SES Lab Team
Feel free to get to know our team members!
Principal Investigator
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Camelia Hostinar
Dr. Hostinar is the lab director and an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at UC Davis. She completed her doctoral training in Developmental Psychology at the University of Minnesota (Institute of Child Development) and her postdoctoral training at Northwestern University. Dr. Hostinar investigates the ways in which childhood poverty and other forms of early-life adversity influence later development and health. She has particular interest in protective factors that may buffer children and adolescents from chronic stress and subsequent physical or mental health problems. Her work examines developmental processes at multiple levels of analysis, incorporating endocrine and immune biomarkers, electrophysiological data, genetic assays, and behavioral measures. She seeks to improve understanding of the role of early-life stress in shaping self-regulatory skills, and to illuminate how stress-buffering processes such as supportive social relationships exert their effects. Contact: cehostinar@ucdavis.edu |
Graduate Students
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LillyBelle Deer
LillyBelle is a PhD student in the developmental psychology program at UC Davis. She grew up in Honolulu, HI and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College in 2015. Her research interests include the role of early life stress and adversity in mental and physical health, as well as in academic outcomes. She also has a strong interest in protective factors that may play a role in buffering against stress and adversity, such as cultural or familial factors. Outside of the lab, she enjoys engaging in aquatic sports, trying new recipes, and playing with her herd of dogs. Contact: lkdeer@ucdavis.edu |
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Antonia Cartwright
Antonia Cartwright is a PhD student in the developmental psychology program at UC Davis. Antonia moved to California from England in 2014. Her research interests include the role of stress in mental and physical health outcomes, and how tools such as mindfulness may foster resilience by buffering against stress and adversity. Antonia’s hobbies include rock climbing, yoga, and slipping Britishisms into everyday conversations. Contact: acartwright@ucdavis.edu |
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Nick Alen
Nick is a PhD student in the developmental psychology program at UC Davis. He is a Bay Area local who completed his Bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Nick’s research interests include parenting, poverty and autonomic nervous system stress physiology, and their relation to social behavior and health outcomes. In his free time Nick enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his family. Contact: nvalen@ucdavis.edu |
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Grant Shields
Grant is a PhD student in psychology at UC Davis interested in determining the effects of stress on memory and executive function as well as the biological mechanisms behind those effects. His role in this lab is a typical graduate student, someone who is always busy coding studies, analyzing data, and writing papers. He is interested in working with Dr. Hostinar because she is someone with a lot of great experience in research areas that align with his interests. In particular, her work examining associations of different life stressors such early adversity in orphanages, with executive function closely parallels his interests, and her work examining the conditions that mitigate or exacerbate stress-related biological dysregulation can certainly inform his research. In addition to working with Dr. Hostinar, Grant works under both Dr. Andrew P. Yonelinas and Dr. Brian C. Trainor at UC Davis and collaborates with Dr. George M. Slavich at UCLA. When he's not working, he enjoys playing with his dogs, running, hiking, and snowboarding when weather permits. Contact: gsshields@ucdavis.edu |
Lab Manager
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Adam Nissen
Adam is currently a fourth year undergraduate student at UC Davis pursuing a double major in Biological Psychology and Animal Science. He is interested in how an individual's personality can impact their overall health and health behaviors. As well as working in the SES Lab, Adam also works at the Personality and Self-Knowledge Lab run by Dr. Simine Vazire and the UC Davis campus bookstore. Adam hopes to teach college level psychology classes in the future to help facilitate interest in the field. In his free-time, Adam enjoys spending time with his friends and attending music festivals/concerts. Contact: atnissen@ucdavis.edu |
Research Assistants
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Jennifer La
Jennifer is a fourth year undergraduate student at UC Davis, pursuing a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major. She has an interest in research focusing on underserved communities and specifically the ways poverty, educational inequality, and other forms of adversity affect a person's well-being. In addition to conducting research with Dr. Hostinar, Jennifer works at the Willow Clinic to provide medical care to the homeless population in Sacramento. Her future goal is to become a pharmacist to help patients understand the biological and social factors affecting their physical and mental health. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with friends and family and trying out delicious places to eat. Contact: jla@ucdavis.edu |
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Amanda Rosenberg
Amanda is a third year Human Development major and Global Disease Biology minor. She is passionate about pediatric health and hopes to get a Masters in Genetic Counseling after graduating from Davis. In addition to assisting Dr. Hostinar, Amanda is also a research assistant at the UC Davis MIND Institute, an Executive board member for the Chi Omega Sorority, and a team member for a dance group on campus. She is excited to be apart of the SES Lab team! Contact: abrosenberg@ucdavis.edu |
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Gurleen Lamba
