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Graduate Students

Claire Wei, Ph.D Student

Email: 22mc62@queensu.ca

Area of research: I am a 1st year Ph.D student at the Queen's Culture and Cognition lab. I earned my B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Gender & Feminist Studies from McGill University. I am interested in the cultural differences in parent-child interaction.. Outside the lab, I enjoy dancing, drawing, hiking, watching movies, and playing the Gu Zheng.

Angele Wen, MSc Student

Email: angele.wen@queensu.ca

Area of research: I am a second-year master’s student in social psychology at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. I hold a B.A. in psychology from McGill, with minors in East Asian studies, educational psychology, and behavioural science. My research interests lie around how culture shapes relationships, including parent-child and romantic relationships. During my free time, I enjoy cooking new recipes, doing nail art, and experimenting with mixology. I am excited to embark on this new journey at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´! 

Zoë DeMille, MSc Student

Email: 20zcrd@queensu.ca

Area of research: I am a first-year MSc student in Psychology at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. I also hold a BAH in Psychology from ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ with a minor in Sociology. I joined the Culture and Cognition Lab because I am interested in investigating cultural differences amongst various domains, including artificial intelligence and social support-seeking behaviours. In my free time, you can find me at the farmer’s market, volunteering in the community, or spending time with friends and family.  

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Xiaoyi (Cherie) Zhou, Post-Doc

Email: cherie.zhou@queensu.ca

Area of research: My name is Cherie, and I joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher in the summer of 2024. I completed my PhD in cognitive psychology at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Currently, I am involved in multiple projects that explore cultural perceptions of luck and the potential of AI to enhance psychological well-being. It's been an exciting journey! Outside the lab, I'm also interested in psychotherapy, Pilates, and board games.

Samantha Shang, Post-Doc

Email: shang.x@queensu.ca

Area of research: I recently earned my PhD at the Queen's Culture and Cognition lab. I earned my B.S. in psychology from Jilin University in China and my master's in psychology from Wake Forest University in the USA. I study the "unsaid words" - How do people read between the lines? Why don't people share certain information, even with close others? I am also enthusiastic about R, stats, and cross-cultural measurement. In my free time, I love dancing salsa and hanging out with my cats, Georgia and Major Tom. I named myself "Samantha" after the AI from the movie "Her" (2013).

Undergraduate Student

Hillary Andru, Project Leader, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: I am a fourth-year Health Sciences student with an interest in psychology. Growing up in a very multicultural area has made me curious about cultural differences and similarities, especially in parenting and decision making. I love my schoolwork, but in my spare time, I enjoy volunteering, journaling, swimming, and dancing! This is my third year with the lab and I have enjoyed every minute of being a part of this awesome team!

Rita Li, Thesis Student

Area of research: My name is Rita, and I am a fourth-year psychology student. I have a deep interest in the intersection of culture and human cognition: being born and raised in China, I have been fascinated by how cultural backgrounds shape perspectives and behaviors. After completing my studies in Canada, I plan to pursue counseling with Chinese people, integrating Chinese cultural values into counseling practice to develop a culturally sensitive approach that is more effective for Chinese clients. Beyond academics, I enjoy composing music, playing piano, watching Anime, and exploring different cultures and languages!

Esther Ye, Thesis Student

Area of research: My name is Esther, and I’m a fourth-year Psychology student completing my thesis under Dr. Ji's supervision! For my thesis, I'm really excited to explore how AI chatbots can help Chinese healthcare workers better understand and regulate their emotions. Outside of the lab, I love travelling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends!

Stella Spadafora, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: I am a third-year Arts student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Linguistics. This will be my second year working as a research assistant in the Culture and Cognition Lab, and I am excited to develop hands-on research skills that will benefit my future studies. I am very interested in sociolinguistics and understanding how variations in language and culture influence human cognition, including decision-making and behavior. Beyond my studies, I enjoy running, volunteering, reading, and spending quality time with my family.

Charlotte Szuty, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: My name is Charlotte Szuty, and I am in my fourth year of my Psychology specialization and Linguistics at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. This is my second year in the Culture and Cognition lab, and I am interested in cultural differences in the efficacy of mental health treatments, interventions, and psychopathology risk. Outside of the lab, I also research suicidology in youth and adolescents, and military and Veteran health research - specifically developing support services for children from military and Veteran families. After my undergraduate, I hope to pursue a Masters & PhD in Clinical Psychology in suicidology or Veteran and military family health.

Wendy Zhao, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: My name is Wendy, and I’m a second-year Health Sciences student. This is my second year with the Culture and Cognition Lab, and I’m excited to continue learning from the team and developing my research skills. Having grown up between China and Canada, I became interested in how cultural experiences shape social behaviour, which drew me to the lab’s research. Outside of school, I enjoy volunteering, spending time with friends and family, and playing badminton!

Anna Xinze Li, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: I am a second-year Health Sciences student at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ with an interest in how culture shapes cognition, decision-making, and health behaviours. Having lived in both China and Canada, I am especially curious about how different cultural environments influence the way people think, make decisions, and approach health and healthcare. I am also interested in bilingualism and how language may shape cognitive processing across cultural contexts. This is my first year in the Culture and Cognition Lab, and I’m excited to learn from the team and further develop my research skills. Outside of school, I enjoy listening to K-pop and am a big BTS fan!

Rachel Telfer, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: I'm Rachel and I'm a third year Psychology student at Queen's. My interests lie in the neurobiology of cognition, with a focus on how changes in cognition develop and persist across cultures. My goal is to continue exploring these topics through research at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and culture. Outside of my studies, I enjoy reading, creative writing, and spending time with friends and family.

Emerson Lavictoire, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: My name is Emerson, and I am a third-year psychology student at Queen's University. This will be my first year working as a research assistant in the Culture and Cognition Lab, and I am excited to gain hands-on research experience and further explore how culture influences the way people think, behave, and interact with others. I am particularly interested in how culture and language can shape the ways individuals understand and respond to their social environments. Outside of academics, I enjoy painting, working out, reading, and spending time with my family!

Daniella Buitrago Ulloa, Undergraduate Student

Area of research: My name is Daniella, and I am currently in my second year of Psychology here at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´! This is my first year in the Culture and Cognition Lab, and I am excited to gain hands-on research experience as well as working with others. My main area of interest focuses on bilingualism and how distinct cultures influences cognitive processing, learning, and development. Other than school, I enjoy playing sports, practicing self-care, and having fun with my friends!