About IPSE Lab

Dr. Aerielle (Elle) M. Allen is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Tufts University. She utilizes critical race frameworks to research systemic racism, health, and social identities. She is a former New York University Provost Postdoctoral Fellow and earned her B.A. from UCLA, M.A. from CSU Northridge, and Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys working with her sorority, binging shows, and exploring nature with her dog, Eve.

Yolore Airewele (she/her) is an incoming Ph.D. student at Tufts University. She earned her B.A. in Psychology with a Dance minor from Princeton University in 2021 and worked as a lab manager in the Fiske Lab at Princeton for over two years. Her research interests include intersectional invisibility, intergroup solidarity, intra-group cohesion, and anti-racist interventions. Outside academics, she enjoys creating playlists and taking dance classes.

Suliarys Contreras is a first-year graduate student in the IPSE lab, with an A.A. from Lehigh Carbon Community College and a B.A. in Psychology from Bucknell University. She studies social stratification and how key social identities like race, and socioeconomic class affect empathy and equity. She aims to uncover psychological processes in minoritized individuals' interactions with different groups. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, writing poetry, and playing Fortnite.

Annie Chen is a sophomore at Tufts University pursuing a major in Clinical Psychology and International Literary and Cultural Studies. She is interested in examining the psychological factors that drive the prejudice, discrimination, and systemic inequities faced by minority groups, particularly within the context of forensic psychology. Annie enjoys painting, watching musicals, listening to jazz performances, and spending quality time with friends.

Lily Clarke (she/her) is a sophomore at Tufts University pursuing a major in Biology and minors in Medical Anthropology and Chemistry. She is interested in researching the consequences of prejudice and discrimination based on social, cultural, and environmental identities in how it impedes the application of medicine in the healthcare system. When not in the lab, Lily is on long distance runs, exploring Boston, and D&D sessions with her friends. 

Neel Sharma (he/him) is a sophomore at Tufts University majoring in Biopsychology. Neel is interested in researching how current systems of inequality tied to race, gender, and sexual orientation impact individuals' access to mental health and healthcare services, as well as their broader lived experiences. Outside the lab, he enjoys distance running on the Somerville Bike path, reading fantasy novels, and playing with his two yorkies. 

Maggie Zhang (she/her) is a junior at Tufts University majoring in Psychology and Studio Arts, with minors in Film and Media Studies and Computer Science. Her research interests include the intersectional discrimination faced by marginalized groups within minority communities, its quantification, and its impacts on individuals, as well as the psychological effects of AI on human behavior. Outside the lab, Maggie enjoys photography, creative projects, and leading Mood Psychology, a club that applies psychology to real-world discussions through video content.

Leah Holzer (she/her) is a sophomore at Tufts University majoring in Clinical Psychology and Child Study and Human Development, with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in researching how ethnic-racial identity influences self-esteem and social cognition, with the broader goal of informing culturally responsive and equitable mental health care practices, particularly in treatment engagement and outcomes. Outside the lab, Leah enjoys singing and listening to music, running, and spending time with her friends.

​

Sofia Walters is a junior at Tufts University majoring in Biopsychology. She is interested in researching racial health disparities, colorism, and the psychological impacts of prejudice and social perception on Black women’s mental health. When not in the lab, Sofia enjoys acrylic painting, lifting, and cooking new recipes.​​​​​​

​