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
Erica Hanes is a third-year graduate student. She received her BA in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University. During her time at PSU, she researched aspects of culture and diversity among Latino/a adolescents. Erica is excited to continue to explore culture, specifically prosocial behaviors among immigrants and undocumented persons.
Katey Workman is a second-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 first-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.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Cat Casinto is a 4th year psychology major with a minor in writing studies. She plans to graduate in Spring 2025 and intends to pursue either a master's or PhD in clinical psychology after completing her time at UC Merced. Cat is originally from Pensacola, Florida and loves to spend time at the beach. However she also loves skiing when winter comes around.
Skye Dumas is a third-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.
Lisandra Hernandez is a fourth-year majoring in psychology with a minor in cognitive science. She is interested in cognition/developmental psychology. After graduating she hopes go to grad school for counseling. Beyond her academics, she likes to see what is new on social media and watch videos/shows.
Gabby Pedraza-Saavedra is a 4th year Psychology major with a minor in Cognitive Science. After her time at UC Merced, she intends to further her education, attend graduate school to pursue a master's in clinical psychology, in hope to return back to the Central Valley. She is originally from the Central Valley. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family.
Malinee Phumiwasana is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Merced. She is currently pursuing a BS in Cognitive Science and a BA in Psychology under the Pre-Health track and is expected to graduate in Spring of 2025. Malinee is part of the Family Development lab to develop her research experience further. She has hopes of learning more about family dynamics and the relationship between children and parental figures.
Alvi Ramirez-Gamboa is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Merced. She is majoring in Biology along with a minor in Spanish. After obtaining her bachelor's degree, she intends on going to Medical School in the Fall of 2026 with an emphasis on being a primary care provider. Alvi hopes her time in the family lab will help make her a more well-rounded doctor and provide her with some useful insight in relation to psychology and healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys going out to eat with her family and friends.
Emily Rodriguez is currently an undergraduate fourth year at UC Merced. She is majoring in Psychology and hopes to attend graduate school focusing on Neuropsychology. She was born in the US, but was raised in Colima, Mexico for her entire primary education. She has since migrated and lived in Atwater, CA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and loved ones.