People

Principal Investigator

Tabea Springstein

Dr. Springstein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. Her current research examines, for example, how people differ in how they define and achieve successful emotion regulation and how the daily contexts of older adults can support the effective management of their emotions. 

In her free time, Dr. Springstein enjoys spending time with friends, eating food from around the world, exploring art and architecture, and running (though not attempting to break any speed records).

CV

Lab Manager

Lexi Suarez

Lexi graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2025. During her time there, she worked in Dr. Josh Jackson’s Personality Measurement and Development (PMaD) Lab and wrote an honors thesis in Dr. Emily Willroth’s Wellbeing and Emotion across the Lifespan Lab (WELLab).

Lexi’s research interests include psychosocial wellbeing, the relationship between emotion regulation and values & beliefs, and the relationship between emotions and consumer behavior. In her free time, Lexi enjoys thrifting, traveling, working out, and going to farmers markets. CV

Email: alexissu@ucr.edu

Graduate Students

Interested in joining the lab as a graduate student? Dr. Springstein will be reviewing applications for the Fall 2026 application cycle. Please check out the Join Us page for more information!

Bella Avalos

Isabella (Bella) is a first-year PhD student in the Emotional Lives Lab. Her research program focuses on the person- and situation-specific processes that underlie emotion regulation and how emotion dynamics unfold in daily life. She aims to use intensive longitudinal methods alongside advanced statistical modeling to study these processes at the momentary level and across time. In her free time, Bella enjoys traveling and being active in nature with her partner, Rocci.

Email: iaval006@ucr.edu

Macey Grisso

Macey is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Emotional Lives Lab who is broadly interested in studying the functions of emotions using intensive, longitudinal methodology. Her research examines individual differences in the experience of negative, self-conscious emotions, such as how people differentiate between them and whether/how each emotion results in distinct outcomes. In her free time, Macey enjoys reading, puzzling, learning Japanese, and snuggling with her cat Spica. CV

Email: macey.grisso@email.ucr.edu

Honors Students

Ricky Bechtel

Nikki Doiphode

Hello! My name is Nikki and I am a third-year undergraduate pursuing a BA in Psychology with a strong interest in emotional modulation and how various environments and circumstances influence it. I aim to build a career in clinical or cognitive psychology, focusing on adolescent populations. In my free time, I love collecting Sonny Angels, listening to jazz/funk, or cooking a new recipe!

Phoebe Cheng

Hi! My name is Phoebe Cheng and I am a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.A. in Psychology. My interests lie in emotion regulation and its environmental and situational influences. I hope to pursue a career in clinical psychology, particularly working with children. My future goal is to inspire the next generation of children to be emotionally and mentally resilient. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, cafe hopping, and spending time with friends.

Thinh Nguyen

Hello! My name is Thinh and I am a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.A. in Psychology. I am interested in exploring the relationship between emotion regulation and workplace performance, such as how differences in emotional regulation affect decision-making under stressful situations. In my free time, I love listening to music, cooking, and going to different boba shops. 

Kaitlyn Gomez

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn, and I am a third-year undergraduate Psychology student. I am extremely passionate about helping others, and am hoping to pursue a psychological career that relates to emotions and positively impacts the well-being of others. In my free time, I love to explore new areas, crochet, and meet new people.

Vivian Tieu

Hii! My name is Vivian and I’m a second-year undergraduate Psychology student. I’m interested in research regarding Developmental Psychology and how our emotional capacity is affected by how we were raised. I love going to the gym and trying new cafes!

Anna Kaminitz

Hi! My name is Anna and I am a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Arabic Language/Literature. I am particularly interested in how behaviors such as substance use and disordered eating act as mechanisms for emotional regulation, and how cultural and religious practices like prayer may build emotional resilience. In my free time, I enjoy coffee, long walks, and meeting new people.

Jasmine Spooner

My name is Jasmine Spooner. I am a fourth-year Psychology major. I am deeply interested in how interacting with AI and within online communities can impact our ability to emotionally regulate. As technology has advanced, so has people’s reliance on it, so it is interesting to investigate how this may influence how they interact socially without being online.

Achyut Iyengar

My name is Achyut and I’m a third-year Neuroscience major. I’m interested in how our thoughts can influence our actions in different environments. I hope to pursue a career in computational neuroscience research. In my free time I like to watch movies, travel, play golf, try new food spots with friends, and listen to music.

Yesenia Contreras-Urrutia

Hi! I’m Yesi, a fourth-year psychology major with an interest in emotion regulation and applied cognitive psychology. After graduating, I hope to pursue a Master’s degree in either Counseling or Psychological Science. In my free time I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends and family, and trying out new coffee shops.

Jackie Zavala

Hi! My name is Jackie, and I am a fourth-year Psychology and English major. My academic interest focuses on how emotion & emotional regulation affects individuals in their personal lives and social settings. I plan to pursue a career in clinical psychology, with the goal of advocating for and supporting youth in underrepresented communities. Outside of academics, my interests include dancing folklórico, creating floral arrangements, enjoying good coffee, traveling, and meeting new people!

Sarai Bielmas

Hola! My name is Sarai, I am a first-generation undergraduate student, and I am currently pursuing a BA in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. My interest in research involves emotion regulation and the neural mechanisms behind them. I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and hope to contribute to creating new neuroscience based mental health interventions. I also hope to help many people of all ages and backgrounds in the future as a psychologist. In my free time I like spending time with loved ones, watching movies and going to the gym. 

Lab Alumni

Pareeya Jiyacharoen – Undergraduate Research Assistant

Nancy Zhang – Undergraduate Research Assistant

Alana Suleiman – Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jocelyn Aragon – Undergraduate Research Assistant