about me

I am a sixth-year Ph.D. candidate being advised by Dr. Leaf Van Boven in the Environment, Decision-making, Judgment, and Identity (EDJI) Lab at CU Boulder. I am interested in studying social judgment and decision-making, especially around the development of trust and cooperation among competing groups. Recently, my research has focused on these topics in the context of political polarization and public health.  

Political Identity, Prosocial Behavior, & Trust in Institutions

• How does news media consumption influence trust in social institutions, science, and willingness to sacrifice for your community?

• Can exposure to more ideologically diverse news increase trust in science and adherence to vaccination? 

• Can classic psychological theory help explain many people's rejection of the 2020 US Presidential Election outcome?

Cooperation & Relationships

• How does gratitude as a social emotion help initiate and maintain cooperative partnerships? 

• How do people decide when to help others in need? 

• How does mere attention impact willingness to trust strangers?