Research Team

Active Members

Janis Kaur

B.A. Psychology Student, Fresno State (expected graduation is May 2028)

Career goal: I plan to attend med school after graduating from Fresno State. I want to be a voice for children and women of color in the mental health field.

Tanvir Singh

B.A. Psychology, Fresno State (May 2025)

Career goal: I currently work full-time as a Supplemental Instruction leader for Physiology. My experience as a certified nursing assistant, where I initially pursued nursing, shaped my understanding of patient care and confirmed my desire to become a physician. Supporting others during vulnerable moments is what drives me as I prepare for the MCAT and medical school.

Seng Xiong

B.A. Psychology, Fresno State (Expected May 2026)

Career goal: To be added

Obi Moreno

B.A. Psychology, Fresno State (Dec 2025)

Career goal: To be added.

Cecilia Arredondo

B.A. Psychology, Fresno State (Expected May 2026)

Career goal: To be added.

Ariana Gamez

B.A. Psychology, Fresno State (Expected Dec 2026)

Career goal: After graduating Fresno State with my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I will pursue graduate study in developmental or educational psychology with a particular focus on language development. My interest in language development stems from my experience working as a literacy mentor to provide academic and social support to students. Additionally, I am drawn to pursue a career in developmental and educational psychology because I want to learn more about the cognitive, educational, and developmental experiences that support language development in young children.

Principal Investigator

Farin Bakhtiari, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT)

M.A., General Experimental Psychology, California State University Northridge (CSUN)

B.A., Psychology, CSUN

email: farin@mail.fresnostate.edu

Past Members

Analisa G. Padilla, M.A.

Ph.D. Student in Developmental Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz (Expected graduation May 2030)

MA Student, General Experimental Psychology, Fresno State (May 2025)

B.A. Psychology, Fresno State

Analisa's LinkedIn

Valentina Vivas Castaneda, B.A.

M.A student in Sport Psychology, Fresno State (Expected graduation May 2026). Alongside graduate school, Valentia works full-time with High Performance Academy (HPA) as their Camp Coordinator. HPA is a youth sports organization that partners with school districts to provide both sports and socioemotional learning enrichment. Valentina's LinkedIn

Muneeb Afnani,M.A.

Ph.D. Student in Human Development and Family Sciences, Michigan State University (Expected graduation May 2030)

MA Student, General Experimental Psychology, Fresno State (May 2025)

B.S. Psychology, University of the Pacific

Simranjeet Sekhon, B.A.

B.A. Psychology Student, Fresno State (May 2025).

Interested in ethnic studies, and looking forward to finding the best fit for graduate school.

Additional past members of the PREPARE Lab:

Alexis Smiley, B.A.
Raed Shalan, B.A.
William Rivera, B.A.
Leslie Nunez-Rubeldo, B.A.
Natalia Pilavian, B.A.
Daniela Rodriquez, B.A.
Nicolette Fierro
Cristobal (Cris) Burke, B.A.
Jennifer Velasco, B.A. (M.A. Student in the GE program at Fresno State)

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