Principle Investigator

Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Senior Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Texas A&M University
4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4235
Doctoral Students

Emily Raibley
Emily is a fourth-year Ph.D. student from Searcy, Arkansas. She earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Arkansas State University. Her research interests include understanding the interpretations of ostracism events and how it contributes to a cycle of ostracism. Additionally, Emily enjoys teaching undergraduate students and helping students become involved in research.

Ran Wang
Ran is a fifth-year Ph.D. student from China. She earned her B.S. in Psychological Sciences from Purdue University with a Research-Focused Honors Concentration and her master’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Her research interests include social exclusion, perceptions, and forecasting. Her goals are to learn from the known and unknown in social psychology and contribute to the field in a meaningful way.

Leslie Fernandez
Leslie is a second-year Ph.D. student from Kerman, California. In May 2022, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with Departmental Honors as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar with a B.A. in Psychology. She was selected as the Outstanding Undergraduate Psychology Student and was the department’s nominee for the Dean’s Medal at California State University, Fresno. Her research interests include decision-making, risk-taking, meta-analyses, and interpersonal relationships. Her goals are to return to California’s Central Valley to teach and conduct research at the university level. Additionally, Leslie is a recipient of the Aviles-Johnson Doctoral Fellowship at Texas A&M University.
Lab Manager

Kiki Salsedo
Kiki is the lab manager for the Emotion Science Laboratory at Texas A&M University. Before starting, she served as a Research Assistant in multiple labs throughout her undergraduate career. In May 2023, she graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies. Her research interests include interpersonal relationships, risk-taking, and forecasting.
Current RAs

Carina Brownfield
Carina is a psychology major from Austin, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in how emotion processing can impact future success. Additionally, she is a Big for FLARE and a member of the Psychology Club. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to become an Industrial Psychologist.

Karley Egger
Karley is a Psychology major with a Neuroscience minor and Applied Behavioral Health Certificate from Houston, TX. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in personality processes and mental health’s impact on decision-making. Additionally, she is an undergraduate RA in labs focusing on learning and attention and personality processes. She is joining Psi Chi, training to serve as a volunteer for the HelpLine, and starting a TAMU student organization called Aggie Therapy Dogs to provide resources to students with mental health problems. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to become a clinical psychologist.

Katia Cannon
Katia is a psychology major from College Station, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in the way emotions impact how people feel and think about certain situations. Additionally, she is on the Dean’s List and a member of Aggie Mental Health Ambassadors (AMHA). Outside of school, she competes in show jumping with her horse, Helios. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to become a clinical psychologist.

Stephanie Portales
Stephanie is a psychology major with a neuroscience and Latin and Mexican American studies minor from College Station, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall of 2023 because of her interest in human emotions, how they affect a person’s behavior, and when emotions result in success. Additionally, she is a Fall 2023 Transfer Student Peer Mentor for non-traditional students. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to become a Licensed Psychological Associate.

Samika Sequeira
Samika is a psychology major from Katy, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Spring 2023 because of her interest in the effect of social influences on emotions and, ultimately, one’s behavior. Additionally, she is a part of the Psychological and Brain Sciences Honors program, the St. Mary’s Music Ministry, and an officer in the Freshmen Leaders in ArtSci Reaching Excellence. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to pursue a career as a social psychology researcher.

Ava Williams
Ava is a psychology major from Austin, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in forensic psychology and how childhood trauma can affect individuals’ reactions to situations later in life. Additionally, she is involved in Fish Camp. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to pursue a career in forensic psychology.