Principal Investigator
Professor Alexandra Main's research focuses on social and emotional development of children and adolescents within the family context. Specifically, she is interested in the development of empathy and emotion regulation and how these processes are shaped by temperament, family, and culture. She is currently working on projects investigating communication of empathy between parents and adolescents, how cultural orientations influence family emotional communication, and the implications of these processes for psychological and physical health.
Current Graduate Students
Katey Workman is a fourth-year graduate student. She received her B.A. (English Literature), B.S. (Human Development) and M.A. (Marriage, Family, and Human Development) from Brigham Young University. Her research has focused primarily on early and emerging adult prosocial behavior as well as mental health outcomes. Katey is eager to learn more about the role of culture in the enactment of prosocial behavior and their collective contribution to resilience. She continues to co-own and operate a mental health clinic in Utah.
Lucas Parnell is a third-year graduate student. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Colorado Mesa University and his M.A. in Experimental Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. His research interests involve emotion socialization, interpersonal emotion dynamics, and emotion in the contexts of parenting and type 1 diabetes management. In his free time, Lucas enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing ultimate frisbee, and repeating his impressive reper. toire of three to four songs on the ukulele.
Suzy Aguirre is a second-year graduate student. She received her B.S.W. (double major in psychology and social work) from Milligan University. Her research interests involve family dynamics, adolescent adjustment, and the role of culture in shaping resilience and emotional well-being. In her free time, Suzy enjoys trying new foods, going on hikes, spending time with family, and watching The Office.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Karelly Barrera is an undergraduate student at UC Merced majoring in public health with a minor in Spanish. As a first-generation college student, she is passionate about expanding access to health resources and information in underserved communities. She hopes to continue building her research experience through the Family Development Lab, with an interest in child and adolescent development. Outside of school, Karelly enjoys hiking and trying new matcha spots!
Kaylin Cardoso is a fourth-year Psychology and Sociology double major at UC Merced. Her interests lie in the socioemotional development of adolescents within the familial context and how it contributes to the manifestation of mental health disorders. After graduating in the Spring of 2027, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology to become a clinical psychologist specializing in child psychology. In her free time, she holds positions in her sorority, participates in a mental health advocacy club, and serves as a tour guide on campus. She also loves working out, taking pictures, watching movies, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Kassandra Chavez-Quintero is a fourth year, psychology major with a sociology minor. After graduating, she will attend graduate school in order to recive a masters degree in psychology. She is interested in developmental psychology and hopes to gain further experience in this field with research done in the Family Development Lab. In her free time she frequents different coffee shops, as well as creating home made coffees, and matchas. She also enjoys to travel with her loved ones, mainly around California.
Akhila Dhurjati is a first year Public Health major with a pre-med emphasis at UC Merced. During her time at UC Merced, she hopes to build hands-on research experience in the Family Development Lab while she explores how relationships, empathy, and communication shape adolescent development and mental health. After graduation, she plans to pursue medical school and become a physician who connects psychological understanding into patient-centered care! In her free time, Akhila enjoys binging new TV shows, spending time with friends and family, and listening to music.
Hello! My name is Jaqueline Hernandez, but I just go by Jackie. I am a fourth-year double major in Psychology and Public Health. I'm from a small town called Dinuba, but my family is from Guanajuato, Mx. My current goal is to go onto grad school to further my career in Psychology and hopefully do so out of state. My newest hobby fixation is embroidery, but reading is usually my go to on a slow day.
Alex Mariscal Lona is a second-year Biological Sciences student at UC Merced with minors in Spanish and Psychology. During his time at UC Merced, he hopes to gain research experience and learn more about child and adolescent development, particularly how mental health and social factors can influence their well-being. He is interested in both pediatrics and psychiatry and hopes to explore how these areas can work together to better support children and adolescents, with the goal of eventually attending medical school and becoming a physician. In his free time, Alex enjoys volunteering, playing sports, hiking, going to concerts and spending time with family and friends.
Naya Zaragoza is a third-year psychology major with a minor in public health. During her time here at UC Merced she hopes to build on research experience with the intentions of expanding her knowledge in adolescent development. After graduation she plans on attending graduate school to become a school counselor. In her free time she enjoys trying new coffee shops, taking part in outdoor activities as well as spending time with family and friends.