Lab Coordinator
Giuliana Mascia, B.A.
Giuliana completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Guelph with a major in Honours Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice and Public Policy. She currently serves as the Lab Coordinator for the JEDI Lab under the supervision of Dr. Leanne Son Hing.
Giuliana recently began her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counselling at Niagara University, where she is expanding her knowledge of counselling practice and mental health care. While her graduate studies are focused on clinical work, she continues to hold a strong interest in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, particularly in issues related to fairness, gender equity, and diversity in the workplace.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Giuliana enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and listening to music.
Graduate Students
Fiona Burns-Hemingway, B.Sc.
After completing a Bachelor of Science with honours in Psychology and a minor in Economics at Dalhousie University, Fiona joined the JEDI Lab as an I/O Psychology MA candidate.
While her undergraduate honours thesis was rooted in cognitive psychology, she studied an applied phenomenon – stimulus-response compatibility and the Mini Countryman vehicle – that fostered her interest in ergonomics. As such, Fiona is eager to integrate her passions for psychology and economics to make the workplace a more comfortable and efficient environment for everyone. She hopes to ultimately apply this knowledge to corporate contexts as an Organizational Consultant.
Outside of her academic and professional endeavours, Fiona enjoys reading, baking, and canoe-tripping.
Tianzi Dou, B.Sc.
Tianzi Dou is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Guelph. Previously, she obtained her Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alberta.
Her master’s thesis focuses on exploring how to enhance the employability of socioeconomically disadvantaged job candidates through strength-based approaches and the consideration of meritocratic factors. The goal is to ensure that the potential of applicants can be recognized with less bias.
Building on her prior research experience, Tianzi is also examining issues related to acculturation and intercultural communication. With her ongoing training in IO psychology, she also hopes to address the cultural challenges faced by organizations, particularly those concerning diverse workforces and organizational justice.
As one of the few international graduate students in the program, Tianzi reflects on her experience and brings unique perspectives to research and consulting work.
Beyond her research, Tianzi is committed to serving the community by helping newcomers with linguistic and cultural barriers. In her spare time, she enjoys reading literature, practicing creative writing, making travel guides, and exploring nature.
Nicholas Maharaj, B.A.
Nicholas is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology degree at the University of Guelph.
Nicholas is excited to pursue his honours thesis at the JEDI lab, under the supervision of Dr. Son Hing. In addition to a number of research topics, he is eager to learn more about the research process, and the nuances involved in conducting a study. He is interested in understanding more how an individual’s traits interact with different organizational structures. He hopes that his research will contribute to more equitable hiring processes, and more positive workplace climates.
In the future, Nicholas hopes to pursue his master’s degree, in order to better understand and address the psychological obstacles that we face in everyday life.
Outside of his research, Nicholas spends his time socializing with friends and family. He enjoys hiking, tabletop games, and model painting.
Undergraduate Students
Amara Robbins, B.A.
Amara Robbins is a MA student in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology program at the University of Guelph. Her current research focuses on hiring bias towards candidates with a criminal record, and whether this bias can be mitigated. The goal is to foster more equitable selection and recruitment procedures.
Amara completed her Bachelor of Arts Honours with a major in Psychology at the University of Guelph. Before embarking on her MA journey, Amara worked in several research labs, contributing to projects in the fields of industrial-organizational psychology, clinical psychology, and forensic psychiatry.
In addition to her academics, Amara serves as a consultant at Organization and Management Solutions (OMS), collaborating with public organizations to facilitate small-group sessions on structured interview training.
Beyond her professional engagements, Amara enjoys travelling, spending time with her family, and listening to podcasts.
Sally Xie, B.Sc.
Sally Xie is a MA student in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology program at the University of Guelph. Prior to this, Sally earned her Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology at the University of Waterloo. Sally’s research interests include investigating prejudice, stereotyping, exploring individual experiences of inequality, and intergroup dynamics.
Currently, Sally’s master’s thesis is investigating individual beliefs about inequality and its influence on admissions decisions.
Sally has previous research examining benevolent stereotypes (i.e., model minority stereotype).
Outside of research, Sally embeds herself in her community and spends her time volunteering for not-for-profit organizations. In Sally’s spare time, she loves to knit and explore as much of the world as she can!
Bella Stasiuk
Bella is a fourth-year psychology student pursuing an Honours thesis in the JEDI Lab with Dr. Son Hing. Bella is currently researching the underrepresentation of lower-class students in higher education. She is learning about group-based inequality, how inequality persists in society, perceptions of meritocracy, and people’s growth mindset. She is very interested in understanding the role of early disadvantages in later life outcomes.
Bella hopes to pursue a career in research or private practice, bridging her passion for mental health, diversity, and psychology.
Outside of academic work, she enjoys reading, volunteering, and travelling with her family.
Virginia Payne
Virginia is a fourth-year Honours Thesis student in the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lab. Her research examines how marginalized firefighters experience discrimination, incivility, reduced inclusion and reputation, and workplace ill-being. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, she is also exploring how positive diversity climates can help mitigate these challenges and is conducting a literature review to support future publications.
Gwyneth Chung
Gwyneth is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Guelph, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She is currently conducting an undergraduate honours thesis that aims to investigate the feasibility of increasing accessibility within a parenting intervention program.
Gwyneth’s role within the JEDI lab is to support her fellow researchers with their theses and dissertations. Gwyneth has conducted previous research within I-O psychology and clinical psychology and is eager to build on analyzing structural inequalities and improving well-being and inclusion.
Gwyneth hopes to pursue further education to support mental health and well-being. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her loved ones.
Fernanda Ferrari Badauy
Fernanda is a second-year student, majoring with a Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology, with a minor in Neuroscience.
Fernanda has joined Dr. Son Hing’s lab as a volunteer research associate, initiating her journey in academic research and hands-on learning. Fernanda is thrilled to be working alongside Dr. Son Hing and her team in the JEDI Lab, and cannot wait for the new experiences, and opportunities to develop skills as a researcher, team member and as a Psychology student. Fernanda’s goal is to continue her academic pursuit of knowledge, and achieve an undergraduate degree with hopes of completing an undergraduate thesis, where she can contribute to the world of academia, and combine her love for learning, and her passion for psychology.
Additionally, Fernanda enjoys listening to almost any genre of music, cooking, and reading both fictional, and non-fictional literature.
