Lab Members
Ariel Zhao
Student Researcher
My name is Ariel Zhao, also known as Yining Zhao in Chinese. I am a psychology major and currently a rising junior at BMC. I am passionate about developmental psychology, which led me to join this lab. I am particularly interested in investigating the factors that shape childhood experiences, such as parenting styles and cultural influences, and their impact on children’s development. I am excited about the opportunity to learn EEG techniques and gain hands-on experience in the lab.
Masa Hasegawa
Student Researcher
My name is Masa and I am a junior Neuroscience major and Child and Family Studies minor at Haverford. I am interested in the extent to which early life experiences shape children’s social and behavioural development and affect their mental health and well-being in adulthood. It fascinates me how rapidly a child’s brain responds and adapts to changes in the environment, and I wish to further explore the role of neuroplasticity. My hope for the future is to apply some of the knowledge and skills gained from this lab to settings that offer early intervention programmes for those who need it.
Arshia Dolwani
Student Researcher
My name is Arshia Dolwani, and I am Political and Psychology double major from the Class of 2026. I joined the DEER lab because I am interesting in exploring how positive and adverse childhood experiences shape development processes and impact individuals into adulthood. I am excited to learn more about EEG techniques and to gain more hands-on experience with the psychology research cycle. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing tennis, reading, and taking me dog on walks!
Clare Hann
Student Researcher
I'm Clare Hann and I'm a psychology major at Bryn Mawr college, class of '27. I'm working with the DEER lab because I am interested in how childhood experiences shape lifelong mental health. I am particularly excited to learn how mental health providers can help people overcome childhood trauma to become happy and healthy adults! I hope to use what I learn in the lab in my future career as a psychologist to have a meaningful impact on people's lives. Outside of the lab, I love going to concerts, teching for my theater troupe, and taking care of my bunny, Delilah!
Mahveen Wani
Student Researcher
My name is Mahveen Wani, and I’m a sophomore at Bryn Mawr, majoring in psychology with a minor in data science. My interests focus on understanding how societal expectations and childhood experiences shape behavior later in life, with a particular passion for exploring the cultural influences on child development. Outside the lab, I enjoy practicing Indian classical dance, reading books and sunsets!
Ciara Grimes
Student Researcher
My name is Ciara Grimes, and I am a neuroscience major and psychology minor at Bryn Mawr College (’27). I was drawn to the DEER lab due to the intersection of neuroscience and psychology incorporated in this research. I am interested in learning EEG techniques and explore the impacts of early life experiences on cognitive functioning. Outside of the lab, I am a member of the Bryn Mawr soccer team and enjoy playing tennis, hiking, and reading.
Nichole Wang
Student Researcher
My name is Nichole, and I’m a junior at Haverford College majoring in Psychology and
Cognitive Science. I’m broadly interested in clinical psychology, with a focus on how culture,
emotion regulation, and affective psychopathology interact across different developmental stages and social contexts. I’m excited to be part of the DEER Lab and to learn more about EEG methods and how early life experiences shape children’s mental health outcomes. Outside the lab, I enjoy watching soccer, spending time with friends, and horse riding.
Wilhelmina Lawerh-Lawerh
Student Researcher
I'm Wilhelmina, a Neuroscience Major/Pre-Med at Bryn Mawr College and Class of 2028. I joined DEER lab because of my interest in learning more about how behavioral tools like the EEG can be used to study ways in which early life experiences influence brain development and outcomes in children and adults. I am also very interested in mental health and its advocacy as well as research on positive resilience.
Outside of lab, I love to design websites, write short fiction & poetry, listen to music and enjoy a good vanilla ice-cream.
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Michelle Zhao
Student Researcher
My name is Yinuo Zhao, preferred Michelle, and I am a Psychology major with a Neuroscience minor at Bryn Mawr College (Class of ’28). I am interested in understanding how children’s brain and behavioral development shapes outcomes later in life, and the neural mechanisms in mental disorders. I am also excited to learn how EEG works and how it can contribute to our research. Outside the lab, I enjoy listening to K-pop, traveling, and spending time with my dogs!
Sarah Haskell
Student Researcher
My name is Sarah Haskell, and I’m a Psychology major and French minor at Bryn Mawr College (’27). I’m passionate about how children learn norms of expressing and processing emotion. I’m excited to explore the effects of these early life experiences on mood regulation in adulthood. In my free time, I like to read, crochet, and explore the outdoors!
Ellie Carlin
Student Researcher
My name is Ellie and I’m a junior Psychology major ‘27, with a double minor in Health Studies and Transnational Italian Studies. My research interests include child psychopathology and mental health, how to support children and their families, and how childhood affects adults’ emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. I love working with kids, particularly ages 3-5, so I’m very excited to be working in the DEER Lab and learning more about the effects of their experiences. Outside of the lab, I also love listening to 90s alt rock, hiking, and reading.