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Lab Director, Dr. Lara Aknin
Hello! I鈥檓 Lara Aknin, a distinguished professor of Social Psychology at 51社区黑料 and former fellow at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. My research interests lie at the intersection of social psychology, positive psychology, economics and judgement and decision making. My research questions often include the study of what makes people happy, the emotional consequences of kind or generous behavior, and the well-being outcomes of specific spending choices. Most of the research I have conducted thus far examines people鈥檚 perceptions of the money and happiness relationship and whether people reap greater happiness from spending money on others (i.e. prosocial spending) than when spending the same amount of money on themselves.
Lab Manager, Tori Kazemir
Hi! My name is Tori and I recently graduated from 51社区黑料with a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology. In my honours thesis, I examined how the factors we base our self-esteem on relate to mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. My research interests focus on identifying protective factors that promote resilience against psychological disorders. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue graduate studies in Counselling Psychology. Outside of academia, I enjoy singing and performing in musicals!
Graduate Student, Kalum Kumar
Hello, my name is Kalum Kumar. I am a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab at 51社区黑料, and I completed my B.A. honours in psychology with Dr. Aknin in June 2024. In the future, I aspire to attend graduate school. I have yet to find an area of psychology I dislike and hope to use this passion to fuel a career closely tied to the discipline.
Janaki Patel
Hi! My name is Janaki and I recently completed my B.A. (Hons) in Psychology with a minor in Health Sciences. Under the supervision of Dr. Aknin, my honours thesis explored the idea of prosocial fantasies, wherein individuals imagine themselves helping others, and whether learning about them can positively impact people鈥檚 views of each other. I have experience volunteering as a research assistant, mentoring rural B.C youth to help them navigate life after secondary school, and working as a behaviour interventionist for a BHCOE accredited practice. I am excited to further my passions for studying social connection, and health and well-being in my future graduate pursuits!
Kelton Travis
Hello! My name is Kelton and I completed my B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. I am a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab, and completed my Honours with Dr. Aknin in 2025. Following my undergraduate degree, I will be attending UVic to complete my MSc in Psychology (Lifespan Health & Development). Outside of my studies, I am the General Manager at a supportive recovery centre for people with substance use disorders.
Mia Tognotti
Hello! I'm Mia, an undergraduate student in my fourth year at SFU, working towards a B.A. with a major in Psychology and a minor in Curriculum and Instruction. I am a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. Outside of the lab, I am an executive member of SFU's Psychology Student Union. My research interests include attachment theory and positive psychology, specifically the development of interventions to increase prosocial behaviour as a method of improving people's well-being. In the future, I intend to pursue graduate school.
Julia Mosi
Hi! My name is Julia Mosi and I am a 4th year student majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. In addition to being an RA for the Helping and Happiness Lab, I also volunteer in the All Families Lab and as a FASS Peer Mentor. I am interested in a wide variety of topics within both social and development psychology, such as cultural psychology and positive psychology. Following my B.A., I hope to pursue graduate school to continue developing my research skills.
Ella Hamamoto
Hello! My name is Ella, I am entering the final year of my undergraduate degree, as well as partaking in the psychology honours program. I am currently a research assistant in both the HHL and Social-Cognitive Science lab here at SFU. Broadly, my research interests span from mental well-being, prosocial behaviour, bicultural identity, and trauma responses. I hope to purse graduate studies in either counselling or clinical psychology, with the ultimate goal of becoming a RCC. Outside of academia I enjoy volunteering at Abbotsford children鈥檚 hospice, playing softball, and spending time at the beach!
Elina Barfroo
Hello! My name is Elina, and I study psychology at SFU. I'm a new research assistant at the Helping and Happiness Lab, and I'm delighted to be part of the team. My research intrests include social psychology and developmental psychology. In the future, I would like to attend graduate school in the field of social psychology.
Alissa Bryant
Hello! My name is Alissa Bryant, I am currently enrolled in my fourth year here at 51社区黑料as a psychology major, with a minor in counselling and certificate in forensic studies. Following my undergrad, I hope to complete my master's in counselling psychology so that I can work as a registered counsellor. Ideally, I would love to one day work in social skills training or with people in the criminal justice system. People are exceedingly important to me, and it is a huge passion of mine to see people flourish in whatever lives they have been given. My other interests include baking, camping, motorcycling and reading.
