The FAM&I Lab in Action
Principal Investigator
Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Arts & Sciences
Human Development, Department of Counseling & Human Development, Warner School of Education & Human Development
Nestor (he/they/siya) is an assistant professor of developmental psychology and of human development at the University of Rochester. He is the PI of the FAM&I Lab, leading studies on family-youth interactions and their relations with youth psychological, academic, and identity outcomes. Nestor was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, immigrated to Southern California (SoCal) in his early teens, and eventually finished his Ph.D. in Education, Human Development in Context at the University of California, Irvine. In his spare time, he loves rough-housing with his dog Hero, visiting vineyards and cider houses around Upstate New York with his husband Jonah, watching local Rochester theatre and drag performances, and (re)learning how to cook SoCal-based dishes.
Top Three media that Nestor recommends:
- Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece, "Princess Mononoke"
- Samara Joy's "Linger Awhile" album
- NPR's Code Switch podcast by B.A. Parker and Gene Demby
Website: NestorTulagan.com
Curriculum Vitae | Bluesky | Research Gate | LinkedIn | ORCID | Google Scholar
Doctoral Students
Human Development, Department of Counseling & Human Development, Warner School of Education
Ziqin (she) is a Ph.D. student in human development at the University of Rochester. Her research interests encompass parenting dynamics and adolescent development, with a focus on social-emotional and academic growth. Ziqin was born and raised in Wuhan, China and completed her master’s degree in psychology at University College London in the UK. Outside of academia, she finds joy in spending time with her three Shiba Inus, also known as the Oreo family. Ziqin also appreciates visiting art museums and exhibitions, indulging in iced Americanos during brunch with friends, and exploring diverse cultures and destinations with her family.
Top Three media that Ziqin recommends:
- "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World", Haruki Murakami
- "The Good Place", a comedy series created by Michael Schur
- "Dynamite" by BTS
Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Arts & Sciences
Jingyi (she/her) is a PhD student in the developmental psychology program at the University of Rochester. Her research interests center on cross-cultural parental feedback and children's academic motivation. Jingyi was born and raised in Beijing, China. She finished her undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke College. She enjoys hiking, biking, playing tennis, and singing karaoke in her spare time.
Top Three media that Jingyi recommends:
- "Philosophize This!" podcast by Stephen West
- "Stories of the Sahara" by Echo Chen
- "Voulez-Vous" by ABBA
Albenys Diaz Hernandez
Psychology & Spanish major, School of Arts and Sciences
adiazhe2@u.rochester.edu
I am an undergraduate Honors Thesis student in the FAM&I Lab. My research focuses on racial/ethnic identity, socialization, efficacy, mental well-being, and the experiences of minoritized youth. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic until the age of 12, I relocated to the Bronx, New York, where I encountered significant financial and educational challenges. These experiences fueled my interest in understanding how racial and ethnic socialization intersects with academic beliefs and achievements. My goal is to become a therapist specializing in Latine youth and underrepresented minorities. I enjoy reading, listening to bachata and Latin music, and actively participate in cultural organizations at the University of Rochester. I have been on the executive board of the Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness (SOCA) since my freshman year.
Media that Albenys recommends:
- Tamara Ireland Stone’s Every Last Word – A poignant Young Adult novel that explores mental health issues through the lens of a young girl struggling with OCD.
- Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High, Clap When You Land, and The Poet X – These works offer a rich portrayal of the Dominican experience both in the mainland and in New York, reflecting our cultural identities.
Jing He
Human Development, Department of Counseling & Human Development, Warner School of Education
jhe48@u.rochester.edu
Jing He (She/her/her) is a master's student majoring in Human Development at the University of Rochester. Her research interests focus on family and child development, as well as adolescents' identity and mental well-being. Jing was born in China and pursued a major in psychology during her undergraduate program. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing and networking, exploring various cuisines with friends, and hosting lively gatherings.
Top Three media that Jing recommends:
- my favorite singer: Jay Chou
- my favorite TV series: "Stranger Things"
- my favorite movie: "La La Land"
Yiman Zhou
Human Development, Department of Counseling & Human Development, Warner School of Education
yzhou121@u.rochester.edu
Yiman (she) is a research assistant at FAM&I Lab. She is a master's student at the University of Rochester, conducting her master's degree in human development at the Warner School of Education. Her research interest aligns with the impact of family relationships on children's mental health as well as academic motivation. Yiman was born in China and later moved to Vancouver, Canada, in middle school. She finished her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of British Columbia. In her free time, she likes baking, painting, and reading fiction novels.
Current Undergraduate RAs
Daisy Muñoz Castro
Psychology Major, School of Arts and Sciences
Daisy joined the FAM&I Lab in Fall 2024.
Lab Alumni
Suzita Pacheco
Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Arts & Sciences
Suzita (she/her) earned her Master's degree in developmental psychology at the University of Rochester in 2025. Her research interests revolve around the development of racial/ethnic and gender identity. She aims to explore how these two dimensions interact and shape our sense of self. Suzita is Hispanic and was born and raised in Alameda, New Mexico, where she grew up in a small community that faced high school dropout rates of around 50%. Due to health issues, she had to drop out of high school as well. However, she persevered teaching herself from the hospital and worked hard to earn her GED. From there, she worked her way up from Central New Mexico Community College to the University of New Mexico, where she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology. Suzita then pursued her graduate degree at the University of Rochester. When she is not busy with her studies, she enjoys various hobbies, including gardening, painting, and wood carving.
Dimitrios Karadimos, M.Ed., M.Sc.
Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Fellow & Visiting Scholar, 2024
Dimitrios (he/his/him) is an Elementary School Teacher in Athens, Greece. He received a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching and as a result he is studies at the University of Rochester. His research interests center on new contemporary ways to mitigate the discrimination and stereotypes toward LGBTQI+ students in elementary schools by creating both new educational materials and an inclusive climate within classrooms. Was born and raised in Serres, Greece, while he finished his Bachelor studies at Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), while he continued with his Master studies at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NUOA). He is keen on swimming, cooking, hiking, listening to music and visiting museums.
Past RAs
Duaa Alkawari, Fall '24
Ahmet Latif Çolak, Fall '24