Director
Nicole Mead, PhD
Dr. Mead is a leading expert in self-control among vulnerable populations. Her research uncovers new psychological insights that can help empower people to make decisions that are more sustainable for themselves, their family, society, and the environment. Drawing on her interdisciplinary training in psychology and business, Mead has developed interventions that improve social connection, healthy eating, financial saving, and pro-environmental behavior in both developed and developing countries. As testament to her interdisciplinary cutting-edge research, Mead’s research has been published in high-impact outlets in general science (Science; Proceedings of the National Academy of Science), psychology (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology) and business (Journal of Consumer Research; Journal of Marketing; Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes). Mead’s research has been funded by industry (e.g., ING Bank’s Think Forward Grant) and government (e.g., SSHRC). Her timely and provocative work in psychology and business has garnered her an Associate Editorship for the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology and Area Editorship for the International Journal of Research in Marketing, both A journals.
When she's not teaching or doing research, Nicole loves to hike in the wilderness or cozy up with friends and family while sharing good food and wine. (Then again, her most meaningful ideas have been cooked up during these times!)
Current PhD Student
Dede Narh
Dede Narh is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne. She studies how motives influence meaningful consumption and the ethical use of power. She enjoys discovering new ideas on how consumers, marketers and the planet can interact in mutually beneficial ways. Learning new languages to connect with people is a cherished hobby of hers.
Current PhD Student
Donya Shabgard
Donya Shabgard is a 1st year PhD. student in Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. She has completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a MSc. in Marketing from the University of Manitoba. Her current research interests include Consumer Behavior, Online Dating, and Self Presentation.
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Current PhD Student
Jeremy Lee
Jeremy Lee is a PhD student in Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. He received his BBA in Global Business & Marketing at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he has also worked as a research assistant. He has also worked at L’Oreal as a business analyst. His current research interests include consumer psychology, social influences, and self-related topics, and his work has been published in PLoS One. When not reviewing literature, gathering data, or musing about research ideas, he is playing the piano or saxophone, listening to or writing about classical music, and cooking or enjoying good food.
Current PhD Student
Fiona Yunqian Tian
Fiona Yunqian Tian is a PhD student in Psychology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), awarded the Presidential PhD Scholarship. She also earned a First Class Honours BSocSci degree in Psychology at HKU. During her penultimate year, she joined the WiRL under the HKU-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Program and worked on a project about pro-environmental behavior. Her research interests include objectification, empathy, social attitudes, cyberpsychology, and consumer behavior. She is passionate about interdisciplinary research collaboration with multi-method approaches. She enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and pilates reformer workout in her free time.
Current PhD Students
Current Research Assistants
Research Assistant
Haleh Hashemi
Haleh is a fourth-year student at York University, currently pursuing a specialized honours B.Sc in psychology. Her dream is to attend graduate school and eventually become a clinical psychologist, pursuing both her passion for research and clinical practice. She is currently working on her thesis in the OUCH lab on neonatal pain-related distress and pain regulation in relation to parental care. In addition, Haleh is interested in decision-making and motivation which is why she was initially drawn to the research conducted at the Well-being Research Laboratory. As a research assistant, she has the opportunity to be involved in many different research projects while exploring her interest in the realm of human motivation. In her free time, Haleh enjoys drawing and painting water-colour, volunteering for extracurriculars and spending time outdoors, even if it’s just for a short walk down the trail.
Research Assistant
Tia Kleiner
Tia just completed her fourth year in the specialized honours program in psychology at York University. She loves research, and is interested in the use of psychological interventions to help people create meaningful and productive lives. Her goal is to attend graduate school and combine her love of learning, reading, and psychology to become a research psychologist. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, being in nature, and playing tennis and golf.
Research Assistant
Charlotte Kerr
Charlotte is now in her fourth year of the specialized honours program in psychology. As a career, she is interested in the field of education and using psychological principles to enhance students’ experiences at all levels of study. Additionally, she enjoys working with her team members in the lab to uncover socially based psychological insights that can optimize individuals’ personal outcomes in multiple areas of life. In her volunteer research position, she performs administrative, clerical and research tasks. Thus far, Charlotte has focussed on literature reviews and coding data. In addition, she has attended a conference and contributed to publications. A fun fact about her is that she loves to read!
Research Assistant
Aditya Tolani
Aditya or Adi is a third year university student at the Schulich School of Business. He is looking to major in Marketing with a minor in Operations Management for his last two years at Schulich. His interest in the lab stemmed from Dr. Mead’s Marketing 1000 class where he was introduced to the psychological side of marketing. Ever since Adi joined the lab, his skills in research and his understanding of marketing has increased. In the future he hopes to combine his interest in Marketing and his love for STEM in the Data Analytics side of Marketing. He loves chess, Streetwear, Tacos and Music.
Research Assistant
Ramtin Zafar
Ramtin graduated with an Honours BA in Psychology at York University. He has research interests in human nature, personality, formation of beliefs, and decision-making for an improved quality of life. He joined the Well-being Research Laboratory as a research assistant to explore these interests. His goal is to combine problem-solving and innovation with the research he does. Additionally, he plans to apply to graduate school to pursue clinical or research psychology long-term. In his free time, Ramtin enjoys camping, martial arts, and investing.
Research Assistant
Michael Lochner
Michael is entering his third year of study at York University, currently pursuing a Specialized Honours B.Sc in psychology. He is interested in learning about self-control through research and is specifically intrigued to understand its underlying neuroscientific basis. He aims to further his understanding of behavioural neuroscience or clinical psychology within graduate school, in hopes of contributing to the lives of others, whether through a research or clinical perspective. His volunteer experience includes working as a peer tutor and currently a peer tutor coordinator with the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association. During his free time, he enjoys going on bike rides, playing hockey, journaling and watching movies.
Research Assistant
Pritha Tiffany
Tiffany is in her third year of studying Psychology and is also pursuing a minor in Medical Anthropology. For her career, she is interested in pursuing Industrial and Organizational Psychology. What drew her to the Well-Being Research Lab (WiRL) is her drive to use science to make the world a better place. In her free time, she loves to read, journal and watch documentaries.
Lab Alumni
Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin University
Jay Zenkic
Jay is a Lectur at Deakin University having submitted his PhD thesis in July of 2021. His research interests are in the realm of financial decision-making and well-being, particularly for vulnerable consumers. He has won the Association for Consumer Research Sheth Dissertation Award for his thesis research.
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
Hanieh Naeimi
Hanieh was the former lab manager of the Well-being Research Lab and is now pursuing her PhD in Psychology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in researching the determinants of well-being at different levels, whether it is in close relationships or in communities.
Tilburg School of Economics and Management, Tilburg University
Anika Stuppy
Anika Stuppy has completed her PhD in Marketing Management at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University after which she joined the Marketing group at Tilburg University as an Assistant Professor. Her research activities focus on hedonic experiences and explore what people feel and think while consuming products, services, or entertainment media and have been published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, the Journal of Consumer Research, and the Marketing Science Working Paper Series.
Former Research Assistants
Sayuri Amarasinghe
Clinical Research Coordinator at BioPharma Services
Lily James
Lecturer & PhD Candidate at The University of the Arts London, London College of Fashion