Research Assistant

Sunetra joined the lab in Fall 2026 and is pursuing B.S. degrees in Statistics and Cognitive Science at UC Davis. She is particularly interested in understanding cognitive processes and using data analysis to explore how people think and behave across different contexts. Through her work in the lab, she hopes to gain hands-on research experience and deepen her understanding of how quantitative methods can be used to study cognition and behavior. In her free time, Sunetra enjoys watching movies, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family.

Sama joined the lab in fall of 2026 and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in French. She is particularly interested in individual differences in social, emotional, and cognitive development and how environmental factors, particularly social and cultural influences, contribute to these differences. Sama plans on attending graduate school in Psychology, where she is hoping to further develop her research skills. She is also interested in the applied side of Psychology, including learning about treatment options for mental health disorders. In her free time, Sama enjoys journaling, watching movies, making matcha, and spending time with her friends and family.

Jaap joined the lab in Fall 2026 and is pursuing a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. She is interested in how neurobiology and environmental factors interact to shape personality, behavior, and cognition, as well as in understanding mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases. Jaap is currently on the pre-medical track and hopes to specialize in either neurology or psychiatry in the future. In her spare time, Jaap enjoys traveling, trying new coffee shops, and going to the gym.

Saba Golnabi joined the lab in fall 2026 and is pursuing a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. She is interested in understanding how cultural and social differences affect development. She is also especially interested in how neurological mechanisms are shaped by those differences and change throughout time in a developing brain. Outside of the lab, she likes to crochet and rock climb.

Saachi joined the lab in Spring 2026 through ASPIRE and is a second-year student at UC Davis pursuing a B.S. in Human Biology. She is interested in understanding how people learn and hopes to explore the influence of early life experiences and cultural context on education. Through her work in the lab, she aims to gain hands-on research experience and deepen her understanding of how childhood factors shape outcomes later in life. In her free time, Saachi enjoys spending time with loved ones, trying new foods, watching Bollywood movies, and dancing.

Advika is an undergraduate studying Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior at UC Davis. She joined the Context in Cognition Lab as a research assistant during June of 2026. Advika is developing an interest in neurodevelopmental disorders and how familial environments shape perception and behavior. She hopes to explore, through this lab, how various facets of context manifest into development and thought processes in people. Apart from labwork, she enjoys listening to instrumental music, reading and painting.

Marissa joined the lab in Summer 2026 and is majoring in Cognitive Science with an emphasis in Neuroscience. She is interested in understanding how the cognitive, neurological and computational processes can be affected with early childhood experiences. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in research on memory and attention. In her free time, she is spending time with her friends and family, reading, crafting, or watching basketball.

Mai joined the lab in Summer 2026 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Cognitive Science with a minor in Data in Society at UC Davis. She is interested in law and psychology, specifically how psychology impacts decision making and the rationale behind right from wrong. She hopes to learn more about how social environments influence reasoning and apply that knowledge to how laws are interpreted. Outside of the lab, she likes to bake, rockclimb, and read.

Hannah joined the lab in summer 2026 and is currently pursuing a B.A. in International Relations. She is interested in how different environments in which children are raised shapes behavior later in life. As a non-psychology major, Hannah hopes to gain experience in the field to better understand the interdisciplinary applications of psychology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys crafting, hiking, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Michelle joined the Cognition in Context Lab in Summer 2026 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science with a Neuroscience emphasis. Her academic focus centers on the biological foundations of health and the neurobiological mechanisms that shape how individuals process information and make decisions across the lifespan. She is specifically drawn to the Cognition in Context Lab because of its commitment to understanding how learning and cognition are shaped by the environments in which they occur. By joining this lab, she hopes to explore how different kinds of stimuli people experience at various phases of their life impact future processing of information and affect the decisions they choose to make, ultimately applying these insights to advocate for more equitable mental health resources and healthcare systems. During her free time, Michelle enjoys watching thriller or science fiction films, reading critical theory, and gardening.