Dr. Mello's Team

Click HERE for the Mello Lab Organizational Chart!

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Post Doctoral Research Fellow

 

Vani Kakar, Ph.D.

she/her

Vani Kakar is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the Mello Lab in the Department of Psychology. She earned her PhD in Psychology from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Her doctoral thesis examined beauty ideals and body image among adolescent girls living in Australia, China, India, and Iran, which was honored with the Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence in November 2022.

 

Her academic background includes an M.Phil. in Educational Planning and Administration from the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (2016), an M.A. in Applied Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology from the University of Delhi (2013), and a B.A. Honors in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, India.

 

Dr. Kakar has two primary streams of research: body image and disordered eating, as well as acculturation and minority experiences. Broadly, she is interested in understanding the role of sociocultural influences (media, family, peers, culture) on the emotional and physical well-being of young individuals, with a particular focus on people of color and individuals living in low-middle-income countries. At present, she is researching how attitudes and experiences within adolescent populations influence their engagement in risky health behaviors, aiming to better understand the contributing factors to promote better health outcomes for young individuals. In                                                                   addition to Dr. Kakar’s research, she is also a licensed Be Body Positive facilitator.

 

 

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Graduate Research Assistants

 

Manuel Abundis-Morales, B.A.

He/Him

Manuel is a first-year graduate student in the Social, Personality, and Affective Science (SPA) Program at San Francisco State University. He graduated from University of California Santa Cruz, where he earned bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Latin American Studies/Sociology (combined major). His research interests include access to mental health services within marginalized communities, cross cultural cooperation in online contexts, and bridging gaps in educational attainment.

 

 

Jo Nisa Cabilogan, B.A.

She/Her

Nisa is a first-year graduate student in the Social, Personality, and Affective Science Psychology Program at San Francisco State University (SFSU). She earned her B.A. in Psychology with a summa cum laude distinction from SFSU. Her research interests include discrimination based on social identities and its association with developmental outcomes among marginalized adolescents. She is also passionate to serving the AAPI and the immigrant (i.e., undocumented) communities.

 

 

 

Busra Dogru, B.A.

She/Her

Busra is a graduate student at Psychology (Social, Personality, and Affective Science) Master’s at San Francisco State University. She earned her BA from Bilkent University. Her research interests include discrimination, resilience, and the effects of social comparison on depression and anxiety.

 

 

 

Sean Hennigan, B.A.

He/They

Sean is a second-year graduate student in the Social, Personality and Affective Sciences M.A. Program. He graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a B.S. in Psychology in 2021 and has since worked as a research associate at UCSF examining game-based learning as a means of healthy behavior change and fostering parent-adolescent communication. He is also a research assistant in the SFSU Personality & Well-Being Lab and Mello Lab. His research interests concern topics of LGBTQ+ psychology, the impact social media on political attitude formation, and the development of sexual and gender identities. More specifically, Sean hopes to conduct research related to improving the health outcomes and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities.

 

Jeremiah S. Sabale, B.A.

He/Him

Jeremiah is a first-year graduate student in the Social, Personality, and Affective Science (SPA) Psychology Program at San Francisco State University. He earned his B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Linguistics, from Cal State Long Beach. His wide research interests include emotional processes, aggression, personality, and research on social factors that influence health and well-being outcomes.

 

 

 

Adam Suri, B.A.

He/Him

Adam is a graduate student in the Psychology SPA (Social, Personality, and Affective Science) Program. He earned his BA from Cal State East Bay and his research interests are mostly wellness-related. Specifically, he wants to research what Wellness techniques students are exposed to based on their socio-economic status and what effects it has on their daily lives.

 

 

Abraham Tou Jang Moua, B.A.

He/Him

Abraham is a first-year graduate student in the Psychology SPA (Social, Personality, and Affective Science) Program. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.A. in Psychology. His research interests incude generational trauma, gender roles, and cross-cultural examinations particularly between different Asian ethnicities.

 

 

 

Undergraduate Research Assistants

 

Chris Garcia

He/Him/They

Chris is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Latino/a studies. He is interested in pursuing a Master's degree in School Psychology.

