SSI-VR Lab
Our Team
Principal Investigator
Valerie Jones Taylor, Ph.D.
My research areas include intergroup relations, stereotype/social identity threat, stereotyping and discrimination, cultural psychology, and applications of VR/AR/XR technologies. Broadly, I investigate how social identity, stereotyping, and prejudice affect underrepresented groups' academic and workplace performance and experiences, interracial interactions, and the treatment of racialized physical spaces and social justice education and collective action. I also examine virtual reality as an antiracism tool to reduce bias and systemic racism in individuals, interracial interactions, and institutions. Email: vj.taylor@rutgers.edu
Outside of work, I love to read, listen to audiobooks, reminisce about my glory days of writing poetry and performing spoken word, and hang out/goof off with my husband, adorable kids, and fluffy little dog Marshmallow.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Chelsea Allen, Ph.D.
I earned my BSW and MSW from the University of South Carolina and a Ph.D. in Social Work from Columbia University, where I also became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Growing up in the deep South as the daughter of a social worker, I developed an early understanding of how systemic oppression shapes mental health outcomes. My research bridges social work, psychology, and digital studies to explore how Black women use emerging technologies such as social media and virtual reality to support self-care, wellness, and collective healing. A central focus of my work is how digital tools can be leveraged to provide culturally congruent care for historically marginalized communities. I am also interested in how collective trauma, particularly as it stems from structural oppression, continues to influence health and social outcomes in Black communities.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature, wandering around the city, listening to true crime podcasts, watching documentaries and movies, reading, and trying new foods.
Jared Cutler, Ph.D.
I earned an M.A. in Psychology from Northern Arizona University in 2019, and a doctorate in Applied Psychology from Portland State University in Spring of 2024. My dissertation investigated which forms of meditation practices and types of individuals may benefit most (and potentially be harmed by) mindfulness interventions to reduce prejudice. Generally, my program of research seeks to better understand and, ultimately, alleviate prejudice and discrimination using mindfulness meditation. Additionally, I am interested in contextual approaches of conceptualizing implicit associations and am currently investigating the relationships between different components of gender context diversity and implicit gender-career stereotyping within regions. I am also enthusiastic about open science, teaching, and learning new quantitative analyses!
Outside of work, I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, reading, and listening to podcasts.
Graduate Students
Tamara Franklin, M.A.
Graduate Student
I am a doctoral student in the Social Psychology Ph.D. program at Rutgers University and work in the Stereotyping & Social Interactions & Virtual Reality (SSI-VR) Lab. I received my B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, where I researched intergroup relations, ethnic identity, and implicit biases. My current research examines social identity threat, specifically how members of racially/ethnically minoritized groups respond to witnessing stereotype-confirming behavior in interracial interactions. I also study how stereotypes and biases affect interracial interactions in virtual reality. My larger research interests include racial stereotypes and biases, ethnic identity, and social influences and how these factors affect intergroup relations.
Outside of school, I enjoy playing tennis, exploring my neighborhood, and spending time with my cat, Leo!
Sandra Manfreda, M.S.
Graduate Student
Hello, I'm Sandra (she/her) and I am a third-year Social Psychology Ph.D. student at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Across two lines of work, my research explores factors that promote or dissuade intergroup contact. My first line of research focuses on creating more inclusive STEM environments
for women, with the aim of addressing their underrepresentation in the field. In my second line of research, I investigate behavioral and interpersonal processes in interracial interactions including relational safety cues, disclosure-responsiveness processes, and nonverbal manifestations of discrimination. Outside of research, I enjoy being a SPINNING instructor, reading and spending time with my friends and family.
Mariah T Lutchman, M.S.
Graduate Student (Affiliate)
I am a graduate student in the Social Psychology Ph.D. program at Rutgers University. I received my BA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Broadly, I am interested in studying racial disparities within the Criminal Justice System. Specifically, I am interested in the effects of institutional racism on those who are disproportionately affected. This involves studying the health outcomes of Black people and the effect of institutional racism on our interpersonal interactions. Lastly, I am interested in identifying areas of reform for the Criminal Justice System and its associated structures.
I am originally from Queens, New York and in my free time, I enjoy watching horror, thriller and scary movies. I am also a self-taught nail artist and regularly paint the nails of myself, family and friends.
Samaa Hussein, M.S.
Graduate Student (Affiliate)
I am a master’s student in Applied Psychology at Rutgers University, currently in the final year of my program. My interests lie in exploring how therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy, can extend beyond their traditional use in therapy sessions. I am particularly interested in using psychological research to examine how these approaches can be applied to real-world challenges and adapted to address the needs of individuals and communities.
I believe that psychological research should not only focus on developing and improving therapeutic approaches, but also on translating psychological knowledge into practical applications that can help address real-world problems and positively impact society. I am interested in bridging the gap between psychological research and practice by exploring how evidence-based approaches can be applied in meaningful ways to better serve individuals and communities.
Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, traveling, and learning about different cultures. I especially enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and learning about their experiences and perspectives. I also speak three languages: Arabic, English, and French.