Sophia Fausto
Hi! My name is Sophia and I am in my fourth year here at 51社区黑料pursuing my B.A. in psychology. As of September 2025, I am a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. Within social psychology, I am interested in the impacts of prosocial behaviour on individual outcomes, social influence, and the behavioural and attitudinal outcomes that occur in relational, collective, and intergroup contexts. Outside of social psychology, I am interested in the application of psychological methods and research in forensic/legal settings. I plan on pursuing graduate school to further extend my knowledge on psychological research. Outside of school, I enjoy baking and being out on the water.
Ananya Chatterjea
Hello! My name is Ananya, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counselling and Human Development. I am currently a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab, and I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful team! My research interests include social psychology, mental well-being, and the psychological impacts of trauma. I have a deep passion for psychology and I hope to build on that enthusiasm through graduate school!
Ende Duerr
Hi! I'm Ende, a third year student majoring in psychology and minoring in counselling and human development. In addition to being an RA for the Helping and Happiness Lab, I am also an RA for the PACT Project here at SFU. My interests lie in generational trauma as well as the effects of unresolved childhood and family trauma on teens and adults. I plan to pursue a graduate degree in either clinical or counselling psychology, with a long term goal of becoming a registered counsellor who provides trauma-based therapy to people. Outside of school, I enjoy going to the gym, reading, travelling, and anything outdoors!
Megan Douglas
Hi! I鈥檓 Megan, an undergrad student going into my 5th year, I鈥檓 working towards my BA with a major in psychology and a minor in history! Im currently a volunteer research assistant for the SECURE lab and the Helping and Happiness lab here at SFU. My research interests include, LGBTQ+ wellbeing and experience, social psychology, and positive psychology. After graduation I plan to pursue graduate school.
Jordan Thorsen
Hello! My name is Jordan, and I recently completed my BA Honours in Psychology at 51社区黑料, with minors in Counselling and Human Development and Legal Studies. I am a research assistant in both Dr. Aknin's Helping and Happiness Lab and Dr. Fitzgerald's Eyewitness Memory Lab. My research interests include Life Positioning Analysis, sport and performance psychology, social development, and the ways athletes鈥� identities, motivations, and life trajectories develop through interpersonal and broader social contexts. In the future, I hope to pursue graduate studies in psychology and continue conducting research on athlete development, social experience, and performance.
Sevda Sarparast
Hi! My name is Sevda and I recently graduated from 51社区黑料with a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology. I am currently doing a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in arts and social sciences with a concentration in psychology and working as a research assistant in Dr. Aknin鈥檚 Helping and Happiness Lab. In my spare time, I volunteer at the Fraser Health Crisis Line to support those who are experiencing emotional distress and go on walks with my dog, Azure! In the future, I hope to complete my master鈥檚 in counselling psychology.
Patrick Shaw
Hello! My name is Patrick, and I鈥檓 a fifth year Psychology major with a minor in Cognitive Science, currently volunteering as a research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. I鈥檓 particularly interested in the science of well-being, motivation, and what helps people perform at their best. Outside of the lab, I work as a hockey coach, which has given me the opportunity to see how psychological factors influence athletic performance and personal development. After completing my bachelor鈥檚, I plan to pursue graduate studies and a career helping others unlock their full potential.
Abby Zecchel
Hello! I'm Abby, a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in psychology! I recently joined the Helping and Happiness lab as a research assistant and am so excited to be part of the team. My interests lie at the intersection of social psychology, neuropsychology, and mental health and wellbeing, and I am drawn to understanding the cognitive and neural processes that shape our experiences and overall psychological health. I hope to further pursue these interests in graduate school in the future!
Graduate Student, Kristina Castaneto
Hello! I'm Kristina, a PhD student researching with Dr. Aknin and the rest of this lovely lab! In June 2025, I successfully defended my thesis, which focused on the act of reaching out to "old friends" 鈥� friends we care about but with whom we've lost touch. Specifically, I explored the predictive factors, individual differences and emotional outcomes associated with engaging in this social behaviour. In June 2022, I earned my B.A. (Hons.) in Applied Psychology at Douglas College, with specializations in Pre-counselling, and Disability in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Currently, my PhD work focuses on the scale development and validation of a new construct called "friendship resiliency." I am particularly interested in delving further into this contruct's nomological network and identifying links to social connection and wellbeing, especially in the context of reaching out to old friends. Career-wise, I aspire to be a part of the coming generation of educators in academia, with hopes of sparking curiousity and enthusiasm within my future students.
