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Lab Leadership

Allison Master

Lab Director and Associate Professor
amaster@uh.edu  
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Allison Master is an associate professor in the Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education. She earned a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Stanford University in 2011 and a B.A. in psychology from Yale University in 2003. Her research interests include social-psychological processes that form the foundation of motivation and identity from early childhood through adulthood, as well as how cues to identity may affect stereotyping and other social judgments and behaviors. Currently she is investigating how stereotypes affect students’ interest in STEM fields.   

Lab Members

Sydney Baker

Graduate Student

Sydney Baker is a Ph.D. student in measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. She is an experienced K-12 educator where she served as a classroom teacher, an advanced academic specialist, and a district-level content specialist throughout her time in public education. She currently serves as a program director for Institutional Research and Effectiveness at the University of Houston. Her research focuses on improving mental health and educational outcomes for both boys and men. Specifically, she aims to understand how motivation, parental structure, and learning environments impact boys' development throughout their lifespan.

Zach Baquet

Graduate Student

Zach Baquet is a Ph.D. student in the Measurement, Quantitative Methods, and Learning Sciences (MQM-LS) program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. His research focuses on motivation, identity, and educational equity, with a particular emphasis on how racially minoritized parents experience belonging and exclusion in K–8 schools. His dissertation centers on the development of a Parent Belonging Scale (PBS) to examine how parent-school trust and engagement are shaped by racialized school environments. Before entering academia, Zach spent nearly a decade in K–12 education, serving as a teacher, Dean of Students, and Vice Principal in schools across New Orleans, Dallas, and Houston. He later worked as a School Success Manager at Project Wayfinder, partnering with schools to implement purpose-driven social-emotional learning. He holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Carleton College and an M.S. in Educational Technology and Digital Age Learning from Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of AERA and SREE and participates in the Motivation in Education and Research Focus on Black Education SIGs. Outside of research, Zach is a jazz musician, classic car enthusiast, and proud father of two daughters. He can be reached at zbaquet@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Juliana Dahlhoff

Undergraduate Student Research Assistant

Juliana Dahlhoff is from Cologne, Germany, majoring in psychology and minoring in human development and family sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. She currently assists lab members Sydney Baker and Paul Turcotte by conducting literature reviews and helping analyze data for their research projects. Her career goal is to earn a Ph.D. and become a clinical psychologist.

Kahyun Lee

Graduate Student Assistant

Kahyun Lee is a Ph.D. student in measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education. She is interested in applying quantitative methods, such as SEM and multilevel modeling, to address psychological and educational topics. Specifically, she aims to explore mindsets, enhancing motivation in STEM fields, and reducing stereotypes associated with them.

Yelena Lubyagina

Graduate Student

Yelena Lubyagina is a Ph.D. student in Measurement, Quantitative Methods, and Learning Sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú and a proud Forever Coog. She earned her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Learning Design and Technology from the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in 2024. Before transitioning into education, Yelena spent over 15 years in the oil and gas industry as a business analyst. For the past five years, she has taught high school business management and technology courses, combining real-world business experience with instructional best practices.
Yelena’s research interests focus on exploring the integration of generative AI in education and its impact on critical thinking skills. More broadly, she is interested in the field of education data science and how analytics can inform effective teaching and learning practices.

Roopa Prasad

Graduate Student

Roopa Prasad is a student in the school psychology program. She is broadly interested in assessing academic skills in neurodiverse learners, with a specific passion for enhancing school engagement by accurately identifying learning needs via assessment. 

Summer Robinson

Graduate Student Research Assistant

Summer Robinson is a Ph.D. student in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. She is an educator with experience as a classroom teacher, creating video lessons for local television, and a district-level instructional specialist. Her research focuses on making STEM education more equitable for underrepresented and special populations, aiming to boost academic achievement and career success.

Pooja Roy

Graduate Student

Pooja Roy is a Ph.D. student in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences program. Her research focuses on stereotypes in STEM education and role of motivation and sense of belonging. She is also interested in understanding how students' motivation for STEM learning is influenced by key socializers, particularly in supporting emotion regulation during challenging situations. Pooja's current research interests are deeply rooted in her prior experiences as a science teacher in India, and a curriculum and instruction student at UIUC. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys sketching, playing the keyboard, travelling, trekking, and spending time with family and friends.

Tamal Joyti Roy 

Graduate Student

Tamal Roy is a Ph.D. student in measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú college of Education. His research interests include educational technology, student engagement and motivation, learning theories and cognitive development, interdisciplinary and integrated STEM education. 

