Lab Members

Dr. Brenda Straka is a social and developmental psychologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and director of the MOSAIC Lab. She first joined the department as a research fellow in the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Postdoctoral DRIVE Program and will start as an Assistant Professor at UIUC in Fall 2024. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Social Psychology from Duke University and her B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science with a minor in English from the University of Virginia. CV

Sherlock earned a B.A. at the University of British Columbia, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Sociology with high distinction. Currently, Sherlock is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Psychological Science program at the University of Illinois, where she works with Dr. Brenda Straka to investigate group-based social identities (e.g., race, gender, socioeconomic status), belongingness, and discrimination. Her research interests focus on how historically marginalized groups perceive and experience exclusions, cross-racial interactions, and intergroup relationships. CV

Hi! My name is Isabela Castilla. I’m a senior (time flies!) majoring in Social Psychology and minoring in Communication. My specific research interests are Multicultural/Multiracial experiences, sense of belonging, educational equity, and intergroup relations. I hope to get my PhD in Social Psychology and create interventions that address stereotypes, exclusion, and discrimination through my research.

Outside of the MOSAIC lab, I’m involved with the McNair Scholars, a federally-funded program that aids underrepresented & first generation students to prepare for graduate school! I’m also a research assistant for the Translational Research for Educational Equity (TREE) Lab in the department of Educational Psychology. Lastly, I serve on the marketing committee for the Japanese Student Association. Outside of the academic setting, I love traveling (just studied abroad in Japan!), singing, cooking/baking, and going to cute cafes! 

Hello, my name is Heaven Velez. I am a junior majoring in Psychology (Clinical-Community concentration) and minoring in Business. My passion for Psychology has been fueled by my interest in the well-being of individuals, especially concerning their mental health. Simultaneously, I hold an interest in fostering equity and inclusion for underrepresented populations.

Looking ahead, I plan to attend graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in Psychology to become a clinical psychologist! Beyond my academic career, I love to spend my time outdoors, traveling, with friends and family, and working out!

Hi, my name is Teresa Huang. I am a junior majoring in Developmental Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies. I am interested in topics like racial biases and discrimination in children. I hope to attend graduate school and get a Ph.D. to fulfill my dream of becoming a child psychologist. I love working with children and hope to be able to foster a safe space for queer youths! Outside of the academic setting, I enjoy listening to music and traveling.

Hi, my name is Lilian Murdie. I am a junior majoring in Social Psychology on a pre-med track. I am interested in topics such as relationships, DEI, and bridging the gap between mental and physical health.

Outside of school, I enjoy hanging out with friends, enjoying nature, and reading books. I plan on going into medical school to work in neonatal neurology.

Hi there! My name is Abir Sun and I am a junior studying Clinical-Community Psychology with hopes to eventually obtain a PhD in clinical psychology and become a therapist. In the field of psychology, I am quite interested in mental health and the overall well-being of people, as well as topics such as social groups, self-identity, relationships, racism/prejudice, and developmental psychology.

Hi! My name is Bryana Perez. I am a sophomore, double majoring in Clinical/Community Psychology and Spanish. I hope to attend graduate school and obtain a PhD in clinical psychology! My specific interests in psychology are mental health disorders, interpersonal relationships, and identity formation.

Hi, I’m Miranda Santucci! I’m a junior majoring in Clinical-Community Psychology with a double minor in Criminology and Social Work. Some of my top interests include mental illness/health, social groups and identity, discrimination and belonging, racism/prejudice, and criminality in the context of mental illness. After undergrad, I want to go to graduate school to obtain a Psy.D. in Forensic Psychology.

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella Del Rocio Uriarte and I’m a junior majoring in Psychology (with a concentration in Clinical-Community) and minoring in Latino/a Studies. I’ve always unknowingly had an interest in this field but it wasn’t until one of my high school friends told me I would make a great therapist when I decided that I wanted to major in Psychology. Some topics of interest of mine include nature vs. nurture, attachment styles, relationships, and the development of children’s personalities. After undergrad, I want to go into graduate school in hopes of obtaining my Phd in Clinical Psychology.