Gurleen is a third year undergraduate student at UC Davis pursuing a Biological Sciences B.S. degree with a minor in Psychology. She is particularly interested in the field of Developmental Psychology and in research regarding emotion regulation, security of attachment, cognitive development, and the impacts of poverty on child development. Gurleen is passionate about both pediatrics and psychology and hopes to utilize knowledge and skills from both fields to help improve the well being of children. In addition to assisting Dr. Hostinar with research, Gurleen is currently interning at Sutter Davis Hospital. In her free time, Gurleen enjoys spending time with family and friends, learning new languages, stargazing, and reading both mystery and science fiction books. Contact: gklamba@ucdavis.edu |
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Ann Cheng
Ann is a third year undergraduate student at UC Davis majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development and Education. She is interested in researching how stress affects social, cognitive, and emotional development of young children. By gaining research experience from Dr. Hostinar’s lab, she hopes to pursue a career as a child psychologist specifically dealing with children suffering from PTSD. In her free time, Ann likes to explore new coffee shops, bookstores, vinyl record stores, and playing the piano. Contact: anncheng@ucdavis.edu |
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Jing Li
Jing is currently a fourth year undergraduate student at UC Davis majoring in Psychology A.B degree. She is interested in research related to social and cognitive development of young children, and she is particularly interested in how situations affect childhood development. Jing hopes to utilize her knowledge to help children with social and emotional problems. Before transferring to UCD, she volunteered as a preschool teacher for two years. In her free time, Jing enjoys spending time with her families, biking, having milk tea with friends, and reading magazines. Contact: jngli@ucdavis.edu |
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Tina Le
Tina is a fourth year undergraduate student double majoring in Biological Psychology and Communication. She is interested in exploring and learning about the different affects and impacts on childhood development. She hopes that by gaining experience and more knowledge in Dr. Hostinar's lab, she is able to decide on a specific focus and interest. In her free time, she enjoys going out to eat and exploring different food places around the area, binge watching TV shows, and spending time with her family and friends. Contact: taile@ucdavis.edu |
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Jocelynn Morales-Martinez
Jocelynn is a fourth year undergraduate student at UC Davis pursuing a degree in Psychology with a biological emphasis and a minor in Spanish.She is excited to be a part of SES Lab and hopes to pursue a career in clinical or child psychology after graduation. Jocelynn is interested in research related to the impact early life stressors have on children’s social development and behavior. In addition to working in the SES Lab, Jocelynn is part of Clinica Tepati, a student run clinic that provides free healthcare to the uninsured population of Sacramento and an intern at the Interfaith Winter Rotating Shelter. During her free time, Jocelynn loves spending time with her golden retriever Lucas, and studying at coffee shops around Davis. Contact: jmoralesmartinez@ucdavis.edu |
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Mona Karimi
Mona is a third year undergraduate student majoring in both Psychology and English. They are interested in the neurological and physiological impact of chronic stress and trauma on individuals throughout their lifespan, more specifically the treatment and prevention of these conditions. Through their experience working in Dr. Hostinar’s lab, Mona is interested in ultimately pursuing both research and clinical work in the field of psychology. Their hobbies include journalling, playing guitar, and browsing bookstores in their free time- particularly for different kinds of 1800s literature and poetry. Contact: mkarimi@ucdavis.edu |
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Elis Feyzieva
Elis is a third year undergraduate student at UC Davis pursuing a Biological Psychology degree. She is originally from Bulgaria but has lived in California for most of her educational career. By gaining research experience from Dr. Hostinar’s Lab, she hopes to more clearly understand how stress affects patients' physical and emotional functioning, as well as how stress affects adherence to treatments and course of illness. In her free time, Elis enjoys spending time with her family and friends and being outside! Contact: epfeyvieza@ucdavis.edu |
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Julianna Kirkpatrick
Julianna is a third-year transfer student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development. She is passionate about mental health and hopes to pursue either an M.A. or Ph.D. in Psychology and work as a Clinical Psychologist for children and adolescents suffering from mental illness. In particular, she is interested in the impact that early life stressors have on the development of adverse coping mechanisms and how early interventions can promote psychological wellness. Contact: jckirkpatrick@ucdavis.edu |
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Austin Dalmasso
Austin is a third year undergraduate at UC Davis majoring in Global Disease Biology with a minor in Public Health Sciences. He is passionate about public health, especially with regards to the intersection of health disparities and the social determinants of health. He has worked closely with children in roles as a camp counselor, soccer coach, and tutor and is interested in studying the effect that chronic stress has on their individual health outcomes. In addition to working in the SES lab Austin is also on the board of the Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic, a peer advisor and mentor, and a member of the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Advisory Board. His aspirations are to pursue higher education relating to public health and public health law in order to affect real, sustainable health policy change. In his free time Austin likes to rock climb, watch documentaries, and try to cook new food. Contact: amdalmasso@ucdavis.edu |
Lab Alumni
Erin Morrison
Willa Kurland
Shannon Trinh
Zev Minow
Jenna DeKeater
Aleasha Jhanjar
Rebecca Cho
Temitope Awosika
Yuvraj Khanna
Anthony Riddle
Rachel Petrie
Tina Shafa
Rana McBee
Marisa Galvez
Willa Kurland
Shannon Trinh
Zev Minow
Jenna DeKeater
Aleasha Jhanjar
Rebecca Cho
Temitope Awosika
Yuvraj Khanna
Anthony Riddle
Rachel Petrie
Tina Shafa
Rana McBee
Marisa Galvez