Meet the Lab!
Principal Investigator
Kyshia Henderson (she/her)
Dr. Henderson is an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Virginia. Dr. Henderson's research broadly focuses on how racism is promoted and justified. Click here for Dr. Henderson’s CV. Outside the lab she enjoys playing video games, finding new music, and doing embroidery.
Primary PhD Students
Derek Kahng (he/him)
Derek Kahng is a Ph.D. student working with Dr. Kyshia Henderson. Broadly, he studies how historical narratives function as hierarchy-legitimizing ideologies. His research examines (a) the psychological mechanisms that distort perceptions of history and (b) seeks to situate contemporary social phenomena within their historical antecedents. In his free time, you can find him reading, nerding out about dinosaurs, and training to close a Captains of Crush #3.
Primary Masters Students
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Lily Johnson (she/her)
Lily is a master's student working with Dr. Kyshia Henderson. Broadly, she is interested in researching bias, prejudice, and discrimination within authoritative systems. Her current research examines how historical knowledge of systemic racism within policing can help increase policy support for police reform and mediate race-crime stereotypes. In her free time, you will find Lily knitting, reading, and/or attempting to learn how to do digital art!
Affiliated PhD Students
Elizabeth Janey (she/her)
Elizabeth Janey is a graduate student in the Social Psychology program in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. Elizabeth's research broadly focuses on how the environment influences racial attitudes and one's sense of belonging. When she isn't working on research you can find her walking her dog, Pancake, reading a book, or lounging like a Victorian era woman.
Vanessa Lazaro (she/her)
Vanessa is a PhD candidate primarily working with Dr. Lin Bian at the University of Chicago. She graduated from Cornell University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Sociology and a minor in Inequality Studies. Broadly, Vanessa's research focuses on how children think about intersecting social categories in the context of brilliance and social inequality. In her free time, you can likely find her playing video games, trying out new recipes, or deejaying.
Elijah Green-Longaberger (Any Pronouns)
Elijah is a Ph.D. student in the Social Psychology program. Their doctoral research focuses on bridging the fields of intergroup relations and relationship science through investigating how individuals of different social identities interact and form close bonds. They are interested in how possessing a different identity from one’s partner may influence perceptions and behavior, both within one’s relationship and as a couple in the social world. They are also interested in marginalized identities on the relational level (e.g. interracial relationships, same-gender relationships) and how these relationships compare to traditionally studied couples.
Research Assistants
Olivia Gillis (she/her)
Olivia Gillis is a third-year student majoring in psychology and neuroscience. She is interested in the history of racism and how it affects today's political and social culture. Her goal is to work in the healthcare field and address health disparities.
Photos from Lab Get Togethers
The lab got together to build Legos! Here are some of the lab members with their creations! (Fall 2025)
The lab got together to build Legos! Here are their creations! (Fall 2025)