Research Assistants

Elena Lai

elenalai@pdx.edu

My name is Elena. I was born and raised in Vietnam. At 13, I moved to the United States with my family. I'm currently in my final year working toward a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a focus on pre-clinical science. Initially, I pursued nursing for two years before realizing it wasn't for me, which led me to discover my passion for epidemiology and research. One of my primary research interests involves exploring work-life conflicts, especially within the healthcare industry. This research area feels meaningful to me given my previous nursing experience.

 Though I'm quite introverted by nature, I become fun and playful once I'm comfortable with the people around me. I'm excited to combine my knowledge in public health and research to make meaningful contributions to the lab.

Shantay Rocha

shantay@pdx.edu

My name is Shantay, I am an Oregon native and recent graduate of Portland State University. I graduated with a B.S. in Psychology with University Honors in 2024 and I am currently in my gap year exploring clinical psychology graduate programs with an emphasis on multicultural community health. I am passionate about the intersection of clinical psychology and healthcare management, with a particular focus on how multicultural perspectives and deportation can influence health outcomes and well-being. It is important to me to understand and address the unique psychological needs of diverse populations, while working with healthcare systems to ensure inclusivity, accessibility, cultural competence, and effectiveness in promoting mental and physical health for individuals from all backgrounds. In my leisure time I enjoy thrifting, being outdoors by a body of water, and cooking and enjoying tasty meals. 

Kasey Grant

kaseyg@pdx.edu

Born and raised in Chicago, I moved in 2016 to escape the -20 degree winters. Ironically, I moved just in time for snow-pocalypse here in Oregon. I am a post-bac Psychology student at PSU with a current degree and career in Marketing / Communications. I’ve been a long-time advocate for healthy employee engagement in the corporate world and an even longer-time advocate for equity and psychological safety in the real world. This advocacy comes, in part, from the fact that I am a proud member of the LGBTQ community. I’ve come to the decision in the last few years that I want to contribute more to the world than just writing really nice emails and helping people sell things. I started my journey in the field of Psychology to try and make a difference. While I was originally thinking of pursuing clinical Psychology, I’m realizing that my work and life experience likely make me a better fit for I/O.

Emily Meidinger

meidinger.emily@gmail.com 

My name is Emily and I am from Vancouver, Washington. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Oregon State University. While attending Clark College through the Running Start program, I took my first psychology class and developed a passion for the subject. This curiosity continued at OSU, where I had the opportunity to join the Adjustment, Identity, and Racism (AIR) Lab. 

I particularly enjoy the research process because it offers continuous learning opportunities and deepens my understanding of people and society. My primary focus within psychology is social psychology. I am interested in industrial-organizational (IO) psychology because it examines how work life impacts personal life. I find it important to understand how mental and physical health can be influenced by customers, fellow employees, and supervisors. In my personal time, I enjoy taking my dog for walks, reading, and spending time with friends and family.