Graduate Student, Adam Danyluk
Howdy! I am Adam, and I am a Master's student here at the lab. I possess BA degrees in both sociology (UBC) and psychology (Concordia University). The latter resulted the publication of my honours thesis, which looked at coping profiles among emerging adults over time. Here, I intend to dive into the nuances of prosocial spending, including but not limited to endowment sources, demographics, and outlooks on a variety of topics. Beyond this, I would like to study some of the more idiosyncratic motivations of significant prosocial spending decisions, including fund or trust development, major charitable donations, and intrafamilial wealth transfers.
Roop Samra
Hi! I鈥檓 Roop, a third-year Psychology student minoring in Counselling and Human Development. I鈥檓 an RA here at the Helping & Happiness Lab. Outside the lab, I volunteer as a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone, providing support to youth in moments of crisis. My research interests include mental health stigma, specifically in the Punjabi community, newcomer and immigrant mental health, and the role of community support in promoting resilience. I鈥檓 passionate about making mental health resources more culturally accessible and hope to pursue graduate studies in counselling psychology.
Taelor Lay
I am a Psychology Honours student in my third year with the Helping and Happiness Lab. My research explores how prosocial behaviour and social connection foster subjective well-being, and how social determinants of health shape opportunities for resilience and flourishing across the lifespan. Looking ahead, I hope to spend my career bridging psychological research and public health to promote equity and well-being in diverse communities.
Sarah Davey
Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a fourth year student pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Counselling & Human Development. I am currently a research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab, and outside of 51社区黑料I work as a Behaviour Interventionist. In the future, I plan on completing a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology. My own research interests include attachment theory, developmental psychology, mental health and well-being, and addictions.
Ashley Ghuman
Hello! My name is Ashley, and I am a Psychology student in the Honours program at 51社区黑料. I am interested in how prosocial behaviour supports confidence and moral development, and more broadly how social experiences contribute to well-being. Outside of the Helping and Happiness Lab, I am a research assistant in the Studies in Methodology and Philosophy of Psychological Science (SMPPS) Lab, where I examine the rhetoric of 鈥渟ignificance鈥� in psychological research, and in the Inclusive Environments Lab on the Aging in the Right Place Project, which explores community-based solutions to support older adults experiencing homelessness or housing precarity. My Honours project, supervised by Dr. Slaney, examines transparent reporting practices in meta-analyses and the implications these have for healthcare decisions, policy, and diverse populations. Through my work, I hope to contribute to and promote a more inclusive and equitable science.
Ayesha Shehzeen
Hello! I'm Ayesha, a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Counselling and Human Development. For the past two years, I've been a research assistant at the Attention, Memory, and Perception Lab, and I'm currently serving as a Behavioural Interventionist and VP of Events for the Psychology Student Union. Recently, I joined the Helping and Happiness Lab as a Research Assistant, driven by my passion for social psychology and a strong desire to support others. My research interests include mental health issues in South Asia, communication patterns in romantic relationships, and social connections. I aim to pursue a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor.
Sophia Penales
Hi! My name is Sophia, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Early Learning. I am currently a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. Outside of academics, I spend much of my time working with primary students through after-school and math mentorship programs. As such, I am passionate about supporting children鈥檚 well-being, alongside my research interests in developmental and positive psychology. My long-term goal is to attend graduate school and specialize in child psychology.
Anahita Golab Lee
Hello! My name is Anahita, and I am a fourth-year student majoring in psychology and minoring in counselling and human development. I am currently a volunteer research assistant at the Helping and Happiness Lab and the SECURE lab. Some of my research interests include developmental psychopathology, cultural psychology, prosocial behaviour, and attachment theory. In the future, I hope to pursue a graduate program in psychology and conduct my own research.
Tiffany Ho
Hi! My name is Tiffany, and I am a fourth year Psychology major with two education minors in Educational Psychology and Counselling and Human Development. I am happily a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. My interests include positive psychology, intergroup relations, mental health, social cognition and pretty much anything under the social psychology branch. After completing my bachelors, I hope to pursue a Masters in Counselling Psychology.
