LEOR HACKEL

LAB DIRECTOR

Leor Hackel is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at USC. He completed his B.S. in Neuroscience & Behavior at Columbia University, his Ph.D. in Social Psychology at NYU, and post-doctoral training at Stanford University. After a decade of bouncing between coasts, Leor is excited to be back in his hometown of Los Angeles. 

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JULIE HYEJI CHO

LAB MANAGER

Julie received her B.A. in Neuroscience at Pomona College. She is broadly interested in exploring the fluidity of identities and how they influence decision making. Ultimately, she hopes to increase access to science, particularly for kids and their parents. When she’s not working or napping, Julie enjoys playing board games, trying new Trader Joe’s snacks, and creating watercolor birthday cards.

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CHELSEY PAN

GRADUATE STUDENT

Chelsey received their B.A. in Psychology at Stanford University. They are interested in how people form, develop, and make decisions about their social connections. In their free time, Chelsey enjoys knitting, hyper analyzing pop culture, and searching for the best chai latte in town.

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YI ZHANG

GRADUATE STUDENT

Yi received his B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from New York University. His research interests include moral cognition, person perception and emotion—especially how they interact across different social contexts. Outside the lab, Yi enjoys photography, reading, and a variety of sports. Yi is excited to explore life on the west coast after six years in NYC.

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ALEXIS PINELA

UNDERGRADUATE HONORS STUDENT

Alexis is a third year undergraduate student at USC completing a BA in Psychology and a minor in Two Dimensional Studies. She is interested in the motivations of group oriented behavior and identity. Her other passions include cooking, baking, and listening to podcasts.

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QIONGWEN JOVIE CAO

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Qiongwen is a fourth year undergraduate student at USC, double-majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience. She is interested in decision-making, morality, prosocial behaviors, and the neural mechanisms behind them. She also hopes to develop novel methods and techniques to study the brain. In her spare time, Qiongwen loves latin dance, playing badminton, and listening to different genres of music. 

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XUEYAN LIU

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Xueyan Liu is currently a third year Psychology student at the University of Southern California. She is intrigued by interpersonal connections and hopes to learn more about the nature of human interactions. Regularly, Xueyan will workout at the gym, although no significant weight loss has happened. 

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INDIANA SCHNICER

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Indiana is a second year currently working towards a double major in Psychology and Law, History, and Culture at USC. She is most interested in the intersection between psychology and law, particularly how they interact to shape society. Her happy place is within three feet of the nearest bookshelf, and she most likely has a children’s song stuck in her head at any given time. 

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