Jed Rodriguez is a fourth year majoring in Cognitive Science and Sociology with a minor in Data Science. He has a strong passion for the intersections of technology and social justice; delving deeply into AI ethics, public health and social psychology research during his time at Cal. Jed values community advocacy and is an active leader on campus facilitating LGBTQ student programming through the Multi Cultural Center (MCC). Outside of school, Jed spent 5 years working in tech as a UX Researcher at Google and Salesforce where he grew fascinated with the study of human computer interaction. Jed hopes to expand his mixed methods research tool kit and to conduct his Sociology Honors Thesis on social media's influence of political polarization across the Western world.

Ming Shen is a fourth-year at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Data Science and pursuing a certificate in Entrepreneurship & Technology. As part of the HIGHER Lab, she is interested in exploring how identity hierarchies shape moral judgements and behaviour, and is excited to apply her analytical background to the quantitative study of intersectionality and empathy. On campus, she also serves on the Social Good Committee of a data science student organization, where she pursues her passion for using technology to create social impact through nonprofit consulting work. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for her friends, exploring SF and the bay, and eating baked goods.

Stephanie Situ is a first-year Psychology student at UC Berkeley with aspirations of becoming a clinical psychologist. She has turned challenges into opportunities, emerging as a passionate advocate for equity and social justice. As the daughter of first-generation immigrants, she honors their sacrifices by embracing leadership roles and fostering meaningful conversations about identity and bias. Through her deep involvement within San Francisco’s Community Youth Center and the Chinese Progressive Association, she has led critical discussions on anti-Blackness, intersectionality, and cross-cultural solidarity. As a result of her passion for advocacy and identity, she’s committed to using her voice to destigmatize mental health and offering counseling services for marginalized communities. On campus, Stephanie is working with peers in B PsychEd on a project that analyzes how acculturative stress relates to subjective wellbeing and identity coherence amongst first-generation immigrant adults. In her spare time, she loves to spend it laughing with loved ones! 

Rebecca Ding is a senior majoring in Business Administration and Psychology, with a minor in Journalism. Rebecca is a passionate storyteller, and is captivated by the complexities of human relationships and behaviour. Research-wise, Rebecca is interested in researching and developing ways to improve mental health access for underrepresented communities through accessible tools. She sees communication as a powerful tool to foster understanding and cultivate connections among communities. Professionally, Rebecca is interested in working in marketing or consulting. Outside of HIGHER, Rebecca loves travelling (she just got back from her semester abroad in London to which she visited more than 10 places), exploring different cultures, and meeting people from different walks of life.

Ansel Yi is a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Data Science and Psychology. He is interested in studying identity, and particularly how American cultural identity and politics relates to moralized discourse on social media. He aims to apply his skills into data-driven roles, with an emphasis on scientific communication. He’s a Research Assistant at the Consumer Behavior Lab at Santa Clara University, where he’s studying offline licensing of online (im)moral behavior. He’s leading a project on Moral Foundations Theory as the Social Psychology Committee Director in his student org, B PsychEd. He also works as a Peer Adviser at the College of Letters and Science, so come by and ask him some questions about L&S policies! In his free time, he enjoys drawing, writing creative nonfiction, and keeping an aquarium.

Angela Wen (she/her) is a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Sociology and intending to pursue a simultaneous degree in Business. She has published a paper titled “The Relationship between Moralization and Social Cohesion on an Individual Level,” and her academic interests center on the instability of human morality across social contexts, particularly under pressures of self-interest. She is also increasingly drawn to the sociological dimensions of business, including structural operations of capitalism, value alignment and marketing strategies that shape organizational success.

Outside of academics, Angela enjoys playing volleyball as an outside hitter, going to the gym, listening to music, exploring different omakase experiences, practicing landscape photography, and writing prose. A fun fact: she has eight piercings.

I am a second-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, where I am studying Cognitive Science and Data Science. My interests lie at the intersection of human interaction as well as with technology. I am so excited to be a part of HIGHER lab, relating to its use of quantitative methods in studying social organizational hierarchies. I am also involved in a social impact consulting organization on campus, where I develop my high-level problem-solving skills with actionable recommendations. I also play volleyball on the club volleyball team here at Berkeley, as well as crochet and knit in my free time. Lately, I have been listening to albums instead of playlists, and my favorite places to do so around campus are the benches near the campanile, the glade around 5 pm, and any other places where I can relax and observe the world while listening to some great music!

Daniel Chu is a first-year student studying Business Administration at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. In the HIGHER Lab, his research focuses on the intersection between social psychology and Asian American studies, specifically exploring the role of stereotypes in defining societal perceptions and hierarchical status of the Asian American community. He is also a member of the Association for Socially Responsible Business, a corporate social responsibility consulting organization on campus, through which he intends to develop a greater business acumen and understanding of the role of businesses in social impact endeavors. In his free time, Daniel enjoys listening to Chinese R&B, reading, and exploring new places around campus. 

Description goes herePedro De Abreu is a Visiting Research Scholar in the HIGHER Lab at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. At Haas, his research investigates the psychological construal, maintenance, and attenuation of social hierarchies — with a focus on how motivated cognition, intergroup emotions, and beliefs about merit shape class-based inequality. His current projects with Professor Sa-kiera T.J. Hudson examine (1) how empathy and schadenfreude motivate individuals to uphold existing hierarchies, (2) how these emotional responses evolve longitudinally over time, and (3) how motivated cognition informs class-based stereotyping and theories of deservedness. He is also working on a multilevel theoretical model of Social Dominance Orientation, extending his late mentor Professor Jim Sidanius’s theory.

Pedro previously conducted doctoral research at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and has held research appointments in the Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations Lab led by Professor Jim Sidanius and in the Gilbert Lab led by Professor Daniel Gilbert at Harvard University, Harvard Business School, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he also served as a Teaching Fellow. His scholarly interests are rooted in identity, beliefs, status, and the psychological mechanisms that perpetuate social inequality — with a long-standing commitment to translating research into evidence-based interventions.

Pedro holds a Bachelor’s degree with highest honors in Economics with special distinction in research and mathematics from the University of South Carolina, a Master’s degree in Brain and Behavioral Sciences from Harvard University, and has conducted doctoral research in Management & Organizations at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Chantel White is a third-year student from San Jose, CA, double majoring in Economics and Political Economy with a minor in Data Science. At HIGHER Lab, she researches the social psychology behind hierarchy and intersectionality, with a passion for applying these insights to workplace dynamics and market structures. As Vice President of Community Development for UC Berkeley’s Panhellenic Council, she oversees DEI initiatives across 13 sorority chapters, representing 2,000 members. Additionally, as Treasurer of the University Housing Rights Organization, she leverages data analysis and strategic communication to advocate for equitable student housing. Driven by an interest in bias within corporate environments, she seeks to bridge social psychology and economics in her pursuit of a legal career. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, attending concerts, walking her dog, and spending time at the beach.