Julianne Wright
Hi! My name is Julianne and I am a fourth-year Psychology major with a minor in Criminology. My research interests include positive psychology, and I also have a keen interest in both clinical and experimental forensic psychology. Outside of the Helping and Happiness Lab, I am a PR Associate for the Criminology Student Association (CSA). In my free time, I enjoy riding my horse, drinking matcha, and going on adventures with my friends. After my undergraduate degree, I am hoping to pursue a Masters & PhD in Forensic Psychology.
Hilary Grist
Hi there! My name is Hilary. I am a recent graduate from SFU's PBD program in Counselling and Human Development and a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. My research interests involve developmental psychology, mindfulness, resilience, transitions, prosocial behaviour, and the arts. I hope to pursue graduate studies in Counselling Psychology and become a registered clinical counsellour, in addition to my current work as a musician.
Nira Pahal
Hello! My name is Nira, I am a 4th year undergraduate student at 51社区黑料as a psychology major, with a minor in criminology and a certificate in forensic studies. In addition to being a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab, I volunteer with the Abbotsford Police Department in the Victim Services Unit and the Forensic Support Team and at the Ridge Meadows RCMP. My interests include gang violence, the intersection of psychology and law, such as risk assessment, psychopathy and the influence of environmental factors. I hope to complete an honours project and graduate school. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, basketball, and concerts!
Amanda Zhao
Hi! My name is Amanda, I'm a first-year clinical psychology major with a minor in business at the University of California in San Diego. I'm a new research assistant at the Helping and Happiness lab and I am eager to be part of this team! Currently, my interests in psychology include emotional contagion, prosocial behaviour, and youth mental health, and I plan to continue exploring the field of psychology more as I go through my undergraduate education. Outside of academics, I enjoy being outdoors, going paddle-boarding and hiking, and I love trying new cooking and baking recipes. In the future, I am hoping to pursue graduate school and put my graduate degree towards becoming a registered psychologist.
Cherry Youn
Hello! My name is Cherry, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. I am currently a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. My research interests include social psychology, forensic psychology, and criminal psychology, with a particular interest in psychological recovery of crime victims. I am fascinated by the ways psychological processes influence both harmful and prosocial human behavior, as well as how individuals cope with and recover from traumatic experiences. In the future, I hope to pursue graduate studies in Psychology and build a career focused on research and counselling related to crime victims and trauma recovery. Outside of academics, I enjoy watching baking videos and going on night walk while listening to music.
Anastasiia Sokolova
Hi! My name is Anastasiia, and I am a fourth year Psychology student, with a minor in Counselling and Human Development. I plan to pursue graduate studies in clinical or counselling psychology, and hope to become a registered counsellor in the future. My research interests include attachment theory, prosocial behavior, and romantic relationships.
Former Graduate Students:
Dr. Tiara Cash
Dr. Jason Proulx
Dr. Dylan Wiwad
Former Lab Members:
Suhavi Kaur
Ravneet Hothi
Gurveen Toor
Erin Koch
Elyssa Hutchinson
Tony Prevedello
Couper Saunders
Kareena Badhan
Fiona Eaket
Rachael Whyte
Michael Owers
Tony Yan
Justine Bayer
Sukhpreet Kaur
Diana Negrabee
Sophia Vennesland
Shetal Hundal
Rachel Yapp
Yassaman Malek
Diksha Sharma
Katrina Del Villar
Marwan Saleh
Dani Concepcion
Marcel Aini
Matthew Rathore
Adriana Kowalczyk
Allyson Klassen
Amanda Hodges
Mahima Taturari
Hilary Grist
Jaymie Cristobal
Kodi Rivera
Ira Rishi
Angel Leung
Rabiya Karamali
Nata Zakon
Angie Fan
Scarlett MacPherson
Gurleen Bath
Kyle Bergh
Jacob Lauzen
Katie Tough
Rachel Pham
Maya Beninteso
Nicole Castillo
Devan Gill
Marina Cummiskey
Celina Grewal
Christina Johnstone
Cassidy Ouldtata-Allan
Brenna Lee
Alyssa Greco
Emily Thornton
Armaghan Aliabadi
Angela Starnaman
Oksana Soychuke
Pavan Nahal
Nava Kisiri
Connor Macmillan
Jason Roh
Jessamyn Hung
Katherine Hanniball