Principal investigator
Monika Lohani is an Assistant Professor of Cognition and Neural Science in the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah and the director of the ACR lab. Monika earned her M.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of Allahabad (India), and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Developmental Psychology from Brandeis University. She completed her postdoctoral research training in the Department of Psychology at Yale University. Monika examines the effective regulation of attention and emotion in applied settings using psychophysiological and behavioral methods.
Graduate students
Ginger is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Cognition and Neural Science (CNS) program in the Department of Psychology. She earned her B.S. in Psychology and Environmental Science from the University of Michigan (2024). Her research interests include emotion, emotion regulation, and stress particularly in the context of climate change and environmental behaviors. She is also interested in learning ecologically valid methods and advanced statistics. Outside of the lab, Ginger spends time running, hiking, and skiing.
Alexa Almond is an incoming PhD student in the Cognition and Neural Science (CNS) program in the Department of Psychology:
I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Psychology. My research interests include stress management and emotional regulation while exposed to long-term stressors, as well as cognitive regulation and dysregulation and how these processes impact mental health. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, spending time with friends, and reading.
Jamie is a Ph.D. student in the Learning and Cognition Program at the University of Utah. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Utah (2019). She is finishing her MStat in Educational Psychology. Jamie is interested in emotion regulation in the context of daily stress.
Sam is a PhD student in the Learning and Cognition program whose research interests lie in reading comprehension and emotion. In addition to the ACR Lab, he is involved in the Reading Lab. When not working on research, he enjoys long walks with his dog.
Undergraduate students
Carlos Flores
I am a senior studying psychology at the University of Utah. I have worked on projects surrounding AI use in research and climate change. I plan on continuing my education beyond a bachelor’s and pursuing research as a career. In my free time, I enjoy photography, drawing, and reading.
I’m a senior studying psychology at the University of Utah. I am particularly interested in clinical psychology and cognitive psychology. After graduation, I plan to work in a related field and pursue a graduate degree to further specialize in these areas. I enjoy spending my free time watching movies and baseball games.
I’m a senior studying psychology at the University of Utah. I am hoping to specialize in criminal psychology after graduation. I am particularly interested in psychological treatments for crime victims. If I have spare time, I enjoy watching football games and spending time with my dog.
I’m a senior studying psychology. Currently, I am working on my honors thesis. After my undergraduate, I’ll be pursuing a master’s degree with the goal of eventually becoming a clinical therapist. Some ways that I spend my free time are skiing and playing with my dogs.
Lessly G. Paulino Izquierdo
I’m a senior majoring in Sociology and Criminology with a strong interest in studying how marginalized and underrepresented communities are affected by criminalization. I’m especially passionate about understanding systemic inequalities and how they shape people’s experiences with the justice system. After graduation, I plan to pursue grad school to continue researching these issues. Outside of academics, I love spending time with friends, reading, and practicing yoga
I am a senior studying Psychology at the University of Utah. My interests currently lie in developing current understandings of identity in everyday contexts, especially in the context of internal and external stressors. In my free time, I enjoy spending time reading and baking.
Lab Alumni
Ben recently completed his two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah. He is starting his new position as an Assistant Professor at Utah Tech University. His interests lie in science teacher education that empowers educators to teach K-12 science embedded with environmental responsibility. Specifically, he investigates the factors associated with pro-environmental engagement and the ways in which compulsory science education can support these factors.
Amy graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in psychology. Her interests lie in anxiety, cognitive-based therapy, and why the brain reacts in maladaptive ways to non-normative life events. She is also interested in seeing how coping techniques and music help drivers alleviate stress while driving, as well as learning new methodologies like EEG. In her free time, she likes playing video games, puzzling, and hanging out with friends.
I am a senior undergraduate student in psychology and pre-med. My areas of research are biomedical and psychological aspects of the brain. I have a keen interest in discovering the connecting the dots between the existing pieces of knowledge. In my free time, I like baking delicious cakes and playing guitar.
I am in my junior year pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in economics. I am hoping to work towards a human factors certificate as well. My research interests currently involve I/O psychology, and how human behavior occurs in and is affected by the workplace. My research in this lab so far has really peaked this interest and I am excited to see what comes next. Upon graduating, I hope to pursue a graduate degree in this field. My hobbies include dancing and playing video games, and a fun fact is that I am currently learning Portuguese!