Who We Are
Principal Investigator: Dr. James Amirkhan
Dr. Amirkhan's research interests are focused on the use of psychological theory to explain individual differences in stress reactions and choice of coping strategy. In this pursuit, he has developed multiple measures including the Stress Overload Scale (SOS) (Amirkhan, 2012), the SOS-Short (Amirkhan, 2016), and the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI; Amirkhan, 1990; 1994). When he is not conducting research or mentoring students, Dr. Amirkhan teaches Personality and Psychological Assessment, for which he has been rated among the top 10 professors in the USA on RateMyProfessors.com. ResearchGate; CSULB website |
Research Assistants
Laura Bradford, BA:
Joined: Spring 2018 Expected graduation date and degree: Spring 2021 (expected), MA Psychological Research; Spring 2019, BA Psychology, CSULB Research interests: Developmental Psychology and Autism Educational/career goals: Research in the field of Autism Fun fact: I volunteered in Costa Rica for two weeks and it was the best experience of my life |
Alissa Vandenbelt, BA:
Joined: Fall 2017 Graduation date and degrees: Fall 2019 (expected), MA Psychological Research; Spring 2015, BA Psychology, UC Santa Barbara Research interests: close relationships, stress, positive psychology, student success, college experience Educational/career goals: My long-term goal is to obtain a tenure-track faculty position in a psychology department at a community college. I aspire to teach Social Psychology, Biopsychology, and Human Sexuality, and potentially further my education by obtaining a PhD in Higher Education. Fun fact: My paternal grandparents are immigrants from the Netherlands! Email; LinkedIn; CV |
Graham Bowers, MA:
Joined: Fall 2014 Graduation dates and degrees: Fall 2018, MA Psychological Research; Spring 2014, BA Psychology Research interests: Intersectional Interdisciplinary research in clinical psychology Educational/career goals: Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an emphasis in assessment and evaluation of effectiveness of mental health treatment interventions in minority populations. Email; LinkedIn Rodel Manalo, BA:
Joined: Fall 2016 Graduation date and degree: Spring 2017, BA Psychology Research interests: Mostly research that is stress, social psychology, and clinical psychology related Educational/career goals: I plan to go for a postgraduate degree and become a clinical psychologist. |
Adrienne Ahumada, BA:
Joined: Fall 2018 Graduation date and degree: Fall 2019, BA Psychology Research interests: Interested in analyzing how mental disorders affect certain vulnerable populations, how anxiety/stress may play a factor, and the ways in which people cope or receive support for their stressors/anxiety. Educational/career goals: My goals include earning a Master's degree in Counseling, option in Marriage and Family Therapy. I would love to have an MFT private practice and also work as a professor at the community college level. Fun fact: I love dogs, Disneyland, and food! |
Jean Lao, BA:
Joined: Spring 2019 Graduation date and degree: Fall 2019, BA Psychology; AA Psychology Research interests: I specifically enjoy topics that focuses on coping mechanisms of humans. Educational/career goals: My current goal is to be a Licensed Clinical Social worker. Fun fact: I'll eat anything edible you give me. |
Adeline Abrahimy:
Joined: Fall 2019 Graduation date and degree: Spring 2020, BA Psychology Research interests: Clinical child psychology, stress, child development, PTSD, and abnormal psychology Educational/career goals: My long term goals are to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology, open up my own private practice, and work with children in a clinical setting. Fun fact: I love working out, traveling, and trying new foods. |
Sabah Ahmad:
Joined: Fall 2019 Graduation date and degree: Spring 2020 (expected), BA Psychology Research interests: Stress, First-generation Students, Child Development, Personality Educational/career goals: TBD Fun fact: Most of the pictures on my phone are of my cat. |
Ashley Mullin:
Joined: Fall 2019 Graduation date and degree: Spring 2021 (expected), BA Psychology Research interests: Neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience research, abnormal psychology, brain disorders effect on behavior Educational/career goals: I hope to get my PhD in clinical psychology with an emphasis on neuropsychology, so I can work in a hospital or clinical setting in the future, because I love the idea of helping others. |
Luke Mroch:
Joined: Spring 2020 Graduation date and degree: Spring 2021 (expected), BA Psychology Research interests: Physiology, stress, personality, social norms Educational/career goals: I hope to become a psychologist. Fun fact: Loves to work on old VW cars and play guitar! |
Victoria Fiore:
Joined: Spring 2020 Graduation date and degree: Fall 2021 (expected), BA Sociology Research interests: P.T.S.D., trauma, stress, self-concept, social interaction Educational/career goals: I will be getting a BA in Sociology and plan on getting a PhD in Social Psychology. Fun fact: I like fast cars and League of Legends! Email; LinkedIn |
Research Groups from the Past
Lab Alumni (since Fall 2018)
Dalia Chavarin (Spring 2018 - Fall 2019) - Email
Christina Logan (Fall 2013 - Spring 2019) - LinkedIn; CV
Sarah Velasco (Spring 2015 - Spring 2019) - Email; LinkedIn; CV
Jessica Pugel (Fall 2017 - Spring 2019) - Email; CV
Jamie Wang (Spring 2017 - Fall 2018)
Jimmy Vu (Spring 2016 - Fall 2018)
Gabriel Rocha (Spring 2018 - Fall 2018)
Cristian Dominguez (Spring 2018 - Fall 2018)
Christina Logan (Fall 2013 - Spring 2019) - LinkedIn; CV
Sarah Velasco (Spring 2015 - Spring 2019) - Email; LinkedIn; CV
Jessica Pugel (Fall 2017 - Spring 2019) - Email; CV
Jamie Wang (Spring 2017 - Fall 2018)
Jimmy Vu (Spring 2016 - Fall 2018)
Gabriel Rocha (Spring 2018 - Fall 2018)
Cristian Dominguez (Spring 2018 - Fall 2018)