Lab Managers
Sahana Vaidya
Hi! I’m Sahana Vaidya, and I am currently a senior undergraduate student double majoring in Psychology and English at Rutgers, New Brunswick. I'm completing my honors thesis with Dr. Taylor, studying the impacts of stereotypes on South Asian American (SAA) interracial interactions. More specifically, I am studying if negative and so-called "positive" SAA stereotypes impact SAA interactions differently, and if they are more harmful in interracial vs. same-race interactions. My broader research interests involve interracial interactions, prejudice, and the impact of media on perpetuating or creating stereotypes. In my free time, I enjoy reading novels, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends.
Dana Dillard
Hi! My name is Dana Dillard and I am currently a senior with a double major in Psychology and Women's Gender and Sexuality studies. I am currently completing my Honors Thesis with Dr Taylor on the impact of solidarity among black women when communicating about systemic racism. Broadly, my research interest focus on how living with different intersecting social categories, namely race, gender and sexuality, influence interpersonal relationships and identity development and I plan to further indulge these pursuits by obtaining a PhD in Social Psychology. Outside of work and research, you'll most likely find me with my head buried in a novel or comic book, ducked over my laptop writing short stories, or hunting for cool things at a thrift store.
Undergraduate RAs
Psych Team
Swastika Dahinwal
Hi! My name is Swastika Dahinwal and I am an undergrad majoring in CBN and minoring in Psychology. I’m interested in learning about how interracial groups and interactions affect stereotype-based decision-making. I’m also interested in how gender can add another layer processing and alter behavioral outcomes. In the future I plan on attending medical school and I hope to implement my work here in my practice. Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking, baking, and trying new foods.
Echo Dong
Hello! I'm an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. I am interested in the ways people think and the process of their thinking especially in interracial, LGBTQ, and gender interactions. I want to know what led up to their way of thinking, whether it was through surrounding factors or the way they grew up. In my free time I like to read, crochet, dance, and spend time with friends.
Kerron Butler
Hi! My name is Kerron Butler, I am an undergraduate student majoring in psychology at Rutgers University. With a minor in sociology, I am interested in how systematic racism can impact social interactions and negatively affect people’s mental health. I am very passionate about breaking the stigma of therapy in minority communities and providing equal access to mental health resources. In the future I plan to become a counseling psychologist and address mental health disparities in underprivileged communities. In my free time I enjoy watching movies, baking, and spending quality time with my friends and family.
Avani Jones
Hi! I’m Avani, a Psychology and Cognitive Science double major with a Sociology minor at Rutgers University Honors College in New Brunswick. I’m passionate about understanding how race, gender, and identity shape people’s experiences, and I’m excited about the lab’s use of virtual reality to reduce bias and systemic racism. In the future, I hope to become a clinical neuropsychologist and open a mental health facility to serve underrepresented communities. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing basketball and volunteering
Cinnbee Koh
Hi! I’m Cinnbee Koh a Sophomore majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Rutgers-NB. I am passionate about exploring how one’s life experiences can shape behavior and cognition. I hope to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to eventually become a Behavioral Analyst or Forensic Psychologist. In my free time I love to go window shopping and eat out with friends!
Hong Cheng
Hi! I am Hong Cheng and I am a current sophomore at Rutgers double majoring in Music Performance (Clarinet) and Psychology! I am very passionate about applying psychology to multiple different fields and intersecting them with the arts, technology, and many other different fields. I hope to bring my passion in exploring the boundless opportunities of psychology in the SSI-VR lab while meeting amazing peers! Outside of academics, my interests primarily lie in fencing, working out, and travelling the world.
Amanda Lalla
Hello! I am an undergraduate student studying Psychology and Communication at Rutgers University - New Brunswick! After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology. My research interests focus on how gender and identity-based stereotypes influence responses to gender-based harm and institutional decision-making.
Outside of academics, I enjoy thrifting, listening to music, and experimenting with new recipes
Keying Li
Hi! My name is Keying Li; you can call me Fifi. I’m an undergraduate Psychology student at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. My interests center on women’s mental health through an intersectional lens, with a focus on midlife and older women, and I’m excited by research (including virtual reality) that can translate into policy and community-level change. I plan to pursue a PhD bridging psychology and gender studies and work in an NGO supporting diverse women across race and class.
Emily Connor
Hi! I’m Emily, a recent graduate from Rutgers University, where I earned my B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I am passionate about working with children and teens in underserved communities and ensuring that they have access to adequate mental health resources. I’m excited to learn more about how race and gender are perceived in different contexts and how this can apply to real world scenarios and clinical practice. I’m currently working in a psychiatric emergency room and I’m looking to eventually pursue my Psy.D. in School Psychology. In my free time I love going to the beach, reading, and journaling.
Alex Diaz
Hi, I’m Alex, and I’m currently a senior at Rutgers majoring in psychology and minoring in criminology. I’m interested in exploring how interracial interactions and stereotyping affect decision-making and contribute to prejudice and conformity. Some of my current interests include random geography, learning about other cultures, and watching true crime documentaries. My goal is to become a licensed psychologist and work in the criminal/forensic field.
Coding Team
Iris Wang
I am an undergraduate at Rutgers University double majoring in Computer Science and Cognitive Science with a minor in Philosophy. I have a great interest in how people perceive, understand, and retain information in all sorts of contexts, but especially with creative works and interactive mediums like video games. My passion for this research comes from my interest in the way behavior can be evoked and influenced through the use of virtual environments. During my downtime, I enjoy writing short stories and designing video games.
Team Photos
Lab Alumni
Check out our amazing lab alumni here.