Past Lab Members

Grant Lattanzi

Grant Lattanzi is a Colorado Springs local who recently graduated with honors from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where he studied theatre acting and sociology. After earning his master's, Grant will pursue a Ph.D. in sociology. More information on his interests and current projects is on website at grantlattanzi.com."

Mac Morgan

Mac is a DMV native and recent graduate of the University of Toronto where he studied Psychology, Statistics, and English. Mac is a prospective graduate student and currently works with researchers in London, Toronto, and Washington DC investigating various questions in social perception and well-being. In the future, Mac plans to study technology and how it can be used to better the lives of individuals. In his free time, Mac is passionate about biking and running, especially around Rock Creek Park.

Amanda Van Orden

Amanda served as a Lab Manager for Dr. Kushlev. In this role she maintains the lab website, manages administration, prepares research materials, edits research manuscripts, and organizes the expenses of such a high-caliber lab. Majoring in Psychology and minoring in Journalism and Studio Art, Amanda is able to bring her organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills to the lab. Amanda graduated Georgetown University in 2021 and hopes to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Danielle Rallis

Danielle is from Long Island, New York and is a junior Human Science major in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Georgetown University. She recently joined the Happy Tech Lab as a research assistant. Danielle has a strong interest in how mental health is affected by technology; more specifically she is interested in learning more about the loneliness epidemic that is occurring between the ages of 18-25.

Nina Radosic

I come from Zagreb, Croatia, and I moved to the U.S. in July 2014 to pursue a college education. I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology from the University of Virginia in December 2018. I wish to pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology, most likely focusing on well-being. My ideal job would be working as a university professor.

Ori Cantwell

Ori Cantwell is from Washington, DC, and is currently a junior at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Data Analysis and Religion. He joined the lab as a summer research assistant focusing on data visualizations and data-centered exploratory research. For summer 2020, he is examining data on mental health and adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kiran Singh

Kiran is currently a Junior in the College from Upstate, NY. She is majoring in Psychology, minoring in Environmental Studies, and is a member of the Entrepreneurship Fellows Program. Kiran joined the lab as a research assistant in November 2020 and worked under Matthew Leitao. Interested in the impact of technology and social media on mental health and well-being, she is excited to join the Happy Tech team and learn more about the research process. In her free time, she loves to upcycle clothes, bike, and cultivate her garden.

Maureen Tibbetts

Maureen is from Wilmington, Delaware and is currently a senior in the College at Georgetown University. She is majoring in psychology and double minoring in art and music. Maureen joined the lab as a research assistant in September 2019, and she is currently working with Dr. Kushlev to complete her honors thesis on technology and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduation, Maureen plans to take a gap year before resuming her psychology studies in graduate school

Liz O’Hazo

Liz served as the Lab Manager for the Fall 2020 semester. She is a senior in college double majoring in Psychology and Sociology from Washington, CT. As the Lab Manager, Liz managed all administrative aspects of the lab. This includes supervising the research assistants, organizing the budget and expense reports, and maintaining the website. As an experienced stage manager for theater productions and the current Executive Producer of Nomadic Theatre, Liz greatly applied her management, organizational, and administrative skills here at the Happy Tech Lab.

MAAHIRA JALAN WADHWA

Maahira is from New Delhi, India and is pursuing a major in Psychology at Georgetown University. She served as the Happy Tech Lab Manager from January 2022 to April 2023. Maahira is interested in learning about mental health issues  and how to help people with such problems. She plans to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist in the future. In her free time, Maahira likes to play sports such as soccer, tennis and squash.

Erin Smith

Erin Smith received her B.S. in Psychology from William & Mary, graduating in 2018 on the pre-med track. Exploring both MD and PhD routes, she is currently Happy-Tech Lab's Research Manager. In this role, she designs surveys and research materials, organizes funding opportunities, composes IRB and grant proposals, and investigates current literature concerning technology and well-being. Expanding on her interests in social psychology and applied research, Erin also works as a consultant for University of Virginia's Motivate Lab. With this research team, she collaborates with teachers, school systems, and government agencies to strengthen the learning mindsets of at-risk and underrepresented students.

