​The social world contains a diversity of perceptual information. But how does the human mind make sense of this information and weave it into a rich social experience? What about when our social world becomes more ambiguous? How do these perceptions shape interactions and other social outcomes?

 

As a 4th year Social Psychology Ph.D. Candidate at Duke University (PI Dr. Sarah Gaither), my research investigates how racial ambiguity intersects with social categorization, stereotyping, identity, and interracial interactions. 

​

At the theoretical level, my research aims to extend who we consider to be racially ambiguous beyond the racial Black-White binary by including the fast growing Multiracial, Latinx, and Asian populations. Moreover, my work explores how we can further expand theories of person perception by testing theories with, cross-cultural, and "non-WEIRD" samples. Here my empirical work suggests racial ambiguity does exist beyond the racial Black-White binary and can lead to mis-categorizations (e.g., a South Asian person is misidentified as Latino) and 'mis-stereotyping' (e.g., A South Asian person receives Latino stereotypes). In other words, I study when people get it wrong and how that shapes other psychological outcomes. 

 

I also apply an intersectional approach to testing ethnic and gender differences in pan-Asian metastereotypes (i.e., what I think you think about me). In this this line of research, I aim to complete two goals. First, establish how Asian diversity leads to differential outcomes and give empirical attention to the diversity that exists within the pan-Asian diaspora. Second, I aim to center Asian perceivers' own-ethnic and gender identities and how this shapes intergroup contact. Specifically, what metastereotype concerns Asian Americans have (based on their own diversity) when interacting with out-group members and if this leads to more interracial anxiety or out-group avoidance. 

​

My research is currently extending to test if exposure to racial diversity shape psychological well-being and cognitive flexibility. 

​

Outside of research, I enjoy spending time with my cat Sage, taking care of my plant collection, JiuJitsu, cooking, learning about history or reading fiction. 

 

Feel free to reach out!