Lab Director: Annie Maheux
Assistant Professor
Winston Family Distinguished Fellow
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Lab Manager: Jordan Taliaferro
Jordan Taliaferro (she/her) is the Lab Manager for the Social Environments & Adolescence Lab (SEA Lab). In May 2023, she graduated from The University of Virginia (Wahoowa!) with a B.A. in Psychology and African/African-American Studies. Jordan is interested in exploring how racial trauma, discrimination, and minority stress impact the mental health and resilience of Black adolescents and families, including considering diverse contexts (e.g., online and offline) through which discrimination occurs. Additionally, she is dedicated to increasing the representation of marginalized adolescents in STEM education and professions by exploring the factors that influence their engagement, persistence, and success in these fields. She plans to explore these interests by pursuing a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, watching TV, completing a puzzle, or redecorating her apartment.
Research Faculty
Kaitlyn Burnell
Kaitlyn Burnell is a Research Assistant Professor with the Winston National Center on Technology Use, Brain, and Psychological Development. Kaitlyn received her PhD in Psychological Sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020, and her BA in Psychology from Western Connecticut State University in 2015. Her research examines how adolescents and emerging adults use smartphones and social media to experience traditional developmental tasks and challenges, including their experiences with peers, social comparison, and body image. She has a special interest in how these experiences relate to mental health. Kaitlyn is interested in applying cutting edge methodologies to her various lines of research, including the use of ecological momentary assessments, direct observations and passive sensing of digital content, and eye-tracking.
Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars
Chelly Maes
Chelly Maes (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the SEA Lab and a Guest Professor in Communication Sciences at the University of Antwerp. Her research examines the complex relationships between digital media use (e.g., social media, television, pornography) and youth development, focusing on body image, sexuality, identity, and mental health (see personal website for an in-depth overview of research interests: https://chellymaes.com). Her research entails an interdisciplinary approach by integrating theories from communication science with psychology literature. Her methods include advanced quantitative techniques (e.g., longitudinal survey studies, daily diary studies, experiments, content analyses) and qualitative approaches (e.g., focus groups, interviews). Chelly’s work has been recognized with competitive grants, including funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, and she has published extensively in Q1-ranked journals. In her spare time, Chelly enjoys horseback riding, going out with her boyfriend, and snuggling with her cat, Mira.
Natasha Wood
Natasha is a PhD candidate at the University of Mississippi. She received her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Seattle University, her M.A. in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and her M.S. in Social Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She researches the motivations that drive people to radicalize to violent extremism, as well as the effects of social disconnection and technologies on relational outcomes. Her research has examined the effect of thwarted fundamental psychological needs on extremism—such as after experiencing loneliness, social isolation, or ostracism—and the experience of social exclusion in the incel community. In the SEA Lab, Natasha uses her expertise in experimental methodology to explore how exposure to particular social media content and features influences psychosocial outcomes.
Lab Affiliates
David Jack
David Jack is a second-year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program. He received his BS.c. in Psychology from the University of Jos, Nigeria, in 2019. Following graduation, he worked as a research assistant with the Culture and Mental Health Research Group, supervised by Dr. Dung Jidong at Nottingham Trent University. His research aims to explore social media use and adolescent development from cross-cultural perspectives with a specific focus on adolescents from low-and-middle-income-countries. In his free time, he enjoys photography and spending time with family.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Katie Yoon '26
Katie Yoon (she/her) is a third-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences. She is double majoring in Psychology and Statistics & Analytics with a minor in Medicine, Literature, and Culture. She is the president and competing member of UNC’s club taekwondo team and is a research assistant at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. In the future, she plans to continue research and pursue an MPH or PhD in Clinical Psychology or Neuroscience.
Ethan Page '25
Ethan Page (he/him) is a fourth-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences. He is majoring in Psychology with a double minor in German and Chemistry. He has previously volunteered as a Learning Assistant in the Psychology Department at UNC and as a Second Language Teaching Assistant in Vienna, Austria. He plans to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Psychology.
Zoe Monroe '26
Zoe Monroe (she/her) is a third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with a minor in African, African American, and Diaspora studies. She is currently involved in HGAPS, a non-profit psychology organization on campus and is an undergraduate learning assistant (ULA) for PSYC 270: Research Methods. In the future, she plans to pursue her PsyD in Counseling/Clinical or Developmental Psychology.
Jinjin Huang '26
Jinjin Huang (she/her) is a fourth-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. As publicity chair for the student organization FACSS, she is actively involved in promoting initiatives that foster student engagement and support for underrepresented groups. Jinjin is passionate about the intersection of mental health and social dynamics, and she plans to pursue a PhD in Psychology to further explore these areas.
Sam Davis '27
Sam Davis (he/him) is a second-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is double majoring in Psychology and Political Science. He has been accepted into the Teach for America Ignite Fellowship and possesses a deep interest in adolescent mental health. In the future, he plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical or Developmental Psychology. In his spare time, he enjoys playing piano and traveling with his family.
Sowndarya Chivukula '28
Sowndarya Chivukula (she/her) is a first-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. She is involved in the Carolina Neuroscience Club on campus and plans to pursue an MD or MD-PhD to go into pediatric neurology in the future!
Peixuan He '28
Peixuan He (she/her) is a first year in the College of Arts and Science. She is double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. Her research on self-stigmatization and coping strategies for campus sexual harassment fueled her interest in adolescent and sexual behavior. She is involved in Blank Canvas Dance Team and Women in Public Policy at UNC. In the future, she plans to continue doing research by pursuing a PhD in Psychology.
Former Lab Members
Cheyenne Paw
SEA Lab Teen advisory board, 2023-2024
Current position: undergraduate at UC Berkeley, working as a research assistant in the Miller-Cotto Lab
Fredre'Oni Terrado
Undergraduate RA, 2024