 

 

 

 Jay Michael Espinoza

He/Him

Jay is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Management. He is interested in Human-Computer Interactions and Research Statistics. He plans on applying to a Master's program in Industrial Organizational Psychology and completing his Certificate in Data Science for Psychology.

 

 

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The Mello Lab is located in EP 329.

 

Students who are interested in joining the Mello Lab should send an email to Dr. Mello at zmello@sfsu.edu that includes a brief statement about career goals, CV/resume, and GPA.

   

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Selected Alumni

 

Betsy Centeno, Doctoral Student

University of California, Santa Cruz

Social Psychology

Betsy's research interests include racial/ethnic identity, racism, colorism, educational outcomes, psychological well-being, and health disparities among marginalized groups, with a focus on Latinx populations.

Testimonial

"I became a member of the lab when I asked Dr. Mello to be my mentor for the CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Program the spring of 2021 during my master's program. Since then, I have grown so much academically and professionally. I became a research assistant for high school based projects and learned how to conduct interviews on adolescents and teachers. I received a supplemental grant from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program to fund my research on colorism among adolescents. I also                                                    had the opportunity to attend or present in professional conferences! Then, I graduated from my master's program with a Graduate Award for Distinguished Achievement.                                                          While I was applying to PhD programs, I worked with Dr. Mello as a project coordinator while I conducted qualitative data analysis on interviews and worked on my first                                                              published manuscript. There is so much more I can say but I will end with saying this: All of these experiences in the lab led me to be accepted into multiple PhD programs. I                                                      proudly say that I am now a PhD student in Social Psychology at UC Santa Cruz!" 

Hilary Bridges, M.A.

LPC Clinical Director, Kids Crossing

Hilary is a Licensed Professional Counselor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ilke Bayazitli, Doctoral Student

University of California, Berkeley

School Psychology

Ilke's current research interests include the well-being of underrepresented adolescents, talent development and gifted education, and time perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Jaramillo, Ph.D.

Early Career Scientist, Oregon Social Learning Center

Jamie is passionate about the treatment and prevention of cascading negative health effects following adversity, such as mental disorders, substance use, and addiction.

 

 

 

 

Laura Finan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Illinois State University

Laura's research interests include how social-ecological factors contribute to adolescents' and young adults' health and health risk behaviors.

 

 

 

 

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Selected Alumni (continued)

 

(Name, former position with Dr. Mello, current position) 

Alexa L. Davidson, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Executive Director at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center 

Alyssa Youngquist, M.A. Student, Clinical Research Coordinator, University of California, San Francisco

AnnMarie Stiasny, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Graduate Student, Counseling, Northcentral University

Daniel Grafil, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Masters Student, School Psychology, San Francisco State University

Dante D. Dixson, Ph.D., Undergraduate Research Assistant, Associate Professor, Michigan State University

Dilrani Bhadare, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Ph.D., Clinical, Alliant University

Erica Walker, Psychology Honors Program Student, M.A. Student, San Francisco State University

Erick Romero, Psychology Honors Program Student, Edgewood Center for Youth

Isaac C. S. Wiggers, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Graduate Student, Industrial/Organization, Seattle Pacific University

Juan Carlos Argueta Rodriguez, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Julia Moon, M.A., Student & Graduate Research Assistant & Project Coordinator, Clinical Research Coordinator, University of California, San Francisco

Julie Chandler, Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology, Central Michigan University

Kara Eytcheson, M.A., Student & Graduate Research Assistant

Laura Yitzzel Alcaraz, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Masters in Science, School Psychology, San Francisco State University

Lee H. Hand, Undergraduate Research Assistant, English Instructor, China USA Society English Centers

Liliana Celesia Moore, M.A., Graduate Student, Clinical Research Coordinator, San Francisco VA Medical Center

Max Harrington, M.A., Student & Graduate Research Assistant

Melissa Jazmin Espana, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Patricia L. Monaghan, Graduate Research Assistant, Ph.D., Clinical, Florida Institute of Technology 

Tiffany Wong, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Graduate Student, SJSU Research and Experimental Psychology Program

Victoria C. Paoloni, Psychology Honors Program Student, M.A. Student, San Jose State University

 

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Lab Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2024

