MEMBERS

PSI Lab at UCSD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

CELESTE PILEGARD, PHD  (she/her | PILL-UH-GARD)

I am an Associate Teaching Professor in the Psychology Department at UCSD. I am interested in facilitating meaningful learning -- learning that is flexible and long-lasting. Areas of focus include metacognition, motivation, gesture, educational games, and learning with multimedia. [ CV | GOOGLE SCHOLAR ]

GRADUATE STUDENTS

RIAN DREXLER

I am a fourth year PhD student in the Psychology Department at UCSD. I am interested in how people's understanding of the nature of science (e.g., science as tentative, science as a debate) impacts learning science in the classroom and evaluating scientific information in everyday life. Most of my free time is spent rock climbing, but I also enjoy hiking, surfing, and techno.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Abby Despain

I am a 4th year undergraduate studying psychology and education. My honors thesis with the PSI Lab investigates the role of motivation in developing students' beliefs about science. I love to read, spend time outdoors, and explore new places in San Diego.

IGNACIO ESPINOZA

Research Assistant (2023)

SHANTHI KUPPA

I'm a junior year student majoring in Psychology and currently developing keen interest in the fields of developmental and cognitive psychology and their roles in educational practices. Some of my hobbies include playing the guitar, the ukulele, cooking and watching movies!

Amy Park

Psychology Department Honors (2024–2025)

Yakuan Wang

I'm a 4th year undergraduate majoring in psychology. I'm interested in teaching practices that are best for learning and clinical psychology. Outside of school, I like traveling, exploring new places, and just watching anything that has water: oceans, rivers, waterfalls, etc. 

URC 2024

APS 2024

PSLIME 2024

BTR Team 2022

URC 2023

PSLIME 2023

SRC 2023

PSLIME 2022

LAB ALUMNI

Graduate Students

Hannah Lloyd, M.A. in Experimental Psychology (PSI Lab 2022–2024)
Yerkezhan Tokbergen, M.A. in Educational Psychology, (UCR 2018–2020)

Undergraduate Thesis Students

Jaylen Allison (McNair;  2023–2024)
Siyuan Liu (PSYC Honors; 20212022)
Alan Lopez (PSYC Honors; 2022–2024)
Yang Lu (PSYC Honors; 20192020)
Zhihui Sheng (PSYC Honors; 2023–2024)
Giulia Silver (PSYC Honors; 20212022)
Annie Tang (FMP; 2022–2024)
Yuhan Tao (FMP; 20222023)
Megan Tavares (PSYC Honors; 20222023)

Research Assistants

Bobbette Alexander (2022)
Olivia Deniz Cetin (20222023)
Aamyah Davis (2022–2023)
Jessica Denny (2021)
Cecilia Fridge (2022)
Kyle Fune (2020)
Abigail Goldschmidt (20202021)
Krishna Gomatam (20202021)
Grace Hong (2020)
Keeshia Kamura (ERC Honors; 20192022)
Ki-Yeon Kim (2020)
Emily Liu (2020)
Yuxin Liu (20202021)
Justin Moran (2024)
Titus Ng (2023–2024)
Nathan Nguyen (20212022)
Rob Ethan Santiago (ERC Honors; 2021–2024)
Evan Schwager (2021)
Sydney Washington (STARS; CSU Fullerton; 2021)
Derek Ye (2022–2023)
Dongbowei (Iris) Zhang (20212022)