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Lab Director

Lauren Human, PhD

Principal’s Research Chair in Social Perception and Expression
Associate Professor of Psychology
The University of British Columbia Okanagan
lauren.human@ubc.ca

Click for CV

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Graduate Students

Scarlett MacPherson

I am a PhD student in Psychological Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Lauren Human. My main areas of research are first impressions, social connection, and loneliness. I am especially interested in interventions that may foster interpersonal relationships and build community. I feel immensely privileged to be able to contribute to the ongoing research being conducted in the Social Interaction and Perception Lab. In my spare time you can find me walking long distances and engaging in on-campus advocacy.

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Jillian Law

I am a second year MA Clinical Psychology student with a BA (Hons) in Psychology from UBC-Okanagan. My research interests are grounded in relationship initiation, development, and maintenance in online settings. My goal is to develop the toolkit of a researcher and clinician as a graduate student in order to pursue a career in academia. In my free time I enjoy making pottery, playing games with friends, and spending time outdoors in the beautiful Okanagan!

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Lab Coordinator

Paige Kirkman

human.lab@ubc.ca

I am the SIP Lab Coordinator for the 2026/27 academic year and am currently in my final year of the B.Sc. Psychology program. I recently completed my Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Human, where I explored meta-accuracy and verbal synchrony in first impressions. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology. I am grateful to continue being part of such a collaborative and inspiring research team!

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Undergraduate Honours Students

Jessica Bader

I am a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in psychology. This summer, I completed my Undergraduate Research Award under the supervision of Dr. Human, testing an on-campus intervention to reduce student loneliness. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in psychological sciences. I am very grateful to be a part of the SIP Lab!

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Claire Dupuis

I am a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student. I am majoring in psychology with a minor in visual arts. My research interests lie in social and forensic psychology. After I complete my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

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Volunteer Research Assistants

Annika Joy

I am a third-year student currently working towards a BSc in psychology, with a minor in anthropology. My interests lie in the fields of paediatric psychology and developmental psychology. I look forward to another great year with the SIP lab! 

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Ashley Hlady

I am a third year Bachelor of Arts student. My research interests include the development of psychopathology in childhood, as well as the development and treatment of personality disorders and traits associated with the dark triad. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology!

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Brennan McLaughlin

I have recently completed a BSc Honours degree under the supervision of Dr. Human. My thesis focused on how directional biases and tracking accuracy in liking judgments differ between interaction partners and third-party observers. I am excited to continue expanding this line of research while working alongside my lovely fellow lab members.

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Chantal Choga

I am a second-year psychology major with a passion for research and curiosity. My research experience is in knowledge dissemination through workshops, social media, and podcasting. I am particularly interested in personality and perception in childhood development and romantic contexts. I aim to pursue graduate studies in psychology and I am very excited to be joining the SIP lab!

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Chantelle Fourie

I am Chantelle Fourie, currently a 4^th year Bachelor of Arts Psychology major.  Some of my research interests include interpersonal interactions, areas of development, as well as diagnostics. Specifically, I am interested in areas of anxiety and the impacts of anxiety on interactions. I am currently completing my honours, looking at likability and social anxiety. After my undergrad, I hope to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

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Deidre Folliet

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology with a minor in mathematics. I have always been intrigued by social psychology, and I’m interested in what psychological and social factors influence how others perceive us and how we perceive them. I’m very happy to be a part of the SIP team and after completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in psychology.

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Hannah Vu

I am a third-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in psychology. Currently, I am completing my Directed Studies under the supervision of Dr.Human and Scarlett MacPherson. My research interests are strongly connected in social and developmental psychology. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology. I am beyond thankful to be part of this team!

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Sherine Sarkis

Hello! I am a third-year undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program, originally from Chile. My primary interests are in social and cognitive psychology, which makes me excited to be part of the SIP Lab. I look forward to learning from my teammates, gaining valuable experience and, after graduation, pursuing graduate studies in clinical psychology.

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Yela Jacobs

I am a third-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in psychology. My research interests include culture, perception, and neuroscience. After completing my undergraduate degree I plan to pursue graduate studies in psychology. I am very excited to be a part of the SIP lab team and be involved in hands-on research experience!

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Alumni

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Graduate Students

Jennifer Heyman, PhD: Postdoctoral associate: MIT Sloan School of Management, Center for Collective Intelligence

Marie-Catherine Mignault, PhD: Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, Cornell University

Hasagani Tissera, PhD: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto

Lauren Gazzard Kerr, PhD

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Lab Coordinators

Alexa Meilleur (Counselling PhD Student at UQAM)

Cleo Bertrand

Catalina Enestrom (Experimental PhD Student at McGill University)

Camila Bahn (M.Sc. Organizational Development at HEC Montréal)

Una Jojich-White (M.A. in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University)

Megan Peters (JD at University of Toronto)

Zoe Fargnoli Brown (M.A. Social-Personality Psychology at York University)

Alyssa Truong (M.Ed. School and Applied Child Psychology Student, University of Calgary)

Carlie Unrau (MSc, School and applied child psychology, University of Calgary)

Jillian Law (M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan)

Madison Eagle (M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan)

Research Students

Jamie Cecere (MA Counselling Psychology at University of Toronto)
Charlene Zhang
Simone Chad-Friedman
Jishian Ravinthiran
Sierra Skoropada
Lia Elbaz
Jamie Borenstein-Laurie (Clinical PhD Student at Concordia)
Ashley Brown Notargiacomo
Pushkar Seewooruttun
Yannick Pelletier
Lavanya Virmani
Sophia Thierry (Experimental PhD Student at Brock University)
Emily Schwartzman (Experimental PhD Student at University of Toronto)
Vivien Lee (PhD in I/O Psychology at University of Minnesota)
Stephanie de Silva (M.Sc Cognitive and Decision Sciences at University College London)
Gabrielle Marchand (M.Ed. Counselling Psychology at University of Ottawa)
Sabrina Rao
Marilyne Dragon (MA Research and Clinical Training at Concordia University)
Christophe Gagné
Rose-Marie Guérard
Sal Cuthbertson
Kirti Mahato
Carlie Unrau
Jillian Law
Aradhita Aarora
Kayur Ranchod
Soule Cretney (MSW at University of British Columbia Okanagan)
Karanbir Singh Kalsi (MSW at University of British Columbia Okanagan)
Brittany Bell

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Volunteers