Lab Director:
Rachael D. Robnett, Ph.D.
Dr. Robnett (she/her/hers) received her doctoral degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a professor of psychology and the director of the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada. Dr. Robnett has published over 50 scholarly papers and received over $1.5M in federal funding to support her work related to broadening participation in STEM fields. Her interdisciplinary program of research draws from developmental science, social psychology, educational psychology, and gender studies to attain a holistic understanding of social development during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Much of Dr. Robnett’s research focuses on identifying, understanding, and rectifying social-structural inequities in academic contexts and society more generally. Specific areas of study include gender stereotyping, critical consciousness/empowerment, academic decision-making, and romantic relationship norms. She is an Associate Editor at Psychology of Women Quarterly. In her free time, she enjoys competing in endurance sports, reading, and spending time with her daughter and family.
Current Lab Members
Diana Beltran (she/her/hers) is a doctoral student at UNLV in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Marcos and a master’s from UNLV. Her research explores the experiences of women and students of color in STEM fields, focusing on mentoring relationships and factors affecting student success and persistence. In her free time, she enjoys playing catch with her three German Shepherds, listening to true crime podcasts, and hiking.
Claudia Luu (she/her/hers) is a doctoral student pursuing a degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences at UNLV. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Currently, Claudia is conducting research focused on gender inequalities within gaming communities. She aims to explore how these disparities intersect with broader issues for women in STEM. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking fun recipes, trying new restaurants, and playing video games.
Shanika Wickramarachchi (she/her/hers) is a first-generation doctoral student in the Psychological Brain Sciences (PBS) program at UNLV. Her master’s thesis project focuses on enhancing mentorship approaches for first-generation college students. Her goal is to explore support strategies that promote first-generation student academic success and personal development within higher education. She holds Honors BA degrees in Psychology and Sociology along with a minor in Social Research and Applied Statistics from the University of Nevada, Reno. Outside of studying and research, Shanika loves exploring national parks, collecting crystals, and spending time with loved ones.
Katherine Fischer (she/her/hers) is a doctoral student in the Psychological and Brain Sciences program at UNLV. Born and raised in Las Vegas, she also received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Film from UNLV. Her current research focuses on helping behaviors within underrepresented demographics, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. In her free time, Katherine enjoys watching movies, knitting, and spending time with her two dogs.
Lab Alums
Jennifer (“Jen”) John graduated from the UNLV Psychological and Brain Sciences Program with her doctorate in Fall 2022. Her dissertation is titled, Beyond the numbers: A deeper dive into the dearth of girls and women in STEM. She is currently the Associate Director of Quantitative Research at the FrameWorks Institute.
Carrie Underwood graduated from the UNLV Psychological and Brain Sciences Program with her doctorate in Spring 2023. Her dissertation is titled, Multiple approaches to examining gender norms in romantic relationships. She is currently the Director of the McNair Scholars Program at Iona University.
Jenna McPherson graduated from the UNLV Psychological and Brain Sciences Program with her doctorate in Spring 2024. Her dissertation is titled, Age, gender, and sexual orientation and their associations with online dating motivations. She is currently employed at Juniper Behavioral Health.
Sarah Thoman graduated from the UNLV Experimental Psychology Program (Developmental Emphasis) with her doctorate in Spring 2020. Her dissertation is titled, Tales of Thriving: Identifying the Underpinnings of Women’s Success in STEM Careers. Connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more or get in touch.
Kristin Vierra graduated from the UNLV Psychological and Brain Sciences Program with her doctorate in Fall 2023. Her dissertation is titled, Examining oppressive social systems: activism, academics, and alpha males. She is currently a Quantitative Researcher at the FrameWorks Institute.