Robert Longyear

Robert is from Marietta, GA and is currently a senior Healthcare Management and Policy major at the School of Nursing & Health Studies. During his time at Georgetown, Robert has worked on a wide range of research engagements. Recently, he has been researching Medicaid accountable care organization programs under the 1115 waiver; and, in psychology, the relationship between subjective well-being and health behaviors. Robert’s professional experience includes internships at ICF, WellCare and Medicaid Health Plans of America. Robert currently works at the Institute for Medicaid Innovation, where he concentrates on best practices in high-risk care coordination. After graduation, he will be joining Accenture as a Consulting Analyst.

Angela Newman

Angie graduated from Georgetown University with majors in psychology and French. She worked under Dr. Kushlev to create an honors research thesis, for which she explored the psychosocial roots of happiness in college students. Angie’s passion is implementing well-being research and psychological techniques where they are not often considered, such as in college social culture or in the workplace. Angie is currently working for a mindfulness and leadership startup based in Madison, WI. She is also in the process of applying to graduate school in Applied Positive Psychology, with hopes to continue my studies in the near future!

Christian Morris

A recent graduate from Georgetown University, Christian continues his work with the Happy Tech Team as Dr. Kushlev’s Lab Manager. Coordinating research studies, facilitating team meetings, and organizing the expenses of such a high-caliber lab, Christian’s talents in communication and organization make him a strong team member. His passions lie at the intersection of clinical and cultural psychology, and he looks forward to pursuing his Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

EMMA KIKUCHI

Emma was a senior from Kailua, Hawaii. She was majoring in Psychology and minoring in English and Statistics at Georgetown University. She joined the Happy Tech Lab in Fall 2021 and was excited to research the intersection of technology and well-being. She hopes to pursue a career in psychological research.

Matthew Leitao

Matthew is a Ph.D student studying under Dr. Kushlev in the Human Development and Public Policy Ph.D. program. He hails from sunny Southern California, and has extensive previous research experience in health and social psychology. His interests lie at the convergence of social psychology and technology, and he intends to investigate the social perception of technology and how such perceptions affect human activity as well as how social relationships are mediated through technology. His goal after obtaining his Ph.D. is to continue working in academia, researching people’s relationships with and through technology to help develop devices that better complement our lives.

SAYANI MAJUMDAR

Sayani is from Chicago, Illinois and has majored in Psychology and Pre-Health studies at Georgetown University. She joined Dr. Kushlev's Happy Tech Lab Team as a research assistant, and is studied the relationship between social media and general well-being. Sayani now hopes to enroll in medical school.

Kristin rabil

Kristin is from Northern Virginia and graduated from Georgetown in 2022, where she studied Psychology with minors in Spanish and Theology. She joined the lab in 2021 as a research assistant, working on a project that examined social interactions and well-being throughout the pandemic. Kristin enjoyed learning more about the intersection of technology and well-being, as well as the research process in general, and will be pursuing a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology in the upcoming fall. 

Narisa Buranasiri

Narisa is from Bangkok, Thailand and majored in Psychology and English. She is particularly interested in social and cultural psychology. As she hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist, she joined the Happy Tech Lab to learn more about how the internet influences our well-being, as well as how we can take advantage of computers and smartphones in ways that improve both our mental and physical health. In addition to Dr. Kushlev's lab, Narisa also assists with research in Dr. Parrott's Human Emotions Lab and Dr. Barr's Early Learning Project.

Dasoo Milton Yoon

A senior in the College majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education, Inquiry, and Justice, Miltoon was born in Evanston, Illinois, but was raised in Seoul and London before returning back to the US for his college education. After participating in Professor Kushlev's Social Psychology course, he wanted to get involved the Happy Tech Lab. He is particularly interested in the psychological influences of close relationships. Post graduation, he is looking to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology in order to either go into academia or practice psychology.