Lab Members

Dr. Tianlin Wang

Tianlin is an Associate Professor at the University at Albany - SUNY. Previously, she was a post-doctoral researcher at the Infant Studies Lab and taught at the University of Notre Dame. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology and Asian Languages and Cultures from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her double B.S. in Psychology and Physics from Nankai Univeristy, China. 

Elizabeth Sluarz

Elizabeth (Liz) is a fifth-year doctoral student in Educational Psychology and Methodology at the University at Albany, SUNY. Her prior work as a direct support professional (DSP) and in administration at the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) informs her research examining how K-12 policy and practice can advance social justice.

Ching-I Huang

Ching-I is a sixth-year doctoral student in the program of Educational Psychology and Methodology at the University at Albany, SUNY.  Ching-I was a K5 Chinese language teacher in an elementary school in Texas, and the experience draws her interest in children’s language development. She earned her MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at Minnesota State University, Mankato and BA in Applied Chinese Language and Cultures in National Taiwan Normal University.

Jamie Gahtan

Jamie is a sixth year doctoral student in the Educational Psychology and Methodology program at the University at Albany, SUNY.  She has an advanced certificate in Early Intervention and Parenting and a MSEd in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College. 

Cheyenne Bonk

Cheyenne is a fourth-year doctoral student in the program of Educational Psychology and Methodology at the University at Albany, SUNY. She received her MS in Psychological Science from SUNY New Paltz. Cheyenne was a research assistant at Austen Riggs Center in Massachusetts which inspired her to further her education. She is interested in becoming a college professor in which she will pursue both teaching and research.

Dana Morales-De Brecourt 

Dana is a senior studying psychology and neuroscience at the University at Albany, SUNY. She is interested in learning further environmental factors' influence on childhood behavior, decision-making, and potential adverse experiences. She feels her involvement in Dr. Wang's lab is providing her with valuable insights into early childhood development and how children internalize and externalize their surroundings, particularly through literature. Her goal is to become a licensed psychotherapist specializing in working with children, utilizing a holistic and therapeutic approach incorporating art and music therapy. 

Jumana Ibrahim

Jumana is a junior at the University of Albany. She is double majoring in Human Development with a concentration in higher education and Sociology. She is interested in working in education, focusing on abolishing disparities that inhibit students from accessing adequate education throughout their lives. She is interested in working with students from different countries. Currently, Jumana is working on projects in the lab to gain valuable knowledge regarding the intersectionality between intercultural understanding, education, and the understanding of AI technologies.

Dr. Qi Sun

Dr. Sun is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the ASU Learning Engineering Institute. As an interdisciplinary researcher, her work lies at the intersection of AI-enhanced learning, educational psychology, learning sciences, and cognitive and developmental sciences. Her research examines how generative AI and interactive technologies mediate human learning, cognition, and learner agency across educational contexts.

Dr. Rong Huang

Dr. Huang is an assistant professor at Austin Peay State University. Her research focuses on how disadvantaged environments, such as poverty exposure, influence children's cognitive and social development during the early childhood years. In addition, She is interested in the interplay of social cognition and bilingualism, specifically, how bilingualism can foster the development of social cognition among children from unfavored environments. 

Dr. Elie (Ching-Yen) Yu

Dr. Yu is a postdoctoral researcher at the University at Albany, SUNY. Her educational trajectories have been working with language from different lenses. She earned her BA in Foreign Languages and Literature at the National Tsing-Hua University, with a focus on English and French. She received her first MA in Translation and Interpreting Studies from University of Manchester, UK and her second MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from SIT Graduate Institute, Vermont. She now works on the DAACS project directed by Dr. Heidi Andrade.