Madiha Saadat

Graduate Student

Madiha Saadat is a Ph.D. student in the Measurement, Quantitative Methods, and Learning Sciences program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. Her research focuses on using quantitative methods to address educational disparities in STEM by examining motivation, identity, and equity. Under the guidance of Dr. Allison Master and Dr. Snodgrass Rangel, Madiha aims to explore how early interventions can reduce gender stereotypes and promote inclusive learning environments. Her research interests include data analysis using tools such as SPSS, SQL, and Tableau. Outside of her academic work, Madiha enjoys hiking and reading contemporary fiction.

Mayson Spillman

Graduate Student

Mayson Spillman is a Ph.D. Student in the school psychology program at the University of Houston. She earned a B.S. in psychology with a minor in mathematics at the University of Kentucky. Her career interests are in early childhood assessment and interventions across settings and populations. She is currently the PI of a mindfulness intervention study at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, and her current research focuses on motivation in the context of mindfulness practices and their relation to the mental health of college students. She is also a research assistant on a grant aimed at providing sexual health support and programming to college students.

Jennifer Thompson

Researcher

Jennifer Thompson received her B.B.A in Management from Texas A&M. Prior to joining the I AM Lab, she worked as a research assistant in the Nittrouer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lab and conducted research on diversity trends within academia, with her focus being primarily on the geosciences. She now serves as a research study coordinator with the I AM Lab.

Paul Turcotte

Graduate Student

Paul Turcotte is a Ph.D. student in measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. He has extensive experience in institutional research and assessment, serving as a senior research analyst at the University of Houston, director of institutional research at Texas A&M University-Central Texas and program director at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. His research explores the impact of belonging on women’s motivation to pursue STEM fields. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Paul combines his diverse background in data analytics and finance to advance equity and inclusion in educational settings.

Lab Affiliates

Amin Alipour

Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, University Houston

Amin Alipour studies approaches to improve self-efficacy and self-regulation in intelligent tutoring environments. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Oregon State University. Read more about his . 

Norma Olvera

Professor, Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences Department, University of Houston

nolvera@central.uh.edu

Norma Olvera is a USDA E. Kika de la Garza Science Fellow and The Obesity Society Fellow. She is a founding member of the UH Women of Color Coalition and Hispanic Health Coalition President. She received her doctoral degree in developmental psychology at UH with focus on maternal and child health. Through her BOUNCE program, Olvera has 30 years of developing innovative interventions designed to promote healthy eating, exercise and positive body image in Latino and African American families. She has conducted programs to promote STEM within the context of healthy eating, food sciences, and exercise in middle school students. 

Virginia Snodgrass Rangel

Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Department, University of Houston

Measurement, Quantitative Methods, & Learning Sciences Affiliate

Virginia Snodgrass Rangel is interested in how students (K-20) access opportunities to learn, and  she studies this in two areas:

The first strand of her research examines the pathways of historically marginalized students into STEM studies and careers. In particular, she is interested in interventions, such as mentoring, that strengthen students' STEM motivational beliefs.

The second line considers examines K-12 principal preparation, with a focus on principal internships and content knowledge.

Lab Alumni

Yasmine Al Abdul Raheem 

Yasmine Al Abdul Raheem earned her Ph.D. in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education in 2022. She is currently a research specialist in the Milwaukee Public School District.

Taylor Alexander 

Taylor Alexander earned her Ph.D. in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education in 2023. She is a quantitative researcher at Digital Promise. Contact info: talexander@digitalpromise.org 

Aledrian Kemp

Aledrian Kemp majored in human development and family sciences and nonprofit leadership at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú.

Craig Maddox

Craig Maddox is a research coordinator at the University of Washington.

Suppanut Sriutaisuk

Suppanut Sriutaisuk earned his Ph.D. in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education in 2022. He is a quantitative psychology faculty member at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. 

Lizzy Stier

Lizzy Stier was a research coordinator in the I AM Lab at the University of Washington. Lizzy is a data analyst with Baltimore's Promise who enjoys exploring different approaches for fostering confidence, resilience and empathy in young people.

Daijiazi Tang

Daijiazi Tang earned her Ph.D. in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education in 2023. She is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. 

Mackenzie Tennison

Mackenzie Tennison is a research coordinator and graduate student at the University of Washington.

Krysti Turnquest

Krysti Turnquest earned her Ph.D. in the measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences program at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú College of Education in 2022. She is a principal user experience researcher at Optum (a business of UnitedHealth Group) and a lecturer at the UH College of Education.