Na Yeon Kim, Ph.D. (she/her) | Lab Director
Na Yeon Kim is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Her research investigates individual differences in perception and attention, and how these processes manifest in autism spectrum disorder. She employs fMRI, eye-tracking, and behavioral studies to access higher-order cognition across developmental stages. Prior to directing the Kim AND lab, she was a postdoctoral scholar in Ralph Adolphs’ lab at Caltech and received her PhD in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience from Princeton University. When she’s not in the lab, she enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants.
Felicia Mou (she/her) | Lab Assistant
Felicia Mou graduated from Northwestern University in 2025 with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology. As an undergraduate, she worked in Molly Losh’s Neurodevelopmental Diversity Lab. Her research interests include developmental psychopathology, cognitive neuroscience, and heterogeneity in autism spectrum disorder. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cooking, reading, exploring Southern California, and making art.
Graduate Students
Aaryan Kumar (he/him) | Master's Student
Aaryan is a Master’s student in the Computer Science Department and a recent UCR graduate majoring in Computer Science. His primary research interests are AI and human-computer interaction. He likes playing badminton in his free time.
Research Assistants
Ryan Gorman (he/him)
Ryan is a fourth-year Psychology major with a growing interest in the impact of digital technology on attention, as well as the role of mindfulness and meditation in promoting mental well-being. Besides research, he enjoys reading and playing video games.
Naya Patel (he/they)
Naya is a third-year student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Queer Studies. His academic interests include neurodivergence, social development, and emotional experiences. Outside of the lab, they enjoy reading, listening to music, and trying out new recipes.
Samantha Navarrete (she/her)
Samantha is a senior majoring in Psychology with a strong interest in how attachment and relationship processes impact mental health outcomes. She is particularly focused on populations affected by depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, watching movies, and going out to eat.
Heaven Martin (she/her)
Heaven is a second-year Psychology major with a strong interest in adolescent and youth development, as well as neurodivergence. In her free time, she enjoys reading the Twilight series, again and again.
Kiyra Bergstrom (she/her)
Kiyra is a third-year student double-majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her primary research interest lies in developmental psychology, with a particular focus on how the brain changes and adapts in response to both genetic predispositions and environmental influences. Outside of academics, she enjoys spending time in nature, hiking, and swimming. She also values quality time with close friends and appreciates quiet moments spent reading or watching movies.
Selina Gadalla (she/her)
Selina is a fourth-year Psychology major at UCR with a passion for understanding how perception and attention vary across the autism spectrum. She aims to connect this research to her long-term goal of becoming a pediatric optometrist. She especially enjoys working with children and contributing to research that makes a meaningful difference for kids and their families. Outside of academics, you can usually find her baking sweet treats, hunting for unique treasures while thrifting, or spending quality time with family.
Ally Lingaolingao (she/her)
Ally is a second-year Psychology major with an interest in studying behavioral and developmental psychology in adolescence. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, reading, and trying new restaurants with friends.
Haley Rodriguez (they/them)
Haley is a second-year Psychology major interested in neurodevelopment and the biological factors that contribute to violent behavior. Their academic focus lies in exploring how individuals develop violent tendencies, with particular attention to the chemical and physical processes that influence behavior. When not in the lab, they enjoy playing video games, reading, crocheting, and watching TV shows with their partner. They also like cooking and experimenting with new dishes.
Allison Bonning (she/her)
Allison is a second-year Psychology major eager to learn more about the neural mechanisms that encompass brain development and how these processes differ across various neurological conditions. She looks forward to exploring the connection between neuroanatomy and cognition using behavioral tools and neuroimaging. In her free time, she enjoys going on long hikes with her sister, baking sweets with friends, and practicing calligraphy.
Nikki Doiphode (she/her)
Nikki is a third-year Psychology major with a strong interest in neuroimaging, particularly fMRI research. Her work focuses on how the brain responds to stimuli influenced by clinical disorders such as anxiety and depression. She is especially interested in how daily life experiences shape emotional regulation strategies and how ecological momentary assessments can be linked to neural markers through task-based fMRI. In her free time, she enjoys playing NYT Connections and collecting Sonny Angels and Smiskis.
Delvin Sonza (he/him)
Delvin is a recent graduate of UCR, having majored in Biology. His research interests include cognitive psychology and autism. He enjoys building Lego, going to the gym, and rock climbing in his free time.
Arushi Patel (she/her)
Arushi is a third-year student majoring in Biology and minoring in Global and Community Health. Her work focuses on understanding individual variability in facial emotion recognition among autistic individuals, particularly examining how alexithymia, autism severity, and anxiety contribute to these differences. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, trying new matcha places, and traveling.
Nicole Lopez (she/her)
Nicole is a third-year Neuroscience major interested in identifying the effects of different learning methods and attention tasks to see how they may vary across neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals in specific brain regions. She wants to explore how this could benefit overall student success and accommodate learning for all kinds of individuals. When she’s not in the lab, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading, drawing, and playing fantasy RPGs.
