LAB MEMBERS
Principal Investigator
Madalina Vlasceanu is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Environmental Social Sciences at Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability and the Director of the Climate Cognition Lab. Madalina obtained a PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience from Princeton University in 2021 and a BA in Psychology and Economics from the University of Rochester in 2016. Her research focuses on the cognitive and social processes that give rise to emergent phenomena such as collective beliefs, collective decision-making, and collective action, with direct applications for policy. Guided by a theoretical framework of investigation, her research employs a large array of methods including behavioral laboratory experiments, social network analysis, field studies, randomized controlled trials, megastudies, and international many-lab collaborations. Madalina's research is situated at the intersection of basic and applied science, incorporates an interdisciplinary perspective, and directly informs policy relevant to current societal issues, such as the climate crisis.
Lab Manager
YASH PATEL
Yash is the lab manager of the Climate Cognition Lab at Stanford University. Yash has a BA in Psychology from New York University, where he also graduated with minors in Sociology and Chemistry. He's interested in social cognition and neuroscience, especially the effects our identity has on our decision making, cognition, and fixations. Outside of research, he enjoys reading old books, cycling, and cooking.
PhD student
Danielle is a third year Ph.D. student in Social Psychology at NYU. Her research lies at the intersection of social psychology and global climate change, with interests including social norms, communication, and social change. In her work, she investigates how psychological, sociopolitical, and cultural factors influence public perception and behavior towards climate change, and how this understanding can drive more effective climate action. In 2021, Danielle received a BA from the University of Miami, where she double majored in Psychology and Studio Art. Outside of the lab, Danielle is passionate about painting, rock climbing, backpacking, and stop motion animation.
PhD student
EVELINA BAO
Evelina is a third-year Ph.D. student in Social Psychology at NYU. Her research interests broadly lie in the effect of emotions on individual and collective actions and belief updating. With her computer science background, she plans to use computational methods to inform researchers of better ways to design interventions that elicit emotions and promote collective actions and social changes. Evelina received her BA in Psychology and BS in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles in 2022. Outside the lab, Evelina loves concerts, photography, and good food.
PhD student
KATIE MASON
Katie is a third year Ph.D. student in Social Psychology at New York University working under the primary mentorship of Dr. John Jost and supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She is a Spring 2021 graduate of Purdue University with majors in Psychology and Political Science and a minor in Spanish. After graduation, she was the lab manager for the Social Cognition of Social Change lab at Purdue University under the guidance of Dr. Erin Hennes. Her research interests broadly lie within the psychology of social justice. She is interested in why people are resistant to positive social change, instead defending flawed systems, and how scientists, politicians, the media, and universities can encourage change that promotes equity. Outside of the lab, Katie is a dancer and likes to read, listen to music, and explore the city.
PhD student
NICK FENDINGER
Nick is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Social Psychology at NYU. His research focuses on how social class shapes our attention and ability to infer the internal states of others (theory of mind). He is also interested in researching attitudes and perceptions of societal inequality. Outside the lab, Nick enjoys cooking and baking new recipes, collecting and listening to vinyl records, and exploring Prospect Park. Nick graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in English literature from Miami University (OH) in 2019. Prior to starting graduate school, he worked as a laboratory manager at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Dr. Keely Muscatell.
MA student
Kay is a first year Ph.D. student at Stanford University. His research focuses on the polarization and synchronization of group-level memories, emotions, and attitudes that lead to collective action. He is especially interested in using novel ways to expand traditional social psychology research by bringing in theories and methods from macro-level sociology and communication studies as well as neuroscience. Kay has an MA from NYU, and a Bachelor of Management from Lanzhou University in China. He also writes popular science articles in Chinese to promote the wise use of scientific research. Outside of research, he enjoys pour-over coffee, going to museums, and drawing.
Lab Alumni