence attitudes toward majority and minority groups and social institutions.

My research in the lab focuses on how people’s beliefs about fairness, representation, and identity relate to perceptions of group inequality. I am particularly interested in how these perceptions shape connectedness, motivation, and trust in social and academic contexts.