GASP

Co-President

I am a fifth-year PhD student in quantitative psychology working with Dr. Mark Lai. I’m interested in developing and applying quantitative methods to fairly and accurately assess and model complex psychological phenomena, and harnessing advances in machine learning and Bayesian statistics to improve upon traditional methods in psychology. In my second year as GASP Co-President, I’m committed to fostering a supportive, fair, and collaborative department culture with many opportunities for students to get together and have fun. Outside of school and work, I enjoy traveling and exploring the city, reading, learning languages, swimming, spending time at the beach, and going on hikes.

Contact: ozcan@usc.edu

Co-President

I am a third-year PhD student in the Social Psychology area, working with Dr. Morteza Dehghani. My research examines intergroup relationships, with a particular focus on how moral values and attitudes can give rise to prejudice and hate, as well as how interventions can be designed to reduce these outcomes. As Co-President this year, I am committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive community within our department, where all voices are respected and heard. Outside of work and research, I enjoy exploring new places in LA, visiting art galleries and museums, hiking, practicing reformer Pilates, and cooking Persian food.

Contact: daryani@usc.edu

Professional Development Chair

I’m a sixth-year PhD student in the social area working with Dr. Leor Hackel. I’m broadly interested in three lines of questions: How does emotion regulation influence our responses to moral disagreements? How do people develop sense of belonging to their social groups? How do individuals learn to empathize with others through social interactions? As the Professional Development Chair this year and job market candidate, I’m excited to help GASP members navigate their career development at different stages, from exploring career paths to seeking professional experiences, to crafting job application materials and preparing for interviews. Outside of research, I love running, cycling and reading.

Contact: yzhang51@usc.edu

Mentor-Mentee Program Coordinator

I’m a second-year PhD student in the social area working with Dr. Elisa Baek. I’m broadly interested in studying the factors that affect individuals’ feeling of social connection and exploring the neurological underpinnings of these connections. As the Mentorship Program Coordinator this year, I’m excited to welcome new students to the program and help them settle in by building community among mentors and mentees! Outside of research, I love traveling, exploring the city, and relaxing at the beach.

Contact: saewonch@usc.edu

DGSA Representative

I am a second-year PhD student in the Developmental program working with Dr. Santiago Morales. My research involves understanding the impact of biological, environmental, and cultural factors on different trajectories of socioemotional and cognitive development in children. I’m excited to be serving as GASP’s DGSA representative to be a liaison between our department and the broader graduate student community. In my free time, I enjoy exercising, reading at the beach, and exploring LA’s food and music scenes!

Contact: oloomi@usc.edu

DEI Climate Officer

I’m a third-year PhD student in the clinical area working with Dr. Bruna Martins-Klein, and my research is focused on social connection and how we leverage our close relationships to improve mood and wellbeing. Outside of school, I consider myself a serial hobbyist – I’ve done everything from piano to pottery – but if I had to choose, my main hobbies are gardening, baking, and singing loudly in my car. I’m looking forward to working with the wonderful community we have in this department to promote justice and equity as GASP’s CLIMATE chair!

Contact: asganapa@usc.edu