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 third-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 second-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 repertoire of three to four songs on the ukulele.
Suzy Aguirre is a first-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.
Scarlett Lopez-Aguilar is a first-year graduate student. She completed her bachelor's degree in psychology at UC Davis. During her time as an undergraduate, she was involved in the HERD Lab as a research assistant before becoming a Junior Specialist for the HERD and SES Lab. She is interested in studying how family dynamics, culture, and broader context shape youth’s social and emotional development. She is especially interested in the development of resilience in the face of adversity. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, dancing, and watching a good movie.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Kaylin Cardoso is a third-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 third 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.
Victoria De Los Angeles was born and raised in LosAngeles and my family is from Michoacan, Mexico. Victoria was a UROC scholar in the Family Development Lab in Summer 2025. She hopes to go into Forensic Psychology or criminal justice after receiving her bachelors and attending Medical School. An interesting fact about her is that she was in a Navy Junior Program for 4 years, where she learned her leadership style and developed my confidence. During her free time she likes to try new things, sing, and travel!
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.
Skye Dumas is a fourth-year health psychology major. During the rest of her time at UC Merced, she intends to further her understanding of research within the Family Development lab. She wants to continue her education after graduation and obtain her doctorate in clinical psychology. In her free time, she holds an officer position in her sorority and loves to spend quality time with her family and dog, Moose.
Brianna Griffin is a fourth-year psychology major with a social psychology emphasis and writing studies minor. Throughout her studies, she hopes to pursue a PhD in either clinical or developmental psychology after graduating from UC Merced this upcoming spring. Brianna also works at the ECEC on campus and, in her free time, participates in events and mixers with her sorority.
Hello! My name is Jaqueline Hernandez, but I just go by Jackie. I am a third-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.
Sara Kue is a 4th year undergraduate Psychology major at UC Merced. She is currently pursuing a BA in Psychology with intents to expand her academic background by attending graduate school to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. During her time in the Family Development lab, Sara hopes to learn more about interactions within family relationships. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and spending time with her dog, Marshy.
Mya Rounds is a third-year psychology student. She is interested in developmental psychology and plans to pursue her PhD in that field. Her hobbies include going to concerts as well as playing video games, and she also works at the ECEC.
Ava Smith is a fourth year undergraduate student at UC Merced. She is majoring in Psychology major with a minor in Sociology. After she graduates in Spring 2026, she intends to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Forensics to eventually become a correctional psychologist at a Juvenile Detention Center. Ava hopes the Family Development Lab will help to further develop her research skills and expand her knowledge about adolescents/children and their relationships with their families. In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing video games