In-person lab meeting

(From the left) Sean Hennigan, Chris Garcia, Jeremiah S. Sabale, Jo Nisa Cabilogan, Jay M. Espinoza, Dr. Mello, Adam Suri, Busra Dogru, Dr. Kakar, Abraham Tou Jang Moua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2024

CoSE Showcase

(From the left) Adam Suri, Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Manuel Abundis-Morales, Busra Dogru, Tiffany Wong, Juan Carlos Argueta Rodriguez, Chris Garcia, Jay Espinoza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2024

SRA (Dr. Mello as Co-Chair)

(From the left) Manuel Abundis-Morales, Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Dr. Mello, Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer, Dr. Kakar,  Adam Suri, Busra Dogru

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2024

SRA (Dr. Mello as Co-Chair)

(From the left) Tiffany Wong, Adam Suri, Busra Dogru, Dr. Mello, Dr. Kakar, Manuel Abundis-Morales, Dayanne Herrera Suarez 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2024

SRA (Dr. Mello as Co-Chair)

(First picture from the left) Adam Suri, Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Dr. Mello, Dr. Kakar, Tiffany Wong, Busra Dogru

(Second picture from the left) Busra Dogru, Tiffany Wong, Adam Suri, Dr. Mello, Dr. Kakar, Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Manuel Abundis-Morales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2024

Dr. Mello's presentation at the Insitutute of Human Development (University of California, Berkeley)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2024

(Top row, from left) Kara Eytcheson, Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Dr. Mello

(Bottom row, from left) Manuel Abundis-Morales, Christopher Garcia, Melissa Espana, Adam Suri, Busra Dogru, Tiffany Wong, Dr. Kakar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter 2023

(From the left) Adam Suri, Busra Dogru, Manuel Abundis-Morales, Juan Carlos Argueta Rodriguez, Sarah Purnell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2023

(From the left) Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Busra Dogru, Manuel Abundis-Morales, Dr. Kakar, Dr. Mello, Adam Suri, Tiffany Wong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2023

(From the left) Manuel Abundis-Morales, Dayanne Herrera Suarez, Juan Carlos Argueta Rodriguez, Busra Dogru, Dr. Mello, Dr. Kakar, Adam Suri, Tiffany Wong 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2023

(From the left) Julia Moon, Betsy Centeno, İlke Bayazıtlı, Dr. Mello, Jo Nisa Cabilogan, Juan Carlos Argueta Rodriguez, Nada Habash, Daniel Grafil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2022

Nada Habash, Aleen Ohannesian, Julia Moon, Juan Carlos Argueta Rodriguez, İlke Bayazıtlı

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2021

(Top row, from left) Julia Moon, Dr. Mello, Lena Azzouz

(Bottom row, from left) İlke Bayazıtlı, Betsy Aracely Paredes Centeno

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2021

 

(Top row, from left) Betsy Aracely Paredes Centeno, Dr. Mello, Jules Kutner

(Second row, from left) Jesse Simnegar, Lena Azzouz, Julia Moon

(Bottom row, from left) Erick Romero, Liliana Celesia Moore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2020

(Top row, from left) Lindsey Seril, Julia Moon, Jules Kutner

(Second row, from left) Lena Azzouz, Dr. Mello, Erick Romero

(Bottom row, from left) Rebecca Lieber, Liliana Celesia Moore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mello Lab 2018–2019

(Top row, from left) Natasha Govind, Bianca Gonzalez, Daniel Campos, Aldo Pizano, Dr. Mello, Aimee Montano, Khoi Tran, Jack Chase

(Second row, from left) Melissa Gonzales, Jena D'Amico, Lindsey Seril, Julia Moon, Jennifer Wahleithner

(Bottom row) Kendra Ferguson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2019

Julia Moon, a first-year graduate student working under the direction of Dr. Mello, won first place at the 33rd Annual California State University Student Research Competition! She presented her project entitled, "Time and Trepidation: An Examination of Thoughts and Feelings about the Past, Present, and Future and Anxiety among Adolescents" in the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Graduate Division. Congratulations, Julia!

Credit for left photo goes to Jordan Kubat Photography, 2019

 

 

 

 

The photo was taken at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.