Director
Dr. Shanting Chen
Dr. Shanting Chen is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida. She receives her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She completed her postdoctoral training in the School of Education and Social Policy Department at Northwestern University. Her research interests have broadly centered on the intersection of stress, race/ethnicity, cultural contexts, and social inequality. Specifically, she explores how socio-cultural (e.g., ethnic/racial socialization, social support) and bio-behavioral (e.g., sleep, cortisol, allostatic load) factors that can be leveraged to promote adolescent development in the face of inequality. Her work integrates diverse methodologies such as longitudinal, daily diary designs, and ecological momentary assessments to understand both short-term and long-term developmental mechanisms. Her research is theoretically driven by ecological theory, the integrative model of minority child development, and the biopsychosocial models. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers in top-tiered journals such as Child Development, Social Science and Medicine, and Developmental Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her toddler and participating in running events organized by Florida Track Club.
Graduate Students
Ariana Burga
Ariana is a second-year PhD student in the dual specialization program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and Developmental Psychology at the University of Florida (UF). She earned her B.S in Neuroscience with minors in Health Disparities and Chemistry at the UF. She also earned her M.S in Medical Sciences at the University of South Florida. Her research investigates how adverse life events during critical developmental periods—from prenatal stages to adulthood—become biologically embedded in underserved and underrepresented communities. She focuses on how stressors influence epigenetic markers and how protective factors, such as social cohesion and positive parental relationships, can buffer these effects. She is particularly committed to understanding the long-term impacts of these biological changes on cognitive and physical health outcomes, with a focus on ethnic and racial minority populations. Her ultimate goal is to advance research that promotes health equity by addressing the biological consequences of adversity and disparities in marginalized groups.
Cherita Clendinen
Cherita is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience program at the University of Florida (UF). She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Georgia State University and her M.S. in Psychology from UF. Her research explores how stressful life experiences and protective factors shape adolescent development in underserved and underrepresented communities. Her work focuses on how stressors (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, discrimination) and protective factors (e.g., ethnic-racial socialization) influence healthy adolescent development among racial and ethnic minority youth. She investigates the biological impacts of stress on systems (e.g., the HPA-axis) and genetic markers (e.g., telomeres), which contribute to stress-related disorders and poor health outcomes. Her long-term goal is to guide research that promotes health equity.
Yongyong Xu
Yongyong is a second-year Ph.D. student in developmental psychology area at UF. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Zhejiang University. Her research interests center around family holism, dynamics, and their influence on adolescent development. She is also interested in exploring biological factors that can be integrated to better understand adolescent development. She enjoys watching TV dramas and spending time with her friends to relax.
Lab Manager
Samantha Bussell
Samantha is a UF alum with a B.S. in Psychology with a focus in Behavior Analysis. Her research interests include family dynamics, peer relationships, and their link to language, literacy, and well-being. In her free time, Samantha enjoys playing piano, reading, and watching history documentaries.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Marissa Adams
Marissa is a third year psychology and criminology major. She is also minoring in communication studies and sociology of social justice and policy. Her research interests include ethnic minorities and class disparities. Marissa plans to go to law school in the future. In her free time she likes to play pickleball, read fiction, and go to new places.
William Campbell
William is a third-year Psychology major focusing on Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience. He is interested in the development and mental health of adolescents in marginalized communities, including ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. William plans to attend medical school in the future. He enjoys watching movies in his free time and recently got into pickleball.
Arsema Denber
Arsema is a third-year General Psychology major with a minor in Disabilities in Society. Her research interests include adolescent mental health and the development of psychological disabilities. In her free time she enjoys going on walks, watching movies, and being with friends.
Victoria Fernandez
Victoria is a fourth-year Psychology major at the University of Florida, concentrating in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience with a minor in Statistics. She is a research assistant in both the Life Story Lab and the Chen Lab, where she is interested in how structural and social inequalities impact adolescent development and mental health. Her broader research interests include the intersection of artificial intelligence, education, and psychological well-being. Outside of the lab, Victoria enjoys making music, playing video games, and spending time with her cat.
Aisha Johnson
Aisha is a second-year Psychology student with a concentration in Behavior Analysis at the University of Florida. Her research interests include marginalized communities, family relationships, and biological predispositions to various mental health issues. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend a Master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis. She enjoys hanging out with her friends and playing with her dog in her free time.
Anna Jones
Anna is a fourth-year General Psychology major minoring in Women’s Studies. Her research interests include the development of adolescents in marginalized communities, especially in LGBTQ+ individuals, ethnic minorities, and children with developmental disabilities. She currently works as a Registered Behavior Technician and as a research assistant in the TABS Lab at UF. In her free time, Anna loves to listen to music, read, and go thrift shopping.
Deanna McRae
Deanna is a fourth-year Psychology major with a concentration in Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research interests include developmental processes amongst ethnic minority adolescents and psychopathology. In her free time, Deanna enjoys reading, thrifting, and listening to music.
Lua Park
Lua is a fourth-year Psychology major with a concentration in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in Education Studies. She is interested in children’s mental health and stress and anxiety management. She enjoys playing piano or drum, singing, and interacting with church members.
Firouze Rahman
Firouze is a fourth-year Psychology major with minors in Business Administration and Public Health. Her research interests are mental health management in ethnic minorities and the methods to improve quality of work life. In her free time, Firouze enjoys dancing, trying new recipes, and doing henna.
Alex Rodriguez
Alex is a third-year Sociology and Psychology double major, with an emphasis on Behavior Analysis. His research interests include the intersection of popular culture and applied psychology, especially how media influences behavior, identity, and mental health outcomes. Alex in his free time enjoys going to the beach, going to concerts, and listening to music.
Cathleen Yulee
Cathleen is a fourth-year General Psychology and Education Sciences double major with a minor in Disabilities in Society. She is interested in the mental health and psychopathology of young adults. She has experience in academia as a teaching assistant and plans to work in a crisis center. In her free time, Cathleen enjoys listening to music, playing video games, and watching movies and shows.
Past Research Assistants
- Jordan Armstrong
- Heidi Carson
- Emily Rodriguez
- Alejandro Zurita