People

Developmental Psychologist & Research Director

Email: telli@bu.edu

I am a Developmental Psychologist and researcher in the fields of social and religious cognition with an interest in the role of culture and context. I am fluent in Persian and have done research in Iran, Turkey, India, and the US. I have also collaborated with researchers on cross-cultural projects in the US and China.

My PhD in Developmental Psychology is from Boston University and I have other graduate degrees in Philosophy and Education, fields that inspire me to do more interdisciplinary research. 

I love doing research and curious about finding ways to make research more equitable and inclusive. Other things I like include good food, good cinema, good sleep, good relationships, walking, music, reading fiction and history, and dancing! I believe that we all need some combination of these things, plus our basic needs met, in order to live a good life. In my professional life, I am a Research Director at Gallup where we tackle the question of "what is a good life" from every angle. 

Master's Student

Email: ghazaleshahbazi.psy@yahoo.com

I completed my undergraduate studies in psychology at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran and recently graduated with a master’s in Psychology: Theory and Research from KU Leuven. My primary research interest lies in the development of social cognition, such as social essentialism and its precursors, including generic language. I enjoy exploring experimental distinctions and nuances, striving to design studies that effectively capture these subtleties. Beyond research, I love listening to podcasts, watching series, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Master's Student

Email: hossein.samani.psy@gmail.com

I earned a master’s degree in cognitive science from ENS-PSL in Paris, building on my undergraduate training in psychology and philosophy at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. My research explores how social understanding—and our representations of social categories and relationships—evolve over the course of history and throughout our lives. Beyond academia, I am passionate about traditional painting and music, enjoy reading non-fiction, and love discovering diverse cuisines.