Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Senior Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs

Van Dang 

Van is a fifth-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Texas A&M University. Her research interests focus on mechanisms that may underlie affective forecasting biases in those with higher levels of anxiety.

Nazim Asani

Nazim is a third-year Ph.D. student from Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Georgia State University. His research interests include emotions, decision-making, boredom, and productivity.  

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.

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.

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. 

Kendall Baez

Kendall is a psychology major from Missouri City, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in the impact emotions can have on people’s perception of the world around them. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to get a Ph.D.

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.

Aranza Perret

Aranza is a psychology major and neuroscience minor with an applied behavioral health certificate from The Woodlands, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in emotion regulation and the role of emotions in predicting future outcomes. Additionally, she volunteers at the Helpline, works as a Youth Counselor for kids, and enjoys singing as part of the Texas A&M Women’s Chorus. After graduating, she plans on attending graduate school for neuropsychology.

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.

Simron Biswas

Simron is a psychology major and sociology minor from Katy, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Fall 2023 because of her interest in emotions and cognitive processes within romantic relationships. Additionally, she is a Psychology Honors student, a Teaching Scholar, and works at Phoebe’s Home, a domestic violence shelter. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a clinical PhD and eventually operate a private practice.

Ishani Rana

Ishani is a psychology major from Katy, Texas. She joined the Emotion Science Lab in Spring 2024 because of her interest in how emotions, rather than logic, can dictate one’s behavior. Additionally, she is a Psychology Honors student and a part of Freshman Aggies in Medicine. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist.