Lab Members

Lab Director, Dr. Lara Aknin

Hello! I’m Lara Aknin, a distinguished professor of Social Psychology at Simon Fraser University 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’s 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, 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’s 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!

Graduate Student, Tiara Cash

Hi! My name is Tiara Cash. I am a 2022 Vanier Scholar, a 2023 Dean’s Convocation Medalist, and PhD student at SFU where I work with Dr. Aknin on intersections of life transitions, prosocial behaviors, and well-being outcomes. I hold two Master’s Degrees - one in Social Psychology (M.A.) from SFU and another (M.S.) from Western Illinois University where I studied Sport Psychology and completed research focused on student-athlete retirement and the psychosocial factors related to the quality of well-being post-play. Previously, I earned a B.S. at Arizona State University in Exercise and Wellness. In addition to being a graduate student and researching in the lab, I own an organization focused on mindfulness, meta-awareness, and meaning where I conduct presentations, workshops, and consultations through an emerging framework: Equitable Mindfulness. My career interests include working with underrepresented and underserved populations on life transitions and working in academia to support equity-seeking communities as they navigate and transition through higher education. 

Erin Koch

Hello! I'm Erin, and I completed my B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Cognitive Science at SFU in Fall 2023. I've been involved in the lab for a couple of years now, and I'm loving every moment of it! Currently, I'm working towards finding a job in User Experience (UX), which combines my love of psychology, research, design, and technology. My research interests broadly revolve around how technology affects our well-being.

Kelton Travis

Hello! My name is Kelton Travis. I am a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. I am a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab, and am doing my Honours with Dr. Aknin. Following my B.A., I intend on pursuing a graduate degree with my primary research interests being in social and clinical psychology. Outside of my studies, I am a support worker/manager at a treatment 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.

Elyssa Hutchinson

Hi! My name is Elyssa. I am working towards completing my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Currently, I volunteer at the Douglas Research lab, and am extremely excited to be volunteering at the Helping and Happiness Lab as well! My research interests include forensic psychology, social psychology, and neuropsychology. In the future, I am hoping to complete an honours project and pursue graduate school.

Tony Yan

Hello! My name is Tony, and I’m a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness lab. I am a fourth-year Psychology major and gender studies minor student. I am interested in the field of well-being and positive psychology. I also enjoy working with children and families. I also volunteer at Burnaby Family Life to support Burnaby families and individuals. I hope to pursue graduate school in Counselling Psychology and become a registered clinical counsellor.

Rachael Whyte

Hi, my name is Rachael! I am currently a third year student majoring in Psychology. I am a volunteer research assistant at the Helping and Happiness Lab. In the future, I am hoping to attend grad school to study occupational therapy with a specific focus on the mental health aspect!

Justine Bayer

Hii my name is Justine and I'm majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education! I've been a research assistant since May 2023, and have been part of some very interesting projects since then! My research interests are varied, but include educational and social psychology. I hope to pursue graduate school and perhaps work in the education field in the future.

Ravneet Hothi

Hi! My name is Ravneet Hothi, and I am a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. I am in my third year at Simon Fraser University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counselling and Human Development. After completing my B.A. I hope to attend graduate school for Clinical Psychology. My current research interests include adolescents' well-being, mental health in South Asia, developmental psychopathology, and social psychology.

Matthew Rathore

Hello! I am Matthew Rathore, and I am currently in my fourth year of pursuing both Psychology as well as Counselling & Human Development. In working as a research assistant, I have had the chance to learn and further develop my understanding of producing original research. Encompassing my research interests are mental health, psychopathology, and cultural psychology. Upon graduating, I hope to pursue clinical psychology and produce original works.

Dani Concepcion

Hello, I'm Dani! I'm a third-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. In addition to being a student and a volunteer research assistant at the Helping & Happiness Lab, I am an avid reader who shares her thoughts on reading on social media! In the future, I hope to pursue a graduate degree in psychology and work in research.

Katrina Del Villar

Hi! I'm Katrina, a fourth year student majoring in Psychology and pursing a minor in Counselling and Human Development. Currently, I am a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab, as well as a FASS peer mentor and previous HIVE leader. Outside of academics I am a part-time dance instructor to young aspiring artists. Following my undergraduate degree I hope to further my education at graduate school, focusing on my passion for educational psychology and counselling. My research interests include developmental psychopathology, the well-being of children and adolescents, as well as social psychology.

Diksha Sharma

Hi! My name is Diksha and I am currently working towards completing my B.A. in Psychology. I am a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab and a FASS peer mentor. In the future, I hope to attend graduate school for Counselling Psychology.

Tori Kazemir

Hi! My name is Tori Kazemir, and I’m a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness lab. I’m in my third year at SFU, working towards a Bachelors degree with a major in Psychology and minor in Linguistics. In the future, I hope to pursue graduate school in Clinical Psychology. My research interests include child and adolescent psychopathologies, and positive psychology.

Shetal Hundal

Hello! My name is Shetal, and I am currently and undergraduate student majoring in psychology. I am honoured to be a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. In the future, I aim to pursue a graduate degree in clinical counselling. Some of my research interests include developmental psychology, intersectionality in psychology, and social cognition.

Alissa Bryant

Hello! My name is Alissa Bryant, I am currently enrolled in my fourth year here at SFU 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.

Gurveen Toor

Hi Everybody! My name is Gurveen, and I am currently a third-year student here at SFU majoring in Psychology! I am also a Research Assistant for Dr. Aknin's Helping and Happiness Lab. My future goals include pursuing a Master’s Degree in Psychology, with a further aim of working in the field of therapy and counselling. I want to be able to support people in overcoming challenges, improving mental health, and overall making a positive impact on lives. This passion drives and motivates me, and I am excited to continue learning and growing in this field. Outside of academics, I also love travelling and simply just being outdoors, watching sports and TV shows, and enjoying music!

Kareena Badhan

Hello! I'm Kareena, a third-year undergraduate student studying Psychology! I am currently a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. I have always been fascinated by the study of human behaviour, and the variety of fields Psychology encompasses. I am incredibly excited to be a part of this great research lab! I hope to attend graduate school in the future to further pursue my passion for Psychology.

Sukhpreet Kaur

Hello! My name is Sukhpreet Kaur and I am a volunteer research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. I am a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counselling and Human Development. Human behaviour has always fascinated me, especially in younger children as I observe children daily while working as an Early Childhood Educator. I enjoyed Social Psychology 260 course- it motivated me to learn more about human behaviour and I started looking for different ways to get enriched experience- so here I am, participating in this lab! I want to pursue a career in counselling after finishing my undergraduation. While working in the lab, I plan to gain some hands-on research experience which will help me produce/ conduct other research that will lead to practical interventions for improving people’s lives over the course of my career.

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.

Graduate, Dr. Jason Proulx

Hi there—I’m Jason! I am a Vanier Scholar and I earned my PhD at Simon Fraser University in 2024. With Dr. Aknin at SFU, I collaborate with non-profits and communities to study how real-world prosociality interventions (e.g., Intergenerational programs, Experiential Philanthropy Programs) shape adolescent prosocial development, foster meaningful social connections, and impact community well-being. I earned my M.A. at SFU examining how shared prosocial acts—like donating to charity together with a peer—impacts generosity, fosters new social connections, and enhances people’s intrinsic enjoyment. I completed my B.A. (Hons.) at the University of British Columbia on the social and emotional consequences of using smartphone technology. Across my work, I leverage mixed, community-engaged methods and rigorous, open-science practices to gain theoretical and practical insight into how to boost both human generosity and emotional and social well-being for people across the lifespan.

Graduate Student, Kristina Castaneto

Hello! I'm Kristina, a Master's student researching with Dr. Aknin and the rest of this lovely lab! My thesis focuses on the act of reaching out to "old friends"— friends we care about but with whom we've lost touch. Specifically, I am exploring the predictive factors, individual differences and emotional outcomes of people who engage in this 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. My honours thesis focused on the proposal and preliminary scale development of a construct coined as "nuanced perceptions of others' valence" — the readiness to percieve other people as being a mix of good and bad. I am interested in delving further into this contruct's nomological network and finding its ties to wellbeing and prosociality. I aspire to be a part of the coming generation of educators in academia, with hopes to spark curiousity and enthusiasm within my future students.

Anurada      Amarasekera

Hello! My name is Anurada. I completed my B.A. (Hons) in 2022, under the supervision of Dr. Aknin, where I examined the features of gratitude expressions that increase subsequent prosocial behaviour. I'm currently a graduate student studying Clinical Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. Across my work, I focus on improving well-being and happiness in underrepresented populations.

Tony Prevedello

Hello! I'm Tony I am a fourth-year undergraduate student set to complete my B.A. as a Psychology major here at SFU. Recently I have become much more involved in various research projects, including my role here as a volunteer Research Assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. I am also a volunteer Research Assistant in the Intergroup Relations and Social Justice Lab at SFU. Working in these incredible labs has been and will continue to be a great opportunity to participate in fascinating research. I plan on pursuing graduate school after completing my B.A. on the journey to becoming a registered clinical counselor. Some of my own research interests include the interplay between disordered eating, body image, and subjective happiness and well-being, as well as broader social psychology research.

Burdett Kwon

Hello, my name is Burdett Kwon and I have completed a B.A. in Psychology. I am currently a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab and the lab manager for the CLOSER lab at SFU. I am currently completing my post-bachelors in Counselling and Human Development and aim to complete a graduate program in experimental psychology in the future. My research interests include developmental psychology, cultural psychology, and abnormal psychology.

Fiona Eaket

Hello, my name is Fiona! I am currently in my third year at SFU, working on completing my B.A. in Psychology. I am a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab, and I also volunteer with Metro Vancouver East Community Corrections. Following the completion of my degree I hope to attend graduate school for Clinical Psychology. Some of my research interests include environmental psychology, violence and aggression, interpersonal relationships, and prosocial behaviour.

Taelor Lay

Hello! I am an undergraduate psychology student and research assistant here at Simon Fraser University. My areas of research interest lie in mindfulness, prosocial behaviour, mental health protective factors and public health. I look forward to utilizing — and contributing to — the abundance of meaningful research in psychology to support underserved and underrepresented populations over the course of my career.

Michael Owers

Hello! My name is Michael. I am a fourth year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counseling and Human Development. I am thoroughly enjoying volunteering as a research assistant in both the Helping and Happiness Lab and the SECURE lab. My interests center around positive and social psychology, including exploring prosocial tendencies and gratitude as means to foster happiness. I am also keenly interested in how to foster healthy relations in diverse and understudied circumstances, such as for single individuals. In my spare time I enjoy singing, creative writing, trying new foods, and hiking with friends.

Kalum Kumar

Hello, my name is Kalum Kumar. I am a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab at Simon Fraser University, 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.

Couper Saunders

Hi, I’m Couper! I am a student currently in-between my third and fourth year, working towards my BA in psychology and minor in human development & counselling. I am currently, and proudly, a research assistant for the Helping and Happiness Lab. Outside of school, I work part-time for the city of Burnaby and take care of my body through fitness. Since my childhood, I’ve had a passion for figuring out what makes people tick and knew that I wanted to work in the field of psychology. As such, I will be pursuing post-graduate education in the future. The realms of psychology that I find interesting include: forensic, social, biological, and developmental and how these realms collectively affect the formation of an individuals thought processes, schema formation, and opinions in life- especially during crucial times of childhood and adolescence. Finally, in the future, I hope to be working as a clinical forensic psychologist helping at risk youth in the CJS from committing further deviancy and, ultimately, adult criminality.

Marcel Aini

Hello everybody! My name is Marcel Aini and I received the lovely opportunity to be a research assistant at the Helping and Happiness Lab. I am majoring in Psychology with the hope of minoring in Counselling and Human Development. Human behaviour has always fascinated me, and as I took more classes here at SFU, I realized how much I enjoyed Social Psychology! So being part of this lab to help with some amazing research was another step I could take to learn even more. In the future, I hope to enter a graduate program, possibly in Counselling Psychology, with the goal of becoming a registered clinical counsellor.

Marwan Saleh

Hi! I am Marwan Saleh, and I’m a 5th year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counselling and Human Development. I am senior research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. I work as a Behavioural Interventionlist (BI) within the community suporting autistic teens in developing various life skills. I have been incredibly passionate and involved in the field of psychology after having faced multiple challenges with my own mental health and not being able to receive the resources I needed. With that in mind, I have made it my mission to help others like me who have faced similar challenges and help raise awareness for mental health in the Middle East.

Yassaman Malek

Hello! My name is Yassaman and I am currently a third year psychology student. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I hope to pursue a master’s degree and PhD in counselling psychology. I was very excited to join the Helping and Happiness lab in May 2023 and am currently a volunteer research assistant. My interests in this field are very diverse but some of them include prosocial behaviour, attachment theory, the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in health outcomes, and trauma-informed care. I am also currently a volunteer with a non-profit organization called Coast Mental Health, where I spend one-on-one time with individuals, providing companionship for conversation and going for walks or playing games. In my spare time, I enjoy reading as often as I can (currently fixed on: The Myth Of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté). But, if you can’t find my head in a book, you’ll probably find me in the gym working on my next personal record!

Rachel Yapp

Hi! I'm Rachel. I am a fourth year Psychology major and minoring in Cognitive Science. I volunteer in SFU’s Happiness and Helping Lab where I am the project manager for the iGen studies, and I also volunteer in the Spalek Attention, Memory, and Perception labs. In my spare time I work as a research consultant for an interior design company focusing on how designed environments impact wellbeing. I hope to continue my studies at grad school once my bachelor's degree is complete.

Sophia Vennesland

Hi! I am Sophia Vennesland, a fourth year student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Counselling and Human Development. I am currently a volunteer research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab. I hope to go to graduate school for either clinical or counselling psychology following my undergraduate degree. My research interests include the well-being of children and adolescents, developmental psychopathology, mental health and positive psychology.

Diana Negrabee

My name is Diana, I am a Psychology major undergraduate at SFU. I am currently a Research Assistant at the Helping and Happiness Lab and the Children’s Memory Research Group. My research interests include but are not limited to counseling psychology, intimate partner violence, eyewitness memory, wrongful convictions, reintegration of exonerees back into society and children’s suggestibility. In the future, I plan to attend graduate school and conduct my own research and contribute to research in psychology at a greater capacity.

Sophie Matheos

Hello! My name is Sophie and I have recently completed my B.A in Psychology with a Business minor. I am excited to be an RA for the Helping and Happiness Lab to learn more about the growing field of positive psychology. I currently work as a lifeguard and swim instructor and want to continue working with children in the future. My research interests include; the well-being of children and adolescents, mindfulness, social connections and the impact of exercise on mental health. I plan to eventually attend graduate school to pursue a career as a clinical counselor. Outside of school, I enjoy staying active, eating delicious food and traveling!

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 SFU 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. I am currently pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education. In addition to being a research assistant in the Helping and Happiness Lab, I am also a member of the Studies in Methodology and Philosophy of Psychological Science Lab. A few of my research interests include the effects of prosocial behaviour on self-esteem, factors influencing positive mental health outcomes in children and adults, and how learning disabilities shape children’s social experience and self-esteem. In the future, I plan to complete an honours project and pursue graduate studies to further my knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the field of psychology.

Former lab members:

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
Dr. Dylan Wiwad